elisewin

I have similar feelings too--come from a small European town, almost dropped from high school... And then I decided I had to prove I was good and made the biggest effort during my BA. I've been dreaming of going to America for my PhD for almost ten years now, and I got rejected last year and it almost killed me. But now, even though I won't have a job soon, I just don't wanna leave London and my boyfriend. I panic all the time because of this... So hey, here's a virtual hug. Decidas lo que decidas, todo irá bien.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_universities_in_continuous_operation.

Here an alumna from SOAS and applying to Japanese Art History PhD in the US this year! The message I've received in my field is that you should be able to translate without a dictionary a text of your discipline...by when depends on the program. I consider myself upper intermediate and I'm terrified they're gonna think it isn't enough. You can look for the graduate guidebooks of the programs you like and see what the language requirements are. You can also ask your PoI. Where are you thinking of applying to?

I asked if there were any grants available to international students (since that would be my case) for summer travel.

thanks for making my day a little bit better

I was waiting for the bus after work, checking my emails as usual... I got so shocked I could only text my boyfriend to call me! I spent all the bus journey trying not to cry and finally called my parents and close friends. And my boyfriend bought me cake! it was such a relief, since last year I got all rejections!

Let me ask you first--how do you approach someone at a conference? I always think I'm gonna bother them and end up hiding or running away!

That's a great way to see it!

In my case, last year, when I got all rejections, I didn't even get to see the letters because it was all through the Fulbright Commission. I just got emails from them saying "sorry, you didn't make it to X" or "sorry, you weren't successful this time either." It feels weird not to have the actual notifications.

That was really helpful, thank you so much!

what I'm actually concerned about is wait lists. What if I am in a wait list and April 15 comes so I have to accept the offer I already have, and then I get accepted from a wait list on the next day?

I lived in Paul Robeson House as a graduate student. It is the student resident hall for grad students at SOAS. It's right next to the Vernon Square campus, and 20 min walk from the main campus at Russell Square. Except for the occasional noise (I was next to the common room) and some problems with the water and showers, it was fine. But if you want more advice about housing in London, maybe just send me a private message with your budget and maybe I can give you some advice? I don't know if you're familiar with London at all!

I asked about my first choice: "You may rely on it." haha.

Hey! Congratulations and thanks for sharing this!!

What's the nicest way of stating you need time to decide?

oh i'm glad it made someone feel better, haha! I was feeling bad holding that information Thank you and congratulations to you, too! We should definitely do something once we're there

Hi everyone! I just wanted to mention something to all the international applicants to UC Berkeley in any non-science major (such as Art History or East Asian Studies, the two departments I personally know). I studied at UC Berkeley a couple of years ago as an exchange student, and of course talked about my future with my professors. All of them told me that it is almost impossible to get accepted in grad school at Berkeley in that type of program if you are an international student due to lack of funding. I even applied last year (because I thought I might as well try anyway) to the PhD program in Art History and was told by my POI I was rejected because of that. I don't know if it helps you guys feel any better, but I thought I should mention it, just in case! Keep your chins up!

I'm getting to a point of stress where I have a continuous stomachache and feel like I'm about to cry at any second. And I have to get my stuff together, I work in customer service!

Yes, it can happen. It happened to me last year, but for some reason they gave me a second chance to re-apply this year. Applying to five unis, so far haven't heard from four of them, although I'm quite sure I didn't get in Boston University. I heard from Ohio State University on January 30th. I really hope it doesn't happen to any of you guys, having a Fulbright scholarship and not being accepted anywhere is the most painful thing I've ever been through. And if it does happen, I send you guys all my love and support.

If you had been in contact with Admissions or your POI had told you anything about when to expect news (or anything else that could be relevant!). But I just saw someone got in... Good luck, in any case!!!!

that's a good option. it's difficult to just wait, isn't it? what is driving me crazy is that my applications go through the IIE, so they are the ones with the passwords, etc., and the ones to be contacted by the schools. so i'm just sitting here staring at the computer with a sad face, hoping to hear from them!

SOAS is an interesting school. Very small, full of passionate people. I had an amazing supervisor so every class I took in my major (art) was excellent, and he has been incredibly helpful and nice to me. BUT. SOAS administration is not the best. The buildings are not the best. The library, although amazing in content, is not the best when it comes to study space. I also was a little bit disappointed by certain professor, but I guess that can happen anywhere. I'd say that even though the campus and the administration are not very good, if you get to work with nice professors, it can be a wonderful experience, very individualized (or at least that's how it was for me). I hope it doesn't sound too bad for you! It certainly is a very special place. Very different. Do you have any specific questions?

And that's why I haven't emailed any of my POI at any school after submitting the apps. I'm terrified!!

Hey Katathomp, I also applied to Boston, do you know anything about how they work?

Not sure of the order: 1. Getting into such a program would make me feel that the efforts of the last decade have been worth it. 2. Fully funded with summer grants included. 3. When I met the advisor for a pre-application interview because he just happened to be participating in a conference in London, the whole conversation convinced me of what a perfect match it is because of the research interests and the description of the department. 4. The program is amazing: it has TWO specialists in my field of interest. 5. I think getting into this grad school would be the only way of getting my mother to attend my graduation, for the first time in my life (and she has never taken a plane).