The Waitlist (and its Discontents)

[Bhlmenck]

Hi all,

I have been lurking around here for about a month and I've noticed a variety of posts in other threads about waitlists, but nothing that is comprehensive or specific to this year. Now that a sizable chunk of first round acceptances--though not all of them, I know--have gone out, I'm curious how many final decisions are currently subject to the outcome of a waitlist (for admission or funding).
 

This isn't purely an intellectual interest of mine, I'm on the waitlist at U of Michigan, so I'm curious how others are dealing with their second bout of waiting. The knowledge that there is any kind of movement on these things would help reassure me.  

[Gusvalo]

Waitlist means you're worthy of pursuing a PhD, it's just a matter of when. I'm quite ok with that.

[slacktivist]

I hear you. I'm also on the wait list at Michigan for American politics. What I heard from UM is that they should know more at the end of the month, which will be a week after their admitted students visit.

 

I'm pretty relaxed, though. If it doesn't pan out, I'm lucky to have a good offer from an established top-25 program that is best known for my specific research area.

 

This would be a nice clearinghouse thread for wait list changes.

[Bhlmenck]

Thanks for the update slacktivist! It's good to have a clearer picture of when I'll know for certain. I sort of figured there wouldn't be any changes until the tiny cups of white wine from visit day had been cleared. It's more disconcerting that you can't know where you are on the list ("short though it is"), and how many folks would have to spit on their offers. That's getting into low-level griping, though. Parenthetically, congratulations on your acceptance, and here's hoping we have some collective waitlist success. 

On the general question of anxiety, as Gusvalo said, I do feel like being on the waitlist for a top-ranked program has made me feel more confident that I have some merit as an applicant. I also still have another program I'm waiting to hear back from, and I'll likely be doing it again if nothing pans out. 

And yeah, I say post away with any waitlist changes. 

[CerpinTaxt]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the post.

 

Wait-listed as well - political theory.

 

I hope to read good news from you soon.

 

Cheers. 

 

--

M.-F.

[irfannooruddin]

Fwiw, I had a good friend get off the waitlist at Harvard on April 14th. He declined their kind, if late, offer to go to Stanford instead. Point of that story is that waitlists do clear and patience is a virtue.

 

Fingers crossed that you get happy news from Michigan. I'm biased, of course, but I can't think of a better place to spend one's graduate years. 

 

Go blue.

[CerpinTaxt]

Thanks for the post irfannooruddin.

 

Nice to read positive waitlist stories.

 

I luckily got an offer from another university, but I'm still waiting to hear from my top-choice program in political theory.

 

Wish you guys best of luck,

 

--

M.-F.