The first rejection (and the emotions that follow)

[bellefast]

Second rejection today.

Had to call the department to get it (other applicants to the same school were already though several circles of rejection-admission-wait-list-acceptance-rejection).

Apparently they just threw my application in the basket without notification.

Sorry to hear that. I hope you either have something or will get something too. I pray for you while I pray for myself.

[deleteduser0333]

Sorry to hear that. I hope you either have something or will get something too. I pray for you while I pray for myself.

Thank you so much. I cried several times during the week knowing that I would probably get nothing 。・°°・(((p(≧□≦)q)))・°°・。

I need a hug

[bellefast]

Thank you so much. I cried several times during the week knowing that I would probably get nothing 。・°°・(((p(≧□≦)q)))・°°・。

I need a hug

Virtual HUG 頑張って！！！！！！！！

I cried too. Especially today. It sucks, but if one gives you the chance to show them how great you are then that is the best thing that can happen right? I hope so

Edited February 17, 2012 by bellefast

[sansao]

I cried too. Especially today. It sucks, but if one gives you the chance to show them how great you are then that is the best thing that can happen right? I hope so

Try to stay positive. If you get one admit and all the rest are rejections, that pretty much solves the problem, right? But I hear ya, if I get another rejection next, my positive attitude may evaporate. I have a lot more invested in the remaining three schools, so until I'm in one, disengaging from any of them because I got rejected is going to be a lot more difficult than the first rejection.

[bellefast]

Try to stay positive. If you get one admit and all the rest are rejections, that pretty much solves the problem, right? But I hear ya, if I get another rejection next, my positive attitude may evaporate. I have a lot more invested in the remaining three schools, so until I'm in one, disengaging from any of them because I got rejected is going to be a lot more difficult than the first rejection.

Thanks Sansao, I am trying my best to stay positive. I am hoping for just one to see my potential and I cannot stop thinking about the possibility of not getting anything. It hurts, but I am going to do my best. I hope you get good news as well.

[AwesomeAlgorithm]

Received my first rejection today but didn't feel as bad as I would've since I already got accepted elsewhere. I am feeling a bit down given the fact that my academic interests highly matches that of the department and my rec. writers know the faculty as well.

Edited February 17, 2012 by AwesomeAlgorithm

[GradHooting]

I'd say the worst combination to get is for your first news to be a rejection from your #1 school.

Last year, I got rejected from a bit of a reach school that was not necessarily my first choice. It wasn't NEARLY as bad. I was ready for rejections by the time the news for my #1 school came around.

[Quantumcross]

I'd say the worst combination to get is for your first news to be a rejection from your #1 school.

No I'd have to say a rejection from your super safety would be worse....

[sansao]

I think at this point I'm over the first rejection. ( ). Now I'm focused on the other three schools and staying pretty positive about it.

[dairymilk]

^Me too!

[bellefast]

I think at this point I'm over the first rejection. ( ). Now I'm focused on the other three schools and staying pretty positive about it.

Yep, same here. I have 7 to go and this week and the next (actually this one) are really big. Here's to all of us *raised glass*

[PhDreams]

I just got my first response, a rejection, a few minutes ago. Weird, but I feel relieved just to have heard back from somewhere. I am not disappointed at all because I didn't really want to attend that institution in the first place. Therefore, I didn't spend much time polishing my application. So it was expected.

Big hug, Clou12!!! All the Ed students are rooting for you!!!

Good luck to all! These next two weeks are going to bring great news. I can feel it!!!!!

[Clou12]

Big hug, Clou12!!! All the Ed students are rooting for you!!!

Good luck to all! These next two weeks are going to bring great news. I can feel it!!!!!

Thank you very much FutureEdStudent12. This program was not an Ed program, so I guess I kinda expected not to get in. I hope to hear some good news soon though!

[PhDreams]

I just received my first rejection today and at the very top of the letter was a print icon and I was like "wtf?!" And my sister was like, "It's so that you can burn it afterward."

God, I love her.

[GreenePony]

Rejection from my dream program, rest of the decisions coming out this week makes me even more depressed. They sent out invites Monday, and will send rejections Thursday. I think my meh GPA is what killed it (just under 3.3). My scores were pretty decent (5.5 in writing), my letters should have been good, I had research experience but nothing published. Really depressing as this would have been the perfect situation and the only program I applied to that gave considerable funding (meaning more than 1/4-1/2 tuition). In a perfect world I could go to the program I was accepted to finish that MA, then apply for next year but that can't happen since the graduation date of 1 is after the start date of dream program. And there would be ~10 months where we would be in limbo if I applied again for Fall'14.

I'm supposed to call to let my family know but I'm not sure I can without crying again.

*edit* I've now eaten 1/4 pan of baked oatmeal. I feel slightly better. Might be all the sugar I dumped in.

Edited February 21, 2012 by GreenePony

[wannabeaphd]

The first rejection felt awful, but thelast rejection actually felt pretty good for me! Here's hoping that you're all going ot be in the same boat soon -- hopefully with an acceptance in the mix!

[Frostfire]

I just received my first rejection today and at the very top of the letter was a print icon and I was like "wtf?!" And my sister was like, "It's so that you can burn it afterward."

God, I love her.

Best possible thing anyone could say. Ever.

Incendendum est!

[Heather Hoffman]

Just got my first rejection today. Very depressed, even though it wasn't my first choice. Now feeling snappy and reactionary toward people who love me. Wah.

[Clou12]

So my background has been education and in hindsight I think I know where I may have went wrong this application season. First, it was applying to a broad range of programs like ethnic studies, social policy and interdisciplinary studies, instead of my field of education. The reason why I didn't apply to many education PhD programs because I wanted more diversity in job options later, not being confined to just education (I have a master's in international ed policy already) and the real reason, a lot of the top programs tend to focus on US based urban education. That is not my area of interest.

1. So I got formally rejected from USC-American Studies and my reaction was a shrug of shoulders and a faint, "meh."

2. Just by looking at the boards I see that HKS already admitted their social policy applicants and my reaction to that is "this was by far a reach school, because they admit maybe THREE people a year."

3. My hometown, Atlanta...Emory sent out interviews the end of January and people went to the invite weekend 2/2-2/4. Yet there are no admits or rejections posted on the board or anywhere. However, I assume I am rejected and that does hurt when the rejection comes from home.

Overall, I have one formal rejection and two assumed rejections, I am waiting to hear from two more schools, both in education. I have since applied to four jobs in America because I already turned down my contract for work here overseas. Honestly, I don't know if I will reapply again if the last two schools turn me down. Another year is not going to make a difference in my application. What more can I achieve? I have dedicated over a decade in this field, committed to this research, achieved a whole lot, yet at the same time, sacrificed more. What more can I do?Get better GRE scores? I really think that is ridiculous to waste more time and money on that and refuse to sit for that test again. So if I don't get in, I think it is time for me to move on.

This is how I am feeling after my first rejection and anticipating more to come.

Edited February 22, 2012 by Clou12

[Hillary Emick]

I got my first official response, and I was rejected by my safety school. I just about dropped from shock, since I'd been invited to apply for a university fellowship by my POI who is a co-chair on the board for the fellowship. She worked with me on my application packet, and assured me I was the top candidate. There was absolutely no explanation in the rejection letter. It just stated that they would not be recommending me for admission at this time, large pool qualified candidates, blah blah blah. I emailed her to ask for some frank feedback on the deficiencies in my application package that had led to that decision, and she informed me that she was leaving the university for a research position at a government laboratory and it had all happened very suddenly. I am not sure what all led up to this but I feel like collateral damage in some kind of crazy university politics.

After this, I did receive an email from the program director explaining that my app package was very competitive, but my research proposal was aimed at work that my POI was the sole faculty member working on, and it just hadn't been possible to match me up with another main advisor at this point in the process. He invited me to reach out to other faculty and apply next year.

I am so frustrated I could cry.

I was very confident about applying to some programs that were a stretch because I had this sure thing as a backup option. I have had another interview so all hope is not lost for this year. I guess if I end up waiting until next year, I will treat this as a learning experience to try to cultivate more than one POI at each university in case something like this happens.

[sansao]

I am so frustrated I could cry.

I was very confident about applying to some programs that were a stretch because I had this sure thing as a backup option. I have had another interview so all hope is not lost for this year. I guess if I end up waiting until next year, I will treat this as a learning experience to try to cultivate more than one POI at each university in case something like this happens.

How many schools did you apply to? Did you correspond with or list multiple faculty members at the other schools when you wrote your SOP? I know I tried to talk with at least 3 faculty members at each school. The one school where I didn't have much luck is the one from which I already got a rejection.

I can understand your shock and frustration for sure. It is just one rejection though, so don't feel shot down yet. Good luck!

[Hillary Emick]

How many schools did you apply to? Did you correspond with or list multiple faculty members at the other schools when you wrote your SOP? I know I tried to talk with at least 3 faculty members at each school. The one school where I didn't have much luck is the one from which I already got a rejection.

I can understand your shock and frustration for sure. It is just one rejection though, so don't feel shot down yet. Good luck!

I think my only real shot at this point is the school I interviewed at, where I did consult with multiple POI's. It is an interdisciplinary program and I was in touch with faculty from 3 of the departments about their current research in putting together my SOP. I interviewed with all 3 who all expressed that they would be happy to have me there in the fall. Luckily this is my first choice and hopefully it will all work out. If not, I will know that I really do have to work from that model and do a better job cultivating relationships in the department with each choice.

[Hillary Emick]

And just to add to the emotional roller coaster, I just got an email from the program director stating that I am still in the running for the fellowship, and they may reverse their decision on admission if I am selected for the fellowship and can identify an advisor. At least point I wish I had an offer from my top choice one way or the other. Part of me wants to keep working for this as the school is in an ideal location for us although it is not the top school for this type of program, part of me is really questioning if I really want to work with these people if this is how they operate.

[rowlf]

That does sound pretty dramatic. This is a crazy process!

It's better they reject you and then change their minds, rather than accepting you and then changing their minds.

I think this sounds really exciting, albeit nerve-wracking. If you feel like you can identify an advisor easily, it sounds like it is so worth it to keep this option open for you. My impression is that they are working in a really stressful situation themselves with someone leaving last minute, but are trying to figure out how to take a candidate they want.

And just to add to the emotional roller coaster, I just got an email from the program director stating that I am still in the running for the fellowship, and they may reverse their decision on admission if I am selected for the fellowship and can identify an advisor. At least point I wish I had an offer from my top choice one way or the other. Part of me wants to keep working for this as the school is in an ideal location for us although it is not the top school for this type of program, part of me is really questioning if I really want to work with these people if this is how they operate.

[Ameonna]

Honestly, I don't know if I will reapply again if the last two schools turn me down. Another year is not going to make a difference in my application. What more can I achieve? I have dedicated over a decade in this field, committed to this research, achieved a whole lot, yet at the same time, sacrificed more. What more can I do?Get better GRE scores? I really think that is ridiculous to waste more time and money on that and refuse to sit for that test again. So if I don't get in, I think it is time for me to move on.

This is how I am feeling after my first rejection and anticipating more to come.

Don't give up hope! It may be true that your credentials may not change a whole lot over the next year, but your competition will. You never know who you're going up against from year to year; it may just be that you had bad luck in terms of your cohort this year. Besides, you're also wiser about the process, and being knowledgeable about the PROCESS helps you just as much (if not more) than improving credentials!! Don't let rejections discourage you. I know it's tough, believe me, but where there's a will, there's a way.