Waitlist Agony - 2014 Edition

[bre333]

So I tried the whole: I got into another school, very polite strong arming tactic. Didn't get me anywhere except that apparently the waitlist I'm on is short and unordered. Its my top choice and probably the best school I applied to in my area but I'm not sure how I feel about being someones second choice. Is that just arrogance on my part? Is there anyone around here lurking who attended a school they got into off the waitlist? Did it feel like anyone treated you differently when you got there? I mean its not like undergrad with thousands of people, these are small and personal >.>

Something else to keep in mind is that they only waitlist people that they would be happy to accept. I too get a little paranoid about this, but I always remind myself "if they didn't want me, they'd just reject me."

[when]

So I tried the whole: I got into another school, very polite strong arming tactic. Didn't get me anywhere except that apparently the waitlist I'm on is short and unordered. Its my top choice and probably the best school I applied to in my area but I'm not sure how I feel about being someones second choice. Is that just arrogance on my part? Is there anyone around here lurking who attended a school they got into off the waitlist? Did it feel like anyone treated you differently when you got there? I mean its not like undergrad with thousands of people, these are small and personal >.>

 

At first I worried about the same thing while I was on the wait list, but since getting accepted, I really, really don't care; I'm just elated! You also don't know what happened behind the scenes i.e. it's not always the case that there is a preferred student before you - your POI may themselves be on a wait list. In any case, my program has an admission rate of only 5%, so I'd still be thrilled even if I was their very last choice!

[aphdapplicant]

@DeltaSkelta

...I'd be thrilled even if they cringed while writing my acceptance letter !

Edited March 28, 2014 by aphdapplicant

[Greyhound111]

All - Can anyone reply back on the longest period of time a wait listed student waited before an acceptance (that you know about)?  Spoke to one school today about it, and was actually told it could take as long as July or August if there is still unresolved issues about a spot in a particular class ... is that true?  Cause it sounds like once you're wait listed and April 15th has come and gone ... and there's no May 1 deposit deadline like there is for Undergrad... it literally is a waiting period with no bounds other than the start of the next academic term... 

 

Also - is there any such thing as a wait list that IS in a particular order?  Seems like all the schools say the same thing - we have a wait list but its not in any particular order.  How the heck do they even decide whom to take from the list when a spot does become available?

Edited March 28, 2014 by Greyhound111

[Nautiloid]

So the wait continues for my top choice school. I looked at some of their admittance statistics from years past and it seems that on average about 30% of their admitted prospective students actually attend. Problem is that this year they've admitted only about 20% of what they usually do. I'm not sure if that makes my chances better or worse. Seems they're looking for a class of about 15-18 this year and admitted around 20, where as in prior years the class size has been 30-40 out of over 100 admitted. While I have a deep respect for their decision to reduce their incoming class size, I feel like I've been shafted on this admissions round. At least they told me I was near the top of the wait list. The department chair seems to have some confidence that I'll still get in, but I haven't heard anything since he emailed me about my position back in February. I just don't like getting my hopes up. It would be a very cruel moment should I be rejected after he took the time to personally email me about my position, unprompted.  </vent>

 

On the bright side, I have been accepted to my second choice school, which I really liked. The only problem is that it might end my current relationship due to distance, but I'm willing to deal with that should it be impossible to avoid.

 

This has been one hell of a ride.  

[kimmibeans]

I just got wait listed at my top choice. Sent them an email saying that they are my top choice and that I hope to hear from them soon. Fingers crossed for good news!

[bre333]

All - Can anyone reply back on the longest period of time a wait listed student waited before an acceptance (that you know about)?  Spoke to one school today about it, and was actually told it could take as long as July or August if there is still unresolved issues about a spot in a particular class ... is that true?  Cause it sounds like once you're wait listed and April 15th has come and gone ... and there's no May 1 deposit deadline like there is for Undergrad... it literally is a waiting period with no bounds other than the start of the next academic term... 

 

Also - is there any such thing as a wait list that IS in a particular order?  Seems like all the schools say the same thing - we have a wait list but its not in any particular order.  How the heck do they even decide whom to take from the list when a spot does become available?

I can't speak as to the first issue (I've always heard the deadline is April 15th, period, but that could just be for the programs I'm interested in or I may be misinformed!), but as to the second, I've definitely heard of ordered waitlists. One reason a waitlist may be unordered is that you may be waitlisted, but for one professor. So, there are 15 waitlist applicants, and they aren't ordered, because it doesn't matter whether you're #1 or #12, it only matters whether your professor winds up with an open spot or not. Decisions are made off the waitlist on a variety of factors, some of which are the same as pre-waitlist factors (fit, grades, etc), some are not. I talked with the professor whose research lab I'm volunteering for--he's on the admissions committee at his school, and he had a bit of insight. He said that the level you contact your professor definitely impacts your place on the waitlist, and it can help or harm you. If you contact too much and are annoying, or make unreasonable demands on their time, you go down the list. If you don't contact at all, they assume you aren't interested, and go down the list. If you contact the right amount (every 2 weeks after being told, he suggested), then they know you're very interested but you haven't acted inappropriately, and you go up the list. Of course, there's no guarantee, and that's just his experience at his school.

[when]

All - Can anyone reply back on the longest period of time a wait listed student waited before an acceptance (that you know about)?  Spoke to one school today about it, and was actually told it could take as long as July or August if there is still unresolved issues about a spot in a particular class ... is that true?  Cause it sounds like once you're wait listed and April 15th has come and gone ... and there's no May 1 deposit deadline like there is for Undergrad... it literally is a waiting period with no bounds other than the start of the next academic term... 

 

Also - is there any such thing as a wait list that IS in a particular order?  Seems like all the schools say the same thing - we have a wait list but its not in any particular order.  How the heck do they even decide whom to take from the list when a spot does become available?

bre333 raises some good points. Another reason it may not always be possible to give a wait list ranking is that one faculty member with no other existing grad students may have a spot roll to the next person on on their wait list if their first choice declines, whereas another faculty member who already has several grad students may be forced to defer to another faculty member with fewer existing students if their first choice declines. I was told this is often a factor in situations where not all faculty members can take new students. In this scenario you would hope your POI has few existing students and that the people declining their offers have POIs with lots of existing students.

[dchris]

All - Can anyone reply back on the longest period of time a wait listed student waited before an acceptance (that you know about)?  Spoke to one school today about it, and was actually told it could take as long as July or August if there is still unresolved issues about a spot in a particular class ... is that true?  Cause it sounds like once you're wait listed and April 15th has come and gone ... and there's no May 1 deposit deadline like there is for Undergrad... it literally is a waiting period with no bounds other than the start of the next academic term... 

 

Also - is there any such thing as a wait list that IS in a particular order?  Seems like all the schools say the same thing - we have a wait list but its not in any particular order.  How the heck do they even decide whom to take from the list when a spot does become available?

 

I can't say anything for length of time spent on a wait list, as I was informed at the beginning of February and am STILL waiting 2 months later. As the US graduate school deadline is April 15, I am supposed to know for sure by then.

 

However, my program did give me the equivalent of a ranked wait list, and this really seems to vary greatly based on the type of program. Biological anthropology programs are very small, only admit students if they are funded (meaning an acceptance is also an offer of funding), and my top choice program is only admitting 4 students this year. They also chose 4 "alternates" in case any of the 4 offered admission decline, and these alternates are ranked (their version of a wait list). Of the 4 slots, there were also 6 professors competing to have a student accepted. Therefore, the ranking could be based on the actual candidates stats, or it could be based on the professors wanting to accept certain students. My POI has been incredibly accessible through my entire application process, and emailed me himself to inform me of my "wait list" spot as #1 alternate, meaning I am first in should any of the top 4 decline. He has since corresponded with me several times as I have received other offers, but can give no exact idea of how good of a chance I have of getting in.

 

I would say that if you are in good contact with your POI, email them directly and discuss your chances of being accepted off of the wait list, and be honest about other offers you have or have not received. It doesn't hurt to reiterate that you are very interested in the program, but at this stage it doesn't make a difference if you are sending more information/letters of rec etc. as the admission decision has essentially been made--if a spot opens up you will get in, if not you won't.

[iphi]

My top choice is of course where I am waitlisted. I have decided on a school where I was accepted since I assume the waitlist will not come through... at this school each POI has their own waitlist and there are supposedly no rankings. So basically I have no idea what my chances are.

I emailed a few times with the POI at the school and she always responded promptly (in about two days). Last I heard from her was March 8, saying she hoped to let me know within the week because she knew some students were making decisions. Well, about 10 days ago (March 20? 21?) I wrote to her again asking for an update and have heard nothing! Can I write to her again or just figure she would have written me if it was good news and let it go? I want to tell the school where I will be accepting at (assuming the waitlist school doesn't come through) ASAP because they've been so great to me and found me really good funding, but part of me (a big part!) is wishing a miracle will happen. But April 15 is 2 weeks away so I am losing hope every day.

[Nautiloid]

Update from top choice: 

 

"I am writing with an update on the CMB waiting list. We have not reached our admissions target, and there is a good chance that we will offer you admission. However, we need to wait another 10 days or so until we hear back from some more of our first admit pool. Please let me know whether you have committed elsewhere. If not, let me know whether UCI remains a top choice for you and please hold off on accepting other offers."

 

THERE'S STILL HOPE! 

 

Except that this is only going to make it much worse if I still end up with a rejection. So many mixed feelings right now. Agh. 

[iphi]

Update from top choice: 

 

"I am writing with an update on the CMB waiting list. We have not reached our admissions target, and there is a good chance that we will offer you admission. However, we need to wait another 10 days or so until we hear back from some more of our first admit pool. Please let me know whether you have committed elsewhere. If not, let me know whether UCI remains a top choice for you and please hold off on accepting other offers."

 

THERE'S STILL HOPE! 

 

Except that this is only going to make it much worse if I still end up with a rejection. So many mixed feelings right now. Agh. 

 

Congratulations! That's great news! I have this fear that the people I'm waiting on hearing from also have students who are waiting to get off other waitlists, and so on and so forth, like a giant game of chicken! haha.

[DNARNA]

Update from top choice: 

 

"I am writing with an update on the CMB waiting list. We have not reached our admissions target, and there is a good chance that we will offer you admission. However, we need to wait another 10 days or so until we hear back from some more of our first admit pool. Please let me know whether you have committed elsewhere. If not, let me know whether UCI remains a top choice for you and please hold off on accepting other offers."

 

THERE'S STILL HOPE! 

 

Except that this is only going to make it much worse if I still end up with a rejection. So many mixed feelings right now. Agh. 

I think this is pretty awesome! Congratulations! If you have any questions about UCI and the faculty over there feel free to mesage me and I will be more than happy to share what I know

[cfg]

Has anyone else received only waitlists and rejections? Apparently I'm at the top of at least one waitlist, but the waiting is killing me...

[kimmibeans]

Has anyone else received only waitlists and rejections? Apparently I'm at the top of at least one waitlist, but the waiting is killing me...

That's where I am right now, but I don't know where I stand on my waitlist. I'd say that this is driving me insane, but I'm actually much calmer being on a waitlist than I was hearing nothing at all.

[restill]

Okay, I'll cave. I have a question that's been bothering me for a few weeks.

 

I have been waitlisted at my top school, and accepted to my second choice with full funding. The deadline is in 2 weeks, right?

 

From what I understand, first-round candidates are supposed to submit their decisions by April 15th.

 

Because I'm a first-round candidate for my second choice school, should I absolutely make a decision for them, even if I haven't heard from my top choice school yet (I really really really hope I hear from them before then, but even so...)?

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

[smpalesh]

If you turn down the second choice school you run the risk of not getting in anywhere if you don't get into the first choice school.  I would try contacting first choice school and ask if there is any update in your status.  If not I would go with second choice school because at least you know you are in there.  There is never a guarantee of getting off a waitlist.

 

Okay, I'll cave. I have a question that's been bothering me for a few weeks.

 

I have been waitlisted at my top school, and accepted to my second choice with full funding. The deadline is in 2 weeks, right?

 

From what I understand, first-round candidates are supposed to submit their decisions by April 15th.

 

Because I'm a first-round candidate for my second choice school, should I absolutely make a decision for them, even if I haven't heard from my top choice school yet (I really really really hope I hear from them before then, but even so...)?

 

Thanks for the advice!

[restill]

If you turn down the second choice school you run the risk of not getting in anywhere if you don't get into the first choice school.  I would try contacting first choice school and ask if there is any update in your status.  If not I would go with second choice school because at least you know you are in there.  There is never a guarantee of getting off a waitlist.

 

Never a guarantee of getting off a waitlist. I'm so glad you said this. I keep forgetting I could be stuck there forever if I don't act on it. I'll send my POI a message at the beginning of next week, if I don't hear from them before then. He's been incredibly helpful (and fairly positive) about everything so far. He said that 5 people were accepted in January, and if any of them reject their offer, I would be back in the running. I really hope they don't rank those who are waitlisted...so stressful.

 

Thank you!

[aurora_nova]

Okay, I'll cave. I have a question that's been bothering me for a few weeks.

 

I have been waitlisted at my top school, and accepted to my second choice with full funding. The deadline is in 2 weeks, right?

 

From what I understand, first-round candidates are supposed to submit their decisions by April 15th.

 

Because I'm a first-round candidate for my second choice school, should I absolutely make a decision for them, even if I haven't heard from my top choice school yet (I really really really hope I hear from them before then, but even so...)?

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

 

I'm in a similar situation. I too am waitlisted at my top choice program, and have been accepted to another program with funding. It's not full funding, but it's the only funding I've gotten, and I need some kind of funding in order to attend. I haven't heard anything from the program I was waitlisted at since they informed me in February, and even then if I had not emailed to check on my status, I may not have even found out that I'd been waitlisted. Since the April 15th deadline is approaching soon, I emailed the program again this past week to find out if there was any update on the situation. I really don't want to have to make a decision without knowing if there's any chance I might get in to my top choice program, but at the same time, unless anything changes between now and April 15th, I don't think I can turn down the offer with funding, unless I decide that I'm okay with not going to grad school right away. 

 

I really can't say what's best for you to do. The only advice I can offer is that you may want to email or call the program and ask for an update, and if you are dependent on funding for attending grad school, you may want to accept the offer from your second choice if you don't hear from your first choice by April 15th. If on the off chance you accept and do get accepted at your first choice, you may still have the option to back out of your enrollment, depending on the school. From what I've read, it's not necessarily considered good form, and you'll probably lose any deposit you put down, but it does happen. 

Anyway, I understand the feeling. Hang in there!

[Nautiloid]

Congratulations! That's great news! I have this fear that the people I'm waiting on hearing from also have students who are waiting to get off other waitlists, and so on and so forth, like a giant game of chicken! haha.

 

Same here, especially because UCI is only admitting about a fifth of what they usually do, and I'm afraid everyone is going to jump in at once and want to go there. Here's to hoping that those accepted were extremely strong candidates that got into lots of other schools!

 

DNARNA: Thanks! I'll send you a pm should I receive good news of acceptance. One of the things I really liked about UCI is how transparent they've been about everything (even told me in the interview what the situation was with decreasing the incoming class size), so I shouldn't need to ask too many questions.  

[katiegud]

AHHH! My status on the scholarship website has been updated from "Reserve" (UK version of waitlist) to "Award." NO official email from the school. Does that mean I got it? I'm freaking out right now. This would be full funding for me, vs no funding at my other offers.

[iphi]

AHHH! My status on the scholarship website has been updated from "Reserve" (UK version of waitlist) to "Award." NO official email from the school. Does that mean I got it? I'm freaking out right now. This would be full funding for me, vs no funding at my other offers.

 

Fingers crossed!

[aurora_nova]

Just got an email from the program I'm waitlisted at in response to my asking for an update. The graduate program coordinator said that unfortunately there are a lot of people on the wait list, and my chances are "not very strong at this stage."

 

It's my top choice program, so I'm feeling pretty bummed right now, and I still have the April 15th deadline to consider for one of the programs I was admitted to. It definitely feels like a giant game of chicken. 

[floradeambrosia]

I've been waitlisted (rank: 1) at my top-choice since February like many of you. How are you guys coping with the fact that April 15th is so close? Does this mean that others who were given admission in the first round are possibly waitlisted at their first choice? I almost wish there was complete transparency--like a program online that gives you a live feed of people who have accepted their offers at the school, who are likely to reject, who are likely to accept, etc.! At least we'd have a better idea of our chances! 

 

I'm hoping we all hear good news soon!! Miracles do happen!

[aurora_nova]

I've been waitlisted (rank: 1) at my top-choice since February like many of you. How are you guys coping with the fact that April 15th is so close? 

 

My first coping mechanism was to contact the program and try to get an update, but I'm not sure that helped much, as you can see from my previous post. The program wouldn't tell me where exactly I am on the waitlist, just that there's quite a few people before me, so while I have a little bit of a better idea, it still seems like it's up in the air and dependent on who accepts and who declines. I'm betting at this point that I probably won't hear anything before April 15th. 

 

So...on to coping mechanism #2: eat copious amounts of chocolate (and maybe through some wine drinking in there as well), hope for a better funding offer from one of my accepted programs so my decision will be easier, and overall try not to think about the waitlist issue until I'm forced to make the decision in about a week and a half...