BrandNewName

I don't know how to answer this question; I heard from someone who mentioned really liking NYU when they visited to interview and who subsequently mentioned that the offer received from NYU American Studies was one that they were considering alongside a few others. Looking back at results from three or four years ago, it seems as if (at least) phone interviews were a part of the process.

Also, I heard from someone that they interviewed for NYU's American Studies program and already had an offer from them. So, I think those of us who haven't heard anything can expect negative responses.

"Dog Days are Over" by Florence + the Machine happiness hit her like a train on a track

I know what you're saying and it would be rude for me to hold those spots if I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was going to attend a certain program. The thing is it wasn't until I visited one program (Duke) that it became the top of my top choices. Then, luckily enough, I was accepted to my other top of top choices (Yale). The thing that became clear to me was that, had I not visited Duke, I would have never known how great the program and people were. I've made too many mistakes when it comes to commitment -- we won't even go there -- to blindly accept an offer that seems perfect before checking it out. It's not a malicious undertaking on my part, I understand the stress involved in this process very well and I intend to notify every program as soon as I confirm what I think to be true.

I am waiting until I visit every program before I remove myself from the waitlist or decline any offers. I feel particularly attached to one program that I do not think I will attend and when I make my decision I intend to write a rather personal email outlining my decision and thanking them wholeheartedly. These are, after all, people who you will see again. I don't see anything wrong with taking a more personalized approach to declining if it's genuine in nature.

I called NYU on 2 March 2011 and the coordinator told me that applications were still being reviewed and decisions would be out in two weeks... hopefully. Frankly, I have very strong (negative) opinions about New York and the idea of sacrificing/working so much not for the sake of a quality of life, but for the sake of being able to claim membership in that which is "New York." The discussion about the plethora of other cities that put NYC to shame should be left for another thread... That being said, I view NYU's approach to application processing in a similar light -- they look at themselves as (one of) the leading universit(y/ies) in the 'best city in the world' and, as such, people can wait. It's rude and pompous and a large reason that -- whether or not I receive an offer from NYU -- it was crossed off my list not long after I applied. Also, I've heard their students cannot live without taking out loans (big shocker) and they are treated like slave laborers within and beyond the department. No thank you!

I'm visiting the school I'm waitlisted at and the DGS was more than open to the idea -- he even said I was welcome to attend the recruitment weekend with accepted student, but that they would be unable to give me any funds to come. I am unable, unfortunately, to make it to that weekend, but I am still going to go speak with a few professors and current students while I'm in the area. I don't think it's odd -- you need to make a decision and you're considering all (possible) options. Also, look at it as a really unique opportunity to network as well. Good luck!

Oh, I was talking about Brown's American Civilization Program -- I only know that because the DGS has been in touch with all of us -- no idea on the total number of applications there. For some of the English programs I applied to though, I guess Chicago's numbers are about average. Doesn't UPenn normally do 12? I think that's what I heard this year... hm, don't know. And thanks for the congrats, same to you! Now I have to decide, which is a lucky position I didn't expect to be in...and Duke still hasn't notified those of us who were interviewed, so the waiting game continues.

Comparatively, some of the other programs I have applied to take far fewer students (Brown for example took 5 this year) and I have run into some of them on the boards or at least seen results go up. I know it's not a given that people will be on GC, but I expected to see more than the two acceptances and no waitlists posted this year.

I saw the postings here that acceptances were all out, but I agree with you catherinian -- how is that there were so few acceptances posted on the results board, especially for Chicago which normally has a sizable cohort compared to other programs.

Are some of the schools quite a distance from where you currently live? I am based in Europe at the moment and most of my programs were centered on the East Coast/New England, so I called a few of the offices where I was still waiting to hear and told them that I would be traveling to the States for recruitment weekends at the end of March and I wanted to know if I should plan extra time to visit their program. I was sure to point out that I wasn't trying to be presumptuous and that, instead, I was concerned about finances/time away from work and that their giving me a definitive answer would be extremely helpful. For programs where I felt relatively certain I had been rejected, I also made that clear when I called, pointing out that I knew most accepted students had been notified and that confirming my rejection over the phone would not upset or enrage me, but would, in fact, be very welcome as I muddle through the stress of traveling internationally. Letting the person on the other end know that you're not going to lose it on the other end of the line when they tell you it's a rejection goes a long way toward getting an answer out of someone.

I still haven't made a final decision, I am going to wait until I have a chance to visit with each of my programs, but I am leaning heavily towards Yale's American Studies program. I was really excited about another place and loved the city, but I think I can swing living in New Haven...though finding a place that'll take me and the energetic beagle that accompanies me might be a bit difficult.

Unofficial acceptances for Yale's American Studies Program were sent out by the DGS last Tuesday (Feb 22.) and the official notifications from the graduate school followed on Friday of last week. I didn't hear anything about the number accepted or about the waitlist, but as a number of rejections have been showing up on the results board, maybe no news is good news.

Good luck! I'm sure there will be a lot of movement and the email from the DGS made it seem as if getting in off the waitlist is a regular occurrence...though I guess we don't know how many of us there are, etc. Anyway, I hope one and/or both and/or many more work out in your favor.

Out of the blue I just received an email from the DGS telling me I've been waitlisted. I thought Penn was out of the running, but I guess not. I think I am going to hold on to the spot for a while, I have a lot of exploring to do over the next couple of weeks. But, the moral of the story is that we shouldn't assume -- things are still happening.

Thanks! Same to you, you're in line to Harvard -- not too shabby my friend. Any word on how many they've waitlisted? Do you have other options you're considering?

I just got an acceptance to Yale's program about three hours ago -- email directing me to my decision letter. Super excited, I mean, s.u.p.e.r. excited.

Yeah, looks like the same offer. I'm wondering if we'll be contacted about visiting campus, I'd like to check it out. That being said, I interviewed for Duke's Program in Literature and I am totally sold. I don't care if Harvard comes at me with 50K a year, I'd still choose Duke -- such amazing faculty and students, not to mention the type of research they encourage and their course offerings -- I should hear by Monday or Tuesday of next week, but it is definitely my top choice. What about you? I only really see myself at Brown if Duke doesn't work out and I receive a rejection from Yale. NYU is still a top choice in the running, but they would have to offer a sweet financial package...

Thanks for the information and congratulations! If nothing else, I'm glad to know that they've done away with snail mail as a means of notification.

Does anyone know anything else about Harvard's History of American Civilization Program? Seen an acceptance via phone and a waitlist via email -- so are snail mail notices out and anyone who hasn't been called/emailed is out? Just wondering...any mail has to travel across the ocean so although it still seems unlikely, I'm wondering if it's worth holding out just a little bit of hope...

I posted the Brown acceptance. Just got an email directing me to my online application about two hours ago. Funding seems pretty good, but there was no mention of applicants/admits, etc. Good luck to those still waiting!

I too thought of Ljubljana at first, but the houses seem a bit out of place. It reminds me of Tübingen, but I know it's not... I would second the vote that it's somewhere in southern Germany or the Czech Republic (can't speak for Slovakia). Either way, gorgeous photo!

No! You're right, it's totally a Zizoke! Love that you know that!

Hi all, I'm a Germanist at heart and make my home in Deutschland, but am an English/American Studies applicant this round. I just wanted to let anyone who's waiting know what I know about a colleague applying for German PhDs. About a week ago he received his acceptance to the Duke/UNC program and this past Wednesday he received word that he had been accepted to UW-Seattle. He's also apparently going to Michigan later in March to interview (but I don't know if that interview is a prerequisite for admission or if he has gotten in and is referring to a planned campus visit). I'm a ball of stress right now and having some information has at least given me an idea of what's going on out there. I'm sorry I don't know more details, but I thought I would post what I do know in case anyone is waiting on any of those programs/wondering where the notification processes are.

Not saying that I use illegal bootlegs of software , but there are torrents out there for Mac Word 2008 - definitely my favorite version of Word and my preferred processor. The newer version of Word (with its reorganized tab system) confuses me to this day even though I work with them on my university's computer system. So, for what it's worth, Mac Word 2008 is my recommendation - similar enough to older versions of Word that you still now how to carry out basic tasks, but with some redesigned features in the Toolbox (Citations, Scrapbook, and Reference Tools) that are particularly helpful for academic writing. Oh, and the Save as PDF function for Word on MAC has changed my life. I PDF everything now!