Fall 2009 Graduate Admissions Thread

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses the experiences and anxieties of applicants for Fall 2009 graduate programs in various fields, primarily focusing on mathematics and physics. Participants share their application statuses, schools of interest, and areas of research, while expressing their concerns about the admissions process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express their nervousness about the application process and share their research interests, such as differential geometry, mathematical physics, and algebra.
  • Several applicants mention the schools they have applied to, including UCSD, UCLA, MIT, and others, highlighting their specific areas of focus within mathematics and physics.
  • Concerns are raised about the timely receipt of GRE scores by schools, with one participant noting issues with score reporting.
  • There is a discussion about the timing of admissions notifications, with varying opinions on when applicants can expect to hear back from schools.
  • Some participants inquire about the presence of physics and astronomy applicants in the thread, noting a predominance of math applicants.
  • One participant reports receiving an acceptance from a physics program and anticipates more results soon.
  • Disagreement arises regarding the timeline for admissions notifications, with differing views on whether certain schools, like MIT, will notify applicants earlier or later than others.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the shared experience of anxiety during the application process, but there are multiple competing views regarding the timing of admissions notifications and the competitiveness of various programs. The discussion remains unresolved on these points.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the admissions timelines and the varying practices of different universities, indicating that these factors may depend on individual department schedules and applicant strength.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective graduate students in mathematics, physics, and related fields may find this discussion relevant as it reflects the common experiences and concerns during the application process.

  • #31
Ahhh the wait is driving me crazy! I haven't heard back from anywhere (including UCSB). UT-Austin's website says that they make admissions decisions "in February" so hopefully in the next 2 weeks we'll know something.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
So far I've gotten into OSU (01/30) and UNC Chapel Hill (02/05) for condensed matter experiment. Brown's physics department has notified me that they have recommended me for admission to their graduate school, but it could be weeks before I get a decision and my financial package.

I got a good deal at Ohio, but I'm with you on the whole UT Austin impatience. Austin is the more realistic of my two reach schools, the other being UC San Diego. I'm still checking e-mail every five minutes for those two.
 
  • #33
Also really anxious to hear back from UT-Austin. It's my top choice.
 
  • #34
Applied for Physics-Condensed Matter Experiment:

I just got an acceptance email from U Pittsburgh and an invitation for an interview from Boston College.
 
  • #35
Haven't really replied to this thread yet, but I just got officially admitted to UCSB for Mechanical Engineering. Didn't want to jinx it.

Good luck to the rest.
 
  • #36
I applied for Astronomy at UCLA (yeah, I actually applied only there... but I do have a backup in case this fails). Anyone else who applied there for Physics/Astronomy or heard anything from them?
 
  • #37
No, UCLA has not sent out their first wave yet
 
  • #38
Received acceptance from Florida State University today. I applied for their HEP physics program.
 
  • #39
tacosareveryyum said:
Received acceptance from Florida State University today. I applied for their HEP physics program.

can you tell me why you applied there?
 
  • #40
I called the graduate coordinator of UNC-Chapel Hill and was told that they made their first round offers for PhD program in pure math today. Well, I'm not in that. In any case, just want to let you guys know if anyone here interested in UNC. Anybody here has any news from other programs ranked from 6-20? I knew that Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford and Berkeley made their first rounds offers a while ago. How about other programs?
 
  • #41
UIUC sent out acceptances today in math.
 
  • #42
Getting more and more anxious as I have yet to hear back from any of the schools I applied to. Though I expect most to notify me by snail mail.
 
  • #43
I got accepted to UofToronto 5 year direct entry phd program for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Very excited.
 
  • #44
I got rejected from UIUC and Cornell. Not surprised about either, but really disappointed that I didn't get into UIUC. I thought I had an OK chance. Of course, I am not entitled to admission, but it hurts nonetheless.

Also Northwestern has sent out first round of offers and they seem to do a rolling admissions. So I'm not sure if I got rejected from NW. Again, I am not holding my breath.
 
  • #45
Hang in there Jason! A lot of the schools you listed on the first page haven't even started contacting yet.
 
  • #46
best of luck to everyone!
 
  • #47
U of Utah seems to have started contacting. On gradcafe, it seems like they are making offer for people with Vigre grant. How many such fellowships does a department like U o U usually have? Could it be that if all the people with Vigre grants fill all the positions, they not going to accepting anybody else? Any idea?
 
  • #48
JasonJo said:
I got rejected from UIUC and Cornell. Not surprised about either, but really disappointed that I didn't get into UIUC. I thought I had an OK chance. Of course, I am not entitled to admission, but it hurts nonetheless.

Also Northwestern has sent out first round of offers and they seem to do a rolling admissions. So I'm not sure if I got rejected from NW. Again, I am not holding my breath.

If you don't mind me asking, how were you informed that you were rejected from Cornell?

Hang in there, I'm sure you'll start hearing some good news.
 
  • #49
Got into Boston University for Condensed Matter Experiment!

They were my top choice out of the realistic schools I applied to!
 
  • #50
g01 said:
got into boston university for condensed matter experiment!

They were my top choice out of the realistic schools i applied to!

congratulations!
 
  • #51
Maybe slightly off-topic, but does anyone have any strong feelings as to whether or not it's a faux pas to e-mail departments to ask if they've made a decision?

I've already received an unofficial "we've recommended you for admission to the graduate school but you're not technically in yet wink wink" phone call from one school, but I'm wondering if it makes me look bad to ask for unofficial results from other programs.

Appearing arrogant and impatient isn't something I want to do if the school hasn't made a decision yet.
 
  • #52
Based on the FAQ pages I've read, I would say an e-mail like that should wait until mid-March. There are a ton of programs that haven't begun sending out responses yet (that I know of).
 
  • #53
detunedradio said:
Maybe slightly off-topic, but does anyone have any strong feelings as to whether or not it's a faux pas to e-mail departments to ask if they've made a decision?

I've already received an unofficial "we've recommended you for admission to the graduate school but you're not technically in yet wink wink" phone call from one school, but I'm wondering if it makes me look bad to ask for unofficial results from other programs.

Appearing arrogant and impatient isn't something I want to do if the school hasn't made a decision yet.

Right now probably not since the majority of decisions have not been made at least for physics but come March you probably can.
 
  • #54
detunedradio said:
Maybe slightly off-topic, but does anyone have any strong feelings as to whether or not it's a faux pas to e-mail departments to ask if they've made a decision?

What good do you think it will do? Do you think they made a decision and are somehow holding it back from you? Unless you happen to get them between the time the decision is made and it arrives in your mailbox, I don't think you'll find out substantially sooner.
 
  • #55
Vanadium 50 said:
What good do you think it will do? Do you think they made a decision and are somehow holding it back from you? Unless you happen to get them between the time the decision is made and it arrives in your mailbox, I don't think you'll find out substantially sooner.

This is true for acceptances. They usually will contact you as soon as they can if they admit you. But if they have rejected you, this is not their top priority. I have found out already that I have been rejected from two schools a few days ago before they even officially sent out rejection letters because I emailed them. It might be an annoyance but if you are curious, I don't see what the big deal is about asking. It's very unlikely you will find out you got accepted this way, they usually let you know as soon as they can, but if you want to find out if you got rejected, then I can tell you from first hand experience, emailing or calling is very effective.
 
  • #56
Vanadium 50 said:
What good do you think it will do? Do you think they made a decision and are somehow holding it back from you? Unless you happen to get them between the time the decision is made and it arrives in your mailbox, I don't think you'll find out substantially sooner.

The school that I heard from "unofficially" hasn't yet sent me a letter, and the Professor who called me said that it could take a few weeks before the graduate school got everything in order and mailed out. This was two weeks ago, so clearly some schools have a significant delay between the department making a positive decision and the graduate school accepting the student.

I think I'll be waiting a few more weeks to get in touch with UCSD, but UT Austin said decisions would be made mid-February, so I'll send them an e-mail next week. I'm done derailing the thread. Thanks, everyone.
 
  • #57
detunedradio said:
So far I've gotten into OSU (01/30) and UNC Chapel Hill (02/05) for condensed matter experiment.

I also got into OSU. Are you going to the open house? Maybe I'll see you there.
 
  • #58
Anyone in pure math hear from Brown yet?
 
  • #59
abelian jeff said:
Anyone in pure math hear from Brown yet?

Got into Brown physics yesterday. But that's hardly pure. :devil:

Received my acceptance to UC Irvine just now. I'm into four out of six so far. Of course, my top two schools are the ones that are still pending.
 
  • #60
tuna_wasabi said:
I also got into OSU. Are you going to the open house? Maybe I'll see you there.
I will be at OSU-physics’ open house.

So far, I have heard from:
UC Riverside, Ohio State, University of Oklahoma, Rice, Penn State, and Cornell.
(In all cases, I am applying to the physics department for experimental condensed matter)
 

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