The Waiting Game < | You’re Accepted – Now What? | > An Unsuccessful Application?
The Letter Arrives: You're In!
After the final admissions meeting you will get either a phone call or a letter stating that you have been accepted into the programme. Sometimes you will get an offer of funding there and then, other times you will be told that funding will be advised later. What to do?If you are offered a place, accept it right away. Once you have heard from all the places you have applied to, then you can then make your final decision. Inevitably the school you really want to go to is the one that responds last and if you are not accepted there you will have burned all your bridges if you have said no to everyone else! Departments recognize that this is the way it works, and won't be irritated if you accept provisionally. There is always someone eager to take a place that is freed up, and certainly we have no problems giving away money if funding is involved. Just make sure that you make your final decision within a reasonable length of time--no more than a few weeks.
Making the Final Decision
Once you received all your offers, sit down and consider what will be the best choice for your future. Here are a few issues you might consider as you make your decision, in addition to whatever personal considerations you may have.- Who is offering money and what kind of deal is it?
- What is the size of the department? How many faculty members and students are there? Does that match your style?
- If you visited, did you hit it off with any of the professors/students?
- Is there enough variety of archaeological topics being taught there that if you change your mind about your thesis topic you can adapt?
Your Final Acceptance
Once you have decided which offer you are going to accept, let them know as quickly as possible. Also, by all means let the other schools know that you are not accepting their offers. It is annoying to have funding committed to a student who then doesn't turn up; the money could have offered to someone else. (Also, we have long memories and ten years down the road when you apply to us for a job, we will say--"oh yes, that's the person who didn't bother to let us know they were not coming...."!!!)Also important is to let anyone who has assisted you know. A short note of thanks is appreciated, particularly by your referees; in all likelihood your referees will soon become your colleagues and a supportive colleague is a treasure indeed. You should also tell your Department Head (or Department Secretary who will make sure that the word gets out) of your success. Since one of the ways a department measures its success is by how many students go on to graduate school or are successful in obtaining employment, we like to keep track of our students throughout their careers.
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The Waiting Game < | You’re Accepted – Now What? | > An Unsuccessful Application?
