HHEoS

To those unsure about your decisions: please remember that you can try to negotiate with programs, especially if you have fellowships or much better funding elsewhere. If you go to recruitment days and a PoI or the DGS asks, "how do you feel about joining us at U of X?" you should put it flatly that you would like to attend, but you're worried about the funding situation, especially since you have an awesome fellowship from YU. Last year I managed to talk myself into $10k extra funding in the first two years at a program (that I eventually turned down, hence my reapplication this year). So please, let your issues be known to these programs, they may not always have the wherewithal to find you extra funding, but some of them do (or can find you some from the Graduate School).

I think saying something along those lines might be okay, but if it were me, I'd try not be absolute. I'd personally go with something a little more reserved, along the lines of: I am very interested in your program, and should the opportunity arise, I'd be thrilled to have the chance to attend your program. Or, if you want to go further, something like: I am very interested... it's highly probable that, if an admission offer were extended, I would accept.

Hey Zachary, just sent you a PM. Sorry about the delay, I was out all afternoon.

Hey feraleyes, Congrats on being waitlisted! I'm not sure why you didn't receive the PDF about funding, but it seems that maybe it's just that he forgot? Did the email explain funding at all? Mine did, but it also referred to the attached document. PM me, and I can tell you what's on it if you'd like to know more. Dr. Garcha didn't exactly tell me what 'position' I was in on the list, since it is unranked. Unranked just means that they don't have a 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. ranking of WL students, but getting in off the list depends on speciality. For instance, if you're a Victorianist, getting in off the list depends on if the accepted Victorianist/s says "no". Therefore, I don't think anyone can really speak to your chances. They're not low, but they are uncertain and depend specifically on those applicants accepted in your field. Hope that helps!

Hey Zachary and sebastian, a PDF explaining TA funding at Ohio State was attached to the email I got about my position on the wait list. Although I'm not exactly sure of how I could send that document to you (privately, of course), I would be happy to do so. (I could probably just copy and paste the thing into a PM). I understand, however, if you'd rather receive it directly from them, but if you really want the details soon, feel free to let me know.

Usually, an 'unranked' wait list means that instead of just going to WL student #1, then WL student #2 etc. when spots open up, they have a list of applicants by specialization, who have the chance to fill spots offered to accepted students with the same specialization. For instance: If you are a Victorianist, you'll only be offered an acceptance off the wait list if the/one of the Victorianists they offered admission to say "no". And yea, the only option is pretty much waiting, unless you feel like asking how many people in your concentration have been admitted and how many people in that concentration are on the wait list. That may/may not be a good idea, though. Depends on how tight you are with the DGS, I guess. Hope that helps.

Yes, I agree completely.

Thanks, blueberryscone. I emailed about an hour ago-- no response. "The next week or two" is such a big timeframe.

Thanks. I'm debating whether or not I should. I feel like a lot of people are doing that right now. Btw: your profile pic and user name are the best.

I am def feeling this thread right now. Having seen notifications on the Results board from all of the programs I applied to (or having heard from them myself), the dust has pretty much settled for me. The only program I'm still holding out for is Maryland. So now I'm hoping that my position on the wait list at one of my top choices converts to an acceptance. Barring that, my mind is pretty much made up on the others, but funding situations are far from clear. Actually, I have yet to be told "you have funding" by anyone, but I know it's coming from at least one of my acceptances. My heart doesn't want to care about those offers right now, though. Argh.

If the ticket isn't bought yet, that's a different situation from the one that mostlytoasty originally asked about. If it were me in that scenario, I might just not go. Or maybe I would for the sake of networking and/or solidifying my decision. As for your prof's idea: while it is noble, and I'm a fan of it, I don't think programs have that kind of option when it comes to the use of their budget allocations. From my experience working in college administration, I've found that there's an awful lot of red tape associated with moving moneys allocated for X to moneys allocated for Y (if Y does even exist). I don't know if administration would go through that trouble to reallocate $500. Still, I like the idea.

If it were me I'd visit. Make the most of it. Think of it as a vacation. Do some networking. Meeting the profs at School X might prove useful to you in the future. I've been advised that one should never burn bridges in academia, because you never know when someone might be useful to you/your projects in the future. Hope that helps.

BIG BIG CONGRATS to you Swagato! I'm super happy for you!

Congrats to all the recent acceptances and wait lists! What I've done is the following: 1. Graciously thank the DGS/PoI for the offer. 2. Express my high interest in the program. 3. Segue into asking if he/she is willing to share more detail regarding your position on the list/chances of admission (before April 15). In my experience, even if it is stated that wait list is "unranked," there is some hierarchy in terms of its structure. If you ask nicely, you might get inside info that you might not get otherwise. Hope this helps and good luck!

CONGRATS!

Thanks everyone! Seriously, GC might make this process painful at times, but I love sharing this experience with you guys. Also: Congrats asleepawake! Hope you hear good news about funding soon.

In at Loyola Chicago! YAY!

Congrats Gwendolyn! That's great news.

LOL

Congrats!

Awesome. Thanks!

Oh no. Gonna have to try to get out of a prior commitment. Didn't think any program would have anything that late. Thanks for the info though! I'll let you know if I am able to make it. It would be cool to meet a few of you awesome folks on here.

Thanks! I'm not sure. There wasn't anything about it on the email I received. Do you know when it is? I guess I should ask about it, huh? I'm hoping it doesn't conflict with anything else I already committed to.

YAY! I'm on the wait list! Pending unlikely good news from Maryland, I would totally accept if this offer were to convert to an acceptance.

Congrats, proflorax! I haven't heard anything yet. Still hoping for a position on the wait list, though, at least.