April 1 - April 15

[clinpsy80]

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Hi Everyone!

I was hoping that more experienced applicants, current students and/or graduates could shed some light on what occurs between 4/1 and 4/15. Do programs need to let all applicants (regardless of application status) know their decision by 4/1?

I'm just trying to gain insight because I'm holding on to one offer I love right now but waiting to hear back from one program that has sent out both acceptances and rejections over the past few weeks, but I have heard nothing from.

Any bit of information helps!! Thanks!

 

[elpenguinoloco]

I am in a similar situation so would love to hear about this.

I have an offer from a school I do like and am getting some increasingly explicit pressure (e.g. telling me other applicants are waiting and POI can't let them know until I decide) while I sit on a "very short" wait list at my top choice with some reason to believe the person currently holding that offer may decline.

Should I just tell the program where I have an offer that while I really do like their program and would enjoy working with them, making a decision about where I spend the next 6 years/what kind of career I set myself up for is not something I want to do lightly and that I don't want to commit before I know all my options?

Is it appropriate to reach out to POI at my top choice and ask if I am next on the wait list?

 

[CleverUsername15]

I am in a similar situation so would love to hear about this.

Is it appropriate to reach out to POI at my top choice and ask if I am next on the wait list?

Sure. Email the top choice POI and tell them of your continued interest in their program, and ask where you stand. Couldn't hurt, especially with it being the very end of March.

 

[cara susanna]

Hi Everyone!

I was hoping that more experienced applicants, current students and/or graduates could shed some light on what occurs between 4/1 and 4/15. Do programs need to let all applicants (regardless of application status) know their decision by 4/1?

I'm just trying to gain insight because I'm holding on to one offer I love right now but waiting to hear back from one program that has sent out both acceptances and rejections over the past few weeks, but I have heard nothing from.

Any bit of information helps!! Thanks!

Nope. I didn't get rejected from one program until June or July.

 

[elpenguinoloco]

Sure. Email the top choice POI and tell them of your continued interest in their program, and ask where you stand. Couldn't hurt, especially with it being the very end of March.

Thanks. I was just hesitant to do this because I traded emails with POI last week. They reached out to say they know it's difficult to wait and the wait list really is very short, etc. I reaffirmed that they were my top choice--I didn't know if it would be okay to reach out again and push them to be explicit as to my exact position.

 

[CleverUsername15]

Thanks. I was just hesitant to do this because I traded emails with POI last week. They reached out to say they know it's difficult to wait and the wait list really is very short, etc. I reaffirmed that they were my top choice--I didn't know if it would be okay to reach out again and push them to be explicit as to my exact position.

Ah, see I didn't realize you had recently emailed already. If you have spoken with them in the last week or two, I would wait until it's been 2 weeks or so.

 

[HomeworkHelper]

I am in a similar situation so would love to hear about this.

I have an offer from a school I do like and am getting some increasingly explicit pressure (e.g. telling me other applicants are waiting and POI can't let them know until I decide) while I sit on a "very short" wait list at my top choice with some reason to believe the person currently holding that offer may decline.

Should I just tell the program where I have an offer that while I really do like their program and would enjoy working with them, making a decision about where I spend the next 6 years/what kind of career I set myself up for is not something I want to do lightly and that I don't want to commit before I know all my options?

Is it appropriate to reach out to POI at my top choice and ask if I am next on the wait list?

Are they willing to tell you where you are in that short wait list? If you're not at the top, it might not make sense to wait.

 

[bcliff]

I'm curious as well - I'm first on the waitlist at my #1 school, but I really (really) like my #2 school and would be very happy there as well. I just want to know definitively before I make a final decision. I think my #2 school understands, and they've been great about not pressuring me to make a decision prematurely. I still feel bad though for taking so long to make a decision!

 

[clinpsy80]

I'm curious as well - I'm first on the waitlist at my #1 school, but I really (really) like my #2 school and would be very happy there as well. I just want to know definitively before I make a final decision. I think my #2 school understands, and they've been great about not pressuring me to make a decision prematurely. I still feel bad though for taking so long to make a decision!

I couldn't agree more! I almost feel guilty for holding on to this other offer for so long, especially because I really love the program and could definitely see myself choosing them over program #2 that I'm holding out for, but I won't know for sure until I receive a decision from #2. I have reason to believe I'm on the waitlist, which they haven't published (this is for a PsyD) for whatever reason, but waiting has been less than fun! Really hoping for some concrete answers tomorrow!

 

[PsychPhDone]

If there is a piece of info that you could reasonably find out (e.g., average funding offer) from a place you're waiting on, I'd get that info now if possible.

This is a nervewracking time. Hang in there!

 

[A Blue Duck]

Do programs need to let all applicants (regardless of application status) know their decision by 4/1?

Nope. With a few exceptions, next year's class must be set by April 15th. For those of you on waitlists, this means that you could conceivably receive an offer up to and on 4/15. For those of you just wanting to receive official notice of a rejection, programs do not have to send that out by 4/15; most do, however.

I have reason to believe I'm on the waitlist, which they haven't published (this is for a PsyD) for whatever reason, but waiting has been less than fun!

There are programs that publish waitlists? I've never heard of this. Where are the waitlists published?

 

[elpenguinoloco]

I haven't heard of published waitlists either, but I certainly wish they were less opaque about it! I don't understand the utility in POIs being vague about people's positions and telling an applicant they are "high alternate" or on a "very short" waitlist. Seems like if they provided concrete answers more good decisions would get made faster--e.g. if you tell me I am "high" maybe I will wait, but if that means I am third or fourth on the list and you tell me that instead, I'll understand that it's unlikely to fall to me so it might not be worthwhile to wait.

Reached out to my POI at wait list school to see where I stand. Fingers crossed!

 

[elizabethrota]

I'm curious as well - I'm first on the waitlist at my #1 school, but I really (really) like my #2 school and would be very happy there as well. I just want to know definitively before I make a final decision. I think my #2 school understands, and they've been great about not pressuring me to make a decision prematurely. I still feel bad though for taking so long to make a decision!

I've been holding onto one offer since the end of February, I feel horrible! But it's my safety and I'm holding out for my #1 program, which I am on the waitlist for. This is such a stressful period!

 

[futureapppsy2]

I've been holding onto one offer since the end of February, I feel horrible! But it's my safety and I'm holding out for my #1 program, which I am on the waitlist for. This is such a stressful period!

How do you have a "safety" in this field, unless it's something like an unfunded program or FSPS?

 

[elizabethrota]

How do you have a "safety" in this field, unless it's something like an unfunded program or FSPS?

My apologies, I guess "safety" is the wrong word. What I mean is that it's a program I figured I would get into, and that I could see myself being there, but it's not my top choice. Still a great psyd program, just not my #1.