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Posted (edited)

Any one headed off for a visit this weekend or next or the one after that? Talk about it here. I, unfortunately, only have wait-list offers thus far, so no visits just yet for me. 

I'm going to visit UCR Wed-Fri for their recruitment event. Feel free to PM me if you are as well.

Edited by perpetualapplicant
Posted

I'm visiting Vanderbilt, Penn State and Emory (in that order) starting two weeks from now. Anyone else going there?

Posted

I will be visiting Emory around the end of March. When will you be visiting Johannes?

 

Also, I have a few questions about the visiting process. Although we are already accepted to the program, I am still anxious about the visiting process. What do you all plan on doing when visiting and chatting with professors and students? Obviously we all want to get a feel for the department, but I am wondering how anyone thinks the best way to do that is. All I can think of right now is determining what the professors are currently working on and what they see there future career plans being (some of the professors I would like to work with have been profs for a long time so I would like to know if they are thinking about going emeritus/retiring soon). Any other ideas or suggestions?

Posted

I will be visiting Emory around the end of March. When will you be visiting Johannes?

 

Also, I have a few questions about the visiting process. Although we are already accepted to the program, I am still anxious about the visiting process. What do you all plan on doing when visiting and chatting with professors and students? Obviously we all want to get a feel for the department, but I am wondering how anyone thinks the best way to do that is. All I can think of right now is determining what the professors are currently working on and what they see there future career plans being (some of the professors I would like to work with have been profs for a long time so I would like to know if they are thinking about going emeritus/retiring soon). Any other ideas or suggestions?

 

When I visited Arizona, this is basically what I did. I sat down and asked what classes they had taught recently, what projects they were currently working on, what classes they thought they might be teaching in the future... etc. I asked the grad students what they were interested in, what they enjoyed about the program, how accessible they found the faculty. 

 

I wouldn't be too nervous about this. Grad programs, especially the faculty, are used to this sort of thing and likely have a plan on how to give prospectives a good idea about how the department is over the course of a visit. 

Posted

what they see there future career plans being (some of the professors I would like to work with have been profs for a long time so I would like to know if they are thinking about going emeritus/retiring soon). Any other ideas or suggestions?

 

Can anyone advise how (/to whom) to ask this question tactfully.

Posted

Can anyone advise how (/to whom) to ask this question tactfully.

I had this concern about one of the schools I was interested in.  I just asked the POI, "What are your plans for the next five years?"  You can also ask the more direct question, "Would I be able to have you as my primary advisor for my dissertation three years from now?" or some such thing.  It's tactful insofar as you don't point out that they're rather long in the teeth...

Posted

I'm visiting Wisconsin-Madison for the prospective student weekend on March 28-30. Feel free PM me if you'll be there.  

Posted

I'm visiting Duke March 17th-20th, WUSTL March 20th-22nd, and UNC-Chapel Hill March 30th-April 1st.  If anyone is attending any of those, feel free to send me a message.  It would be nice to know someone before going.  

Posted (edited)

Question: how should a waitlisted student approach visiting programs?

 

I would email the department and express interest in visiting. But perhaps don't expect the department to fund the visit.

Edited by wandajune
Posted

I would email the department and express interest in visiting. But perhaps don't expect the department to fund the visit.

 

At which point would you do this? How soon do students usually visit their programs?

Posted (edited)

At which point would you do this? How soon do students usually visit their programs?

 

I don't know if there's a right or wrong way to go about this, or a particular timeline you should follow. I know I would probably email them pretty early on and ask how good the chance of admission might be, and whether it would be possible to schedule a visit. I'm personally hesitant about attending a program if I don't get the opportunity to visit, and if there's any chance of being admitted off the waitlist, it only seems fair that you should get an opportunity to visit the department.

Other people may want to weigh in on this.

Edited by wandajune
Posted

I don't know if there's a right or wrong way to go about this, or a particular timeline you should follow. I know I would probably email them pretty early on and ask how good the chance of admission might be, and whether it would be possible to schedule a visit. I'm personally hesitant about attending a program if I don't get the opportunity to visit, and if there's any chance of being admitted off the waitlist, it only seems fair that you should get an opportunity to visit the department.

Other people may want to weigh in on this.

I already contacted the departments. I was told that I was "very" likely to be admitted to the one program, and I was told that I was relatively "high" on the other waitlist. I don't know how seriously I should take either responses, but I'm wondering if I should follow up with the programs at this point and ask about a visit - or if I should give it a little more time.

Posted (edited)

Question: how should a waitlisted student approach visiting programs?

 

I would frame it as a preemptive measure for making your decision easier (and therefore quicker, which would be helpful for them as well, given the following scenario) in case you are accepted off the waitlist late but must decide between multiple offers with no time to visit. 

Edited by lesage13
Posted (edited)

I already contacted the departments. I was told that I was "very" likely to be admitted to the one program, and I was told that I was relatively "high" on the other waitlist. I don't know how seriously I should take either responses, but I'm wondering if I should follow up with the programs at this point and ask about a visit - or if I should give it a little more time.

 

A bit off topic. but can I infer from your sig that Wisconsin has told you either that you are 'very likely to be admitted' or that 'you are relatively high on their waitlist'? I'm interested, since I've been waitlisted by Wisconsin as well, but haven't heard anything since their original email saying that they won't have any information about waitlist positions till closer to Apr.

Edited by lesage13
Posted

I already contacted the departments. I was told that I was "very" likely to be admitted to the one program, and I was told that I was relatively "high" on the other waitlist. I don't know how seriously I should take either responses, but I'm wondering if I should follow up with the programs at this point and ask about a visit - or if I should give it a little more time.

 

I wouldn't wait until you've been accepted to ask about visiting, simply because that news might come later in April. And I don't see how asking about a visit could necessarily hurt you.

Posted (edited)

I would frame it as a preemptive measure for making your decision easier (and therefore quicker, which would be helpful for them as well, given the following scenario) in case you are accepted off the waitlist late but must decide between multiple offers with no time to visit. 

 

How's something like this?

"I wanted to let you know that I am still very interested in the program. I believe visiting the department in person will help me a great deal in reaching a decision, if the department ends up admitting me. Could you please provide me with some information on the visitation process? What are my options?"

(I'm very paranoid about email these programs, haha.)

Edited by zblaesi
Posted

How's something like this?

"I wanted to let you know that I am still very interested in the program. I believe visiting the department in person will help me a great deal in reaching a decision, if the department ends up admitting me. Could you please provide me with some information on the visitation process? What are my options?"

(I'm very paranoid about email these programs, haha.)

 

I'm sure something along those lines is fine! I'm no expert, though. Perhaps run it by one of your professors if you're feeling particularly paranoid, just to make sure it comes across appropriately?

Posted

How's something like this?

"I wanted to let you know that I am still very interested in the program. I believe visiting the department in person will help me a great deal in reaching a decision, if the department ends up admitting me. Could you please provide me with some information on the visitation process? What are my options?"

(I'm very paranoid about email these programs, haha.)

 

 

If you send this, they are definitely going to take you off the waiting list. Don't do it.

 

 

Just kidding, it sounds great.  :D

Posted

If you send this, they are definitely going to take you off the waiting list. Don't do it.

 

 

Just kidding, it sounds great.  :D

I'm going to admit it... that first sentence got to me until my brain kicked in and went, "He's trolling. Everything is going to be okay."

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