Simple Twist of Fate Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 It's weird how wait lists are so different between institutions. People lament the WalMartization of America, but there's still a lot of uniqueness and charming inefficiency in history departments across the country. The two institutions I'm wait listed at have been very kind and attentive to me, even sending unsolicited encouraging emails, which I'm choosing to take as a sign that a possibility remains of an offer. Hey, have any of you been encouraged to use other offers as a "bargaining tool"? my UG advisor and other profs from there really think i should flaunt what I got, but I'm so nervous that it'll go wrong. You know? What if they think "well she's got other options that seem good, we dont need to offer her anything." I can't imagine doing that. I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but I couldn't do it. At least not how you seem to be describing. However, I did tactfully mention that I had received other, generous offers and that I was reluctant to keep them waiting until April 15... and that I would be keeping in regular contact with the DGS so that I might be able to make a final decision as quickly as possible.
uhohlemonster Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 (edited) so I ended up doing a very similar thing - writing to them that i would like to know the timeline for decisions at this point, so i can make a decision about whether or not to attend an open house weekend in early april. i hadn't asked them prior about when I should expect to hear and they hadn't offered that info, so I am generally curious and in need of knowing. (and in the process, they are now aware that i have other programs interested in me, though i still made it 110% clear that their school is my FIRST CHOICE! because it is...) Edited March 5, 2012 by uhohlemonster
wikichic Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 I did use my other acceptance as a bargaining tool. I wanted to show my wait list program that I had another option, but I also emphasized that they were my top choice, and if they offered me admission, I would accept. So I would say- flaunt it- carefully.
uhohlemonster Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 exactly what i did, wikichic! we are totally on the same wave length. i also had 3 profs from my UG institution read it, so i feel confident about it...
Simple Twist of Fate Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Okay - yeah, I'm favor of think some controlled flaunting as long as it's tactfully done and doesn't seem forced. I'm not sure how fluid the wait lists I'm on actually are. Someone said IU ranks theirs, so it doesn't matter how much you flaunt/plead/tell them they're your first choice, it's just based on the math.
uhohlemonster Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 yeah, and Rutgers does not rank, but I must rely on some other Jewish/Israel/Mideast historian rejecting them. not sure which situation is better! controlled flaunting - i like it
superrockr1 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 I am with UNC. Not fun, but at least I have some other great options. Not looking forward to waiting it out all the way to April 15 though!
oseirus Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 I am with UNC. Not fun, but at least I have some other great options. Not looking forward to waiting it out all the way to April 15 though! do you have at least guaranteed fall back spots?
superrockr1 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 do you have at least guaranteed fall back spots? Yea I sure do, some schools I really like: UGA, Temple, and South Carolina. Will be a tough choice!
Abbott Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Three PhD waitlists and no definite acceptances... still.
oseirus Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Three PhD waitlists and no definite acceptances... still. I feel your pain!
uhohlemonster Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 I'm still wait listed at rutgers, and getting ready to just accept Nyu since I know it'll be the best offer either way...
oseirus Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 I'm still wait listed at rutgers, and getting ready to just accept Nyu since I know it'll be the best offer either way... Well then I guess we won't be seeing you in these parts anymore
grlu0701 Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Does anyone have experience with being waitlisted for funding? I was accepted into the PhD at Colorado-Boulder, but my offer is not funded. That being said, the admit letter made it clear that funding may be forthcoming in the future, so I havn't given up hope. CU is one of my top choices (and my fiancee's #1 for location and family reasons), so I'm still hoping I may receive some good news. I'd guess that funding preference is given to those students admitted right away w/o funding over those who are later taken of the admit waitlist... But then again, I know about as close to nothing about intra-departmental dynamics as possible. Any thoughts?
Veilside1 Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 I was just taken off the wait-list at UNC!! So for the rest of you waiting for them keep an eye out for an email soon! uhohlemonster 1
grlu0701 Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) I was just taken off the wait-list at UNC!! So for the rest of you waiting for them keep an eye out for an email soon! Congrats! I see that you were also accepted at SUNY-Buffalo. Are you heading to the prospective student weekend next Friday? Edited March 23, 2012 by grlu0701
oseirus Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Does anyone have experience with being waitlisted for funding? I was accepted into the PhD at Colorado-Boulder, but my offer is not funded. That being said, the admit letter made it clear that funding may be forthcoming in the future, so I havn't given up hope. CU is one of my top choices (and my fiancee's #1 for location and family reasons), so I'm still hoping I may receive some good news. I'd guess that funding preference is given to those students admitted right away w/o funding over those who are later taken of the admit waitlist... But then again, I know about as close to nothing about intra-departmental dynamics as possible. Any thoughts? I'm in a similar boat ... yaay
oseirus Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 I was just taken off the wait-list at UNC!! So for the rest of you waiting for them keep an eye out for an email soon! congrats to you! now get outta here ya crazy kid! go enjoy!
Veilside1 Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Thanks all. GRLU, No, I'm ancient history so I applied to a mix of History and Classics Depts. UBuffalo was to Classics, and UNC was to History.
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