Admissions Fall 2009 Graduate Admissions Thread

[detunedradio]

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.

 

[shaggymoods]

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).

 

[j93]

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.

 

[Vanadium 50]

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.

 

[JasonJo]

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.

 

[detunedradio]

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.

 

[tuna_wasabi]

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.

 

[abelian jeff]

Anyone in pure math hear from Brown yet?

 

[detunedradio]

Anyone in pure math hear from Brown yet?

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

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.

 

[mrjeffy321]

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)

 

[asdfggfdsa]

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?

Yes. It's not. They're working on your dollar, as you paid them via your application fee; furthermore, your plans might change depending on the results of your applications, and, from what I've heard, rejections are usually slower to arrive.


(I'm in )

 

[ice109]

why is everyone going into condensed matter? what does everyone know that i don't? my whole physics department is condensed matter

 

[Vanadium 50]

Condensed matter is the largest subfield of physics. Could it be that simple?

 

[ice109]

Condensed matter is the largest subfield of physics. Could it be that simple?

i guess it could, i was thinking more along the lines that it had the most applications but I'm not sure.

 

[JasonJo]

I am really hoping I get an admissions letter this week. I just want some good news before March. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Gokul43201]

All the best to you and all the others still waiting to hear.

 

[jhicks]

i guess it could, i was thinking more along the lines that it had the most applications but I'm not sure.

It definitely is. Condensed matter has probably the greatest chance of any subdiscipline to get industry funding. For example, Intel sponsors a lot of my lab's work. Optics is not bad either.

 

[JasonJo]

I just got into Texas-Austin on a Geometry Fellowship!

 

[atyy]

I just got into Texas-Austin on a Geometry Fellowship!

Excellent! Congratulations!

 

[alligatorman]

Congrats, JasonJo

 

[G01]

I just got into Texas-Austin on a Geometry Fellowship!

Congratulations!

 

[caravansary]

I just got into Texas-Austin on a Geometry Fellowship!

Congratulations Jason!
Did you receive their email or did you see it via website or did you email them about it?

 

[JasonJo]

Thanks to everyone.

Yeah they sent me an email last night (weird because it was a Sunday night, I wasn't expecting it all).

I called Texas today about the visiting day and the staff over there is very very helpful and very nice, I am very impressed with how their whole department is run.

 

[moo5003]

For those who care, UCSD is sending out its first round of admission letters the first week of March. (They just e-mailed me saying that they wanted a list of all math courses + texts I have taken before sending them out).

 

[detunedradio]

For those who care, UCSD is sending out its first round of admission letters the first week of March. (They just e-mailed me saying that they wanted a list of all math courses + texts I have taken before sending them out).

Another week? But I want it now!

 

[detunedradio]

Looks like UCSD's first round of decisions is out (Ph.D CME anyway). No aid letter yet.
Anybody want to teach me how to surf?

 

[Office_Shredder]

Best offer for me (applying for mathematics) seems to be University of Michigan, though I haven't heard back from MIT. Of course, that probably means it didn't happen :D

 

[Pyrrhus]

Good luck to all!, and remember the hard part of the process starts when the classes begin haha

 

[moo5003]

I'm starting to get worried, I have yet to hear back from any of my schools :*(.

 

[G01]

Best offer for me (applying for mathematics) seems to be University of Michigan, though I haven't heard back from MIT. Of course, that probably means it didn't happen :D

Don't despair yet. I was already rejected last weekend by MIT. So, if you haven't heard, maybe your rejected, but maybe you are just on a waitlist.

 

[ice109]

Best offer for me (applying for mathematics) seems to be University of Michigan, though I haven't heard back from MIT. Of course, that probably means it didn't happen :D

university of michigan is a damn good math school

 

[JasonJo]

I got into UCSB, but I turned it down. Hopefully someone will know be able to attend UCSB.

I am still waiting to hear from Duke, that's really the only school I'm realistically waiting for.

 

[moo5003]

University Michigan and Northwestern rejected me today, though I was accepted into CUNY with a 5-year fellowship!

 

[damasceno]

Hi guys, I'm new here.

Does someone going to Michigan that fall? I was admitted to applied physics.

Thank you guys

 

[kathrynag]

For all you guys that got into schools for math, did you take the GRE math test? I'm debating whetehr or not to take it?