Graduate School Admission Results

TPB: Probably b/c of increased applicants due to Covid. It's driving me crazy though! I've heard from only two schools at this point.

Why the release date seems to be later than in previous years

TPB: Boston is not clear right now, UCSD still a chance to get waitlisted (although I think they've already sent out the main offers), NYU seems like an IR

TPB: I heard from different schools they expect a lot of movement around April 15th. More so than previous years given the longer waitlists at some unis (from top to bottom). I doubt there will be a lot of movement in the next month.

Hi. Wish you all have received or will receive good offers. Does anybody know when the uncertainties about wait-listed students are resolved? Does it differ between different universities? I am more interested to know about Princeton (I am wait-listed there) and how they manage this process. Thanks!

TPB: good point. That is actually why some schools wait until April 15. Even the final hours matter, as a chain may be triggered very late. That said, I think it is also a good idea if everyone declares which offers they are going to decline, specifically those at high ranking universities.

Why the hell schools do not inform their decisions?

Ask for advice. Do you think it is good to write to a university that you already have an acceptance from another program of the same ranking but you are more interested in attending their program? It would increase the probability of being accepted?

This is my fourth waitlist, with no offer!! Please mind people like me and don't keep offers if you don't want to accept them. It's a terrible year... 0a/4w/8r/2ir/5p

How probable is it to be a/r/wl after been invited for interviews at US universities?

TPB: I'm currently on the waitlist at the University of Michigan and didn't submit GRE scores. I remember seeing a post by someone who said they got in there with no GRE as well. Not sure about other programs, though.

Is there anyone who has been accepted without GRE (optional submission)? I think the U.S. programs only made money by suggesting that option.

TBP asking when Pittsburg, UIUC, etc will send decisions: no one on here or Urch is going to be able to tell you that. All you can do is look at previous year's of gradcafe results, which is all anyone else is going to be able to do as well.

Why is it so difficult this year? Is it because of enrollment reduction or some other issue?

To the follow-ups, could you please state your background of whether domestic or international applicants? Many thanks!

TPB. While the GRE might be optional, you should still submit your results as they may provide a positive signal. From my experience, strong recommendation letters from people who can actually assess your capabilities are the real key for a successful application. However, sending an additional signal with a 170Q GRE shouldn't hurt at all.

Is anyone else applying for F21 extremely stressful? I have been kicking my own butt for the past 2 years to get into a good program and this is the year where I am applying again, now covid happens. I just took the GRE with 170Q and all the damn schools are now making it optional. Is this going to be a bloodbath??? How do I cope with this?

Yes, many from different countries will not be able to go there because of US travel ban. South asian people will be added to that list as its codiv cases are rising!

TPB: That is not 100% true, but improving your scores will help your application. If you can afford it, I suggest you take the GRE a second time. If you can't afford it or get a lower/same score the second time around, you'll still find good universities that accept students with scores lower than 165 (just a few I know: University of Tennessee and University of Houston - I have a couple of friends who got in and had scores lower than 165).

TPB: If you're planning to apply again, please ensure that that GRE Quant score is at least 165. There's a common understanding that most Econ PhD programs consider only those applicants with a minimum GRE Quant score cut-off. This may not be true everywhere, and could be a coincidence, but this is what us commonly understood about PhD admissions in general. Best of Luck, and Cheers! :)