Hi guys! Should those whose status has not been turned to PAO assume that they are unlikely to be considered for the central funding? Thanks!

[Edited by Gobbledygook on Feb 17, 2022]

Hi, guys.

Quick question: my portal shows ‘under review by Degree Committee’ (instead of ‘by department’). From what I can see on their website regarding the selection process, this means that it has already been reviewed by the Department, been recommended for further assessment and has gone to the Degree Committee…
I have not been requested to interview. For a bit of background (I am currently enroled in an Advanced Diploma in Research at Cam, did my masters at the LSE and have 5 years of experience in the working sector, including two RA positions; I proposed for supervision a professor that I currently have as informal supervisor at Cam, co-supervising with another prof. whom I do not know).

So… my question would be if this means I passed onto the next stage of assessment or if there might be an error on the portal there… (extra info. - I applied on 30 Nov. and my app. was marked Submitted until a few days ago, when I emailed the admissions office for info. (they replied v quickly but only told me to rest assured that my app. is being considered and that it will be changed at the beginning of this week on the portal to show ‘under review’)).

Thanks in advance and best of luck!

The changes are done manually, so it’s never wise to read too much into anything on the application portal until an offer is sent (perhaps worth the exception of PAO). The degree committee is normally the next stage after department, yes. Most applicants’ portals won’t make it there because it’s an administrative burden to update for every tiny stage. Only thing it definitely means is that you were not rejected at the department stage. 

Just got my rejection :/ Good luck guys! I’m rooting for you all. 

I'm really sorry to hear that. 

Mine is still 'under review' and I'm losing hope with every passing minute! Looks very daunting at this stage!

Just got my rejection :/ Good luck guys! I’m rooting for you all. 

My application is still under review by the department. Haven’t received a rejection nor an invitation to an interview. I am unsure what to make of that? My application was prepared in a rush and has many flaws so I am expecting a rejection, but just wondering when? Do they send rejections in batches?

I wouldn't give up hope yet! They would normally keep on sending a fair bit of acceptances until March or so (but who knows - maybe they’ve become more orderly with the application process for once).

There is also a hidden waitlist in there, and there are some people who get their acceptance really late through that  - like June/July late - but at that point they also get significant funding issues, unfortunately… Funding tends to not work out even at college level if admitted much later than mid-March/April, and at that point there will also only be very few colleges with places left. External funds work fine though.

[Edited by Gobbledygook on Feb 17, 2022]

They're responding to interviews etc, on a date-wise pattern is what I have noticed. Those who were interviewed earliest heard back the soonest and those interviewed on 19th-201th heard back 3 or 4 days back. Those with interviews on 21st heard back yesterday. That would mean that those who interviewed later than the 21st of February would hear back either today or on Monday, or later than that.


Its shocking to know that even those interviewed are getting rejected, so its all possible right now, at this stage.  

[Edited by PhD Applicant on Feb 18, 2022]

Just received a rejection email from Gates Cambridge :(

Just received a rejection email from Gates Cambridge :(

Not at all, as the two processes are not interconnected. You might still receive an offer and funding from other bodies - Trust, colleges, etc.  Did either of you have an interview? If so, on which date? What does your portal currently read?

Not at all, as the two processes are not interconnected. You might still receive an offer and funding from other bodies - Trust, colleges, etc.  Did either of you have an interview? If so, on which date? What does your portal currently read?

Not at all, as the two processes are not interconnected. You might still receive an offer and funding from other bodies - Trust, colleges, etc.  Did either of you have an interview? If so, on which date? What does your portal currently read?

They seem to be working on (21st January +) dates at the moment. This means that those who interviewed after will get their results soon and that the others who were not interviewed will get to know in due course. The date is almost completely unpredictable for those not interviewed. Considering that those who had interviews and those who did not, both got offers (PAO), that would mean that anything is possible at this stage. The length of the interview does not matter. A 15 minute interview could have bombed and a longer one could have gone really well and vice-versa. What did your interviewer tell you at the end of it? Did they say anything positive or was it all very generic? 
A shout out and request to all fellow boarders to please keep this thread updated with developments, as and when they do occur. This will benefit everybody and help calm the nerves!

My potential supervisor was really nice, but I am certain that I could have performed much better. I think that my nervousness got the best of me. At the end, I was just told that the final decision would be communicated to me in due course. Not too optimistic 

Hey guys! So everyone received the rejection email from Gates?

A little update. I got my formal offer today (PAO changed two or so weeks ago). Now comes the nervous wait to hear about funding. Good luck all. 

[Edited by rofyee on Feb 19, 2022]

They seem to be working on (21st January +) dates at the moment. This means that those who interviewed after will get their results soon and that the others who were not interviewed will get to know in due course. The date is almost completely unpredictable for those not interviewed. Considering that those who had interviews and those who did not, both got offers (PAO), that would mean that anything is possible at this stage. The length of the interview does not matter. A 15 minute interview could have bombed and a longer one could have gone really well and vice-versa. What did your interviewer tell you at the end of it? Did they say anything positive or was it all very generic? 
A shout out and request to all fellow boarders to please keep this thread updated with developments, as and when they do occur. This will benefit everybody and help calm the nerves!

Hi, have the results come in yet?

Still under review! I had my interview on 26th Jan