2011 Rejections

SPat · Post by **SPat** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:34 pm

CarlBrannen wrote:Caltech.

+1

A bit relieved actually, one less place to choose from...

enthree · Post by **enthree** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:36 pm

Caltech and Columbia as well

vish · Post by **vish** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:10 pm

Penn State, snail mail 3/10

Kaumz · Post by **Kaumz** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:23 pm

Berkely - was expected.. nice mail though

satyad18 · Post by **satyad18** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:52 pm

Penn State.

We will keep your application documents for another year, so that if your circumstances change in the next year, or if you would like to reactivate your application for a later year, this can be easily done.

What the hell does this mean?..!

idontknow · Post by **idontknow** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:10 pm

Caltech also

TheBeast · Post by **TheBeast** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:59 pm

satyad18 wrote:Penn State.
We will keep your application documents for another year, so that if your circumstances change in the next year, or if you would like to reactivate your application for a later year, this can be easily done.
What the hell does this mean?..!

Was this for an admission without financial offer?

Kaumz · Post by **Kaumz** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:26 pm

reject from Univ of Maryland, I got to know by mailing them.

satyad18 · Post by **satyad18** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:04 pm

TheBeast wrote:
satyad18 wrote:Penn State.
We will keep your application documents for another year, so that if your circumstances change in the next year, or if you would like to reactivate your application for a later year, this can be easily done.
What the hell does this mean?..!
Was this for an admission without financial offer?

I doubt it. Here is what the email said:

We thank you for your interest in our doctoral program in Physics at Penn State. The admissions process is very competitive, with over 500 applicants for about 20 admission slots. Therefore many strong applicants cannot be admitted. We regret to inform you that we are unable to admit you at this time. We will keep your application documents for another year, so that if your circumstances change in the next year, or if you would like to reactivate your application for a later year, this can be easily done.

negru · Post by **negru** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:15 pm

hmmmmm let me take a stab in the dark at this most puzzling and mysterious riddle:

it probably means that if you decide to reapply next year you won't have to resend all/any of the documents.

satyad18 · Post by **satyad18** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:17 pm

negru wrote:hmmmmm let me take a stab in the dark at this most puzzling and mysterious riddle:

it probably means that if you decide to reapply next year you won't have to resend all/any the documents.

Yes, I do agree to the same. Maybe I was just thinking too much!

YodaT · Post by **YodaT** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:28 pm

negru wrote:hmmmmm let me take a stab in the dark at this most puzzling and mysterious riddle:

it probably means that if you decide to reapply next year you won't have to resend all/any of the documents.

Almost so obvious that it must be true.

CarlBrannen · Post by **CarlBrannen** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:47 pm

It seems that I'm likely to give a seminar talk at a prospective school (not one on my list) so I'm guessing I'll probably be going to grad school despite the rejections.

sphy · Post by **sphy** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:42 pm

satyad18 wrote:Penn State.
We will keep your application documents for another year, so that if your circumstances change in the next year, or if you would like to reactivate your application for a later year, this can be easily done.
What the hell does this mean?..!

well that's nice I think a message you can get from a university which just rejected you. Because they value your application and they give you another chance at their university next year with better profile and no application fee this time. Since you have already been accepted to Pitts so it may sound to you sort of hell.

sphy · Post by **sphy** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:44 pm

University of Iowa rejected me. It's my first rejection.

bfollinprm · Post by **bfollinprm** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:48 pm

CarlBrannen wrote:It seems that I'm likely to give a seminar talk at a prospective school (not one on my list) so I'm guessing I'll probably be going to grad school despite the rejections.

None of us ever doubted that. The CalTechs of the world are overrated, I say better to be the God of Iowa Polytechnic.

satyad18 · Post by **satyad18** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:59 pm

sphy wrote:
satyad18 wrote:Penn State.
We will keep your application documents for another year, so that if your circumstances change in the next year, or if you would like to reactivate your application for a later year, this can be easily done.
What the hell does this mean?..!
well that's nice I think a message you can get from a university which just rejected you. Because they value your application and they give you another chance at their university next year with better profile and no application fee this time. Since you have already been accepted to Pitts so it may sound to you sort of hell.

Well, all I need to know is whether this's Penn state's generic reply to the people they reject or they have replied this to a group of people whom they feel worth(?) and are willing to save their application for another year!

HappyQuark · Post by **HappyQuark** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:48 am

satyad18 wrote:
sphy wrote: well that's nice I think a message you can get from a university which just rejected you. Because they value your application and they give you another chance at their university next year with better profile and no application fee this time. Since you have already been accepted to Pitts so it may sound to you sort of hell.
Well, all I need to know is whether this's Penn state's generic reply to the people they reject or they have replied this to a group of people whom they feel worth(?) and are willing to save their application for another year!

I can almost guarantee it is a generic response. A few of my rejections said very similar things.

satyad18 · Post by **satyad18** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:24 am

HappyQuark wrote:
satyad18 wrote:
sphy wrote: well that's nice I think a message you can get from a university which just rejected you. Because they value your application and they give you another chance at their university next year with better profile and no application fee this time. Since you have already been accepted to Pitts so it may sound to you sort of hell.
Well, all I need to know is whether this's Penn state's generic reply to the people they reject or they have replied this to a group of people whom they feel worth(?) and are willing to save their application for another year!
I can almost guarantee it is a generic response. A few of my rejections said very similar things.

Thanks HappyQuark. Feel relaxed now.

bbsmitz · Post by **bbsmitz** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:17 pm

UIUC.

Kaumz · Post by **Kaumz** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:51 pm

bbsmitz wrote:UIUC.

+1

vish · Post by **vish** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:59 pm

satyad18 wrote:Penn State.

Well, all I need to know is whether this's Penn state's generic reply to the people they reject or they have replied this to a group of people whom they feel worth(?) and are willing to save their application for another year!

Nope, from what I read in my letter, it doesnt mention that, though the online response does say the same thing.

t2kburl · Post by **t2kburl** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:54 pm

UCSC rejection a week and a half after I withdrew my application.

badphysicist · Post by **badphysicist** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:45 pm

Dear BadPhysicist,

Please accept my apologies for not contacting you earlier.

The Physics Admissions Committee evaluated your application for graduate
study towards the PhD in Physics. I regret to inform you that we will
not be able to admit you for Fall 2011.

This year we had over 800 applications, and we regret having to say no
to you and other excellent students from all over the world. We are
sure that among those we could not admit, many of you will grow to
become outstanding physicists, teachers, and administrators.

We appreciate your interest in Berkeley and are grateful to your
teachers and advisers for taking the time to write thoughtful letters on
your behalf. We hope you will do well in whatever program you pursue.

Sincerely,

Donna

satyad18 · Post by **satyad18** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:09 pm

vish wrote:
satyad18 wrote:Penn State.

Well, all I need to know is whether this's Penn state's generic reply to the people they reject or they have replied this to a group of people whom they feel worth(?) and are willing to save their application for another year!
Nope, from what I read in my letter, it doesnt mention that, though the online response does say the same thing.

Did you apply to the physics dept.?

CarlBrannen · Post by **CarlBrannen** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:42 am

badphysicist wrote:Dear BadPhysicist,

Please accept my apologies for not contacting you earlier.

The Physics Admissions Committee evaluated your application for graduate
study towards the PhD in Physics. I regret to inform you that we will
not be able to admit you for Fall 2011.

This year we had over 800 applications, and we regret having to say no
to you and other excellent students from all over the world. We are
sure that among those we could not admit, many of you will grow to
become outstanding physicists, teachers, and administrators.

We appreciate your interest in Berkeley and are grateful to your
teachers and advisers for taking the time to write thoughtful letters on
your behalf. We hope you will do well in whatever program you pursue.

Sincerely,

Donna

Me too (Berkeley)

twistor · Post by **twistor** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:36 am

800 applications... holy ***!

vish · Post by **vish** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:20 pm

satyad18 wrote:
vish wrote:
satyad18 wrote:Penn State.

Well, all I need to know is whether this's Penn state's generic reply to the people they reject or they have replied this to a group of people whom they feel worth(?) and are willing to save their application for another year!
Nope, from what I read in my letter, it doesnt mention that, though the online response does say the same thing.
Did you apply to the physics dept.?

Astro.

HappyQuark · Post by **HappyQuark** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:20 pm

Finally got my rejection from Stony Brook. I don't know what took them so damn long.

ashowmega · Post by **ashowmega** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:22 pm

HappyQuark wrote:Finally got my rejection from Stony Brook. I don't know what took them so damn long.

Same fate here.

InquilineKea · Post by **InquilineKea** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:03 am

vish wrote:
satyad18 wrote:
vish wrote:
Nope, from what I read in my letter, it doesnt mention that, though the online response does say the same thing.
Did you apply to the physics dept.?
Astro.

I just emailed their astro department and they said that the # of applications increased from 100 to 150 this year. I'm pretty sure it's related to Penn State's meteoric rise on the NRC rankings.

==

Also, I emailed Washington's Astro department - I'll wait for a response, hopefully tomorrow, to see what the adviser says.

InquilineKea · Post by **InquilineKea** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:56 pm

Okay, just got reply from Washington's Astro dept:

This year we had about a 30% increase in applications. We will not be able to make decisions on the wait list until we have heard from our current offers.

bck2school · Post by **bck2school** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:07 am

InquilineKea wrote:Okay, just got reply from Washington's Astro dept:

This year we had about a 30% increase in applications. We will not be able to make decisions on the wait list until we have heard from our current offers.

Yup that's pretty much the line I got a week back.

When I was out there for the AAS in Jan there was repeated mention of the fact that they received 160 applicants and that they have never had so many applicantions. What I would really be interested in knowing is the rank ordered waitlist which I was told back in Feb would be generated by the adcom sometime in Mid March.

InquilineKea · Post by **InquilineKea** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:26 pm

Oh interesting. I wonder if it's also because Washington also got a big boost from the NRC rankings.

bck2school · Post by **bck2school** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:34 pm

InquilineKea wrote:Oh interesting. I wonder if it's also because Washington also got a big boost from the NRC rankings.

A poor economy combined with a lot of press being focussed on astronomy in the past few years (planets, cosmology, etc) probably add to it.

InquilineKea · Post by **InquilineKea** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:35 pm

Hm, I'm not so sure about that. The big boost was this year (whereas the economy was poor for several years by now). Previous years haven't seen such a big boost in applicants.

But yes, the press coverage of exoplanets has really exploded only last year.

The one thing, though, is that Washington and Penn State are especially strong in astrobio and exoplanets.

vish · Post by **vish** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:44 pm

I still haven't heard back from Caltech, what should I be assuming. I do not expect Caltech will sit on my application and roost, something much more obvious could have been an outright rejection in the first wave...why are they doing this to me

bfollinprm · Post by **bfollinprm** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:49 pm

vish wrote:I still haven't heard back from Caltech, what should I be assuming. I do not expect Caltech will sit on my application and roost, something much more obvious could have been an outright rejection in the first wave...why are they doing this to me

Call. Anyone who hasn't heard from somewhere should call--for your own sanity people!

InquilineKea · Post by **InquilineKea** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:51 pm

Yeah, that Caltech thing might be one reason why Washington can't even take anyone off its waitlist yet

HappyQuark · Post by **HappyQuark** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:54 pm

vish wrote:I still haven't heard back from Caltech, what should I be assuming. I do not expect Caltech will sit on my application and roost, something much more obvious could have been an outright rejection in the first wave...why are they doing this to me

I'm in the same boat. Two schools of mine haven't sent a single email to me since the day I forked over the $80+ for them to look at my application. I've emailed both schools requesting an update and I'm hoping they will respond. If they don't and I don't hear anything by April 15th, then I intend to send a refund request to all of the schools that never notified me. It seems like if I pay them to consider my application, the least they could do is make a decision before all of the deadlines pass.

bfollinprm · Post by **bfollinprm** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:13 pm

HappyQuark wrote:
vish wrote:I still haven't heard back from Caltech, what should I be assuming. I do not expect Caltech will sit on my application and roost, something much more obvious could have been an outright rejection in the first wave...why are they doing this to me
I'm in the same boat. Two schools of mine haven't sent a single email to me since the day I forked over the $80+ for them to look at my application. I've emailed both schools requesting an update and I'm hoping they will respond. If they don't and I don't hear anything by April 15th, then I intend to send a refund request to all of the schools that never notified me. It seems like if I pay them to consider my application, the least they could do is make a decision before all of the deadlines pass.

Just to harp, email $$\ne$$ phone call.

sphy · Post by **sphy** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:52 am

HappyQuark wrote:
vish wrote:I still haven't heard back from Caltech, what should I be assuming. I do not expect Caltech will sit on my application and roost, something much more obvious could have been an outright rejection in the first wave...why are they doing this to me
I'm in the same boat. Two schools of mine haven't sent a single email to me since the day I forked over the $80+ for them to look at my application. I've emailed both schools requesting an update and I'm hoping they will respond. If they don't and I don't hear anything by April 15th, then I intend to send a refund request to all of the schools that never notified me. It seems like if I pay them to consider my application, the least they could do is make a decision before all of the deadlines pass.

Same here I don't know why they love to screw up.

grep · Post by **grep** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:53 pm

rejected by Harvard Applied Physics thru snail mail

kapil_ds · Post by **kapil_ds** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:38 pm

Got rejected by MIT Earth & Planetary Science on email enquiry. I wrote to the Head of the Department and she replied with a nice, personal email but that's small consolation. This one really hurts. Even though the decks were always stacked against me, I thought I had a non-negligible chance. I really like MIT and have always wanted to go back there for my Phd. That may not happen now.

For now, it's back to waiting for Harvard Earth & Planetary Science to make up it's mind. If I get dinged from there, then I will take another crack at MIT next year.

Kapil

vish · Post by **vish** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:21 pm

Freshly rejected from Caltech & UChicago...

bfollinprm · Post by **bfollinprm** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:59 pm

I called NYU today, they said my application was "still under review" and that I should "hear back by mid-april."

What is it with assholes and working in Physics graduate admissions offices? I know I'm waitlisted or rejected, why are you playing this stupid game?

Like Maryland, I'm sure I'm not going there (i have offers from better fits, and better ranked schools), but the least they could do for the Benjamin they took from me is process my application in a timely manner, and let me know what they've decided.

I want some sort of power in this situation, it's ridiculous.

t2kburl · Post by **t2kburl** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:38 pm

Just to lighten things up a bit in here ...
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive ... micid=1215
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive ... micid=1086
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive ... micid=1156
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=761

LoronDotCom · Post by **LoronDotCom** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:35 am

I got the best possible rejection from UMich Astro yesterday. I actually got rejected on 3/10, but since my husband is currently in the physics grad program there and it is my ultimate top choice school, he encouraged me to send one final plea to the chair of the admissions committee basically begging them to let me in. Two weeks go by and I hear nothing so I'm convinced it's completely over.. then yesterday evening I got an email back from the dude saying he discussed it at length with the department chair and graduate program advisor. They still can't give me a position this year, but said if I am living in the area then next year they would arrange for me to sit in on upper level undergrad astronomy courses to strengthen my app and apply again. VERY interesting stuff.. and cool they're offering me a way to get my foot in the door.

badphysicist · Post by **badphysicist** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:43 pm

In response to an application inquiry.

Thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UC Irvine. The admissions committee has reviewed all files and made offers of admission to 57 students with the goal to recruit a class of about 20-24 students. Unfortunately, you were not selected to be among this group. There are many possible reasons for this decision and we hope you understand that we cannot communicate to each student the particular reasons for our decision. Obviously, your academic record and letters of recommendation were very important to us. The accepted group had an average physics GRE at the 62% and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.7. We considered your chance of success in your area of interest; for example, students interested in particle or condensed matter theory are expected to have considerably better academic records to be admitted than the average scores. Likewise, students with an interest in experimental research should have demonstrated ability to work in a lab environment as evidenced through the letters of recommendation. We also considered how well your interests match with those of faculty in the department.
This letter should not be considered a formal rejection at this point, because it is still possible, though unlikely, that you may receive an offer of admission from us at a later stage. If an unexpectedly low number of students were to accept our offers, we would consider extending further offers at some point close to April 15.
If you have any special circumstances that require a more definite answer at this point, please contact our Chair of Admissions, Thorsten Ritz, tritz@uci.edu, directly.
Physics and Astronomy

HappyQuark · Post by **HappyQuark** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:07 pm

badphysicist wrote:In response to an application inquiry.

Thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UC Irvine. The admissions committee has reviewed all files and made offers of admission to 57 students with the goal to recruit a class of about 20-24 students. Unfortunately, you were not selected to be among this group. There are many possible reasons for this decision and we hope you understand that we cannot communicate to each student the particular reasons for our decision. Obviously, your academic record and letters of recommendation were very important to us. The accepted group had an average physics GRE at the 62% and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.7. We considered your chance of success in your area of interest; for example, students interested in particle or condensed matter theory are expected to have considerably better academic records to be admitted than the average scores. Likewise, students with an interest in experimental research should have demonstrated ability to work in a lab environment as evidenced through the letters of recommendation. We also considered how well your interests match with those of faculty in the department.
This letter should not be considered a formal rejection at this point, because it is still possible, though unlikely, that you may receive an offer of admission from us at a later stage. If an unexpectedly low number of students were to accept our offers, we would consider extending further offers at some point close to April 15.
If you have any special circumstances that require a more definite answer at this point, please contact our Chair of Admissions, Thorsten Ritz, tritz@uci.edu, directly.
Physics and Astronomy

I got that exact same email.