what's about harvard?

[gregi]

Hi, any news on the harvard search? I am just curious...

[rejection]

I just received my rejection email. No big surprise on this one.

[email]

Dear XXX,

The search committee for the junior faculty position in our department has reviewed your application. The committee read files from excellent applicants with impressive qualifications. Ultimately issues of fit with our needs require us to eliminate from our short list many highly qualified persons. I regret that you are not among those we will be considering further for this position.

On behalf of the search committee, thank you for the opportunity to review your materials and for your expression of interest in the Harvard Sociology Department. We wish you well with your future endeavors.

Sincerely yours,

Bruce Western
Professor of Sociology
Chair, Junior Search Committee

[whatever]

what do you all think: does "eliminate from our short list" refer to the past condition of being on an actual short list, or is that just a polite way of saying "eliminate"?

[Blatherskite]

"...require us to eliminate from our short list...I regret that you are not among those we will be considering further for this position..."


So at least you were on the short list?

[rrr]

More like the long list or long-short list.

[hmmm]

I suppose the answer can be found in whether or not others received a different rejection letter at some other point. Was/is that the case?

[orly]

I got one of those too. Curious if it has any meaning.

[unclekarl]

I'm betting its a general mass email. Talked to two soc people today, and both got the same letter. The probability both made a short list is close to zero. Note the email does not talk about the candidate's qualifications--rather, they are speaking generally [and the applicant may or may not have been on this list or had 'Harvard qualifications']. Not that being on the short list implies quality--neither Jesus, Buddha, or Gandhi could probably achieve this =)

[heard]

They have made an offer.