levoyous

Mine was the acceptance with Citibank loans to cover the $60k annual tuition, but I don't see it now.

Mine was the acceptance with Citibank loans to cover the $60k annual tuition, but I don't see it now.

Mine was the acceptance with Citibank loans to cover the $60k annual tuition, but I don't see it now.

To the results posted who asked if anyone is still waiting on Columbia: yes, presumably all the people who are going to be rejected in the next week or two. I think if you haven't heard anything at all, you can assume it's not happening.

Here comes Columbia. 
 
PS. Bugs me when people post that they got "5 years of funding" from an Ivy League school, as if they don't know that everyone who goes there gets full funding. 

Isn't it odd for the rejections to come first?

I've got a LOT of updating to do after today. 

I've got a LOT of updating to do after today. 

I'm not accepted yet, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me, but I couldn't bear to let your post hang with no response. I'm a bit older than you and have spent as long as most people spend on a PhD in a non-academic career, so perhaps some kind of outside perspective might be useful.
 
I haven't been in your shoes, so I can't tell you the first year is the hardest or that it will get better. It might not. What I can tell you is that almost anything you do in life will become monotonous, even boring, and you'll have times when you wonder if you really care about it or ever did. That is normal adult life for almost everyone except the lucky few who are really happy people wherever they are, or happened to find the niche in the world that aligns perfectly with their inclinations. So much of life is about keeping moving to forget that it's all a groundless choice.
 
It's very common outside of academia for people to do jobs they aren't thrilled about, or even hate, for a long time. It could be because they're in debt, or lack other options, or because what they really care in life is  their family or hobbies, and just need a job to pay the bills. While I wouldn't recommend settling for something you hate, it's a normal situation lots of people find themselves in as they are figuring out what to do next. Maybe it would help to think of your PhD that way: don't think about whether you're going to finish, or whether you want to Be a Literature Professor, or whatever. Ignore those existential issues, and think about it as a job you do to make money while you explore other options or build your escape route. It's actually rare for a 24-year-old to find a comfortable, intellectually stimulating job, so consider yourself lucky to have that option while you think.
 
As a practical matter, if you can at least tolerate the situation for another year, you might consider that having a free MA wouldn't be a bad thing to stick it out for; certain professions (the nonprofit sector, for example) require advanced degrees but don't particularly care what they are. Most people who need them for professional advancement have to take on quite a bit of debt to get them. So that's something to think about, even if it shouldn't be the deciding factor.
 
All of DanieleWrites' advice about how to think about your possibilities is good. Coming from the other direction - non-academic career moving into academia - I've been surprised how many connections there are between my work and not just my current field, but lots of others. I basically feel my career options are endless - and will continue to be endless when I'm done with my PhD. My biggest advice, I guess, would be to ignore all the stupid narratives about humanities people being unemployable, and include your PhD (whether you continue for another year or another 5 years) as just one part of that vast array of options. Maybe you won't feel so trapped if you're not trying to shove yourself into a narrow academic mold.

I think the DGG was on every call. Of course we won't kill you, but that timeline gets us right in the zone of when they've announced the past few years.
 
I'm so tired of this, everybody. So ready to move on, one way or another.

One of my apps asked me if I required funding to attend. I rolled my eyes, said "Duh!" aloud and indicated that this is the case. Though I did afterwards realize maybe it was also meant for people who have funding from an external source. 
 
I can't quite imagine being wealthy enough to attend a PhD on my own money, but if James Franco posts on TGC, he can perhaps weigh in on how this feels. Maybe Dr. Brian May too? 

Deepest condolences to the University of Phoenix reject. You must be feeling pretty shitty.

And I'd advise you that you have no idea if you have "no chance of getting in".  I didn't think I would get into the place I ended up going because I didn't think I was a good fit.  The faculty thought I was a better fit than I did.  There is a very big difference between what levoyous describes (a POI telling him not to bother) and not believing in reach schools.

Deepest condolences to the University of Phoenix reject. You must be feeling pretty shitty.

Deepest condolences to the University of Phoenix reject. You must be feeling pretty shitty.

lol @levoyous 

Deepest condolences to the University of Phoenix reject. You must be feeling pretty shitty.

I confirmed that NYU has indeed ended the cattle-call interview weekend; everyone who is invited this year will be already accepted.

Here comes Columbia. 
 
PS. Bugs me when people post that they got "5 years of funding" from an Ivy League school, as if they don't know that everyone who goes there gets full funding. 

Here comes Columbia. 
 
PS. Bugs me when people post that they got "5 years of funding" from an Ivy League school, as if they don't know that everyone who goes there gets full funding. 

I think the DGG was on every call. Of course we won't kill you, but that timeline gets us right in the zone of when they've announced the past few years.
 
I'm so tired of this, everybody. So ready to move on, one way or another.

Thinking about going to bed so Monday will get here sooner.

That's right. Even though it's joint, IFS is a separate department with its own admissions process.

Well, I guess I can forget about having a good weekend.

Well, I guess I can forget about having a good weekend.