Will emailing schools kill chances?

[bioo]

I just want to know if emailing a grad program will affect my chances anyhow because I am REALLY at that stage of emailing schools to ask especially if they are rolling admissions? This is March, can't believe I have no idea at all where I am going in the fall.

[FreeRadical]

I'm right there with you. I emailed my schools yesterday because I have a scholarship offer that expires soon. In any case I don't think it's unreasonable to ask at this point, especially if you've seen that others have been accepted/rejected awhile ago.

 

Alternatively, based on other posts, calling seems to be a good way to get an immediate answer.

Edited March 4, 2014 by FreeRadical

[long_wait]

Better to call than email. But it is very unlikely that they would tell you the result. Best is to wait it out!

[APryhod]

Sending an email is not a bad idea. As long as you aren't constantly pestering them a short email asking about your standing won't hurt any.

[themmases]

No, I don't think so, as long as you're polite and are contacting the correct person an appropriate number of times. Admissions directors are just regular people, they're not going to get offended by these questions and actually it's their job to answer them.

 

You can avoid being annoying on accident by keeping it short, giving them any information they need to look up your specific application, and mentioning anything you tried already (e.g. if they have an application portal and you checked it and it's not updated). If a decision hasn't been made yet, they should let you know when they think you'll hear, and then you shouldn't contact them again before that.

[Crucial BBQ]

I just want to know if emailing a grad program will affect my chances anyhow because I am REALLY at that stage of emailing schools to ask especially if they are rolling admissions? This is March, can't believe I have no idea at all where I am going in the fall.

I don't think it will affect your "chance", however I would simply ask when you can reasonably expect a decision by, not what that decision may currently be. 

[PhDerp]

Finally cracked and e-mailed the last school I'm waiting on. I just want to start looking for apartments already...

[gryffindor.hero]

I emailed and got bad news. It felt good to be pro-active though. The stress of waiting was really getting to me. 

[PhDerp]

I emailed and got bad news. It felt good to be pro-active though. The stress of waiting was really getting to me. 

 

I really wish they would give out the bad news sooner!

 

Glad to hear the silver lining. Good luck!

[LittleDarlings]

No I sent so many emails to OSU

[bioo]

I did email some schools too. Some replied with the time frame. Then the last one replied days after to offer a conditional acceptance! 

[EngineerGrad]

I sent emails to every single school I applied asking for status update (in a friendly manner of course) 2 weeks ago.

From the moment i sent the email to now, I received 9 out of 11 responses. From these 9 emails, 8 included an acceptance notification, and 1 a rejection.

So.... I don't think emailing them kills your chances AT ALL

[pdh12]

I would give this wizened advice: Don't get Carried Away.  I've emailed this one particular adcomm (I think that's the expression used here) once every since late January. I think she's got my name/email memorized by now, and has figured out that I'm too neurotic for grad school....

 

My trigger-response is so connected to my endorphin at this point, that I just do it for the high.....

[dhg12]

I cracked as well and e-mailed the 2 programs I am still waiting on... though since my deadlines to accept/decline my current acceptances are March 21st and 24th I figured it was time to bite the bullet