fencergirl

Thank you for your advice, I'll keep trying to get in touch with letter writer 2. There is only room for 2 letter writers on the application form and because of the way it is set up, I have to submit it before the letter writers get the link to upload their letters. So I need to decide who to put my hopes into I guess...

I am applying for a fellowship. I asked one professor to write me a recc and they agreed and have already written it. I asked another professor who wrote my grad school reccs but they have been pretty unresponsive by email and have not given an answer yes or no. (Normally I would have assumed that I should take that as a soft no but this professor is pretty absent-minded). I waited too long to hear back from letter-writer 2 and unfortunately now it's too late to ask someone else as the deadline is in a few days. I cannot even submit the application without 2 letter writers on the form and I don't know what to do - I'm afraid the first writer will be upset if I don't go through with the application after they have already written the letter but at this point I have no second letter in hand. What to do? Keep nagging letter writer 2? Admit to letter writer 1 that I can't complete the application?

I think you should wait. You haven't heard back from other programs that you would seriously consider against this school if you were accepted to them, so why rush? I know the feeling of guilt of making friendly POIs wait when you want to tell them yes, but this is not a decision to rush into without knowing your other options! It's still quite early anyway, so I don't think that schools/POIs should be annoyed if you haven't decided yet. I totally understand the feeling though; I was accepted to my top program early on and wanted to just commit right away but am forcing myself to wait until I hear back from other schools and can make the best-informed decision.

That makes sense! I think If it's good news I will hear soon. Seems like in past years they have spread out their rejections though which is kind of annoying. Fingers crossed!

Has anyone gotten an official acceptance or rejection from UCLA at this point? A couple results were posted but they were all unofficial I think. I'm guessing official news will come sometime this week? I certainly hope so.

Yeah that is also my impression. Although two faculty members interests match mine pretty well, it's not that strong overall in Asian history and I wouldn't have many (any?) other Asianists in my cohort.

Having a chat with POI at Northwestern today. I'm feeling extremely nervous as I really like POI's work and want to make a good impression (or at least not a bad one). The good news is that I'm already accepted. (Still - if you have any advice on how to not make a fool of myself, hit me up). It's my top choice and while I like the other schools I've been accepted to a lot, I feel that if all goes well I'll feel at peace to make my decision. (Although technically still waiting on UCLA and Vanderbilt, which I think after next week I will assume are rejections). I'm working abroad and not really able to take time off to go to to visit weekends unfortunately.

Planned to apply to FLAS at USC (MA), Columbia (PhD), and UCLA (PhD)... but after getting into a couple PhD programs decided not to complete it for USC. Then I was rejected from Columbia for a PhD before finishing my FLAS application... So just UCLA left now. (And I'm expecting to hear soon if I was accepted otherwise am assuming rejection).

Congratulations! That is amazing! Glad to hear EALCers are finally getting some good news I'm pretty ready to make my decision but still waiting on a couple schools (UCLA and Vanderbilt for History).

Not hearing anything by now seems like a bad sign but then again I didn't have prior contact with any POI so maybe I'll hear back when they send out the official notices. Done with my FLAS app but not sure if I can get my 2 reccs on time or not so we'll see...

I'm East Asian too and also still waiting to hear... Did you apply for FLAS?

Hmm would be great to hear from UCLA! It's the only one left that I'm still considering at all. Just want to make my decision and be done with it! haha.Then I can finally start planning for the next 5-7 years of my life. On the other hand, I've found that that the worry doesn't necessarily end at any stage of the process... ;P I'm sure there will be plenty of things to fret over once I make my decision... like, you know, moving back from another country and then promptly moving somewhere else entirely within the country...and starting a Ph.D. after being out of school for two years (and with no MA and a BA not in History...). Anyway, I digress! It really is great to have options but the decision process and being contacted by professors is more stressful than I imagined it would be!

So I've gotten emails from professors at one of my schools as just a general glad to have you/ask any questions kind of thing, but I've already asked my advisor and a grad student a bunch of specific questions and to be honest I'm running out of things to ask! Is it fine to just say thank you and I'll let them know if I have any questions?

Maybe it's because they wanted to consider me (psh, wanted ME to consider THEM) for the EALC M.A. program? I didn't see a wealth of other rejections on the page either. Or they just really didn't like me lol.

I am also working abroad, but I have very few vacation days left and don't want to take time off at the end of the semester so I don't think I'll be able to go to my recruitment weekend Too bad!

Thanks Northwestern was my number one choice anyway so I am not broken up. I did want to see what would happen and I would have at least considered it had I been accepted but don't think I ultimately would've chosen it over Northwestern. My main POI would likely retire before I finished the program so perhaps not the best fit. But of course, it's very competitive and a great program regardless!

Hi, sorry if I wasn't clear. I was rejected from Columbia's Ph.D. in History program but offered to transfer my application to the Masters in East Asian Literature and Culture program.

Just got an email from Columbia to check the online application... I was rejected for the Ph.D. program, offered admission to their unfunded M.A. Not too surprised or disappointed, but I hope the rest of you have better luck!

It's just one so far... could be a few more in the next few days? It's so hard to predict. Sorry, I hope you will have good news soon! It's still early, really!

Yes it feels great! Though at this point I probably won't be attending an EALC program since I only applied to EALC master's programs and I've been accepted to a couple History Ph.D. programs already. I hope you'll keep me on as an honorary EALC-er though I saw a couple admits and a couple rejects for UC Berkeley on the results page, hope some of you were admitted! I think most of my programs will notify in another couple weeks... Even though I've already got acceptances the wait is still killing me haha.

I understand, I had to make my decision to re-contract or not for my job here back in December! I chose not to so I had to hope that I would get into a program or risk not having a job or a grad school to go home to. I completely understand the desire to know one way or the other! Are you waiting to hear from other programs, or just Northwestern?

LeParisien, I got an email from Northwestern today with my official offer/funding information and the dates of the visit weekend in early March. I don't think I'll be able to go since its only a month away and I'm working abroad. Would love to visit otherwise!

Unless you know that interviews are definitely part of the admission process at that school, I wouldn't stress too much! I think these result posts can be confusing as they are sometimes just informal contact from a POI rather than official interviews. I wasn't interviewed for Northwestern even though others had posted that they had been, and I was just accepted!

Thank you! I don't know why but I didn't really even think that they would contact me on their own. It wasn't that I was impatient I just honestly wasn't expecting it (for some reason!) Anyway, I got an email today Thank you so much! I don't have a B.A. in History let alone an M.A.so I was worried about getting into Ph.D.programs at all. And I really like my POI at BC so I am really excited! Hope you will hear soon! I don't think they've historically notified quite so early? Seems like it's usually been early February.

Got my first acceptance, to Boston College's Ph.D. program! I was not expecting to hear back so soon and BC is one of my top choices so I am really happy and excited. Is it appropriate to contact my POI again now that I have been accepted, or should I wait until I make my decision after hearing back from my other schools? Also, I just found out that I passed a standardized language test for my relevant language. Some schools asked for this info specifically so I listed the highest level I had passed and that this higher level was pending. Should I update them now that I have passed it or is it not that important?