Do some schools or professors produce personal rejection letters?

[InquilineKea]

Particularly for applicants who may have been in extensive discussion with several members at the program prior to applying?

Edited January 29, 2012 by InquilineKea

[UnlikelyGrad]

I got one personal rejection email--not from a prof, but from the secretary who handled all of the admissions stuff for the department. She told me she had been rooting for me (not the only secretary who did so btw--they seemed to like my non-traditional background) and that I would have been accepted any other year but there were just so so many applicants that year.

[InquilineKea]

Wow - so interesting. Was that email the only "rejection" email that was sent? Or was it sent in addition to the "official" one? And were you in contact with them before applying?

Are secretaries also more likely to root for those with non-traditional backgrounds? I also have a non-traditional background myself

Edited January 30, 2012 by InquilineKea

[UnlikelyGrad]

This was the only email. IIRC, it started as a boilerplate rejection email, but the secretary tacked on a personal P.S. at the end. And yes, there had been a number of back-and-forth emails between me and her.

[snes]

Are secretaries also more likely to root for those with non-traditional backgrounds?

Don't take this the wrong way, but this made me laugh and is why I love gradcafe. We need all the clues and hints we can get during the waiting game!!

Edit: to answer the question in my experience - yes, it can happen. More likely if you were on a waiting list, I think.

Edited January 30, 2012 by snes