anger setting in

[applyingfromtexas]

At this point, I have been rejected from 3 of 4 schools. I had to call all three to get the results, despite the fact that they had them easily within reach. I STILL have not received any "official" word from a single school. I don't think I'll apply again, because it seems like schools don't care at all that everyone is waiting around/freaking out while they take their time releasing decisions.

I understand taking time and consideration in making decisions, but once they're made, they should be trying to let us know ASAP.

[pessimist1234]

Not what I needed to hear. . I was hoping if they rejected you then you'll hear back fairly soon.

[Eigen]

I realize how frustrating it can be, but the same is true for job applications, post-doctoral position applications, etc. The primary focus is to let the people who have been accepted know, and then to work on getting them to accept the offer.

At least you got prompt responses when you called, and didn't get put off with a maybe.

Edited March 4, 2012 by Eigen

[CarlieE]

I can understand your anger... but to be fair, the deadlines for when they have to give us answers are generally BY March or April. Most of the schools I applied to stated this on their websites. Also, it's a good thing if you are still waiting.. it means that possibly, if the first round of acceptances already went out, that you are on the waitlist for the 2nd round. At the school I got accepted into, they told us that they would appreciate the acceptees telling ASAP if they will decline or accept so that the 2nd string group could be notified of THEIR acceptance.

What holds back some of this is that the 1st string people don't respond right away if they are accepting or declining, and to be fair to THEM, they don't have to right away.

Perhaps this is why you haven't gotten "official" word yet - because you MIGHT still be offered admission... Good Luck

[TropicalCharlie]

Hang in there. There are many people here who are in the same boat as you and feeling the same range of emotions. Anger, despair, resigned, more anger.... As the other posters have said, having no news could be good as you may be in the next batch of applicants to be notified once the first round of acceptee responses come back. I know that the wait is agonizing and can be dragged on through May. Don't give up yet. In the mean time, as hard as it is, find something to distract yourself with.

Edited March 4, 2012 by TropicalCharlie

[rmgerdes]

There are also schools that do rolling admissions. Basically they notify students of acceptance as funding become available.

I applied unsuccessfully last year, and didn't hear from all schools until early April. However, as long as you hear by April 15th, the schools have treated you well. The part that makes me angry is when some schools don't notify rejects at all; that is unnecessarily cruel.

Good luck. Don't give up. You may also want to look at the results survey to see when your fourth school send out acceptances and rejections last year. That may give you an idea of what to expect in the coming weeks.

[Marius]

I was thinking about this today and I came to this conclusion: applying to graduate school is like applying to a job, or anything else. If it were easy to get into it wouldn't be worth it. The only reason I was in a funk was because I felt like I "failed" this round, but thinking of it in rounds is just a product of having to send your applications out for the academic year. If this were like applying to jobs, you would just keep sending applications, maybe dozens of them, until you eventually got that acceptance. Grad school is the same way, you've got to keep going until you find that right one. Sometimes it takes a lot of hunting until you find it.

[ANDS!]

Not knowing the schools you applied to and their caliber, only applying to 4 seems like a bit of a gamble - even if you low balled and applied to "lower" programs. I've seen people having applied to TWO programs, both top tier, stunned that they didn't get in.

I will agree that if they feel you aren't a viable candidate, probably should've let you know sooner.

[emmm]

I am starting to think this was really odd -- but I got all my rejections really promptly last year. Fortunately, I didn't get ALL rejections, but the ones I got, I didn't have to wait for at all. It was almost depressing HOW quickly they came . . .

[CarlieE]

I was thinking about this today and I came to this conclusion: applying to graduate school is like applying to a job, or anything else. If it were easy to get into it wouldn't be worth it. The only reason I was in a funk was because I felt like I "failed" this round, but thinking of it in rounds is just a product of having to send your applications out for the academic year. If this were like applying to jobs, you would just keep sending applications, maybe dozens of them, until you eventually got that acceptance. Grad school is the same way, you've got to keep going until you find that right one. Sometimes it takes a lot of hunting until you find it.

I'm inclined to agree... I'm hoping to become a professional academic so I might as well get used to the process of submitting CVs, applications, waiting and being interviewed, going for campus visits etc.. And even if I were not, as Marius said, this is what the non-academic job market looks like for any professional...