LurkerNoMore

Just to chime in on this, I think the M.A. bias for some of these schools vary field by field. I've chatted with a few profs about this, who suggest fields like medieval and early modern candidates can be given an advantage at any program with an advanced degree by merit of the language and theory training that accompany them. Like you BGT28, I went to an elite undergraduate institution; however, I didn't do so well thanks to my coming from an impoverished community/family, and my M.A. (from a near-unknown school btw) helped me sharpen my language and theory and really show my love for the subject. I've been accepted this year to six of the top ten programs with a lackluster undergraduate GPA. I realize that a swallow does not make a summer, but having an M.A. isn't going to bar you from a Harvard/Yale/Penn/Columbia--I and several other folk I know are walking proof of this. Congratulations on your acceptance to NYU's M.A. too! It's much better than I did when I applied to M.A.s

Hi CarolineKS! Congrats on all your acceptances. I'm fairly familiar with the UNC program for various reasons and live around the area. If you have any questions about the program, lifestyle, atmosphere, or how far the stipend goes and the availability of outside monies beyond the stipend (I have experience in that too), let me know.

Big congrats on Harvard, fellow medievalist! We overlap on Berkeley, Yale. I'll take you up on that drink and buy you one of your own at the visitations. =)

I know it doesn't show the current cycle, but UVA does provide the past several years. You could extrapolate that they receive 225-300 applications and give 20-25 offers or there-about. Found here: http://gsas.virginia.edu/sites/gsas.virginia.edu/files/Profile-English.pdf(I find their GRE statistics surprisingly high).

Thanks, goldfinch! She mentioned something during the call that she was "in the middle of a long evening of delivering news." This was an hour or so ago.

Hey Ramus, I think we may have the same mutual friend! I too just got a phone call from UVA; the DGS is very nice and seems to be making the phone rounds. Good luck all. =)