christakins

I'm only waitlisted at one school, Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), but I found the Academic Coordinator to be incredibly helpful and honest throughout this entire process. She's answered all of my questions, and I know exactly (as in the numerical digit) where I stand. The department seems very organized; I would be delighted to attend if offered the chance. It seems awkward that a department told you specifically not to inquire about the waitlist or your position on it. I know it's a business and they have to cover their asses, but geez.

Sorry, guys. I didn't receive the email yet, though unless it was a mass mailing I expect it will take a while to notify everyone. I have a fully funded M.A. offer and a Ph.D. wait list, so I won't be attending Georgetown unless funded.

Same deal. My husband I will be moving ourselves, a cat, and a dog from Oregon to either D.C., Indiana, or Texas. We made an even longer trek (and with an additional cat) from Florida to Oregon 6 years ago, and it worked out fine. Our dog was a puppy at the time so he was in a kennel, as were the cats, but we made sure to stop every couple of hours so he could have a play break. Sure, it added some time to our trip but saved our sanity. We found most Best Westerns are pet-friendly and cats generally get really vocal after 9 hours in a car. As for pet-friendly housing, we've been lucky here; it seems everyone has a dog. In general though, independent landlords as opposed to apt complexes are more open to pets. Check around on Craigslist, and ask those in the area for recommendations. Also, don't rule out a place because the ad says "no pets." Give the landlord a call, explain the situation, and offer to have your dog meet him/her. It's worked for us. Good luck!

Congrats! Here, here!

Drink your milk, Shelby.

It really depends on your scope and approach, but a good place to start would be Calarco's Zoographies: The Question of the Animal and Haraway's When Species Meet. Also check out Cary Wolfe, Kelly Oliver, Giorgio Agamben (The Open and Homo Sacer), and Heidegger. As for literature, I'd recommend Kafka (especially "A Report to an Academy"), Coetzee, Frankenstein, and Planet of the Apes. You only asked for introductory material so I'll stop here. ETA: Animal studies is essentially posthumanism -- the study of nonhuman animals and a move away from anthropocentrism (not always, though). Again, it's really broad and depends on the approach.

Congrats! Yea, I assume most would have to take out loans (barring any sort of significant savings accounts). I highly doubt a job, or even two, would be able to cover tuition and living in D.C.

I got one last week. It was a little too long and now seems decidedly less personalized than I thought...

Sigh. Thanks for the update. I certainly plan on asking some version of that if I don't receive any funding. I'll let you know what I hear.

Hi Strong White Flat, I'm so jealous you're attending the conference! I submitted a proposal, which was accepted but due to unforeseen circumstances (namely the price of airfare during conference weekend) I'm unable to attend. I have no doubt Timothy Morton's presentation will be fantastically wild. You'll have to PM me with the details. I don't have any info on UVA or Charlottesvile for you, just a sincere, "Go get 'em, champ!"

I got an email about visiting day, and the official acceptance letter from the Dean. Apparently they want, what I consider, a substantial down payment to enroll. I've heard nothing of funding, however. Maybe it's spring break?

Hi ComeBackZinc, I'm accepted into the MA program and looking forward to working with Plotnitsky and Marzec (who apparently isn't teaching this fall). Can I shoot you a PM with some questions?

Congratulate yourself on a job well done. My letter had no such line.

Hi silvergleam, First of all, congrats! I was accepted as well but haven't heard anything about funding yet, though I suppose it is only Tuesday. Count me as also curious about how funding offers are determined and dispersed.

In at Georgetown as well! Now waiting to hear about funding...

Thanks for the info! For some odd reason I assumed she was being kind with the "top ten" comment. It feels a little better to know there are 14 spots and we're not at the very bottom. I'm also in at Purdue so this isn't my only option so far, but geez it would be perfect. It ain't over till it's over, right?

They have 7 spots. I would assume they extended all offers but there's no way to know for sure, short of asking of course. I don't want to be too "naggy."

Just heard back from the DGS at Rice and apparently I'm in the lower half of the top 10 people on the wait list. Sounds like pretty awful odds to me but I've never gone through this before so... Anyone with experience care to weigh in? Should I celebrate with a drink or cry with a drink?

Yes! We're in similar predicaments! Is waiting all we can do? It's rendering me useless already, and this could go on for almost 2 more months?! Oy!

Wait listed at Rice. In at Purdue. I wish I could do something more than refresh my email and over think everything but alas, here I am. I keep dreaming of having the courage to turn down a secure offer for a shot at my dream program.

Wait listed at my top choice, but received a generous offer from another great school. I keep thinking the wait list isn't the end but it's pretty tense over here. Still waiting to hear from two other schools.

Thanks for the advice! Rice's program is perfectly suited to my interests in postcolonialism, animal studies, and biopolitics. I'm sure any other animal studies scholars can easily guess my POI. Here's to hope!

Lurker here too! Like you, was also wait listed at my dream program, Rice! Wishing us both luck. Does anyone have advice on how to respond to the wait list email? I'm thinking, "please pick me, oh please" might be too intense, but I really, really want it.