Algernon

Worth a shot, right? You don't know if you don't try! (Yikes, how many well-intentioned but vacuous cliches can I include in one post?) One more: I BELIEVE IN YOU!

Am I the only person who's extra curious/antsy to hear back from Rutgers? I haven't really seen anyone talking about them on the forums, but they're probably my top choice-- and a giant reach, of course. Just wondering if there are any other Rutgers peeps floating around here. ETA: Purpleperson, aren't you a Rutgers applicant? You're the only person I remember ever bringing them up.

Thanks, Fiz! I have no doubt you are 100% deserving of every offer you've received. Go ahead and be proud! I'm very happy for you. I'll let you know how things go.

Oh right, I forgot you won the fellowship! That's an awesome deal-- congrats! I was not invited to that event. (I wonder if it's linked to your fellowship?) Unlike a lot of people, it seems, I didn't apply to schools (except one) with the intention of working with a particular person-- I took a more holistic approach and made sure there were multiple faculty doing research I found interesting and lots of opportunities for interdisciplinary work/graduate minors etc. But didn't let myself get too attached or focused on specific people. That being said, Professor Goodlad's research resonated with me, and I mentioned her in my SOP. Based on what you're saying, it looks to me like the department obviously really, really wants you, and they've given you an amazing package to reflect that. Just as obviously, they are not as keen about me or they would have done more to "court" me as they did you. Depending on how my conversation with the DGS goes this week, I might decline their offer. Somehow, based on the email I received, the program just doesn't feel like the most comfortable fit, but I do want to get more information before making any rash decisions. I can see myself at Pitt really easily; it's more of a struggle to envision myself at Urbana right now. Thanks for all of the info! I found it very helpful.

Yeah, I don't doubt that it's common. That being said, all but 2 or 3 of the schools I applied to don't have you teaching until the second year, which seems much more reasonable and logical to me, and many give you an additional full year off from teaching at some point. Urbana's expectations seem much more demanding than most of the other schools I applied to, both higher and lower ranked. Sure, many people take on a teaching load similar to Urbana's, but if you don't *have* to... I'm just trying to weigh ranking/prestige versus a more attractive and (IMO) less exploitative financial package, basically.

Fiz, I seem to remember you saying you'd almost certainly be accepting Urbana's offer. Are you at all concerned about the teaching load? Urbana's asking me to teach more than twice as many classes than at Pitt, but the pay is only a smidge more. Urbana is such a great program and certainly more highly ranked, but I'm wondering if it'd be better to sacrifice rank in order to have a more moderate teaching load at a program that looks equally (if not more) appealing. I think I mentioned this on another thread somewhere, but: I could probably make peace with teaching 2-2, but I really do not like that we're asked to teach from day one before we've even settled into the program. And a guarantee of only 1 semester off from teaching? ...... I'm feeling kind of unimpressed. Is that crazy? I'm supposed to talk with the DGS this week. Have you had any conversations with her or other faculty? Do you have a feel for the atmosphere of the department at all? I would like to visit in March, but I'm not sure if I can afford the plane ticket.

Haha, the day has finally come! You were alone for quite a while there.

One school has offered a 1-1 load in the first year and a 2-2 load beginning in year 2, with competitive opportunities for fellowships that would replace some of those teaching responsibilities in a given year. Guaranteed funding for 7 years. Another school has offered a 1-1 load beginning in year 2 (no teaching responsibilities the first year). Guaranteed funding for 5 years with "good opportunities" for an extra year or two if needed. I agree that 2-2 seems like a lot, even if it is typical. (I do have some experience teaching, if that's relevant.) And I don't particularly like the idea of teaching from day one. It seems like new graduate students should be allowed to acclimate, at least for one semester, before being asked to teach and role-model for undergrads. Maybe if grad students weren't commonly asked to teach 2-2, it wouldn't take 7-10 years to get a PhD in the humanities.... But what do I know. I'm also curious to hear what others have to say.

Didn't apply to UT, but I did apply to UVA and also have not heard anything. Even if an acceptance isn't forthcoming (though, let's hope it is!), it's good to know we at least made it past that first round of cuts, right? Got to look for those silver linings....

I'll second Shortstack about Boston being great. I've visited several times and completely fell in love. The public transportation is excellent.

I didn't apply to these programs, but I am very familiar with Newark, DE and UD in general (not the English department, though), so I can share information about the town/school. For a small city, Newark has a pretty vibrant and lively Main Street. Tends to be mobbed with college kids (read: undergrads dressed in Abercrombie) on Friday and Saturday nights, but there are some cute retail stores, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Having a car would probably be good, but not essential-- I'm pretty sure UD has shuttles, and Newark has a bus system, but I've never used it nor do I really know anyone who has. You could probably walk most places you need to go on a daily basis, depending on where you live, but things aren't super close together like in a big city. There's a great co-op on Main Street where you can buy all of your organic groceries. There have been a lot of improvements to downtown/the campus in the past 10-15 years, and there are more improvements each year. Certainly a thriving locale. It's a safe area. Easy access to Philly and Baltimore and even NYC or DC. Also reasonably close to the beach for the summers (1.5 - 2 hours). Newark housing isn't cheap, but it's not exorbitant either. It's a pretty typical mid-Atlantic college town, I'd say. Last call is 1am in Delaware, though, so that's an annoying quirk, if you go to the bars at all. Not much free parking downtown, either. If anyone has more specific questions about the town or school in general, I'd be happy to answer them. Oh, and make sure you pronounce in new*ark*. Not new*erk,* a la Jersey. Locals do not take kindly to being conflated with anywhere in NJ. ETA: Although DE's program didn't appeal to me personally, I've heard only positive things from faculty members and their spouses, both those inside and outside of the English department. The English faculty seem very proud of their department.

Er, yeah... *shifts uncomfortably* *clicks "report spam"* ....

I wasn't clear-- I meant that I think there are a few people on the waitlist for each subfield, and the waitlisters are the second *tier* of people they want to admit. I shouldn't have said "choice," that was confusing. They've admitted their top tier, and the second tier is just waiting to fill in the spots that the first tier turn down.

Same. I love the program where I've been accepted, and it's a great offer, but it's at the bottom of my list of schools in terms of rank (for whatever that's worth.) Still a good program, but with so many amazing ones left in the running.... feeling lots of ambivalence at the moment.

As far as I am aware, being waitlisted means that the school has offered acceptance to all of their top choice applicants, and the waitlisters are their second choices. If enough top choices decline their offer, then the school begins offering acceptances to the waitlisters.

My subfield designation is 18th/19th century. And I agree that there are probably a few people waiting for each subfield. It's interesting that they specified the way they did-- certainly more informative than some other wait lists where you have no idea what the logic is. You're welcome! I liked it, too, though I haven't read it in years. It's actually more of a reference to Algernon Charles Swinburne than anything, haha, me being a Victorianist and all. I love me some Swinburne and Pater.

I'm the person who was waitlisted via voicemail and that was for the PhD program. I was told that historically everyone in my position on the wait list has been accepted. Although I do want to wait and see if I am accepted, what the funding is, etc... there's a decent chance that I won't be accepting the offer when it's extended unless it's very competitive/attractive. I *love* the Twin Cities, but they are very far from home, making moving difficult (I have pets), and I already have a fully funded offer at Pitt that is looking very attractive at the moment. So it's fairly likely that at least one other person on the wait list for the PhD will get an offer. If I'm accepted, I promise to decline as early as possible if that's my decision. I won't make anyone else wait any longer than necessary.

Yeah, I highly doubt they've notified everyone and none of those people have posted to gradcafe-- seems unlikely. That's so strange that you got notified so early! They must have really loved your application. Maybe you're their only admit this year? Haha.

Wait, I'm confused... Are you saying you already were accepted to UIUC? I wasn't aware they had sent out any results yet! I didn't see anything on the results board. Are you writing studies or literature? (And congratulations on your fellowship!)

Hmmm... If I type in "English Minnesota," there are a bunch of recent waitlists, but then back around January 31st- February 8th there are 5 acceptances. And I see 3 rejections scattered throughout. (Looks like I did overstate the number of rejections by accident, sorry about that!) But yeah, I'm seeing all three types of results scattered over nearly 2 weeks now.

Feeling puzzled about Minnesota. Lots of acceptances, lots of waitlists, lots of rejections, including one via a random website check tonight, but my application still just says "awaiting program decision." What the heck is that about? I'm assuming a rejection at this point, but I have to wonder what the hold up is.... I seem to have ended up in limbo somehow. Anyone else still in limbo? Not particularly anxious or concerned about it, but it'd be nice to officially cross another school off the list. Perhaps they're still updating the website with all of the rejections. It's still so early in the process, and yet my impatience stubbornly remains untempered by that knowledge. Cannot wait to regain my sanity when this whole mess is over! Time to ban myself from gradcafe for the evening...