4th ding

@ University of Maryland

Left with final outcomes from Texas @ Austin (Waitlisted) and GSU.

3rd ding

@ NYU.

So I have 1 offer and 3 dings from my Tier-A group. All the schools in the Tier-B group have not reached a decision on me yet....

waitlisted at UT @ Austin

Just received an email telling me that I've been waitlisted at the school UT @ Austin (B-1).

That's ok, that's ok. I have kinda expected it as I have seen many people posting "admitted" news in a forum. But it is nice for the school to at least inform me about my status. I have yet to hear a single word from 4 others schools that I have applied to.

still waiting....

Over the pass few days, I saw people posting offers received from the same schools and programs that I'm applying to. One of it is for the first school that interviewed me UT @ Austin (B-1). The other is for a Tier A school (NYU (A-3)) that have not contact me at all. My guess is that I'm on the waitlist or will be receiving the rejection notifications from these schools soon.

Actually I'm kind of unemotional now while waiting. Initially (late Jan/early Feb), I was pretty excited and checked my email and app status multiple times daily. Now, I just check with no expectation of any changes in the status. Maybe when I get the first admit, I will become excite again.

one small step forward....

I had my 2nd interview for School A-1 today. It was a face-to-face meeting, lasting about 30 mins. Basically, the issues that were raised during the 1st phone interview were being brought up again. Why were your grades like this? How's your commitment? Why PhD? etc. The Prof was as nice and friendly in person as she was on email.

When it was time for me to ask questions, I asked THE question: So, what's my chance? It was good to hear that I'm pretty high on the shortlist, but ultimately, I'm not in until I'm in. I also find out more about the school and program. It sounds like a nice place to get the PhD - although the program is pretty demanding and the school would not hesitate to drop you if you don't clear the comps.

Generally, things sound positive for me. It is getting exciting....

1st Outcome - Wharton, Dinged

Received an email notification from Wharton in the early hours of Mar 2. Logged in to the application system and saw the rejection letter. It is a straight ding - no interviews, etc.

Wharton was a Tier-A school in my application.

2nd interview invite

Just received an email from a Tier-A school for a discussion (via phone) tomorrow. I have had a good email correspondence with a prof from this school. But it will be a different prof whom I would be talking to tomorrow. Exciting...

www.gradjournal.com

Over the weekend, I done up a website to keep track of application outcomes at www.gradjournal.com. Although some websites and online forums are doing this in one way or another, GradJournal.com (GJ) is a little different.

Firstly, it ties the application outcome to the applicant's profile (e.g. GMAT score, GPAs, experience, etc.). This helps others to have a better picture of each offer or reject. Secondly, GJ is more structured than what other websites/forums are doing. Lastly, it focus on B-school graduate programs (e.g. PhDs., Masters, MBAs.)

My wife thought that I'm crazy to spend time and money to do GradJournal.com. I agreed with her. But I guess it is just me - seeing deficiencies in existing systems and doing something about them. One good thing is that doing up the system would keep my mind off the waiting season. Or maybe not. Hope I can post my own application outcomes in GradJournal.com soon.

good news!!!

A piece of wonderful news!

Just received an email from the last school (Maryland (B-2)) that I applied to - that all my supporting documents have been received (although it is now way past the application deadline) and my application will be reviewed accordingly.

Ok, sorry for the false alarm... But I'm glad that my prayers have been answered, that the package has been received by the school. I'm thankful that the entire application process went quite well, with no major screwups.

Now, back to the regular waiting game.

results are coming in.... for others....

Started to see admit results from other applicants. Some of these admits are to the schools that I applied to as well. Hence I'm getting more emotional about my application status. I don't know how to describe the cocktail of emotions that I'm going through, although I can strike out those that are not in this cocktail, such as Happy, Glad, and Delighted. Sad and Disappointed are also out.

I have not heard from the school that interviewed me 2 weeks ago. Looking back, although I think I did ok for the interview, one area that I could have done better is to show more passion, committment and interest to the particular school. However, it was post-interview that I realized that the school is a better fit than I thought it was. Anyway, just have to wait for the final verdict to be announced.

My wife asked me how would I feel if I don't get admitted to any schools. At this point, I can say that it will not be the end of the world for me. I will be disappointed, but not discouraged. And I believe that whether to go or not is all part of God's plan and will for me (although right now, I still believe that graduate studies is in His plan and will for me). I will remember what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philipians while he was in chains:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil 4:4)

I will rejoice whatever it may be.

my missing package...

... well, is still missing. One more days to the deadline. Will it or will it not make it to the graduate admission office?

1st interviewed completed

Just completed a phone discussion with a Prof from UT @ Austin (B-1). The discussion was a friendly one, centered around our respective research interests. I can see some relevance and match between our interests. I was also briefed about the application, funding and assistantship process, as well as the research culture in the school.

Overall, it was a good discussion and ended quite positively. The information gathered in today's session would be brought up to the ad comm. I still have to wait a few weeks before I get to hear the final decision. But it is good to know that I'm at least on the shortlist.

unfolding of my waiting season

To keep track of the events during this waiting season.

Jan 25 - Received an interview request from a UT @ Austin [B-1].
Jan 30 - Phone interview with UT @ Austin completed.
Feb 27 - Received an interview request from a Tier A school [A-1].
Feb 28 - Phone interview with A-1 completed.
Mar 2 - Dinged from Wharton (Operations & Information Management) [A-2]
Mar 9 - Face-to-face meeting with A-1.
Mar 14 - Offered received from A-1.
Mar 24 - Dinged from MIT (Information Technologies) [A-4]
Apr 12 - Dinged from NYU (Information Systems) [A-3]

1st interview invite

Just receive an email from a Prof at UT @ Austin (a Tier B school that I'm applying to). The Prof wishes to further discuss my application and interest. Cool...

Anyway, just to say something about my application for this school. I didn't make any contact with any prof from this school before/during my application. I didn't mention any prof's name in my SOP. I know no one or have no connection with anyone from this school. Yet I still get an interview.

So it challenges the conventional wisdom (which I used to have) that you must/should contact potential advisors or mention profs' names in SOP when applying. Should I get rejected, I believe it has nothing to do with what I didn't do in my application but more with how the school assesses my research potential.

application process - completed

Yes! I have sent out the very last application package (to a Tier B school). With this, I have completed my application process. A summary of what have been done, spent and achieved.

Schools
# of schools applied to: 7
First school applied on: Oct 4, 2006
Last school applied on: Jan 12, 2007

Financial damages
Amount spent: US$1,200+.
Inclusive of tests scores, application fees, postage charges, transcripts, and bank charges. Excluding prep materials (estimated to be around US$40), and value of time spent.

Statement of Purpose/Essays/Personal Statement
First SOP mastercopy draft: Jan 5, 2006
Last SOP mastercopy draft: Oct 14, 2006
Total duration: 9+ months

First customized essay draft: Aug 14, 2006
Last customized essay draft: Jan 12, 2007
Total duration: almost 5 months

Letters of Recommendation
First request made to recommender: July 28, 2006
First recommendation received: Aug 7, 2006
Last recommendation received: Nov 2, 2006

Faculty Contacts
# of faculty contacted: about 10
# of positive responses: 2
# of negative responses: 1
# of slient: about 7

contacting profs again...

I started to contact more professors a few days ago. Yes, I know it is a bit late, but I thought what harm would it make? So I emailed to 3 professors, and I'm glad that one of them, Prof L, replied quite positively. We are now having a good discussion pertaining to the research that I'm keen to do.

The good thing is that I have not submitted the personal statement for the school where Prof L is in. Hence I have some time to factor in our discussion into the essay.

Conversation with Prof C

I reignited an email exchange that I have had with a prof (Prof C) from one of the school that I'm applying to. While I have sent my CV and research interest to Prof C earlier, I have not received any constructive feedback with regards to my application or interest. The email exchange has been courteous but lacks an in-depth discussion.

But the situtation changed after I emailed the Prof again yesterday. I decided to email Prof C again. I mentioned a specific paper that the Prof C has published and suggested how we could extend the approach. The next few emails that followed focus more on the suggestion. The tone was friendly and positive. Although Prof C still did not mention anything about my chances or application, nevertheless I'm much more encouraged.

Note to myself: This is the 50th post.

schools selection

Taking a break from the essays writing and thought maybe I should journal down my school selection process.

I have identified 9 schools but, as of now, I am likely to apply to 7 of them only. 1 of the other 2 schools requires me to take the GRE, which I'm not sure if I can do it in time. The other is not really that into my research interest.

Based on the most recent USNews America's Best Graduate Schools (2007) ranking, the 7 schools that I am applying can be split into 4 groups:

• (Group I) 2 in the Top 10
• (Group II) 3 in the Top 11 - 20 range
• (Group III) 1 in the Top 31 - 40 range
• (Group IV) 1 outside the Top 49 (not sure if it is ranked)

Based on the USNews America's Best Graduate Schools 2005 Information Systems speciality ranking,

• 6 in the Top 10
• 1 outside the Top 20 (a Group I school)
  

I further divided these schools into 3 tiers,

• Tier A: 1 Group I, 2 Group II
• Tier B: 1 each from Group II, III and IV
• Tier C: 1 Group I

[Please see my updated list.]

How did I come up with the different tiers? There are a few criteria that I looked at, starting with the most important:

1) Research interest. I looked at the faculty's research interest, and identified those that are doing research that I'm really keen in.

2) The school's reputation - both in general and specific to Information Systems. I also considered the school's placement record.

3) Environment - as I am going with my wife and daughter, I hope the place is condusive for a healthy family life, raising up children, etc.

4) Cost and Quality of Living. I took into account the stipends and financial aid offered by the schools here.

Such tier-system would be helpful should I need to decide between offers in months to come (of course, this is what I'm hoping for...). There is a limitation though: while useful to compare between tiers, this system may not help much when comparing within a tier. Anyway, that will be a good problem to have. And I must/should not be too presumptuous for now.

At this point, it might have been better if I had expanded the list to about 10 schools. But criteria #1 (Research Interest) seriously limited my choices. I'm not sure if this is the right thing for me to do, but I guess I should just move on.