Help with emailing the admissions committee?

[nonickname]

Hey guys,

 

So I've been waiting for a decision I had an interview with a little over two weeks ago. The POI told me I'll be getting my final decision in 1-2 weeks, and I am getting more and more impatient (It's been 2 weeks and 3 days to be exact!). I also saw on the results page that some people got an acceptance email in mid Feb. I am assuming it was a day or two after their interview if they were interviewed on the same day as me (it was a Skype interview).  

 

But I am not sure if it's a good idea to email the admissions committee asking if they have reached any kind of decision. Would I be bothering them? If I am not, I'd want to be as polite as possible. I am not really used to writing emails like this, so how should I write an email?

 

My other question is, how many Ph. D. applicants are accepted each year? I know this varies by schools and programs, but any general ideas? If two are already accepted and I'm not one of them, should I just assume that this is one of those "soft rejections" as a previous thread mentioned?

 

Just the thought of getting rejected discourages me

 

Please help me with emailing the admissions committee!

Thanks!

[GeoDUDE!]

My other question is, how many Ph. D. applicants are accepted each year? I know this varies by schools and programs, but any general ideas? If two are already accepted and I'm not one of them, should I just assume that this is one of those "soft rejections" as a previous thread mentioned?

 

 

Not only does it vary program by program, but also year by year. One year a department can offer to 20, next 5 depending on how many accept the previous year and grant funding. 

 

Huge programs in my field can accept 90 applicants where as there are programs that only accept 1 or 2 a year.

 

Just ask them if they have come to a decision, though I would just be patient. You will find out soon enough... asking certainly won't help unless there was a mistake in your application or something. 

[ChuckCL]

My personal opinion is against emailing admissions committees unless there's a specific concern. These things take time, and the people on the admissions committees are extremely busy. I had a Skype interview for a school and was told a decision would be make "later this week" ... I didn't hear anything for almost three weeks, when I received an acceptance email (in which the director noted how long it took and apologized ... "we had a lot of strong candidates to consider"). 

 

These people have a lot going on, and emailing them about decision timeframes seems unnecessary. They've not forgotten about you, I promise. 

[coleoptera]

 I had a Skype interview for a school and was told a decision would be make "later this week" ... I didn't hear anything for almost three weeks, when I received an acceptance email (in which the director noted how long it took and apologized ... "we had a lot of strong candidates to consider").

 

this is incredibly comforting, as I've been freaking out this week because based on the website estimate I should have heard back sometime last week. nice to hear that a delay isn't necessarily a death sentence.

[msgrad2015]

I'm glad others are chiming in on this issue. Every day seems like a week and every week seems like a month. I have heard conflicting arguments about contacting schools. Some say it's okay to communicate with them as long as you don't "pester" and simply inquire about your status. A few have said they got a faster response by doing so, while others say to stay away unless it's life and death.

 

The submission deadline for my program ended Jan. 15, but there have been no postings at all for my program on the results page so far. I have considered sending a quick email mid march if I don't hear anything, but is two months still considered too early? Of course, this is a bit extended anxiety because I turning in my material about six weeks before the deadline and I wonder to myself if everything got there okay and didn't get lost or sorted in the wrong box. Anyway, I feel a bit stuck because certain scholarships and financial incentives are available but carry a March 30 deadline and require proof of acceptance. 

 

I feel your pain and just wanted to ask- Is there ever a length of time when it is okay to contact the school?

[nonickname]

@GeoDUDE!, ChuckCL

 

Thanks for the advice, guys. I think I'll just wait a little more. It's just that I want this horrible waiting game to end so badly since I've been binge watching Netflix and sleeping 10+ hrs to avoid checking my emails 100 times a day!

 

 

 

Of course, this is a bit extended anxiety because I turning in my material about six weeks before the deadline and I wonder to myself if everything got there okay and didn't get lost or sorted in the wrong box.

 

 

I think you wouldn't have to worry about your materials getting lost. If that actually happened, I'm sure the school would've contacted you for missing documents. That's how it was for me when my official transcripts were lost. They emailed me asking if I have sent my transcripts. Of course, I told them I did but would definitely resend it if they haven't got it. 

 

I feel like it would be okay to email and ask in your case since you have some other opportunities that you might miss out if you don't decide by the end of March. Let's just hope we all hear from the schools soon! 

[msgrad2015]

I'm thinking the third week of March might be appropriate. I've seen that most students who don't hear anything by April are pretty much waitlisted or rejected in my program anyway.

[bbdd2]

Hey all

FWIW i emailed the graduate secretary of a program i haven't heard from and told her im pretty nervous about the whole process and asked politely to know about my admission decision.

I got a kind letter stating there were lots o applications this year and that the adcom is still reviewing applications.

 

On the other hand, I had some interviews (Skype) with another school and i still haven't heard back (Over three weeks). I'm very nervous about my chances as the interview didn't really go as well as i wanted (Skype glitches , some questions weren't satisfactorily answered).Im probably overthinking but i don't see myself emailing the program chair for a decision until mid march.I think calling could be option due to the anonymity. 

 

What do you guys think?