acamp1545 Posted May 9, 2013 Posted May 9, 2013 Hi all, I'm a little new here. I hope this message is in the right section. I applied to a PhD program in Integrative Biology and have been sending application materials as I receive them. So far, the school only had my GRE scores and my transcripts-no letters of recommendation, no statement of purpose, and no supplemental application (required for the program). I had an advisor interested in working with me provided we could come up with an interesting project and funding. Well, I received a notice of denial from the school I was applying to. I really cannot appeal to the professor I want to work with since we don't have a solid project lined up and he hasn't written a letter of sponsorship. What I'm getting at is-can a school deny you before they have all of your application materials? I don't feel like I got a fair shot. None of the materials were late (the application cycle doesn't close for a few months). I'm stunned at the moment. It wouldn't be so bad if the school had everything and then decided to reject me-I'd understand that, but to deny me without having everything in front of them just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
Eigen Posted May 9, 2013 Posted May 9, 2013 My guess is that the school's doing rolling admissions, and they've already filled their slots for this year. Assuming you're in the US, that's the only reason I can think that applications would be open for another couple of months. Usually, applications close sometime January-February, and most decisions for the next year have been made in April. My school technically keeps applications open (no deadline), but almost all the slots are filled by this time of year, so unless someone unexpectedly drops out late, or there's a fantastic candidate, you might well get rejected with a partial application in.
acamp1545 Posted May 9, 2013 Author Posted May 9, 2013 It's not rolling admissions for my program. I started an application a couple of months ago for the Fall of 2014. The due date for everything is around January 15, 2013.
dazedandbemused Posted May 9, 2013 Posted May 9, 2013 It's not rolling admissions for my program. I started an application a couple of months ago for the Fall of 2014. The due date for everything is around January 15, 2013. Unless that's a typo, I think you just answered your own question. That due date is almost four months ago.
somethinbruin Posted May 9, 2013 Posted May 9, 2013 If it was a typo and your deadline is Jan. 2014, your application may have gotten caught up in some deadline confusion. If you were working in Jan-May 2013 on an application due Jan. 2014, then your application likely got filed in with the 2013 applicants. If that was the case, then around May I would expect them to send out automatic rejections to the incomplete applications on file. Schools don't usually see applicants working on an application a full calendar year before they're due, so generally after they are done with the current year of applications, they'll close out those files, wipe the slate clean, and open up the application process for next year. I know some of the applications I filled out this year asked me to specify which semester I would be enrolling, but others did not an just assumed I was applying for the upcoming fall. I don't know if this is how your situation played out, but it's worth considering.
acamp1545 Posted May 9, 2013 Author Posted May 9, 2013 Yes that was a typo. I guess I will have to call the admissions office and straighten things out. Thanks for your help everyone!
Eigen Posted May 10, 2013 Posted May 10, 2013 Just chiming back in to say that you probably got lumped in with this years, and denied base on an incomplete application. Many schools have an "open" date, when they open applications for the year- usually around August or September. And they clear out all the old applicants before that, and start fresh. I'd just call/e-mail the program coordinator (secretary) and let them know what happened.
Recommended Posts