Waiting list...

[bacata55]

Do you know what is the usual length of a waiting list? Do you have any idea about the Pittsburgh case (I have been waitlisted there)? How does the process work from now on?

Thanks

[Wesson]

Most departments have a minimum size they hope to achieve for the incoming class. If you want at least 10 students in the class, you may make initial admission/funding offers to 20, recognizing that many of them will go elsewhere. People will move up from the waiting list when one of two things happen: a) the list of possibles drops below 10 (i.e., 11+ of the original 20 notify the DGS that they are going elsewhere), or the list of possibles for a subfield drops below the desired minimum (e.g., all but one admitted student in American decides to go elsewhere, and the department wants at least two students in American). This can take a while to sort itself out, mostly because risk-averse students often are slow to notify the DGS that they have ruled out a department. There can be a lot of action in the days leading up to decision day. Some DGSs will call or email you if things are looking promising, as in "it looks quite likely that we'll have a slot for you, but we won't know for sure for at least two more days. So, we encourage you to hold off on making a decision among your other schools until we get back to you."

[APGradApplicant]

Most departments have a minimum size they hope to achieve for the incoming class. If you want at least 10 students in the class, you may make initial admission/funding offers to 20, recognizing that many of them will go elsewhere. People will move up from the waiting list when one of two things happen: a) the list of possibles drops below 10 (i.e., 11+ of the original 20 notify the DGS that they are going elsewhere), or the list of possibles for a subfield drops below the desired minimum (e.g., all but one admitted student in American decides to go elsewhere, and the department wants at least two students in American). This can take a while to sort itself out, mostly because risk-averse students often are slow to notify the DGS that they have ruled out a department. There can be a lot of action in the days leading up to decision day. Some DGSs will call or email you if things are looking promising, as in "it looks quite likely that we'll have a slot for you, but we won't know for sure for at least two more days. So, we encourage you to hold off on making a decision among your other schools until we get back to you."

Thx 4 that info, Wesson. Helpful for those of us on wait lists to know!