Cryptic Message from Pittsburgh DGS

[feraleyes]

Hello All,

 

First off, congratulations to everyone on this forum who've received good news and to those, still in the lurch, well...join the club . I am generally a lurker on this forum but I find myself in a weird situation and thought of seeking the help of the gradcafe members here.

 

I am international applicant to the PhD program in English at US universities this year. Pittsburgh U is one of my top choices as its a great fit with my research interests and the faculty and the program is excellent. Unfortunately, I received an e-mail from the DGS saying I have been waitlisted and further explained that spots may open up only if a sizeable number of admits declined their offers which seems unlikely.  In a second e-mail she let me know that she may have "good news for me in spring".

 

I am baffled with regards to the last sentence. As an international applicant, funding is very important to me and I have heard of very few assistantships and fellowships being awarded in the spring semester. I am also unsure if she meant the PhD program or the MA program.

 

Does it generally happen that fall applicants are given admission in spring? don't they have  to apply separately for that? also, I'd like your opinions on what do you make of this and how likely is it to have a positive outcome...

 

Thanks everyone, for reading and commenting

[Imogene]

Hi feraleyes -- I think that comment about good news "in the spring" was referring to later THIS spring -- as in, they might have good news about funding and acceptance off the waitlist in March or early April.  

 

Typically, programs don't know how many folks are declining/accepting their offers of acceptance until much closer to the April 15 deadline, so folks on the wait list have to hang tight until early April.  But, if the DGS sent a separate, personalized email to you, that could mean you are high on the waitlist.

 

Of course, it won't hurt to reply, thanking her for the update and hopeful news, then ask for more details (like, asking if there is anything she could tell you about where you are on the waitlist, whether it's a waitlist for full funding or something else, etc.).  The Phd/MA question is tricky -- it seems that would be clear, but I don't know Pitt's program, so I don't know if it makes sense to ask in your follow-up email whether you are waitlisted for the MA or PhD or not.

[dazedandbemused]

Just so you know, it's unlikely that you've been wait listed for the MA program because that's been almost totally suspended with the exception of inside admits. So you're almost definitely waitlisted for the PhD program. As for why she said many would have to turn them down, that might have been a clue to your position on the waitlist. It's not over till it's over!

[asleepawake]

First of all, congratulations! That's awesome!

 

If you applied for the PhD, it's for the PhD. I would also say that "in the spring" definitely means this March or April. If you have other questions, don't be afraid to e-mail the DGS those questions!