POI and Ethical Concerns

[AfricanScholar]

I had been in contact with my POI for at least One Year and Three Months before I officially submitted my Ph.D application this fall. I had initially planned to apply last year, but ETS cancelled the GRE exam in my country. Throughout our period of communication, my POI has been very supportive in bringing me in as a graduate student. Not only did he shared my articles with another professor in the department in order to secure his support for my application but he also arranged to visit me in my country. After my GRE exam which was a little bit bad, I contacted my POI and he encouraged me to proceed with the application because according to him I have an excellent SOP and writing sample. He also told me he had not requested for a student for a number of years so he believe his request will be granted this time. Now I have submitted my application and my POI informed me that the selection will be made on Jan 21. In his email, he told me he will try his best with the support of the other professor to bring me in but he is not sure what the other faculty or senior professors will do. He also told me that whatever the outcome of the application turns out to be he his not ethically permitted to tell me only the official word of the department can do that. Four days after the day of the selection, I emailed him about some new developments in my area of research and he replied excellently. I was thinking I will be able to read meaning in his reply, but I couldn't.   Now I am curious to know whether or not I am selected most especially because that is the only school I applied (the application fee is a constraint for me). Any thoughts will be appreciated 

[nervous.]

I think you will jus have to wait and see. It sounds like he is doing his best but that it is not only in his hands. I really wish you luck!

[Eigen]

If he said he was ethically bound to not tell you, I wouldn't push. 

 

He's already done you a lot of favors, don't be greedy.

[AfricanScholar]

I think you will jus have to wait and see. It sounds like he is doing his best but that it is not only in his hands. I really wish you luck!

 

Yes you are right but the wait can sometimes exhaust once patience. Anyway I really wish you good luck as well. 

 

If he said he was ethically bound to not tell you, I wouldn't push. 

 

He's already done you a lot of favors, don't be greedy.

 

Thanks for the advice although I wasn't being greedy I am only anxious like all other graduate students.

[Kleene]

I do think it is a bit weird not to tell you, but since he already implied that he was not going to tell you I suppose he must have his reasons. I agree with the previous posters. Good luck with the final wait!

[AfricanScholar]

I do think it is a bit weird not to tell you, but since he already implied that he was not going to tell you I suppose he must have his reasons. I agree with the previous posters. Good luck with the final wait!

 

I think most POI always maintain the ethics of their department by not informing the prospective graduate applicants the application results. This is the best thing to do although some prospective applicants like me might be eager to hear from the POI. Anyway, Good luck to all applicants

[Kleene]

I think most POI always maintain the ethics of their department by not informing the prospective graduate applicants the application results. This is the best thing to do although some prospective applicants like me might be eager to hear from the POI. Anyway, Good luck to all applicants

That surprises me, given the number of informal acceptances in the results search. I would expect most POI's to just tell it as soon as the decision has officially been made.

[AfricanScholar]

That surprises me, given the number of informal acceptances in the results search. I would expect most POI's to just tell it as soon as the decision has officially been made.

Well, I might be wrong in my assessment. Different thoughts are flowing through my brain until I receive that letter YES or NO but I pray it should be a YES.