Stony Brook IDPAS- POI not on the admissions committee

[Daisy123]

I just realized that the professor i want to work with at the university is NOT on the admissions committee....i was invited to visit before they met, and my hopes were high, but now i realize that if hes not in power then its probably pointless to hope there....ugh.....anyone with a story like this that might have a good ending?

[NOWAYNOHOW]

I wouldn't worry too much about this.  If departments only let in students of POIs on the adcomms, cohorts would be crazy lopsided!  It is my understanding that in most programs, the committees conduct initial meetings, but the final list of admitted students comes after a meeting with the entire faculty. 

[peachypie]

I wouldn't worry about this either.  once in an interview situation its more about how you do in the interviews, the POI would be important if you needed to get to that point.  Adcomm are there to make overall decisions but frequently people interview with people not necessarily within the realm of research of the applicant's interest and thats ok.  They are looking at you overall, not as research specific at that point.

[sarab]

How do you even find out who is in the adcom?

[Daisy123]

How do you even find out who is in the adcom?

well i asked my POI about decisions and he had ABSOLUTLY no info for me because he was not on the committee.....so they either talked to him before and now its up to them, or i had been imagining things....

[sarab]

Oh ok! Well, I really hope the adcom sees how great you are in the application regardless of you POI not being there.

[jellyfish1]

One of my POIs told me that at some schools, profs rank all the students that applied to work with them, and then a committee decides which of the top ranked students get offers. So if your poi ranked you highly, you would be being considered by other people but based on his recommendation. He would DEFINITELY have a great deal of say over who is admitted as his advisee. It wouldn't make any sense for him not to have a say.

[jellyfish1]

Also, didn't you say in another thread that this school gave you some reimbursement for your visit? That, again, is an amazingly good sign. These departments do not offer money for visits if they are not seriously interested in the student. They do not have the kind of money to do that for everyone. Don't stress. We just have to try to stay calm and wait it out.

[Daisy123]

yes they did.....i am trying to stay positive and some days i wake up feeling that way and some days i wake up thinking that i stand noooo chance...especial when i start picking my little brain with little details like this..

[Daisy123]

I just found out that a letter had been sent to me on January 31......and i am really going to sleep by the mail box if i dont get it today. 

[Daisy123]

i am sorry to say i was rejected from stony brook - not even a wait list- they did not take in any archaeology people this year. 

[sarab]

i am sorry to say i was rejected from stony brook - not even a wait list- they did not take in any archaeology people this year. 

 

What?! They should have notified people in advance, so that applicants didn't lose their time and money. I'm really sorry about that. Hope you hear some good news soon.

[jellyfish1]

Sorry to hear that. It sounds like they had given you so many positive signals. That stinks. Good luck with your other apps!

[Daisy123]

thank you guys.....but i kind of lost hope already....i am starting to make plans about what i am going to do next year....i just have a feeling. I was really secretly optimistic about this school. Its one thing to get rejected as a first response from Stanford where i am not a great fit anyway and it ISSs a super exclusive school....but to be rejected as a first response from the place i had hope for- it feels really disheartening .

my only glimpse of hope now is that wait list from UCLA

[sarab]

Aww Daisy, I'm sorry you're feeling so bummed. Sending you good vibes and good luck!