Deadline day -- notified that program has been discontinued

[cunninlynguist]

Today was the deadline for a program I applied to. This afternoon, I received an e-mail from the graduate director of said program. When I first glanced at the e-mail notification, I assumed it must be a verification of my application submission (and perhaps an estimate on when the timetable for decisions would be).

It was, in fact, an e-mail to all applicants stating that the program will not accept incoming students and will reconfigure the program entirely -- their 2-year MA offering is now defunct. No specific reasons were disclosed.

We received this e-mail today. Today, the day of the deadline. Today, months after I had pored over my writing sample, paid my application, GRE, and transcript fees, painstakingly crafted a tailored SOP and hassled my letter writers to submit on time. I had applied to 4 programs and now that number is 3; consequently, my odds of admission are now diminished.

Has anyone heard of such a thing happening before? I'm beyond words.

[emmm]

Are they going to refund your application fee, at least?

[cunninlynguist]

Supposedly, although it seems that we need to facilitate that process.

[emmm]

That's pretty pathetic -- as if you don't already have enough to do. I guess they were hoping they'd be able to continue the program somehow, but the money just didn't materialize. Still, the timing is really bad for anyone who applied.

[Rachel B]

Which program was it?

[cunninlynguist]

Hey Rachel -- it was Brown. How are your applications going?

[Rachel B]

Hey Rachel -- it was Brown. How are your applications going?

Brown, really?? I wonder what happened with the program since it seems very sudden. My applications are going alright. UCSB Bren is due tomorrow and I'm waiting on one more recommendation (very nervous about it getting in on time).

[Safferz]

That is awful! Early in the fall I started an application for University of Michigan's history program, which was suspended this year because of a larger than expected incoming cohort last year. They hadn't updated their department website at that point, but within a few days of starting the UM application I received a personal email from the department chair apologizing and explaining the situation. The situation at Brown is just so strange, I'm also curious about what could have happened to explain such abrupt and unprofessional behaviour. Really sorry this happened to you!

[habanero]

Wow, I'm really sorry! That must be so frustrating!!

I have no doubt that you will fare well with your other schools; you seem very intelligent and well-written. Don't let this get you down. I know that you'll be at Michigan, Yale, or Duke by next fall.

[gradapp2012]

I hope this doesn't discourage you in any way, cunninlynguist. I too think things will work out for you . Also, I couldn't help noticing how kind your post was, habanero!

[cunninlynguist]

Thanks all -- I appreciate the support. Truly a bizarre situation, but I can't dwell on it as there's nothing left to do. While I can't express surprise over a program being eliminated, the lack of timely notice feels disrespectful, above all else.

[WalterBenjamin]

cunninlynguist,

I understand your frustration and thought I would offer a few words of encouragement.

The department I did my Master's at fell apart two years after I graduated. They university still kept the programs going, but it is not the same, of course.

The truth is, the department that is in that bad of a shape is NOT the place you want to be in the first place: Professors are bitter, students feel cheated, and school is stingy when it comes to resources. It's a GOOD thing that you got your chance out.

Good luck with the other three!

[OnceAndFutureGrad]

I'm very sorry that you've lost time in preparing this application and that you'll lose more time recouping your fee. That is very very unprofessional on their part.

The truth is, the department that is in that bad of a shape is NOT the place you want to be in the first place

True, true, true. I'll have to be careful with my words because who knows who is on here. But I can state definitively that a program I was accepted to, at a time when I really shouldn't have been in grad school in the first place, was a miserable experience that I am only realizing now whilst learning about other universities' policies. Just imagine the horror of fighting for stipend funding, mandatory weekend events for weeks on end, being unable to complete core reqs because the classes aren't offered, and the exam reading lists changing drastically (or not even existing!) very close to the exam date.