Rejection before LORs sent?

[ohgetmeawayfromhere]

I just received a rejection from the Columbia Sociology Masters program. I know for a fact that they have not received my 3rd recommendation yet (their website says LORs can be sent up to 2 weeks after the app deadline), which would have been my strongest. Is this something I should email them about or is this normal? I mean, I paid them $100 to review my application, I feel like they should at least look at the entire app...

[La_Di_Da]

Might the following also apply to the Free-Standing MA program deadline of March 15th?

 

http://sociology.columbia.edu/admissions

 

I will not have all my materials in by the December 15 deadline.  How will this affect my application?

We cannot guarantee the faculty admissions committee will review any incomplete applications

[julesevar]

"Applicants to the Free-Standing Masters program are not eligible for funding"... is a quote that would make me re-consider even applying. Sounds like a cash cow program to me.  Maybe it would work if you have the money or just really wanted to be in NYC.  That sucks though. 

[1848ce]

There's always money in the bananastand...

[oilandvinegar]

I just received a rejection from the Columbia Sociology Masters program. I know for a fact that they have not received my 3rd recommendation yet (their website says LORs can be sent up to 2 weeks after the app deadline), which would have been my strongest. Is this something I should email them about or is this normal? I mean, I paid them $100 to review my application, I feel like they should at least look at the entire app...

 

I doubt you'll be able to get them to reconsider your application, but you could ask for more information about why your application was rejected and/or what you could do to make your application stronger for next year. It sounds like you received a decision pretty quickly after the deadline, so I suspect their decision might be a GPA or GRE  score cut-off thing.

 

Good luck!