w2010

I have officially made my decision! I am going to Indiana University for 19th-century transatlantic fiction. I will be declining offers from Wisconsin, Illinois-UC, U-Mass Amherst, and Ohio State. Good luck to everyone still waiting on decisions!

I somehow doubt that he would be teaching a comp course. Can you imagine how many freshmen girls would be killing each other to get into it? Second--I am almost positive that he does not have to pay. Fame also brings press, and I know (although a slightly different circumstance)the year after Prince William entered St. Andrew's their application numbers jumped like 300%. I am sure someone out there will want to go to Yale because he is going there. Whoever posted the fiction piece by him--thank you, that made my day. I am a little miffed that some of my friends already think getting an English PhD is a piece of cake. Now that they let Franco in, it just affirms their skewed belief. Oh James Franco, you are rendering my career choice ridiculous in the eyes of non-lit majors.

Hey Maria, I am finishing up my undergrad at Illinois. It is a great program, although I am not sure if the English Department is separate from comparative literature at the grad level. I would not worry too much about funding. Although we have had a few problems this year with the state giving the public institutions the tax money they usually get, Illinois is in much better condition than a lot of other state institutions right now. California and Wisconsin come to mind (the latter I checked out for grad school and their provost or chancellor remarked about some faculty having to take several unpaid furlough days within the semester). Illinois has amazing faculty, and although I do not know what period you are interested in, I know that we have remarkably strong professors in Modernism (especially Irish literature), theory, and early and nineteenth-century American literature. If you have been offered funding, I would say visit. Illinois has always been very generous with their packages once you are in. Most English majors have the option of a funded seventh year if they need one to finish their dissertation. I myself was guaranteed six years of funding (and the teaching load is about the same for any state institution--less than others I had been looking into when I applied). If you feel comfortable here, let the DGS know how serious you are. I'm sure they will be very lucky to have you

so excited to meet you guys also! I would have to say that my biggest concern is funding also. A bit hazy on that end.

I received an offer from Illinois for the MA/PHD program. I live in Champaign and am finishing my undergrad in English. That could explain my early response (and the fact that it only has to travel 4 blocks from the English Building to my mailbox).

Hey Enide-- I am pretty sure that there is one alternate in each area--I do want to visit, but I don't want to get my hopes up!

Thanks so much everyone!!!! I'm crossing my fingers for all of you!!! My status has not changed online. No idea what that means...

So sorry guys-- I've been working on my senior thesis and have been away from my computer, otherwise I would have commented earlier. I received a phone call last night from a professor on the Admissions committee. I was informed that I had been awarded a fellowship (so I think that may be why I was contacted early). No word on how many people they were admitting and such. I don't think that they have contacted the majority of the admitted students yet, so don't give up hope!

Whew! That was a tough one to figure out. And all for nothing. "No Decision."

Anyone want to claim the U of I acceptance? Is there any information about how many they are taking this season? I am just interested because I am finishing my undergrad there and the program is AMAZING! Almost every period has strong (and extremely nice) faculty.

Thanks so much minnares! I am from the Midwest and have gone to college there, so I am kind of partial to the Big 10 schools. Hopefully we will all hear soon and the looooooong wait will be over!

Mine still says "no decision". That is really annoying.

Thanks minnares!-- I read the new posts franticly every day (so I always seem to miss something!)

There is one admit to IU posted thus far. Do you have any info on how many they have accepted this season/when they will be notifying the rest of the incoming class?

I am the one who posted the wait-list notification today. I think this means that they have notified all the acceptees and have just started to notify the wait-listers. The letter was a single piece of paper on letterhead, so there wasn't a ton of information on the incoming class. 21 out of 400 some. It sounded like they were trying to say that they would have accepted me for sure in the past, but right now they do not have enough money to accept more candidates. I am surprised I haven't seen any results posted with more wait-list notifications.

i noticed there is at least one other waitlist notification for UPenn. To those admitted/waitlisted, do you know how many people they waitlisted and how they are picking from the waitlist (I know it is "unranked").

Hey straightshooting-- I'm interested in any insight you might have into the process--unfortunately, I am still waitlisted (which is comparable to the limbo of grad school hell!) What do you mean by jockeying around by the faculty? Which subfields are they trying to cut down on and which ones have they been getting a lot of in the past? I am late 18th/19th century transatlantic fiction.

Congrats diehtc0ke! I am excited just being on the waitlist. What period do you study?

I was an external applicant and was notified of my acceptance in late January. I think the external admittances were just notified early because they were nominated for a graduate-wide fellowship (not English Department based). Don't worry! I don't think they have even started the majority of their notifications!

Has anyone been accepted to U Penn or placed on the waitlist? I was notified of my placement on the waitlist today, and I was wondering if anyone knows anything (or knows they will/will not be attending). I really hope that I am offered a spot off the waitlist, but I am trying to not let my initial excitement get my hopes up.

Haven't heard anything either. I admit that I did apply to a larger number of programs then some (I knew that it would be a tough year because I am finishing my BA from a top 25 English program and of the 3 students I know applied last year, one person got 2 offers, one got 1, and another got zero). I have to say that I haven't heard much from the majority of the programs I have applied to. I think I have heard definitely (yes or no) from 7. I hate waiting (as I know everyone else does). I wouldn't worry too much (unless it is May and we haven't heard).

Congrats! And thanks for the info!