genderboi Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Didn't anyone else just get that weird interview request email from UChicago? Wasn't personalized and indicated that interviews were not guaranteed! Weird! Not sure what to make of it...
haltheincandescent Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Yeah, it looks like they might be trying to talk with everyone? Or at least everyone that met some sort of really basic cut off? I agree it's pretty weird, though--especially to only officially notify potentially the afternoon before. We'll see I guess?
genderboi Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 4 minutes ago, haltheincandescent said: Yeah, it looks like they might be trying to talk with everyone? Or at least everyone that met some sort of really basic cut off? I agree it's pretty weird, though--especially to only officially notify potentially the afternoon before. We'll see I guess? Yeah I'm hoping that I'm somewhat special! I can't imagine them sending that email to 600 applicants...
genderboi Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 1 minute ago, County said: I wonder if together we can figure out if there's anything in common with these interview requests. Will be interesting to see how many ppl reply to doodle poll!
haltheincandescent Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) 12 minutes ago, genderboi said: Yeah I'm hoping that I'm somewhat special! I can't imagine them sending that email to 600 applicants... I think there were only about 60 slots on the poll, so, I can't imagine they sent it to every applicant. But, we'll see. With so many people, I'm just hoping that a time conflict (making me one of the applicants not able to be interviewed) won't be a cause for rejection, with the committee favoring those they were actually able to talk to. I work most of the hours listed, and so couldn't choose many of the options (and since I won't know if I'm even being interviewed or on which day until potentially the day before, I won't be able to take any time off). Super awkward as far as planning goes for full-time employed people. Edited January 15, 2016 by haltheincandescent
lostillusions12 Posted January 17, 2016 Posted January 17, 2016 Hello! Are these interview requests for PhD or MA? Sincerely hoping that MA decisions are still to come but if not I was wondering if those who had received interview requests could perhaps share their gpas, gre scores, work experience etc? I have not been able to figure out the type of applicant that UChicago looks for and would be very grateful for any tips!
lyonessrampant Posted January 17, 2016 Posted January 17, 2016 Did you apply to MAPH? If you did, those decisions come much later, as they funnel most of the unaccepted Ph.D. applications into MAPH review. I recommend searching about MAPH in this forum. Suffice to say that it is primarily a cash cow program. Full disclosure: I did MAPH and learned a ton, had a great experience, and did have a partial tuition scholarship. Even with that, though, I regret the debt, and a funded MA at an unknown or small school is going to probably do more for you CV than an unfunded MA from UChicago. lostillusions12 1
cloverhinge Posted January 17, 2016 Posted January 17, 2016 Looking at the comments from the previous year, it looks like UChicago sent out a similar email: @haltheincandescent, sorry to hear about the potential scheduling issue -- but I feel (and hope!) that they will understand that some people work full-time and that this shouldn't be a penalty. This is just a guess, but I think faculty whose interest align with yours will conduct the interview, and since there are only about 60 people, there should be plenty of diverging schedules and interviewers and interviewees that you should be okay. 5 hours ago, lostillusions12 said: I was wondering if those who had received interview requests could perhaps share their gpas, gre scores, work experience etc? I have not been able to figure out the type of applicant that UChicago looks for I'm not an expert, but from what I've heard, stats aren't as relevant in English grad admissions as are the less quantifiable stuff, like "fit" and how much your interests/abilities shined through in your SOP and WS, and how they are relevant to the department at that moment. I wouldn't worry too much! If anything, I feel like the interview email is more of a good sign than anything else -- it just seems more likely that they had sent out the potential interview invites to candidates they were actually interested in since the whole scheduling thing is probably going to be complicated and time-consuming on their part. genderboi 1
genderboi Posted January 18, 2016 Author Posted January 18, 2016 3 hours ago, cloverhinge said: Looking at the comments from the previous year, it looks like UChicago sent out a similar email: Thanks for citing this thread -- its super helpful!
genderboi Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 8 minutes ago, exbeppe said: Anyone got the interview invitation? No the wait is killing me! Did you!?
exbeppe Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 1 minute ago, genderboi said: No the wait is killing me! Did you!? No! I even sent a message to ask whether they had sent out the invitation but got no reply.
genderboi Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 1 hour ago, exbeppe said: No! I even sent a message to ask whether they had sent out the invitation but got no reply. Still nothing! Waiting one more hour before giving up all hope...
lousyconnection Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 (edited) Just wanted to say I just got the email. I don't know if they were sent out in a batch or what. Good luck everyone! Edited January 25, 2016 by lousyconnection exbeppe, Grettir and genderboi 3
solomonski Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 I never received any notification of an interview AT ALL -- as in, I've heard exactly nothing from U Chicago. Probably prudent to take this as a rejection, right?
haltheincandescent Posted January 27, 2016 Posted January 27, 2016 I was contacted for one. There wasn't much more info in the email, in terms of how many people of those 65 time slots really ended up getting one, or whether it was a crucial step, or rather one that's helpful for them, but if people in your field (which is how they seem to be assigning interviewers) weren't available at the same times you said you were available it would be okay as well. We'll see I guess. Joshua Jones 1
Joshua Jones Posted January 27, 2016 Posted January 27, 2016 Keep us posted on how it goes/what sort of things they ask? Good luck!
haltheincandescent Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 So, they asked me some relatively specific stuff about my sample, focusing on larger thoughts behind it, and the same for my statement, really. Then gave me time to ask about the program. It went okay (I'm a nervous interview person, though). They also said decisions in about a week. lousyconnection and Joshua Jones 2
ajf330 Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) Had this interview as well. Questions they asked: Why a PhD with a creative MFA? How do I see these two relating? Where do I see my research going forward/how do I see it relating to my previous work? They asked me one question about the theorists I was examining relating to some things I said in my statement. Good luck everyone! Edited January 28, 2016 by ajf330 lousyconnection 1
genderboi Posted January 28, 2016 Author Posted January 28, 2016 Thanks for the updates. Good luck everyone! It looks like decisions always go out next week, so fingers crossed. Joshua Jones 1
genderboi Posted February 1, 2016 Author Posted February 1, 2016 Someone want to claim the Chicago acceptance? Congrats! Did the website update?
haltheincandescent Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Hm. Not I, and no change on the site, either. (Also: why does every program seem to be running early this year?--they told me it'd be around Weds/Thurs during the interview). HumanCylinder 1
lousyconnection Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Not me either :/ What a weird time to send it out...
cloverhinge Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Just checked the website, but no changes - they said to expect news in a week, so I'm surprised someone heard back so quickly. Either way, congrats!
TPSL Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) No emails whatsoever. I give up my hope on this one . . . Edited February 2, 2016 by TPSL
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