Decision Timeframe

[yglesias]

I was advised from the graduate secretary at a school I applied to that "you should expect to hear from us between March 1 and April 15th". Now, in my mind waiting nervously for the decision, do you think that means the first round of acceptances will go out on March 1st, or that they will not be made until sometime after March first. Just curious as I will be waiting for March 1st for a decision and will then plunge into despair if I don’t hear anything.

Also, does anyone know how applications are decided? I know there are several people who read the applications, but do they then funnel these to the professor one is interested in working with? Just curious how all these things are handled in such a relatively short time frame.

[commoner]

You never know with those time frames. My experience has shown that by the time that March 1 comes around, all acceptances are already planning their visits. But then, others are dreadfully silent up until the second week of April as they wait for others to turn down offers. Just depends on the school and the circumstances. Better to just relax and not think about it. Take up golf or something instead.

c.

[PaperChaser]

I heard from two schools several days after administrative people called to request missing items (oops). I guess if you mess up your application but they're still interested they'll contact you. I also heard from another school shortly after applying (which was weird), so I guess that school was pretty desperate. The other three I'm waiting on and have heard NOTHING, although some other posters have gotten accepted to one of them. I wouldn't "worry" until the end of March, and if you didn't apply early for funding (if that was an option), you probably won't hear anything until May or June.