Welcome to the 2016-17 cycle!

[AnUglyBoringNerd]

On 2017/2/3 at 6:37 AM, southside said:

I'm American

IR here~

P.S. The reason I applied, aside from interests in professors' work, is that on their website they say “ The Department celebrates methodological pluralism: it seeks to promote an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies so that students can evaluate and select the approaches most suited to exploring the research questions in which they are interested. ” For a person who at times favors qualitative over quantitative research, there is not many good options out there and UVA is one of them~

(Not saying that I don't like math or statistics though..lol)

[concrema]

I have a dumb question to ask, what are the odds one is finally admitted without getting accepted at the first round of emailing? 

[guest56436]

Low.

[polisci13542]

If it's top 20, the chances are high enough that it's not 0% but low enough so that you can't get your hopes up  

[Mike_Novick]

Hello, everyone. I would like to hear from you guys about the following: with very few exceptions, a did not contact any POIs during this entire cycle (and I have received only one - very polited and formal - answer). I know that one of my recommenders contacted a POI, but I don't know if he replied. So far, I was formally rejected by two universities, and very likely by other two. I have not been contacted by any POIs or by anyone else from other programs I have applied to. 0.

I would like to know if is it anyone else in this very same position? Is this a sign that no one is really interested in my research agenda? I'm trying to figure it out what is going on, as I'm alrady freaking out with my results till now. 

[as2472]

15 minutes ago, Mike_Novick said:

Hello, everyone. I would like to hear from you guys about the following: with very few exceptions, a did not contact any POIs during this entire cycle (and I have received only one - very polited and formal - answer). I know that one of my recommenders contacted a POI, but I don't know if he replied. So far, I was formally rejected by two universities, and very likely by other two. I have not been contacted by any POIs or by anyone else from other programs I have applied to. 0.

I would like to know if is it anyone else in this very same position? Is this a sign that no one is really interested in my research agenda? I'm trying to figure it out what is going on, as I'm alrady freaking out with my results till now. 

I am in exactly the same boat! All rejection so far (besides an MPhil with a very hard offer) and only expecting rejections for the rest (although we should both bear in mind it isn't over yet!). It's probably not a sign that nobody is interested though so much as that nobody is able to supervise in it? Like you can find something incredibly intriguing but just not have someone who specialises in that area. 

In hind sight, I actually really regret my research proposal for this reason. While I find it intriguing, it is definitely not traditional in any sense. If I could do it over I would have sent in a  more "standard" proposal and contacted POIs during the process, and saved the more obscure topic until later on, but too late now. 

 

[mstama123]

30 minutes ago, Mike_Novick said:

Hello, everyone. I would like to hear from you guys about the following: with very few exceptions, a did not contact any POIs during this entire cycle (and I have received only one - very polited and formal - answer). I know that one of my recommenders contacted a POI, but I don't know if he replied. So far, I was formally rejected by two universities, and very likely by other two. I have not been contacted by any POIs or by anyone else from other programs I have applied to. 0.

I would like to know if is it anyone else in this very same position? Is this a sign that no one is really interested in my research agenda? I'm trying to figure it out what is going on, as I'm alrady freaking out with my results till now. 

Hi - this is my second round of doctoral applications, and in both the first and this round, I have never contacted a POI. I have heard very mixed things about contacting POIs from my advisors and recommendation writers. The majority have told me that by the time one begins to think about applications and emailing POIs, it can come across negatively because it coincides so closely with the application season. However, I have read on one school website (Tufts) that they actually encourage potential students to reach out to a POI, though I have never seen another program explicitly encourage this, and some actually discourage it (but I do not know the individual schools you applied to, or their sentiments about this). My advisors have always told me that the most effective way to reach out to a POI is via your SOP, where you can mention who you'd like to work with by name and explain why (which I am sure you have done already).

To be fair, professors are very busy people... I sometimes have a hard time getting an email back from professors on my thesis committee, and I know for sure they are interested in my research! If you don't get an answer I don't think it is necessarily a reflection of being uninterested in your research, but most likely a product of busy schedules and overflowing email inboxes. As long as you applied to schools with professors whose research interests reasonably matched your own from what you could gather from websites, pubs etc., and you articulated how your research could benefit from the professors/resources at the schools and vice versa, and the rest of your application profile is reasonably competitive, you should be in good shape.

Edited February 7, 2017 by mstama123

[Monody]

Any idea whether Duke is over?

[bobafett]

35 minutes ago, Mike_Novick said:

Hello, everyone. I would like to hear from you guys about the following: with very few exceptions, a did not contact any POIs during this entire cycle (and I have received only one - very polited and formal - answer). I know that one of my recommenders contacted a POI, but I don't know if he replied. So far, I was formally rejected by two universities, and very likely by other two. I have not been contacted by any POIs or by anyone else from other programs I have applied to. 0.

I would like to know if is it anyone else in this very same position? Is this a sign that no one is really interested in my research agenda? I'm trying to figure it out what is going on, as I'm alrady freaking out with my results till now. 

I did not contact any POIs prior to submitting my applications. My take on it is that professors at top schools probably receive a ton of emails during admission seasons, and they can't possibly learn about my research agenda in a meaningful way within the confines of short emails. Like mstama123, I used the program's website and read up on faculty members' research interests, publications, etc. to identify potential people I'd want to work it, wrote extensively about that in my SoP, and selected a writing sample that clearly demonstrated my interest. So far, I've been accepted at a top program, and every single professor I named in my SoP, as well as a few others whose research interests are close to mine, have sent me personal emails to discuss those overlapping interests. On the other hand, I've also been rejected by a lower-ranked program. I'd say you shouldn't give up hope yet! The season is far from over, and you might hear some good news soon. Good luck!!

[guest56436]

10 minutes ago, Monody said:

Any idea whether Duke is over?

It's done.

[Monody]

3 minutes ago, Comparativist said:

It's done.

And only misery is left. :/

[TheWalkingGrad]

1 hour ago, Mike_Novick said:

Hello, everyone. I would like to hear from you guys about the following: with very few exceptions, a did not contact any POIs during this entire cycle (and I have received only one - very polited and formal - answer). I know that one of my recommenders contacted a POI, but I don't know if he replied. So far, I was formally rejected by two universities, and very likely by other two. I have not been contacted by any POIs or by anyone else from other programs I have applied to. 0.

I would like to know if is it anyone else in this very same position? Is this a sign that no one is really interested in my research agenda? I'm trying to figure it out what is going on, as I'm alrady freaking out with my results till now. 

Last cycle I didn't contact anyone and wasn't very successful. This cycle I changed almost everything (except GRE and TOEFLS), and so far have been accepted in a top 20 and have been waitlisted in a top 40. I did contact 2 people beforehand at the program I was accepted, but one of them told me he liked my research but he was retiring soon, and the other one I think I might have offended (I told him I watched a few youtube videos of a book tour he was doing, and he told me I should maybe buy the book lol).

My take is that if you have something relevant to say, and would contact the person regarding research interests even if you weren't applying to their department (if you were writing a paper and maybe wanted the professor to take a look on the abstract, for example), I would contact them. If not, I'd do what others said (and did myself) and look faculty up on the department website, and mention them in the SoP if you're interested in working with them. Good luck!

[resDQ]

4 minutes ago, TheWalkingGrad said:

Last cycle I didn't contact anyone and wasn't very successful. This cycle I changed almost everything (except GRE and TOEFLS), and so far have been accepted in a top 20 and have been waitlisted in a top 40. I did contact 2 people beforehand at the program I was accepted, but one of them told me he liked my research but he was retiring soon, and the other one I think I might have offended (I told him I watched a few youtube videos of a book tour he was doing, and he told me I should maybe buy the book lol).

My take is that if you have something relevant to say, and would contact the person regarding research interests even if you weren't applying to their department (if you were writing a paper and maybe wanted the professor to take a look on the abstract, for example), I would contact them. If not, I'd do what others said (and did myself) and look faculty up on the department website, and mention them in the SoP if you're interested in working with them. Good luck!

I'm sorry, but I have to know. Did you end up buying the book?

[TheWalkingGrad]

2 minutes ago, resDQ said:

I'm sorry, but I have to know. Did you end up buying the book?

Not yet, but I will!  

[changeisgood]

1 hour ago, Mike_Novick said:

Hello, everyone. I would like to hear from you guys about the following: with very few exceptions, a did not contact any POIs during this entire cycle (and I have received only one - very polited and formal - answer). I know that one of my recommenders contacted a POI, but I don't know if he replied. So far, I was formally rejected by two universities, and very likely by other two. I have not been contacted by any POIs or by anyone else from other programs I have applied to. 0.

I would like to know if is it anyone else in this very same position? Is this a sign that no one is really interested in my research agenda? I'm trying to figure it out what is going on, as I'm alrady freaking out with my results till now. 

I didn't contact any POIs directly during application season, just put everything in my SOP.  However, I did meet one of my POIs at ICPSR this past Summer, and expressed my interest, and that's the school I got an admission offer from (so far).  I'm one of those who are still waiting for the rest, as most of the programs on my list are late deciders.

[Tumiaeve]

1 hour ago, Mike_Novick said:

Hello, everyone. I would like to hear from you guys about the following: with very few exceptions, a did not contact any POIs during this entire cycle (and I have received only one - very polited and formal - answer). I know that one of my recommenders contacted a POI, but I don't know if he replied. So far, I was formally rejected by two universities, and very likely by other two. I have not been contacted by any POIs or by anyone else from other programs I have applied to. 0.

I would like to know if is it anyone else in this very same position? Is this a sign that no one is really interested in my research agenda? I'm trying to figure it out what is going on, as I'm alrady freaking out with my results till now. 

I went to a top 20 school for undergrad and always got the advise that contacting POIs rarely, if ever, make a difference UNLESS 1) you are familiar with the POIs work and would like to discuss, in detail, how their expertise matches yours or 2) you have a specific question about he atmosphere of the program/ school/ area surrounding the campus. I was told that most professors ignore emails from prospective students or send a polite general email in response because 1) they get ALOT of emails during the application season and 2) they have no way of knowing if you're even going to get in or not. Top 20 programs consistently have 350-500 applications for a cohort of like, 12, so many professors don't want to give off the impression that you're a guaranteed admit when you may not be. With that being said, email or don't email. It doesn't seem to change much either way. 

[advark]

Michigan and Columbia results should be here by Friday. Would be nice if all schools were this week, so we can get it over with. 

[oakeshott]

10 minutes ago, advark said:

Michigan and Columbia results should be here by Friday. Would be nice if all schools were this week, so we can get it over with. 

I hope so!

Are you estimating based on previous cycles? Or do you have insider info? 

[advark]

3 minutes ago, oakeshott said:

I hope so!

Are you estimating based on previous cycles? Or do you have insider info? 

previous cycles. Columbia favors Feb. 10th. 

[VMcJ]

On the plus side, Michigan sends their rejections around the same time of the acceptances.

[Mike_Novick]

1 hour ago, Jazahmia said:

I went to a top 20 school for undergrad and always got the advise that contacting POIs rarely, if ever, make a difference UNLESS 1) you are familiar with the POIs work and would like to discuss, in detail, how their expertise matches yours or 2) you have a specific question about he atmosphere of the program/ school/ area surrounding the campus. I was told that most professors ignore emails from prospective students or send a polite general email in response because 1) they get ALOT of emails during the application season and 2) they have no way of knowing if you're even going to get in or not. Top 20 programs consistently have 350-500 applications for a cohort of like, 12, so many professors don't want to give off the impression that you're a guaranteed admit when you may not be. With that being said, email or don't email. It doesn't seem to change much either way. 

Thanks everyone for replying and sharing your valuable experiences. I have the feeling that being at the same time 1) an international applicant, 2) outside of Academia for five years and not being 3) a purebred political scientist (my background is in public policy and in international relations, and I'm interest in comparative as a subfield) may be hampering my chances so far. 

I wish you all good luck and congratulate those that already got admitted somewhere.

[changeisgood]

1 hour ago, advark said:

previous cycles. Columbia favors Feb. 10th. 

I get that, however for instance in previous cycles Penn State favors Feb. 2, but so far nothing from them.

[Bibica]

3 minutes ago, changeisgood said:

I get that, however for instance in previous cycles Penn State favors Feb. 2, but so far nothing from them.

True, and Princeton was supposed to be Feb. 9, but released them in January. We only have these rough guidelines but they could technically come at any time.

[polisci13542]

Anyone claiming Rochester?

[swanblack]

Has anyone applied to X department at Y University and received email from the Office of Graduate Studies newsletter (e.g. announcing the appointment of new President)? I am wondering how my email ID ended up with the Office of Graduate Studies? Does it signify that X department has made a decision and forwarded its decision to the Office of Graduate Studies (responsible for final recommendations) which would have listed the email IDs of admitted students in its newsletter? Since I recall I am in the database of X department since last year when I was admitted to their MA program but declined over personal reasons. I have been receiving emails from X department ever since but it's the first time I am receiving email from the Office of Graduate Studies. 

Particularly, it's concluding sentence-- "This is an exciting time for all of us at Y University and we hope you consider becoming a part of our academic community"--makes me freak out over and over again.