Is it Possible for a University to reject you if you have a POI supervisor?

[Madii911]

Hello,

 

I have recently scored a POI supervisor at the University of Sydney. We have also decided upon the project I will be working in. How much of an impact does this have on my university application? Considering that I fulfill all the eligibility requirements of the program (Masters in research), do I still have to remain worried about the university rejecting me a place of admission?

[Dedi]

Having a POI that is willing to take you in really helps your application, but I don't think it guarantees admission. I have secured supervisors from three universities, but I'm not expecting to get accepted to all three.

[TakeruK]

It depends on the school and country. I'm not sure how Australia works but in Canada, securing a supervisor is basically the only way to get admission. Unlike the US, some countries like Canada basically hire grad students at the supervisor level (i.e. the department will check all applications to ensure they meet minimum standards and then it's up to each professor to decide if that prof wants to hire the grad student or not). So if you were asking the same question in Canada, my answer would be that you are pretty much guaranteed to be admitted if the professor says they want to admit you (but you have to be careful to distinguish between a prof being interested in you and a prof actually deciding to take you on). 

[prospecting]

I had a Professor who was interested in hiring me. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful at appealing to the committee to bring me on under his supervision largely because the department was lacking funds that year. Although, having a POI support your application usually guarantees admission, there are still many factors that go into accepting a student; funding, minimum grades, departmental support, criminal background, etc. 

 

I never count my chickens before they hatch but, all in all, I would not be worried. I'd say hope for the best and keep going until you receive something

 

Good luck with your application!

[MathCat]

I'm not sure how Australia works but in Canada, securing a supervisor is basically the only way to get admission. Unlike the US, some countries like Canada basically hire grad students at the supervisor level (i.e. the department will check all applications to ensure they meet minimum standards and then it's up to each professor to decide if that prof wants to hire the grad student or not). So if you were asking the same question in Canada, my answer would be that you are pretty much guaranteed to be admitted if the professor says they want to admit you (but you have to be careful to distinguish between a prof being interested in you and a prof actually deciding to take you on). 

I think this is highly dependent on your program. It is not this way in all areas.

 

On topic: it certainly helps, but does not guarantee anything. Don't go buying plane tickets just yet or anything.

Edited November 28, 2014 by MathCat

[procedural memory]

One of my colleagues, who was the PI, once wanted to accept an undegraduate as a doctoral student to the program. Since that undergrad had been an assistant working in her lab for years, they had a very good working relationship. However, that undergraduate didn't get accepted to the program. Becuase the PI was notoriously treacherous and not respected by other faculty members in the program, the application review committee didn't let her pick whom she wanted to admit to her lab.

Edited November 30, 2014 by LeOie

[Kleio_77]

I have a POI who said that he is willing to supervise me, and that he is chair of the admissions committee but he cannot guarantee my acceptance. He said that depending on the admissions committee's decisions, he will let them know that he has already provisionally agreed to be my supervisor. This does not make me feel very "safe" however, and I am not counting on an admission just yet or at all. 

[ARJS]

Well a couple of months ago I had several exchanges of emails and Skype interviews with my POI detailing on the topic of my prospective research and my application to the university. My POI admitted on Skype that he sees my application as very competitive one and that he likes it and he will give positive comments on it for further processing. Guess what... Last week I got a rejection.:-)

So no it is not guaranteed if your POI is positive or even enthusiastic about you as was in my case.

PS. The POI I'm talking about is a well known figure in my field and has a couple of books published. As he belonged to a well established university, the decision of the university prevailed.

All the best.