Comments on: The season of yes or no http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/ life, life in science, miscellaneous thoughts Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:14:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: drshellie http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-577 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:13:07 +0000 http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-577 I thought this was a good email, and I am glad to know where the student decided to go. Like Ianqui, I think it's useful to know who the competition is. I thought this was a good email, and I am glad to know where the student decided to go. Like Ianqui, I think it’s useful to know who the competition is.

]]> by: ianqui http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-573 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:20:16 +0000 http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-573 It's important for us to know where the students end up. If we know who our closest competitors are, we can better tailor our own recruiting efforts. So yeah, if they don't tell me where they ended up, I ask. It’s important for us to know where the students end up. If we know who our closest competitors are, we can better tailor our own recruiting efforts. So yeah, if they don’t tell me where they ended up, I ask.

]]> by: hydropsyche http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-572 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:27:05 +0000 http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-572 I tried a minimalist "Thanks for being a good host but I've decided to go elsewhere" and was delighted to find that many professors wanted to know where I ended up going and what I ended up doing--natural scientific curiosity is still real. I tried a minimalist “Thanks for being a good host but I’ve decided to go elsewhere” and was delighted to find that many professors wanted to know where I ended up going and what I ended up doing–natural scientific curiosity is still real.

]]> by: Alethea http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-570 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:09:44 +0000 http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-570 Lar, The intention of writing the school and the folks you interviewed with to thank them for their time and offering you a spot is a good one. I suppose I personally would have preferred not hearing about the other school. Something along the lines of "Thank you for the offer to attend your university. I appreciated the opportunity to meet the professors in your department and learn about their work and the campus environment. Nonetheless, after giving it careful thought, I have decided to attend a different graduate program. Thank you again for your time. Best wishes,..." Dr. S, what would you have preferred (besides having a quality grad student)? Check out FSP's take on it here: http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2008/03/omg-you-dont-suck.html Lar,
The intention of writing the school and the folks you interviewed with to thank them for their time and offering you a spot is a good one. I suppose I personally would have preferred not hearing about the other school. Something along the lines of “Thank you for the offer to attend your university. I appreciated the opportunity to meet the professors in your department and learn about their work and the campus environment. Nonetheless, after giving it careful thought, I have decided to attend a different graduate program. Thank you again for your time. Best wishes,…”

Dr. S, what would you have preferred (besides having a quality grad student)?

Check out FSP’s take on it here:
http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2008/03/omg-you-dont-suck.html

]]> by: Lar http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-569 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:19:11 +0000 http://drshellie.blogsome.com/2008/03/25/214/#comment-569 As a senior (first semester) undergrad who will be applying to grad school next year, I am curious how professors would prefer students to approach these situations. Would you have preferred a lack of detail? No personal notification? Did it seem that this student was rubbing it in your face that they got the offer w/ Extremely Famous Full Tenured Professor? As a senior (first semester) undergrad who will be applying to grad school next year, I am curious how professors would prefer students to approach these situations. Would you have preferred a lack of detail? No personal notification? Did it seem that this student was rubbing it in your face that they got the offer w/ Extremely Famous Full Tenured Professor?

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