This post was adapted from a previous version.
By now you’ve checked your email and have learned that we released Fall 2017 entry admissions decisions. When you did read your decision, I’m sure you went through a mix of emotions. Good or bad, there are some things our waitlisted candidates and those who weren’t granted admission should know going forward. So I’ve gone through our archives to see which questions were frequently asked last year and came up with a few things you should know now that decisions are live. (If you haven’t heard back yet, keep an eye on your inbox as we have a handful more that will trickle out over the next few days.)
The Waitlist
If you’ve been waitlisted that doesn’t mean your story has ended with SIPA. Your application showed a lot of promise, but in the end, there were more highly competitive candidates than we have seats for at SIPA. That can be tough to read, but the good news is some of you will move from the waitlist to the admitted students list. Just be patient with us as it takes some time. Our waitlist isn’t ranked so I can’t tell you the likelihood of you being admitted. However, I can tell you that we’ll reexamine the waitlist starting May 2, 2017, and we’ll release final decisions for waitlisted candidates by July 1, 2017. (If you’re an international student, you’ll still have time to apply for a visa if you don’t procrastinate the process once you’re admitted off the waitlist.)
If you want to keep us informed of your academic and professional pursuits, we will only review new test scores and transcripts. So if you’ve retaken the GRE/GMAT or TOEFL/IELTS or have taken additional quantitative coursework to support your application, feel free to send them along by April 30, 2017. Just email us the documents, your name and application number to [email protected] with “Supplemental Waitlist Materials from Your Name” in the subject line. I would also recommend you send us everything at once instead of in batches over several weeks.
And if you don’t want to be considered for admission to SIPA anymore, please send us an email at [email protected] with your name and application number.
Please keep in mind that we cannot provide periodic updates on your standing. Thus, you should only email us if you have a specific request regarding your waitlisted application (e.g., to update your application or remove it from consideration).
Appeal An Admissions Decision
The Admissions Committee reviews each application thoroughly and with great care. All decisions are final, and there isn’t an appeal process.
Requesting Application Feedback
If you tracked the blog when we were discussing Spring 2017 admission then you probably already know the answer. For those of you who don’t, I’m just going to link you to those same resources. Due to the volume of applications, we cannot offer individual feedback. I recommend you review our Evaluation Criteria and Requesting Feedback pages.
Reapply To SIPA
If you didn’t get the admission decision you were hoping for, you are welcome to reapply to SIPA. As a reapplicant, you must abide by the same deadlines, fees and requirements as first-time applicants. As a benefit, you may reapply using the personal statement, reference letters, test scores and transcripts from this year’s application. But I encourage you to at least submit new essays (and possibly recommendation letters) as the questions change every year. When next year’s application goes live in mid-August 2017, email us at [email protected] with “Reapplicant Request To Use Past Materials for Your Name” in the subject line and specify which of these materials you want to reuse. For details on reapplicant process, visit our Reapplication page.
Thank Your Recommenders
You’re either thinking “duh” or “oh yeah” with this step. It’s an obvious next step to take, but many applicants still forget to do this. And no matter the admissions decision, it’s a nice gesture to thank your recommenders one more time for their help. They took time out of their busy schedules to write you a letter, and I’m sure they’re curious to know how things turned out. And if you weren’t admitted, this could be your chance to hear some words or wisdom and ask them for suggestions on strengthening your application for next year.
Saying Goodbye
On behalf of the entire Admissions Committee, I want to thank you for your effort. We all got to know you through your application materials and it was an honor to read about your achievements and ambitions for the future. If you ultimately decide to decline your admissions offer, remove yourself from the waitlist or won’t reapply next year, please know that we hope you’ll continue to develop your academic and professional experience for whatever your future might hold. And I wholeheartedly wish you luck in your future endeavors.
