Megeen

Oh, I know that feeling (I think I sent in 4 improved versions thoughout the process) but just remind yourself that the committee can only evaluate what you sent them and irrespective of how the paper turned out in the end, they can't know where your thoughts went after your submitted it. It was already good at the beginning and they'll be able to see that. Good luck!

I feel like it'd actually be nice of them to send out rejections before acceptances. Once the school decides not to accept you, it'd be good to just put you out of your misery. I understand that that's probably not workable because it's a process and so on, but still...

Pinch. Still real? Awesome! That must have been an fun lesson for your students. Congratulations!!!

I feel like it must be a great job to tell people that over the phone even if their stunned. They must be used to that and all kinds of reactions. Yes, Jazzy, I'm painfully aware of that.

I've always been good with my hands. Like handicraft, knitting, embroidery... I sometimes say, if I hadn't grown up in a time when women actually can pursue academic careers, I probably could have earned my way as a seamstess or something like that.

Me too!!! I applied to the English program. I'm not at the losing faith point, yet because I haven't seen any notifications, but I'm so so anxious for it because it's kinda at the top of my list. And because I'm applying for the first time and as an international applicant, I have no idea what my chances are and so the first acceptance or rejection carries much more meaning...

That's exactly what I hope but chances are, probably not. I can't tell where I have a shot. I think my work sample is pretty good, but since I'm coming in with my German degree and transcripts that mostly consists of ungraded classes, I don't know what they're gonna do with that. On the other hand, I'm kinda hoping that it might make me exotic or memorable, which I feel plays a certain role as well... I'm happy with one acceptance though I'm gonna be bummed if it's not Chicago.

Oh my, can you imagine writing in your statement that you made the effort to calculate the distance from campus to the next Trader Joe's, or saying you want to study at this specific department because the pizza at X close to campus is devine, or in my case, because there's deep dish pizza in Chicago? At least that'd probably be a memorable SoP.

Haha, maybe I should have expressed my self more clearly. I looked at all those things as well (in addition to my TOEFL elimination), and I think I came up with schools that I would really like and that would be a great fit. But at some point it started to feel kinda arbitrary because there are so many things to consider. So, I am just generally interested what you guys personally consider to be more important in terms of fit and how you came to your decisions if anyone wants to share their thought process while we wait for results. I would imagine that the factors and emphasis each of us chose are very different. For example, apart from the fact that I think I could do great work in each of the programs I applied to, I would be ecstatic about any of my three Chicago schools because I love the city (in addition to the programs), and I think it's also important that you feel good about the place since you're probably going to live there for 5 years. Did you guys only go by program?

Maybe (probably) someone has started a discussion like this before but I was wondering how you guys evaluate "fit." I know that it's a big thing but to be honest, it's hard for me to judge that about myself. I kinda had to use other criteria as I was narrowing down my choices, such as, do they require me to do a TOEFL test since I'm an international student and English is not my first language. The GRE has a verbal part anyway and so I picked schools that waive the TOEFL requirement because I have an American M.A. Apart from that, I'm focusing on American Romanticism and 19th century American lit in general, and basically every uni has at least a couple of people who work in that field. If I get in I assume I'll do my own thing so I looked for a diverse faculty that might be able to give me input, but you can basically find that anywhere. Also they tend to have a similar voice on their website (some are better at it or more elaborate, but still...) so I'm mythed as to how you evaluate your fit.

I just realized that they can't even call me because I didn't fill in my number for some reason... Like I said I think it would be nice to find out on the phone. Also, cbttcher, I now officially consider you my extra-extra competition! I doubt they'll take two non-Americans. Trotzdem, viel Glück!!!

I'm German from Mecklenburg which I tend to compare to Montana or any of those other rural states, but I live in Cologne. Actually Cologne might be a perfect place for you to go. Last year, a couple of Americans and Canadians founded a North American Student Association (short NASA, yep, pun, pun, pun, we love puns) and they'd be very helpful if you come here. But I also saw that you applied for Fulbright, so if you do that, that might be a way to visit Germany as well Good luck!

Based on last year's results, I'm assuming Northwestern is gonna be my first reply--or not. Do any of you know if they notify everyone they accept via phone or is that just for whoever they can easily reach? I live in Germany, so I'm wondering. It must be an awesome job to deliver such great news for a few hours a year...

It's been a while since you started this discussion, but still, maybe you'll find a couple of useful chapters and names in The Routledge Companion to Literature and Science. I'm currently taking classes on Literature and Science, and Post-Humanism with Joe Tabbi who is a visiting professor here in Cologne from the University of Illinois at Chicago, but from what he's said he's the only one working on that at Chicago. When I was looking for universities to apply to in the US, I saw that UNC--Chapel Hill has a couple of people working in literature and science. Maybe that helps you.