zj868 Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) I was able to get a Skype interview with my top choice school for a Master's in Electrical Engineering. However, that was almost two months ago and I'm freaking out. I have a fairly low GPA (2.9) but drastically improved from 2.28 while battling a lot of obstacles during my first few years. I now consistently get A's in my upper level courses (which I think counts for something) and balance 15 credits, research, and being president of a club on campus. Anyway, one of my professors, who knows that I am a good student, happens to be extremely influential in his field and is friends with the director of my top choice program. He contacted him on my behalf and I was told that the director was vouching for me but to no avail. I decided to take an impromptu trip to go see the director and plead my case. He was very receptive and decided to ask me some technical questions on the spot (I was able to answer them all). He said that I presented myself well and to send him an email the following Monday, which I did. Anyway, I sent him the email a week ago and got no response. I'm considering sending him another to plead my case and show how passionate I am about attending this program and offer to be admitted under provisional status but I'm afraid to annoy him into simply rejecting me. Maybe a phone call is better? Any thoughts? Edited April 13, 2015 by zj868
fuzzylogician Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 I'd follow up with another email, then try a phone call. A week isn't really that long to wait, but it's ok to follow up at this point. I am not sure that offering to be admitted under any status is something that would be particularly welcome, as it's not really your place to make this decision, but you could reiterate your interest in the program. This may also be the time to reach out to your professor again for help, maybe he will be more successful getting in touch with his friend. I'd explain that you had reached out a couple of time and hadn't gotten a reply, so you were wondering if the prof knows if anything is up or if there is another way to get in touch with the director, since the email address you have wasn't working. It'd be fair to mention to your prof that you're very anxious about this, but I would try and remain more professional in the email to the director.
zj868 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks fuzzy! I'm not sure how to word it though. Should I just say something like ' Hope all is well. Any word yet? I'm very interested in School A and would love to be given the life changing opportunity to attend.' I basically want to reiterate to them that I am a worthwhile risk and that I am very passionate about this school/program.
happy little pill Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 "Any word yet" is too informal. I would write something more to the tune of "I was wondering if the committee had come to an admissions decision yet?"
zj868 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Thanks pill! I was wondering if the committee has come to a decision yet. If not, I would like to reiterate that I was able to drastically improve my performance in more difficult core courses while coping with many severe obstacles as a first generation international student. I am currently taking two graduate level courses in (Antenna Theory and Radar Technology) and performing well. I can assure you that my GPA will be above 3.0 by graduation and I am now very confident in my ability to excel at a rigorous graduate level program. In addition to all of this. I do hope the technical interview that I had with you was able convince you that I am a worthwhile candidate. School A's program is the only one that I am genuinely interested in and I would love to be given the life-changing opportunity to attend this Fall. Would this be too much though? He seems to be a pretty nice guy but I wouldn't want to piss him off. He did mention that he is only doing this because of the amount of respect he has for my advisor so I'm not trying to be overbearing and piss him off but this wait is killing me! Edited April 13, 2015 by zj868
MathCat Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 I would make it shorter. I'm assuming he already has this information about you overcoming obstacles and now performing well. I would just say something like "I am writing to reiterate my interest in your program." with perhaps another sentence to open or close it. I would not mention anything about it being a "life-changing opportunity" - comes across a bit cheesy to me, even if it is honest. Keep it concise and professional.
Ellies Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 zj868, I agree with MathCat. Reading what you wrote, I had the same feeling; "life-changing" seems over the top. Also, I wouldn't give any information you have already given before, or it could come across as somewhat insulting (as if they may have missed it the first time around). Any new information is fine, but don't repeat anything; they have your file.
Recommended Posts