Round Two: 2 down, 7 to go

Dear Mr. Heaton:

Thank you for the opportunity to consider your application to the [University of Michigan] Ph.D. program in English Language and Literature. Unfortunately, after giving your application very careful attention, we regret to say we will not be able to make you an offer of admission.

It may be useful for you to know that we received a high volume of applications for admission to the Ph.D. program. Our entering class next year will be approximately 12 students, which should give you some idea of the odds. What these figures do not convey is the exceptionally high quality of our applicants. In the vast majority of our decisions, we felt that we were choosing among degrees of excellence. We very much regret that we are able to take such a small number of applicants out of this tremendously well-qualified pool.

Please accept our best wishes for your success in future endeavors.

(Blogger’s note: Compare to the post “Grad school response No. 3,” from March 2, 2009.)