WINE, WAIT, AND WHINE THREAD

[s2k_]

Hello everyone,

This is my first time applying and I have heard about 15 March being usual date for universities to send mass rejections/acceptance, any truth to that ? 

[bandinterwebs]

29 minutes ago, s2k_ said:

Hello everyone,

This is my first time applying and I have heard about 15 March being usual date for universities to send mass rejections/acceptance, any truth to that ? 

That'd be great, because I'd like to move on with my life and make a decision already. I haven't heard that before though....I feel like those on the waitlist may have to wait it out a little longer but don't know for certain.

[charlemagne88]

5 hours ago, bandinterwebs said:

That'd be great, because I'd like to move on with my life and make a decision already. I haven't heard that before though....I feel like those on the waitlist may have to wait it out a little longer but don't know for certain.

 

5 hours ago, s2k_ said:

Hello everyone,

This is my first time applying and I have heard about 15 March being usual date for universities to send mass rejections/acceptance, any truth to that ? 

 

I think most of us are in that boat. I've been waiting for what seems like an eternity, -and it doesn't help that I've already been rejected from some of the programs I applied to. The numbers have been meager for the past few weeks with little more than a peep from the programs currently still in the running. 

I know they must have a lot of work to do deciding on the applicants, but it seems like they should know that most of us will have to uproot our entire lives to go to grad school. In my case it means selling my house, my wife quitting her job, etc.... and these things can't be done over night. The more notice they can give their acceptancees the better. 

[MarineBluePsy]

7 hours ago, hippyscientist said:

Interesting that you bring this up, I just looked up the list too and ALL the schools I applied to plus the 4 or more I decided I'd apply to next application season if this one doesn't work out are all R1. Guess I don't go for the easy route haha. 

The one program that has accepted me so far at the start of the process was my "god do I even bother applying there" school. As it turns out, I might have judged prematurely because as my research interests have matured over this year of my MSc I actually think it's going to be the best fit for me. There's a phrase on the lab's facebook page about the lab mentality that 100% matches my own, they seem to go out for beers together and rock climb/socialise together too. I'm getting really excited about being part of that team. JUST. LET. ME. KNOW. ABOUT. FUNDING.

Yeah I didn't realize the R1 thing was a legitimate ranking given by a prestigious ranking entity lol.  I just thought it was more something people say to indicate that their school had research labs and symposiums and they took pride in that lol.  Now I'm even more overwhelmed realizing I actually got into one of those R1 schools and am on the waitlist at another.  And that's after doing my BA and MA at non-R1 schools.  Wow.

Your thoughts about the program you've gotten into echo mine about the program I've gotten into.  I figured it was mediocre until I interviewed and learned more about this R1 thing.  Plus the lab is collaborative and fun which works for me, so yes exciting indeed.

[MarineBluePsy]

@The Interdisciplinarian @raaawr  Ok so New Girl is dead to me.  My interest has been hanging by a thread the last few weeks and has officially died despite Jess' return.  So there's no more John Cho?!  And then Jess and Reagan are bff's that love to chop it up about Nick and how great he is?  Not at all believable and Reagan is just gross.  I was so irritated I kept falling asleep trying to watch it lol.  It's off my list, no more New Girl blech!

[nka93]

So, I'm feeling a little nuts right now. I have two acceptances and waiting on one more school. As it stands, I've pretty much ruled one school out. So it is between a school I got accepted to and one I'm waiting on (that is competitive). I just found myself thinking that it would be easier if that school rejected me. If they accept me it will probably be with great funding which means that I would be compelled to move across the country which is scary and difficult to think about. But how could I willingly go into debt for a program when I had another option that would be free? 

Now I feel crazy for half hoping they reject me and make my decision easy. I realized I'm very lucky to have a decision to make but it is torture waiting for all the information to come in. I'd love to know what I am doing after so much uncertainty. 

[raaawr]

4 hours ago, MarineBluePsy said:

@The Interdisciplinarian @raaawr  Ok so New Girl is dead to me.  My interest has been hanging by a thread the last few weeks and has officially died despite Jess' return.  So there's no more John Cho?!  And then Jess and Reagan are bff's that love to chop it up about Nick and how great he is?  Not at all believable and Reagan is just gross.  I was so irritated I kept falling asleep trying to watch it lol.  It's off my list, no more New Girl blech!

Omg! I know how you feel! I was really looking forward to jess' return cause was i expecting more John cho but nothing! Now it's just this out of the blue guy that looks like a Justin Long body double or something. Ugh! I got so excited on the first episode of the season cause of John Cho but we got more unnecessary Reagan instead. So disappointed.

[JeremyCrickets]

Hey everyone! I need your input about something: 

A program I applied to but haven't heard back from yet just sent me an email confirming the date and time of my Fall 2016 registration appointment. As in when I can start registering for classes.

Should I take this as a good sign? The program hasn't notified anyone yet, so I don't know what to think.

 

Edit: I should add that my "academic requirements report" detailing the specific classes I would need to take before graduating was also opened on the day that the email was sent, and I am now able to do academic planning, search for classes, use the shopping cart, etc through the student center. 

Edited March 12, 2016 by JeremyCrickets

[Fleet23]

Sounds like a good sign, but as you can see from earlier in this thread, things like that aren't always indicators of admission. I wouldn't pop the champagne until you get an official notification.

[JeremyCrickets]

12 minutes ago, Fleet23 said:

Sounds like a good sign, but as you can see from earlier in this thread, things like that aren't always indicators of admission. I wouldn't pop the champagne until you get an official notification.

Thank you for that. I really don't want to let myself get false hope over this, so a reality check was definitely in order.

[Apogeee]

1 hour ago, JeremyCrickets said:

A program I applied to but haven't heard back from yet just sent me an email confirming the date and time of my Fall 2016 registration appointment. As in when I can start registering for classes.

This makes me feel better about the fact that I keep looking for these sorts of signs, too. I hope you hear from them soon.

[MarineBluePsy]

2 hours ago, raaawr said:

Omg! I know how you feel! I was really looking forward to jess' return cause was i expecting more John cho but nothing! Now it's just this out of the blue guy that looks like a Justin Long body double or something. Ugh! I got so excited on the first episode of the season cause of John Cho but we got more unnecessary Reagan instead. So disappointed.

I'm wondering if John Cho didn't return because he was filming another Star Trek movie.  Regardless that weird new guy is awkward.  I'm sad this show has sucked so much lately, but on the other hand I really need to cut back on tv when school starts lol.

[Draeg]

Holy hell. It's been one week since one application and two since the other and it feels like it has been over a month. I now understand what  the concept of purgatory must feel like, this is awful.

[hippyscientist]

13 minutes ago, Draeg said:

Holy hell. It's been one week since one application and two since the other and it feels like it has been over a month. I now understand what  the concept of purgatory must feel like, this is awful.

I'm officially over the 5 month mark for 2 of my applications with no communication from either. I think I've given up on them. It's not fair to applicants. I can understand a 2 month wait, but this is pushing the limits of what is acceptable, especially considering the application fees. 

[raaawr]

16 hours ago, MarineBluePsy said:

I'm wondering if John Cho didn't return because he was filming another Star Trek movie.  Regardless that weird new guy is awkward.  I'm sad this show has sucked so much lately, but on the other hand I really need to cut back on tv when school starts lol.

So awkward! Ugh! What were the show writers thinking? ? I tried watching that new show on Netflix, "Flaked" but i couldn't get through the 2nd episode. Will Arnet's character seems super annoying.

[MarineBluePsy]

24 minutes ago, raaawr said:

So awkward! Ugh! What were the show writers thinking? ? I tried watching that new show on Netflix, "Flaked" but i couldn't get through the 2nd episode. Will Arnet's character seems super annoying.

I'm trying my hardest not to start any new shows lol.  In fact I also fired Young and Hungry because the whole Gabby & Josh mess made me want to scratch my eyes out and the other characters are hilarious and under utilized.  

I'm also wondering what's up with Castle.  Beckett wasn't even in the last episode at all and I didn't even notice until I was giving someone a recap later lol.  When I first started the show I really liked the Castle & Beckett dynamic, now its boring and I'd rather not bother with it.  I think the show would be great if it just focused on Castle and his PI business and worked with Ryan and Esposito's, no Beckett needed.

[hippyscientist]

45 minutes ago, MarineBluePsy said:

I'm trying my hardest not to start any new shows lol.  In fact I also fired Young and Hungry because the whole Gabby & Josh mess made me want to scratch my eyes out and the other characters are hilarious and under utilized.  

I'm also wondering what's up with Castle.  Beckett wasn't even in the last episode at all and I didn't even notice until I was giving someone a recap later lol.  When I first started the show I really liked the Castle & Beckett dynamic, now its boring and I'd rather not bother with it.  I think the show would be great if it just focused on Castle and his PI business and worked with Ryan and Esposito's, no Beckett needed.

I love Young and Hungry but waiting for more seasons to hit Netflix. I've finished my buffy binge so returned to SoA after a break. Man, I forgot how much I love that show and the soundtrack!! 

This next week is my last week of MSc classes. After that it's just assignments finishing up and research through to end July. WHERE has the time gone? I still feel like I know nothing!!

[BooksCoffeeBeards]

So, it looks like I'll be moving out of here and to a new location (Phoenix) anyway, so that's starting to take the sting out of waiting so long and getting rejections.

This thread has also helped immensely. 

[marycaryne]

6 hours ago, hippyscientist said:

I'm officially over the 5 month mark for 2 of my applications with no communication from either. I think I've given up on them. It's not fair to applicants. I can understand a 2 month wait, but this is pushing the limits of what is acceptable, especially considering the application fees. 

This is how I feel. I understand schools/programs may have many applicants. But to have no communication after we pay those feels is just unacceptable to me. I'm not really interested in just handing out free money without any communication in return.

[hippyscientist]

42 minutes ago, marycaryne said:

This is how I feel. I understand schools/programs may have many applicants. But to have no communication after we pay those feels is just unacceptable to me. I'm not really interested in just handing out free money without any communication in return.

The thing I don't understand is, having worked on hiring committees and administrative roles, how it can take so long. When we were hiring, we looked at 150-200 applications and got back to them all within 3 weeks. There were 4 of us on that hiring team. How can grad schools justify the time period? Especially for the programs I applied to. My field is not very large, and per department accepts 2-5 people per discipline. The number of applicants isn't as great as something like business or a medicine program. The departments I applied to probably have close to 100 applications to get through. No way does that take 5 months. Even if it does take 5 months, it wouldn't kill anyone to put a "decisions will be made by mid-March" on a website. The fact is, having had applications in by 10th October, I have had no indication of when I might expect to hear from them. I've emailed an administrator once to enquire when I might expect to hear a decision, not about status or anything, and that was last week as I've reached the end of my tether. 

Sorry for the rant, I'm sure those on the ad-comms have perfectly justifiable reasons for why the process takes as long as it does, why it costs as much as it does and why we have no communication. I understand that these people are very busy, but I don't think they truly appreciate the stress that accompanies applications. Especially for those of us who may have to pack up and move large distances at relatively short notice. 

Okay, that evidently needed to be let off my chest. I hope one day to be on the other side, and have many of my current questions answered, because from the business world POV it doesn't make too much sense to me.

Edited March 13, 2016 by hippyscientist
Clarity

[marycaryne]

@hippyscientist I am right with you on that. My program isn't very large either. Most people go only for their undergrad because most places aren't looking for someone with a masters in merchandising when hiring. That narrows the applicant field considerably. So why it takes so long...I don't know. It's extremely frustrating, especially when I know it's a program that isn't getting hundreds of applications.

[hippyscientist]

 

 

@marycaryne frustrating is the right word for sure. I've been so patient for so long, it's hard when people try to comfort you "oh you'll find out soon". Yes but from "soon" to starting means: I have to get a visa interview appointment, get a visa, sell my stuff here, pack up a box to ship, book flights, start looking at state driving theory, finish my masters (it technically finishes August 19, I'm finishing early - hopefully by the end of July), move to the US, find housing, open a bank account & try to get a credit card somewhere, get a phone, find a place to train, pass the US driving test, register for classes and then start. I know a lot of that is the same for a lot of people but it just seems kinda daunting right now to have such a long list that I can't start on until I have confirmation. Actually typing that out helped, it's less than I thought

[JeremyCrickets]

On 3/11/2016 at 2:36 PM, JeremyCrickets said:

Hey everyone! I need your input about something: 

A program I applied to but haven't heard back from yet just sent me an email confirming the date and time of my Fall 2016 registration appointment. As in when I can start registering for classes.

Should I take this as a good sign? The program hasn't notified anyone yet, so I don't know what to think.

Edit: I should add that my "academic requirements report" detailing the specific classes I would need to take before graduating was also opened on the day that the email was sent, and I am now able to do academic planning, search for classes, use the shopping cart, etc through the student center. 

Quoting myself to update: Add me to the list of people who were tricked by a ridiculous mistake. I just found out I didn't get in. 

[Fleet23]

46 minutes ago, JeremyCrickets said:

Quoting myself to update: Add me to the list of people who were tricked by a ridiculous mistake. I just found out I didn't get in. 

So sorry to hear that @JeremyCrickets. I was really pulling for you.

[MarineBluePsy]

@hippyscientist @marycaryne Yep I'm with you 2, it's ridiculous how long some adcoms take to respond to applicants or how some don't respond at all.  We're not asking for a detailed analysis of our application with suggestions for improvement, but a "we're interested" or a "good luck on your endeavors" would suffice.  I've also learned that many programs that fund their students through the University (not necessarily the Department) have very strict deadlines (usually January or February) of when they must submit candidates for funding or they risk missing out.  So knowing that shouldn't make it impossible for them to provide an update to all applicants at that time.