Chicago MSFM Chicago MSFM Admission Discussion

[YuminWu]

Greetings. I noticed some changes in my portal. This morning in China time, I found that I was automatically assigned to the 2025 REF, MSFM. What does REF mean? I am an R1 applicant and was placed on the waitlist on March 4th. I am still waiting for a decision. Thanks.

 

[lifeisagamble]

Greetings. I noticed some changes in my portal. This morning in China time, I found that I was automatically assigned to the 2025 REF, MSFM. What does REF mean? I am an R1 applicant and was placed on the waitlist on March 4th. I am still waiting for a decision. Thanks.

I got the same update... perhaps we will find out soon what this means.

 

[YuminWu]

I got the same update... perhaps we will find out soon what this means.

My guess is that we are placed in round 2 since we didn't receive a waitlist decision by the end of March.

 

[meowminimeow]

I sadly did not get any update

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Greetings. I noticed some changes in my portal. This morning in China time, I found that I was automatically assigned to the 2025 REF, MSFM. What does REF mean? I am an R1 applicant and was placed on the waitlist on March 4th. I am still waiting for a decision. Thanks.

That makes sense. REF may mean referral or some other shorthand.
I hope you get in, your C++ skills is extremely strong compared to other applicants. Very few people got distinction on both C++ courses. Maybe only @pierreyvessojic got more distinction
Looking at your Chicago tracker, you are right in the middle of that waitlist/admit cloud. It would have been better if you got a 170 GRE Q but I bet other parts (such as essay, recommendation letters) will play the deciding role.

 

[YuminWu]

That makes sense. REF may mean referral or some other shorthand.
I hope you get in, your C++ skills is extremely strong compared to other applicants. Very few people got distinction on both C++ courses. Maybe only @pierreyvessojic got more distinction
Looking at your Chicago tracker, you are right in the middle of that waitlist/admit cloud. It would have been better if you got a 170 GRE Q but I bet other parts (such as essay, recommendation letters) will play the deciding role.

Thank you for your kind words, Andy!

Since being placed on the waitlist, I’ve been actively submitting additional materials to strengthen my application, including the project I completed in the advanced C++ course and other writing samples. I believe they’ll be very helpful in this process.

I also noticed the new feature in the tracker. Very useful!!

 

[vanessax]

All the best! @YuminWu! Also, did you submit your additional materials via the portal or via email to the admissions team?

 

[YuminWu]

Thank you! @vanessax Wish you all the best too!

I only submit additional materials through portal-"Miscellaneous".

 

[matinal]

I got the same update... perhaps we will find out soon what this means.

Call them. They are really nice and answer questions.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Call them. They are really nice and answer questions.

Agree. As an applicant, the general advice is to always call them if possible, if not email for any question, update, etc.
Do not wait when some deadline has passed or your application is taken longer than the normal time.
Just don't call them several times a day or be a nuisance. Keep it formal and professional.
Exercise your right as a customer.

 

[rallen]

Has anyone received any updates among those who were placed on the waitlist on March 4th? It's already mid-April, and there are still no results, even though the email mentioned the end of March. However, I don't think it's worth reaching out to them, since if there were any positive news, the admissions office would probably have reached out themselves.

 

[YuminWu]

I sent them an email last Wednesday and inquired about the waitlist timeline. The admissions committee said they do not have an expected timeline for when current waitlisted applicants for Round 1 will receive a final admission decision.

 

[zhyimin]

Greetings. I noticed some changes in my portal. This morning in China time, I found that I was automatically assigned to the 2025 REF, MSFM. What does REF mean? I am an R1 applicant and was placed on the waitlist on March 4th. I am still waiting for a decision. Thanks.

I got rejected but saw the REF thing on my portal too.

 

[YuminWu]

I got rejected but saw the REF thing on my portal too.

Thank you for letting me know that. Last time I emailed the admissions committee, they told me that was a technical issue but did not tell me what 'REF' is. I guess they might have done some operation, possibly a certain decision. But I didn't get any more useful information, so I didn’t mention it here.