Still waiting... I think?

[groverj3]

Well, I mostly lurk around this place. I don't post too often. You might remember who I am (probably not).

 

I applied to 8 PhD programs in Biochemistry/Molecular/Cell Biology and didn't get into any of them. My undergrad GPA was probably the reason, it was a 3.3 overall. My GREs were decent, but nothing special I suppose. ETS also decided to lower my percentile ranks by comparing me to people who took the new version of the test (I took mine in 2010, before it was revised). I have 4 years of lab experience in academia as well as 2 years now at a biotech company. Also have my name on a publication, so those things would've helped. Anyway, that's the background info.

 

I also applied for two professional masters programs as well, one at Arizona and another at Rutgers (who I still haven't heard from). I'd be happy to attend either. Perhaps, if I do well and still feel like continuing I could apply to a PhD program again afterwords. If not, I'd still have something more than a B.S. which would still open some doors to me.

 

Fast forward to Thursday, last week. I received an email from the department chair at Arizona saying they're recommending me for admission to the Molecular and Cellular Biology MS program I applied to! Took me by surprise, because the deadline isn't until the 15th, and they told me I wouldn't hear anything until after that. The letter was very positive sounding, and used language that led me to believe that this was pretty much a done deal. They even asked me to decide whether or not I would accept their "offer" (despite this not technically being an offer). However, they mentioned the need for a final review by the graduate college. I figure, no big deal... right? The department wants me in, so since this is an MS and not funded... I'd imagine the school is fine with taking my money. UA's policy is base admission on your GPA for the final 60 credits of undergrad, minimum 3.0. While I feel silly to admit it, this could be a problem.

 

My lower than average undergrad GPA is mostly caused by a large dropoff in GPA my second semester of my junior year which continued senior year. I'm sure you've heard the story before, double major burnout, too many long nights in the library, girlfriend cheating, general depression, etc. I'm sure that large dropoff looks pretty terrible, seeing as I was holding about a 3.6 before that.

 

So, I went and calculated my GPA for the last 60 credits. It doesn't line up with the end of a semester and depending on which classes I use from that semester it's either 2.9 or 3.0. If I include the whole semester it's 3.1. Talk about living on the edge.

 

I'm encouraged by the letter I received... and I feel like they wouldn't have bothered if they weren't expecting me to get in. I hear stories all the time about people with good experience and letters of recommendation getting into places much more competitive with lower GPAs than I have. Obviously it's rare, but it happens.

 

I'm probably freaking out too much. The general consensus is that people rarely get rejected after being recommended for admission. So, should I try to chill out about it? Am I just paranoid after 8 rejection emails from other programs?

[groverj3]

Apparently I was being totally irrational. It's a good feeling to finally have a destination. Moving to the desert in the middle of the summer sounds rough! However, it's nice to get admitted somewhere finally!

[Nia29]

Congrats!!! Its always nice to read a story with a happy ending.

[stephchristine0]

better than no rejection emails and still living in obsolete reality 

[newlyadmit13]

Congrats! I really wish my story ended like yours , I am also still waiting, no email, no change on the online app website, nothing....I am losing my hope, and even started to think that they forgot about my applications and never reviewed it

[bluesea10]

Congrats! I really wish my story ended like yours , I am also still waiting, no email, no change on the online app website, nothing....I am losing my hope, and even started to think that they forgot about my applications and never reviewed it

You ought to contact the director(s) of your program(s). I was in the same situation, and finally sent an email and got some news that way (still waiting on a decision, but at least now I know what's going on). I would email rather than call, and just politely ask if you could get a status update and let them know you are still interested. You never know what goes on behind the scenes in the department - it might not be you at all and just an administrative thing.

[Fajj]

Congratulations. I also look forward to the day I'll share my success story. The wait is tough especially when there is no way to know the current status of your application and when the program coordinator does not acknowledge nor respond to your emails asking about your application even after 6 months of submission.