2009 wait-list blues thread

[cara susanna]

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Hey all,

I just found out that I'm an alternate at my top choice and basically my last shot at getting in somewhere. I thought I'd create this thread for those of us who are wait-listed, because misery loves company.

Soo, yeah, who else is in this extremely undesirable situation?

 

[psykate09]

Hey all,

I just found out that I'm an alternate at my top choice (sounds like I'm #5 on the list, ughhh) and basically my last shot at getting in somewhere. I thought I'd create this thread for those of us who are wait-listed, because misery loves company.

Soo, yeah, who else is in this extremely undesirable situation?

Story of my life. I only have one official rejection, and several "waitlists for interviews" and one waitlist after getting an interview. *sigh*

 

[Emilee]

I am waitlisted at two schools.

I'm finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that I'm not "good enough" to be anyone's top choice. I think being waitlisted is harder to deal with than a rejection. At least, I can move on with a rejection.

But we are all good candidates so maybe the tides of time we turn in our favor.

 

[cara susanna]

I can't stomach the thought of waiting 6 more weeks. Blegh.

It does hurt a little, doesn't it? I thought that they really liked me.

 

[FranklinR]

I can't stomach the thought of waiting 6 more weeks. Blegh.

It does hurt a little, doesn't it? I thought that they really liked me.

Really, seriously, I encourage you to do you best not to think of it in those terms. Often, picking one person over another is entirely random, or a favor to somebody else's recommender, or because somebody else just happened to already be doing the research they're working on and they need the help right now. This doesn't take away from those who get in - getting to the interview stage is an accomplishment among accomplishments, let alone making it past that stage.

But for your own sake, try not to take it personally.

 

[Eruca]

Ah, I understand you completely.. and want to offer my support. I also want to offer that they may, in fact, have liked you quite well. And you all must be "good enough" because you were among the FEW who got interviews!

The problem can sometimes lie in very little things beyond your control. Sometimes a program is looking to recruit more males, or one of the top choices has the exact fit in terms of experience, or maybe there is a political connection? My point is, there are a number of factors, and some of them have nothing to do with you or your interview.

You may have seen this in a previous post, but I was a 1st alternate for my first-choice (and only option) program. I actually got a rejection letter after my interview, and spent a whole day believing the game was over. Weeping and all. I happen to know someone in the program, told her about the letter, and she seemed quite surprised and contacted the POI for me. Turns out...I wasn't rejected! BUT, I wasn't accepted either. I was in a holding pattern to see if choice #1 was going to accept. Also, my POI ended up securing funding for 2 positions, so actually that was part of the reason I had to wait. It was at least 2-3 weeks post-interview before I finally got the good news.

So hang in there. I can't promise you that you'll get in. But I can promise that getting this far means you rock. And you just don't know what lies ahead.. it may just be that you haven't found your perfect program yet.

 

[cara susanna]

Thanks. It seems that I have a pretty good chance--6 people on average reject their offers a year from this program (I was nerdy and did the math. 😉)

 

[Terapueta24]

I am waitlisted at 2 schools including my top choice. I have been waiting to hear about any movement for about 3 weeks and it is killing me! I hope that as more acceptance happen there is some movement in all of the waitlists everywhere. I hear that often once one spot opens up there can be a lot of change in a lot of different schools. When do we think this will happen?!!?!!

Thanks for starting this thread. The waitlist is a strange limbo place indeed!

 

[alleycatpsych]

Here's to hoping we all post on the Acceptance thread come Monday!

Good Luck Everyone!!!

 

[Prsstnt]

I can't stomach the thought of waiting 6 more weeks. Blegh.

It does hurt a little, doesn't it? I thought that they really liked me.

I second FranklinR. Don't take it personally. It is very hard to understand this highly complex and sometimes bizarre process. A tribute to it is that communication between bees has been deciphered looooong back and we are still clueless about the interview/acceptance song and dance ritual

 

[FranklinR]

A tribute to it is that communication between bees has been deciphered looooong back and we are still clueless about the interview/acceptance song and dance ritual

So should I not have waggled in little circles during the interview? Was that the problem?

 

[cara susanna]

Do they update you on every little movement, or is it more like they contact you A) If you move to #1 spot B) If you get an offer, obviously or C) If you get rejected? Again, I'm not the #1 alternate because this program doesn't really do acceptances per professor, they just send out offers to the top 8 people and go down the list. So I have to worry about the alternates before me as well as the people with offers.

Also, how often are you guys contacting them to ask about your status on the waitlist? Like, every 2 weeks, maybe?

 

[Jon4PsyD]

Hey all,

A couple of things:

1)You ARE good enough! These programs get an insane amount of applicants and if you made it to the interview stage, you are a person they absolutely believe can be a part of their program. I'm sure they wish they could accept all the people who made the interview stage but they unfortunately can't.

2)I was at an interview recently and one of the faculty there made two very important points. #1 being that coming from the position this person is now in, they did not see themselves being accepted these days with how competitive it has become. #2 this person was wait-listed and eventually accepted when applying and made it very clear that nowhere on his diploma does it says "Ph.D. waitlisted" or "Ph.D. but not the top choice" 🙂

3) For those of us out there with a few acceptances, let's get our brains and hearts going and make a final decision as soon as possible so that people do not need to wait around. I know what this is like as I was waitlisted at my top choice for a MASTER'S program three years ago (which did not feel so good either after getting NO doctoral interviews - kinda a double-whammy).

4)Good Luck to all of you. People do turn down offers and I hope you are able to be a part of the programs you're waiting to hear from.

 

[Jon4PsyD]

I'm not sure this has been done in previous years as I have never seen it - but how about a thread for schools applicants have rejected/turned down offers from?

While it would be a new place people can obsessively check during the day now that the Interview Invite thread is almost history....I think it would help people who are on edge and wishng they could receive more updates than just contacting the program(s) they are waiting on....

Jon

 

[cara susanna]

I would love that, but I'm not sure if anyone here got accepted to the program that waitlisted me.

 

[minichka2004]

Guyes,

How did your program informed you about your being wait-listed? E-mail, telephone, anything else?

It was not hard to trust my program director when she said that she would notify all interviewees about their application status in 2 weeks or less after the last interview day. Two weeks were over yesterday, Friday. I haven't heard from her yet.

Does it mean that I am rejected? Wait-listed& One professor I know told me that usually programs send rejection letters first, then they notify the accepted ones, keeping the wait-list for themselves...

Thanks!

What is your experience about wait-lists?.

 

[yenotik]

I read about people getting rejected/accepted + interviewed in the other threads, and that made me really worried about having a chance. One of my top choice schools sent me a letter via snail mail informing me of my status as 'wait listed' so now I get to wait....more. I don't lnow if the prospect of no interview there is a good or bad thing =/

 

[psychanxiety]

Hey all,

I just found out that I'm an alternate at my top choice (sounds like I'm #5 on the list, ughhh) and basically my last shot at getting in somewhere. I thought I'd create this thread for those of us who are wait-listed, because misery loves company.

Soo, yeah, who else is in this extremely undesirable situation?

Did they tell you up front your position on the wait-list? One of my schools told me in no uncertain terms my position, but another one is kinda vague. I've been analyzing the sentance structure of the wait-list letter😳

 

[knowing]

Hi Cara Susanna:

Just wanted to throw some encouragement to you this morning regarding the waitlist. Everything will be ok....👍🙂 Keep your head up and keep smiling....I always try to remember things could be worse...You are smart enough, clever enough, pretty enough..to come this far.......Who knows what is to come for you ..always great things...🙂

 

[cara susanna]

I emailed and asked what my position was. The original notification was emailed to us on the day we were told acceptances/alternate notifications would go out.

Thanks, everyone. It was just a shock because I had a professor say they'd be supporting my admission and everything. I guess I expected to at least be a high alternate...

 

[PamBeasLizLemo]

It sounds to be like the school has a messed up system. If they are choosing based on TOTAL students rather than giving each professor 1 student.. that clearly doesn't mean anything about you. You never know, maybe you're first alternate for your particular POI. But I guess you'll never know because that's not how they do it. Also, I think you have a decent chance if they don't do it that way. That means TOTAL 5 or 4 (howevery far along on the waitlist you are) has to reject them. I initally thoguht you were 4 or 5 for your POI. This could still happne for you!

I emailed and asked what my position was. The original notification was emailed to us on the day we were told acceptances/alternate notifications would go out.

Thanks, everyone. It was just a shock because I had a professor say they'd be supporting my admission and everything. I guess I expected to at least be a high alternate...

 

[cara susanna]

Yeah, they rank applicants and keep going down the list. They don't do acceptances by professor.

Last year they actually had 12 people turn them down so I'm trying to be hopeful. Also, other people on the waitlist may withdraw their apps as well.

 

[RSclinical]

Yeah, they rank applicants and keep going down the list. They don't do acceptances by professor.

Last year they actually had 12 people turn them down so I'm trying to be hopeful. Also, other people on the waitlist may withdraw their apps as well.

Hi, Cara Susanna - If you mean UND, I am going to withdraw my name from the waitlist, so that will help. 🙂

 

[cara susanna]

OMG! Do you know what number you are, if you don't mind my asking?

Haha, I knew it was so obvious what school I was talking about, I may as well just come out and say it 😉

 

[RSclinical]

OMG! Do you know what number you are, if you don't mind my asking?

Haha, I knew it was so obvious what school I was talking about, I may as well just come out and say it 😉

Hi - Unfortunately, I don't. So I should really have said it *may* help. I hope it does. 🙂

 

[cara susanna]

Thanks for telling me--I feel better knowing that at least one person is withdrawing 😀

I wonder if they'll update us everytime we move up the list? Otherwise, I'm going to email and ask for a status update in a few weeks or so. I'm guessing they wouldn't because that would be a loooot of work.

 

[PamBeasLizLemo]

This has nothing to do with anything..b ut ive always wondered what that picture is from that is your profile photo.

Thanks for telling me--I feel better knowing that at least one person is withdrawing 😀

I wonder if they'll update us everytime we move up the list? Otherwise, I'm going to email and ask for a status update in a few weeks or so. I'm guessing they wouldn't because that would be a loooot of work.

 

[cara susanna]

Matt Cavenaugh as Tony and Josefina Scaglione as Maria in the new revival of West Side Story. It's on Broadway now, but the picture is from the production when it was in its original run in Washington, D.C.

 

[psychanxiety]

Thanks for telling me--I feel better knowing that at least one person is withdrawing 😀

I wonder if they'll update us everytime we move up the list? Otherwise, I'm going to email and ask for a status update in a few weeks or so. I'm guessing they wouldn't because that would be a loooot of work.

I would go easy on asking for updates...now is not the time to annoy them! I waited 4 weeks after I was informed that I was waitlisted to ask for an update. And as I expected, my POI said that nothing has changed yet but he'll let me know asap. Release your frustration and anxiety here instead!

 

[cara susanna]

Yeah, I'm thinking three-four weeks sounds good.

Sounds like a plan. 😉

 

[futureapppsy2]

I have nothing helpful to say but GOOD LUCK! From your posts here, I have nothing but impressed by you!

 

[cara susanna]

Aww, thank you!

And, ahh, this thread has been entirely taken up by my wait list drama. I made it for everyone, so feel free to chime in with your own anxiety/frustration/what have you. 😀

 

[nycpsychgrad]

Has anyone been waitlisted at CUNY for the clinical psych PhD? I know they gave admissions offers last week, but I haven't received a rejection and so am wondering if there is still the possibility that I'm an alternate.

Thanks!

 

[Sassafrass]

The wind was completely taken out of my sails... sigh.

I finally called UVA-Curry... only to find out that I'm wait-listed - albeit "very high on the wait-list".

I know that it doesn't NECESSARILY mean bad things... but when I was there, it seemed to be top choice with my interview group... so I'm doubting there will be a lot of people passing it up. That, combined with the fact that this is honestly my last chance has really just ruined my day... honestly, ruined more then a day! 🙁

Anyone out there with acceptances? Tell you what... why not just say "screw it"... who wants to live in Charlottesville anyways... except for that crazy Sassafrass person of course. Gosh, no one... you'll hate it there!!!! 😉

 

[nl2008]

I am waitlisted at a top choice school as well. Honestly, all you can do is wait. There's no sense spending hours on here trying to figure out who was accepted, who's dropping or accepting the offer, what number you are on the list, etc. etc. It's a tough thing to accept, but it's out of our hands now and we can only wait and hope. If you get accepted great, but spending hours on SDN trying to figure out the system is only going to add to frustration if we don't get in. Not only will we have wasted money and worked hard with no result, we will have also wasted hours of our time trying to control something that is uncontrollable. Good luck everyone! We've waited so long, what's another few weeks? Try to enjoy the fact that there is nothing you can do and hopefully you'll be pleasantly suprised. Best of luck!

 

[lucyguard]

hey everyone, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck in this awful waitlist process. I was waitlisted last year and actually had to wait until April 15 at 2pm-that was when the last person accepted and I found out I didn't get a spot. 🙁 So believe me, I know it's very stressful but I did get confirmation this time around that it really has nothing to with how smart you are or how much they want you. I repplied this year and found out the faculty remebered me right away and I got an acceptance a couple of days after I had a phone interview. I hope you all have better luck than I did with the waitlist but keep in mind that it is still very possible!!!! I will also withdraw from a few programs soon so I hope it helps somebody out - although unfortunately it isn't not any of be programs mentioned here so far.

 

[minichka2004]

hey everyone, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck in this awful waitlist process. I was waitlisted last year and actually had to wait until April 15 at 2pm-that was when the last person accepted and I found out I didn't get a spot. 🙁 So believe me, I know it's very stressful but I did get confirmation this time around that it really has nothing to with how smart you are or how much they want you. I repplied this year and found out the faculty remebered me right away and I got an acceptance a couple of days after I had a phone interview. I hope you all have better luck than I did with the waitlist but keep in mind that it is still very possible!!!! I will also withdraw from a few programs soon so I hope it helps somebody out - although unfortunately it isn't not any of be programs mentioned here so far.

Lucyguard, I wish I had a clear picture about my application status like Cara Susanna. I know that it is still no clear, but at least Cara Susanna knows what she is waiting for (I keep my fingers crossed for her ). I still haven't heard from my program. So, no notification about my acceptance, rejection, wait list.... Probably I am rejected...🙁 What I wanted to ask you, is what do you think has made you a better candidate for your program in comparison to last year? thanks for your reply in advance!

 

[cara susanna]

I'm so sorry to hear about everyone's situation! You never know who will turn down offers, though, so don't lose hope yet.

lucy: Aghh, that's terrible. But it's great that this time you got into your top choice. 😀 I'm actually super-tempted to just reapply next year...

Minichka: How long has it been? I've been given the impression that it's okay to call and ask two weeks after the interview.

 

[lucyguard]

I didn't have a really good idea last year either because they were trying to make sure each lab got a student so my acceptance depended on who rejected, then later in the process they told me I'd get an offer if any of the remainig offers got rejected. No luck. You may want to check if you know people have already heard. The program sent me a letter about my status but I never got it so if I hadn't checked I wouldn't have known. Also, I know that me showing an interest and asking about my status and progress made a difference because one professor told me at one point that he would make a recommendation that I be placed first on the list - carefull not to overdo it and get annoyoing lol. Turns out it was more about luck. Looking back now I'm glad I had this year as I did many things I would have never been able to do if I had been accepted (of course getting into that program this year makes it easy to feel that way).

But answer your question I don't think my application was very different than last year's. Perhaps I nailed the personal statement better and I think I did a better job at matching myself to the programs - I got more interviews this year. I did ask my POI what I could do to improve my chances and he said he thought I already had all it takes - which did not make me feel better and I didn't fully want to believe until I had that acceptance. LOL

If you don't get in - I really hope you do - definetly contact the POI and ask what you can do to improve your chances. If you loved a school ask if you should reapply.

 

[cara susanna]

How often did you ask about your status and progress? Also, did you say that it was your top choice?

 

[lucyguard]

Weekly. But the professor said he'd be in contact with me weekly as well so it was ok. But I also talked to one of the students (who was part of he admissions committee) so I think I actually only talked to the professor himself every other week or so. I don't remember if I said it was my first choice but he did ask if I thought I'd accept the offer if it happened and I said "absolutely!!". But I think that after checking for like 5 or 6 weeks they kinda got the point that I really wanted it.

Edit: when interviewing again this year I flat out said it was my top choice. But do get a feel from you program/professor if these things would be ok as I imagine it varies a lot. I don't thinks it hurts to show that you are interested as they want to offer spots to people who will accept them.

 

[cara susanna]

Okay, thanks. I tried to show that I was interested without outright saying it was my top choice, but maybe it didn't work. Maybe when I contact them again in two weeks I'll try to slip it in.

But, as my mom keeps telling me, I should stop analyzing what I did or didn't do. 😉

 

[doctoroxygen]

I never heard anything from two schools I applied to and was waitlisted at the other after being told by the POI that I had an "inside edge" after meeting at a conference, that I "would've got an interview even if I hadn't applied", and that "it was great seeing [me] again".

 

[cara susanna]

Ughh, sounds similar to what happened to me.

 

[nicu82]

i have yet to hear from two schools also. im wondering if i should take this as a bad sign, or perhaps that they're figuring out who's in/out and then will contact me as sort of a backup.

 

[rmenoch]

Hey everyone,

I'm waitlisted at UC Santa Barbara, which is definitely near the top of my list. I just wanted to stop in and commiserate. Anyways, I'm sending everyone waiting on their top choice some positive energy...so good luck!

 

[Ldora02]

Ughh....I am also waitlisted at my top school...I certainly have the waitlist blues (also wait listed at another school, no acceptance as of yet...)

 

[minichka2004]

I didn't have a really good idea last year either because they were trying to make sure each lab got a student so my acceptance depended on who rejected, then later in the process they told me I'd get an offer if any of the remainig offers got rejected. No luck. You may want to check if you know people have already heard. The program sent me a letter about my status but I never got it so if I hadn't checked I wouldn't have known. Also, I know that me showing an interest and asking about my status and progress made a difference because one professor told me at one point that he would make a recommendation that I be placed first on the list - carefull not to overdo it and get annoyoing lol. Turns out it was more about luck. Looking back now I'm glad I had this year as I did many things I would have never been able to do if I had been accepted (of course getting into that program this year makes it easy to feel that way).

But answer your question I don't think my application was very different than last year's. Perhaps I nailed the personal statement better and I think I did a better job at matching myself to the programs - I got more interviews this year. I did ask my POI what I could do to improve my chances and he said he thought I already had all it takes - which did not make me feel better and I didn't fully want to believe until I had that acceptance. LOL

If you don't get in - I really hope you do - definetly contact the POI and ask what you can do to improve your chances. If you loved a school ask if you should reapply.

Lucy guard,

I also thought that asking about my status would be OK. Director of the program promised the applicants that she would let us all know about our status within 2 weeks time after all interviews were over. Friday last week was the last day when I expected to hear from her.

So, on Saturday I e-mailed her with a question about my status. No answer so far.

Since the other option for me is the Master's degree path with same faculty members, today I e-mailed the Master's degree program director, who also interviewed me for the PhD program. I didn't have to attend an interview for the Master's degree program, and they had their interview on Friday last week.

I politely asked her about my PhD status and also noted that I had several question on the Master's degree, because I didn't attend the interview.

I have just got an answer from her with the following words: "it would not be appropriate for me to respond until you hear from Dr. XXX (the program director). I’m sure you’ll hear from her soon". Nothing about Master's degree program.

So, I really don't understand what is happening....Should I expect a rejection letter?😕

And it seems that they didn't like that I e-mailed them...🙁

 

[minichka2004]

Minichka: How long has it been? I've been given the impression that it's okay to call and ask two weeks after the interview.

Cara Susanna,

It has been more than 2 weeks after the last interview day. I was expecting information from them last week....


I didn't call them, but e-mailed. You'll find everything in my answer to lucyguard....

Now this Master's MFT program is expecting me to respond, and I am not ready to give any response yet... 😎 If I am waitlisted with PhD program I probably would need to wait for more than 2 weeks....and I will need to reject the MFT program.

I even don't know anything about the Master's degree program in counseling and if it would give me more chances to be accepted into their PhD program....The Master's program director told me to wait....😕

Decisions, decisions...

 

[cara susanna]

Sorry to hear--that's a rough position to be in. I think I'd just wait to hear from the PhD program.

So, guys, I thought I'd post my idea to get through the next 6 weeks. I'm going to reread the Harry Potter series, a different book each week (combining the first two into the same week 'cause they're short). 😀