wait listed?

[Health]

Hey how hopeful can I be if I am waitlisted for a phd program (i am waitlisted from two programs, both only take handful students each ear like 5-6)? Also, how do I find out where I stand in the wait list?

Edited March 5, 2013 by Health

[sweetpearl16]

I'm going through the same thing. Waitlisted at my top school which only accepts 5 students in archaeology. I was told by POI that I had been waitlisted so I asked him my position on the list. 

[Health]

I'm going through the same thing. Waitlisted at my top school which only accepts 5 students in archaeology. I was told by POI that I had been waitlisted so I asked him my position on the list. 

 

how do you know who your POI is? i am scared to contact professors, because I am not completely sure if they are interested in me

[sweetpearl16]

This was a professor with whom I had been in contact before and the person I was hoping would be my adviser if I were to attend. You could try contacting the Director of Graduate Studies or Graduate Coordinator explaining your position and asking if they could tell you where you are on the waitlist.

[acdelco]

Do you mind if I ask where you were wait listed Health? I think it depends on the school honestly but if you were placed on the wait list its not unrealistic to think you may get in. I've been wait listed at 2 schools also and have been in touch with the admission chairs/POI's I talked to and they both said "we really dont know". One school was a little more hopeful, and the other was less optimistic because historically they have had years they didn't use the wait list.

I was also told that wait lists for PhD (depending on discipline I guess) aren't really ranked, say you're interested in HIV and I'm intersted in maternal health if they've admitted someone who is interested in HIV and that person declines they would replace them with you rather than simply move down a list since they have to match students with professors. 

I'm hopeful to get into at least one of the programs  that wait listed me but there isn't much to do besides wait it out.

fingers crossed

[Health]

Do you mind if I ask where you were wait listed Health? I think it depends on the school honestly but if you were placed on the wait list its not unrealistic to think you may get in. I've been wait listed at 2 schools also and have been in touch with the admission chairs/POI's I talked to and they both said "we really dont know". One school was a little more hopeful, and the other was less optimistic because historically they have had years they didn't use the wait list.

I was also told that wait lists for PhD (depending on discipline I guess) aren't really ranked, say you're interested in HIV and I'm intersted in maternal health if they've admitted someone who is interested in HIV and that person declines they would replace them with you rather than simply move down a list since they have to match students with professors. 

I'm hopeful to get into at least one of the programs  that wait listed me but there isn't much to do besides wait it out.

fingers crossed

I don't know how much of getting "in touch" with the POI or professor is not rude or too intimidating.

[Reatha]

Honestly, they won't mind at this point. The worst they are going to do is not respond and simply delete your email. The best they can do is give you more information. 

 

I really don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to contacting professors. Honestly, this time of the year, the expect to get emails from applicants.