Dear University of Maryland,

[riseandfall]

Are you alive? Have you fallen off the face of the planet?

To everyone else: have you heard ANYTHING about U of MD (PhD)? I know they have responded late in the past, but my anxiousness and curiosity have gotten the better of me. So have my first 4 straight rejections

[riseandfall]

Make that 5 straight rejections :cry:

[windsweptvoid]

I contacted them a while back. They've already made their first round of admits for a class of only 5-6. If you haven't been contacted it doesn't look great, but my understanding is there's still some chance. The grad sec said official news should go out mid march.

[windsweptvoid]

Make that 5 straight rejections :cry:

sorry to hear that

[EnglishMA]

I emailed the DGS and she replied that the letters will be sent out next week.

[riseandfall]

Thanks for the info, guys.

[MinnieMouse1224]

Good to know about letters being sent out next week -- thanks for the info.

Next week is their spring break, so I wonder if that means they're meeting over the break? Or if they've already decided and are sending out the letters Monday before they go away for the break.

(sigh) Stressing out about this program is getting really old...

[app1001]

I have heard that UMD has made all their initial offers for PhD positions, and it is for seven students, down from 18 last year. I don't know if that means that everyone who hasn't heard is rejected, or if they are attempting to formulate a waitlist, or what? Hopefully we'll hear next week.

[booksareneat]

So did anyone else get that email that seemed like it was going to be a rejection, but instead it was just saying, "we'll be in touch?" With only six positions, I'm pretty well sure that I'm not going to be one of those six, but the email confused me. Just letting me down gently, in waves of rejection?

[EnglishMA]

I got the same email -- I assume everyone did. It wasn't very helpful... it's like they're stringing us along. My online app status still says "pending".

[louisparis]

YES, same here.

I got that e-mail this very morning when I've been almost drowned by time.

I have no idea what that means.

but, i always hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

that's just me.

good luck, pals.

[riseandfall]

Same email and same pending status here.

Despite the extended waiting period and the tease of an email, I am rather amused by the email address from which it was sent: X@umd.edu! Amazing!

[EnglishMA]

Yeah, I almost deleted it thinking an email from "X" is probably spam. I mean, x@umd.edu? Couldn't they find anything better?

Also, they're admitting fewer students so they can better "service" them. What are we -- machines that require servicing? They could have just said "serve". No thank you, ma'am, I don't need servicing

[app1001]

So I have a few questions about those of you who were waitlisted.

1) Did you receive the email a few days ago from x@umd.edu? Did anyone NOT receive it? Because I did not receive that email.

2) Is your status still "Pending Decision" online? Mine is.

I'm just trying to figure out if I should consider myself rejected, or if it's possible that I'm not getting the x@umd.edu emails. What a sketchy email account.

[booksareneat]

I've said this elsewhere, but I think UMD is in a similar position to many other state schools. They are waiting to figure out how much money they have. Right now, budgets are very tight (hence the tiny cohort). However, a lot of money is being pumped into education in these new bills passed by congress and I think the programs are keeping decent sized lists in hopes that they'll get money.

We two dozen (I'm thinking it's slightly over two dozen... two baker's dozens?) will just have to sit around and hope.

Let's hope Obama passes a Grad school stimulus bill.

[riseandfall]

I got the first infamous x email and my status is still "pending decision." I did not get an email today though. I have no idea what any of this means.

I don't know whether to hope or not...or if I even remember how to anymore.

[ILikeCatsALot45]

Minnie--You mention something I've been trying to figure out for a while now...

Is it acceptable to "transfer" between programs? Did you tell Temple you're applying elsewhere, does Maryland know you're at Temple, and has it been looked down upon in either case?

[MinnieMouse1224]

Yeah, good question.

Basically, since I'm at the two year mark, I have the option of "stopping" at the MA. So when I applied to schools, I described myself as expecting to recieve an MA this May.

Since all of my recommenders are current professors of mine, yes, a few know that I am applying out. Although I'm not widely broadcasting this fact to the rest of my department, I've only received encouragement from those who know. I think a lot of this hinges on the fact of two reasons though:

1) The fact that a big reason for my applying is due to my partner's move away from Philly.

2) The professor I originially came to work with moved unexpectedly, so they also understand that my field of interest is less supported currently.

I am also curious about how transferring works after one has gone past the "MA" point of study. Can people transfer out once they've finished coursework in their current program? I'd be interested to know this as well, in case I decide to reapply next year if Maryland doesn't work out. Right now I don't see any reason why I would, but it would be nice to have the option.

[windsweptvoid]

So I have a few questions about those of you who were waitlisted.

1) Did you receive the email a few days ago from x@umd.edu? Did anyone NOT receive it? Because I did not receive that email.

2) Is your status still "Pending Decision" online? Mine is.

I'm just trying to figure out if I should consider myself rejected, or if it's possible that I'm not getting the x@umd.edu emails. What a sketchy email account.

I think it's safe to say you 'should' have received the first email from x, the one that essentially said 'we made decisions but we're not telling you what til later!'

If you didn't, I think you should contact them. My status still says "pending," but most the people who have been rejected have had their status changed to 'not recommended for admission.' So contact and find out! I hope your pending status means good news!

[EnglishMA]

Anyone know if MA students have been notified one way or the other? I got the first email from x@umd, but nothing further, and my app status is still "pending."

A related question: does UMD ever fund MA students? Do you guys know anyone who did an MA there with funding? I'm not terribly hopeful about it, since they're barely able to fund a handful of PhDs this year, so I'm sure they have neither the money nor the inclination to fund MAs, but I'm just wondering if it's happened in the past. Anyone know?

[booksareneat]

English MA,

I can tell you that the form email we got to waitlist was directed toward applicants for the PhD program. So, it's quite possible that they haven't figured out their MA waitlist. There's still time on all of this (although, I know that's not much consolation).

[MinnieMouse1224]

Because I enjoy stressing out, I'm wondering if anyone has received notice that they are OFF the waitlist from Maryland and have been accepted? I know that at least one person has turned down an offer.

I wonder if they wait until all decisions are in and then let people off the list, or if they notify gradually?

[booksareneat]

I'm on the waitlist and still waiting. I probably will be for a while.

[riseandfall]

Ditto on the still waiting (anxiously). I've heard nothing since being notified that I'm on the waitlist.

[Sibilance7]

I'm still waiting. You will be the first to know if I hear anything, minniemouse!