Big Question Regarding Notification

[SublimeDelusions]

As it stands, the school I am currently in has a field trip (read: field study of geology in a remote area across the country, not recreational) planned for the first week of March, running approximately from the 5th to the 15th. During this time, we'll be driving and most likely camping for the entirety of the trip. This means I will have no method in which anyone would be able to reach me via phone, email, or mail.

My main concern here is if a program sends me notification (positive, as negative wouldn't require me getting in touch with them) that may be time sensitive. If a school was to call and make me an offer regarding admission or an interview, it is highly likely that I would not have cellular reception and would not receive the call until after the trip. If I were to get an email for admission or an interview, I wouldn't be able to check it for at least 10 days, same with mail delivery. The big issue I'm seeing here is if these interview offers are time sensitive (I've had less than 24 hours before to respond to one), and I'm not able to get to them.

What suggestions or advice could be offered so that I can attempt to prepare for this ahead of time before I go on this trip?

Edited February 10, 2010 by SublimeDelusions

[kdilks]

As it stands, the school I am currently in has a field trip (read: field study of geology in a remote area across the country, not recreational) planned for the first week of March, running approximately from the 5th to the 15th. During this time, we'll be driving and most likely camping for the entirety of the trip. This means I will have no method in which anyone would be able to reach me via phone, email, or mail.

My main concern here is if a program sends me notification (positive, as negative wouldn't require me getting in touch with them) that may be time sensitive. If a school was to call and make me an offer regarding admission or an interview, it is highly likely that I would not have cellular reception and would not receive the call until after the trip. If I were to get an email for admission or an interview, I wouldn't be able to check it for at least 10 days, same with mail delivery. The big issue I'm seeing here is if these interview offers are time sensitive (I've had less than 24 hours before to respond to one), and I'm not able to get to them.

What suggestions or advice could be offered so that I can attempt to prepare for this ahead of time before I go on this trip?

E-mail is probably the most likely way that you'll be contacted, and many e-mail systems have a "vacation notice" feature that automatically replies to any e-mail received with a message of your choosing (designed for situations like yours, or when people are on vacation, and won't be checking their inbox for an extended period).

[SublimeDelusions]

E-mail is probably the most likely way that you'll be contacted, and many e-mail systems have a "vacation notice" feature that automatically replies to any e-mail received with a message of your choosing (designed for situations like yours, or when people are on vacation, and won't be checking their inbox for an extended period).

Thanks.

What I'll try to do is set up an automatic reply stating I'm out of town along with including my cell phone number in that message in the event that it's time sensitive.

I'm not sure if I'll have service, so I'll also change that number's voicemail stating that I'm on the trip and to leave a message that I will check as soon as I'm able to.

Like I said, I just really don't want to miss a shot if someone is going to give me one.

[katalytik]

Thanks.

What I'll try to do is set up an automatic reply stating I'm out of town along with including my cell phone number in that message in the event that it's time sensitive.

I'm not sure if I'll have service, so I'll also change that number's voicemail stating that I'm on the trip and to leave a message that I will check as soon as I'm able to.

Like I said, I just really don't want to miss a shot if someone is going to give me one.

How about asking someone else take the phone call or check your email? family member? then they can try to reach you somehow....

[jacib]

I was in a different country from my contact number when people called with my acceptance. My cell phone was off and it went straight to voice mail in a foreign language. They tried for a day or two, and then sent me an email. Once they have accepted you, the tables turn and it is they who are interested in wooing you. I have gotten phone calls from three different people at this program so far... and only one who would actual work with me. The other two are just doing the job of selling me on the program, getting me to come to the recruitment weekend, etc.

None of the things will be time sensitive (or they all will, but not knowing until March 15th is not a problem). American schools can't demand you do anything until April 15 (there's some graduate degree granting university blood oath involved.. maybe someone can link to the text of it). Getting in off the waitlist, they can demand an immediate response, but in the normal course of admissions, I've never heard of 24 hours or anything like that for American universities.

[SublimeDelusions]

How about asking someone else take the phone call or check your email? family member? then they can try to reach you somehow....

I'm 1500 miles away from any of my family. So having them do much of anything with my calls or email is pretty non-existent considering that my own family only checks their email maybe once or twice a month.

I was in a different country from my contact number when people called with my acceptance. My cell phone was off and it went straight to voice mail in a foreign language. They tried for a day or two, and then sent me an email. Once they have accepted you, the tables turn and it is they who are interested in wooing you. I have gotten phone calls from three different people at this program so far... and only one who would actual work with me. The other two are just doing the job of selling me on the program, getting me to come to the recruitment weekend, etc.

None of the things will be time sensitive (or they all will, but not knowing until March 15th is not a problem). American schools can't demand you do anything until April 15 (there's some graduate degree granting university blood oath involved.. maybe someone can link to the text of it). Getting in off the waitlist, they can demand an immediate response, but in the normal course of admissions, I've never heard of 24 hours or anything like that for American universities.

That's the problem. This is my 4th round of applications, and with all of these other people hearing back acceptances (sometimes more than one), it's making me a bit nervous. The fact is, I've had horrible luck in my graduate studies so far (even professionals in my field have dubbed me "unluckiest graduate student"), and I really just want to get in to at least one school. With the luck I've had, I really don't want to screw up a chance of getting in over me missing a call or not being able to respond to email.

The last time I was "waitlisted" and got the option of acceptance, I got a call from the program demanding an immediate answer. I was able to get them to give me 24 hours (they only gave me a little over 18), but they still wanted an immediate answer. The other times I was waitlisted, they wanted answers ASAP to set things up for interviews, and then didn't tell me no on my admission until I called two weeks later to check. I didn't hear back from any of the waitlisted ones until late though. The ASAP ones were both after April 15, and the Immediately one was in May.