Is it acceptable to ask departments for status updates?

[jp02]

It's getting late in the game and I have yet to hear back from University of Utah or Minnesota. Should I just wait it out?

[jo;yryts65edy]

It's acceptable. I've emailed several schools about my status. Some were still being reviewed or didn't send out official notices yet, but most of the replies informed me the "unofficial" decision.

[ianfaircloud]

It's getting late in the game and I have yet to hear back from University of Utah or Minnesota. Should I just wait it out?

 

Bright-line rule: After March 15 in an ordinary admission season, it's permissible to contact a department to learn the status of one's application.

 

Why the rule? Because by March 15, virtually every American department has released initial notifications. Usually they release by March 10. In my view, departments that fail to release initial notifications by March 15 are inviting anxious applicants to contact them about their applications. Though rejections aren't always released by March 10, the worst that an applicant's contact will do is prompt an administrator to reply with a quick note of the rejection.

 

I also think the March 15 rule is good, because it gives applicants a month to consider their options.

[Electric Anxiety]

If you don't mind my asking, did you contact Utah and get a reply jp02?