catsrgods

Haven't heard anything on my end either. Trying to plan my Fall and I can't till I hear. Patience....

Seriously! So much snark from these pseudo-elitist. Cannot. Even. Handle. It. But I loved reading it all even if just to let my jaw drop in horror.

Real talk: some of these people sound like straight up jerks that I am forever grateful I will never know in person. I understand that some rejected applicants approach them with an attitude of entitlement, which I do not support at all, but the dismissive way some of these message board folks responded to the questions of how they deal with rejected applicants seems a little harsh. There is no need to respond to every rejected person with an in-depth reasons that take up multiple paragraphs in an email, but responding honestly with ways they can improve their applications seems fair and "right". Applicants have invested hundreds of dollars to apply to these schools and I don't think it's out of line to ask for some constructive criticism in return. I wouldn't, however, EVER get involved in the appeals process. If they didn't want you before you took them to court, I can't imagine how they will make your life hell after the trial!

Man, I guess it's just a continued test of patience! I imagine that they are waiting for everyone to get back with them and we should know by the end of the month. I added UCLA to my FAFSA that I turned in this past weekend, just in case. Better to be prepared than not, right? Keep me posted, everyone, if you hear anything and PM me if you won't want to post it publicly.

Any one from the wait list here anything at all? Is "no news, good news"? I'm currently trying to make plans for the fall and my Plan B (and Plan C) can't fall into place until I know! Getting rather anxious to hear SOMETHING (…anything, someone, please!)

I honestly don't know if I will reapply next year. Unless I am able to really add to my resume and application then I don't think I will. No sense in sending the same stuff in that got me on the wait list, I need to be able to show something that will get me chosen right away! I am not entirely sure how to do that at this point. It's possible that I will take a language course over the summer or work to submit something to a conference. In that case I would reapply. I might also retake the GRE and I will be finished with my master's degree at that point. So, maybe? Or I might say "f it"and just go travel for a couple months!

Well, I'm going to apply at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) for Registration and Collections Management. It's unpaid, like everything else, but it's a practical skill that I've already started building. Gotta be practical, right??

I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm going to have to try again. No need to ruin my nails over this! But really, today I'm going to apply for an internship for the summer so I can start looking for jobs in the fall. Gotta keep this wheel moving no matter what!

I made a mistake, sorry, I was so jetlagged yesterday from getting home from a trip that I read a Cornell acceptance as Cotsen. It wasn't UCLA. Don't panic, I've only misinformed you!

Ha, sometimes ignorance really is bliss. I did see someone post a recent acceptance to Cotsen with no funding. That no funding part is a serious bummer...

Daisy, how did you find out that they are going to cull the herd again?

Right on target with this response. The competitiveness is just beyond anything I even prepared for myself. It's unfortunate that some of these requirements, likes languages that aren't available in many schools, might only be possible to fulfill by people that come from privilege. I don't have a way to move to a new city to attend a school specifically to enroll in relevant, but unusual, language courses just to become more competitive for admission. I just don't have the money to make this happen and I am not interested in taking out loans to live on to do so. I don't know what kind of advice I can give for your real problem. School debt that ends in a humanities degree isn't always financially sound and I am on the cusp of completing a MA with a great GPA and I am still unsure if I will get in anywhere this year. It is all uncertain, even with an MA. Even with more languages. Even with visas, no dependents, a fantastic brain filled with knowledge, and "safety schools". In the end you need to make a choice based on your comfort zone. Are you comfortable taking out loans to complete a MA knowing full well that it will not guarantee that you move to the next academic step? If so, then do it, by all means. If not, then I would suggest reevaluating things for this year and perhaps focusing on ways to make yourself a better applicant next year or try different schools. Most of all, GOOD LUCK and a huge hug from California =)

Hey Daisy! Hanging in over here in wait list limbo. I have 2 other schools to hear from but I am not holding my breathe, both are way out of my league. My backup plan is to keep doing what I am doing: working at a museum, working on some blog projects, spending time with friends, traveling a bit domestically, finishing my master's thesis, volunteer stuff, and trying not to be too incredibly butthurt that my PhD aspirations are probably not going to happen this year. I haven't heard anything from Cotsen and I've been trying to not think about it too much. I know that we probably won't hear anything till March and considering there are quite a few folks on the wait list I'm not real sure what will happen. We can't all get in, unfortunately. I am contemplating a move to Minneapolis if this year is a bust…I just got back from a weekend trip there and I fall more in love with it each time I visit! How are the rest of you holding up?

I'm with you, Daisy. I want the options! I want to be able to teach if the chance comes, go on digs and work my butt off, research at museums, or write books. I have no strict plan for my future and I am trying to be flexible. And Daisy, this year isn't looking great for me either, you're in good company!

You make a great point about the "non-traditional students" and the lack thereof. I really enjoy having a variety of people around me in classes, it makes the conversations more diverse and, I think, creates a more well rounded experience. But, I am a "non-traditional student" so I supposed I am a little biased in that sense! I'd prefer to be in a department that has a mix of students, so I am with you on that being indicative of a lousy environment.

Blah. Denied at Michigan. Not surprised at all but it's still slightly irritating. Silver lining: I won't have to move from Southern California to Michigan. Crappy grey cloud: I didn't get into Michigan. I'd "boo hoo" more if I wasn't slightly relieved about not having to move. Good luck and congrats to all those accepted!

I'm riding that Brown rejection train as well. I thought I was a pretty good fit, but I didn't even get an interview. Time to reevaluate what I perceive as a "good fit"!

Absolutely agree. I have had some great candid conversations about various schools with current and former students from places I applied, but these people are close friends of mine and have no vested interest in seeing me rejected. I would sit on my hands if I had to in order to avoid seeming too eager. Not that there is anything wrong with being eager, you'd think that would make one look like a fantastic applicant, but these fickle admissions decisions aren't logical.

Received rejections from USC, Brown, and Northwestern within a 16 hour period. I soothed my bruised ego with pudding and Netflix shows about gold mining. Boo.

I might be late on this response but I had a GRE issue as well. Apparently ETS did send my scores, but the school had an issue downloading the "batch" they came in. Or my score didn't show up or some other bs. SO, ETS gave me the batch number for the school to look for in their records, but ultimately I had to send my scores via a print out from ETS to the school. In all honesty, I think the school screwed up and didn't really want to be bothered to deal with it so they just had me send an unofficial score report knowing that if I did get accepted they could go digging for the batch number at that point. If I were you I would get the batch number from ETS and give that to the school you applied to. I have never had a busy signal when I have called them, so keep trying! Good luck with that! Don't flip any tables!

Hmm. I def don't look forward to waiting till March for more disappointment, but it is what it is. I will check the website tomorrow to see if it's changed yet. Might have been sent out in waves. Thanks for the response and good luck!

I'm one of those, NOW, I don't have much interest in a tenured teaching position. I'm interested in doing research or working in a museum. The closest I'd get to teaching at a university would be at a junior college, because I like the variety of people (see: older students rather than recent high schools kids) I'd be able to interact with. I have taught a survey-level course and been a TA in my master's program at a university and I don't see that as the most satisfying way to spend my life. I'm pursuing a PhD for those high-level museum jobs, particularly in curation. I guess that's good news for a lot of people since it's one less person to compete with for jobs in academia!

I noticed a few rejections via the website for Northwestern. I checked my status and it still says no decision has been rendered. I find this hard to believe since I wasn't contact for an interview, I know I am not still even being considered. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Perhaps the rejections are just going out in waves? I'm wait listed for another program closer to home that I'd prefer to take, but I'd kinda like to know what's going on over there!

My professor warned me against applying to a top art history program because the person working in my field is, in his eyes, a dick who dislikes women as students and treats them poorly. He said he didn't like the idea of me having to put up with the guys crap and I'd have an awful time. I heeded his warning.

Bummed, I was expecting my rejection letter today but nothing! I live an hour from USC, you'd think mine would be here already. I did see one interview for USC a few days ago (I searched today) and I haven't heard anything. They must be recruiting, but maybe not to the extent that they had been in the past. There is usually a dinner and that hasn't happened yet. Oh well, into better things, right