RomulusAugustulus

I obviously don't know anything about the department, but it is petty common for programs to try to get students to accept offers before April 15. The reason for this, I've been told, is that many schools lose any funding not claimed by April 15 (I do not think this happens at all schools though, but it definitely happens). So if someone with a funded offer waits until April 15 and then declines, the funding the school promised them can't be passed on to another student which means the department has lost a student that year. Anyway, that certainly isn't to say that I don't sympathize with being pressured to decide before you're ready!

I personally have never asked to update an application, but I've read a lot of stories on here of people who have (for various reasons from minor typos to including the wrong school name). Some schools allow it, others don't. It probably doesn't hurt to ask, the worst that happens is they say no. Just ask an admissions person at the grad school or an administrator at the program (depending on how apps are processed) and not a professor.

hey lwlinda, Sorry I have no idea, I haven't tried to activate mine. You might try emailing a tech support person at NYU instead, they will be more likely to have dealt with this before. Good luck!

In that case, wait on! I only mentioned it because I've heard of people waiting for a hard copy and when none came, starting to worry if the digital copy was a fluke or something, lol.

Yes. They sent out acceptances on Thursday (some at least). Congrats if you got in! I got in, but will be turning it down for a PhD, so if anyone was wait-listed, there will be a spot soon! Just FYI, unless they explicitly said they would send a hard copy, the official offer .pdf is probably all you'll get.

uhhhh, I guess. But why would you want to? The university would probably think you were kind of nuts. Why do that when you can just withdraw your application? Or even let them make their decision and then decline? Like I said, I'm sure you could (they have plenty of applicants, they don't want someone who doesn't want them), but it seems pretty pointless.

I don't have a lot of advice, except that it would be worth it to get an attic greek grammar (Smyth is the standard) or textbook. The grammar in koine is simpler (from what I understand, though I don't have any experience in koine personally) and there is a whole mood that don't exist in koine (optative, used much more frequently than subjunctive in classical Greek). Other than that, I would say just start reading some classical texts on your own. Intro commentaries like Helm's Plato will help with some of the trickier classical grammar. Congrats on the acceptance, and good luck!

Oh my this is SO terrible, but also I laughed a lot about it. I wonder what the .pdf said when they opened it, I'm imagining: "The document title said it all, why did you even open this???"

So, I know IPCAA's visiting days aren't until next weekend, but I was wondering if anyone knows anything about their decision process? There is one rejection from this year on the results board, and I know in past years they have sent rejections before their visiting week (mid-late February), but I haven't heard anything. I wasn't invited to visiting week, so I am assuming I will be rejected, but I have no idea why I haven't heard anything. Anyone else in this situation? I know they do snail-mail rejections, so maybe mine just got lost (that would be annoying)? I have another offer, but I would really like to know for sure about IPCAA before I make a decision. Someone posted they emailed and were told they were wait-listed? If that person is around, could you PM me and let me know if they told you anything about when you might hear? Thanks!

If an acceptance comes directly from a professor it is unofficial (even if it sounds formal). Official letters have to be sent from the graduate school. It's sounds like they messed up. Sorry that's a bummer. Hope you get off the waitlist though!

Doubtful. Visiting weekends are usually a way to sell prospectives on the program. Definitely go to Pitt for the visit, you have no reason not to. Buy a ticket now, so it won't be an expensive last minute flight. Even if you get into UNC before the visiting weekend at Pitt, you should go. It is best to weigh all your options. You never know, you might love your visit at Pitt, and dislike a visit to UNC. People often visit several schools, and obviously they can't go to all of them. Schools are used to this.

Definitely ask if it is possible to apply internally to the phd track after a successful year, but I do not think this is common. Do you have other experience in art history besides your econ work that overlapped fields? (Internships? course work?) Schools tend to be good (or so I have heard) about considering unusual applicants separately from the more traditional ones, but it will still be extremely difficult to get into a PhD program without some basic experience (which maybe you have, but that isn't clear from your post). Even students with degrees in art history, internships, paper presentations, etc. regularly don't get straight into doctoral programs. Is SUNY Stony Brook the only program you applied to?

My recommenders have always pointed out that it IS in fact their job (as I apologize for the hassle and send thank you gifts ). But of course you are correct that they are not required to write for every student that asks. They are however expected, as professors, to write several a year. To the OP, ick that is terrible! But I agree sending that email probably will only make the situation worse. Hope everything works out!

Ah, well in that case I would definitely ask Cambridge if it is possible to get funding info expedited. They are probably more likely to try to get you funding info early than a US school is to give you an extension. You could ask at the US schools for an extension, but because of the financial situation I stated above, it is unlikely they will give you past the infamous April 15 deadline. But as I said, it may not be true at every school that they would lose the funding after April 15, so you could ask. I applied to UK and US programs this year as well, and also wasn't aware how different the timelines would be, so I completely sympathize. Hope everything works out!

Some programs guarantee funding for a certain number of years, though even this usually relies on you making "satisfactory progress" (passing language exams, maintaining a certain GPA, etc.) Other schools you have to apply for funding each year. It may be (as the_sheath said) that this is mostly a formality, or funding competition could be very steep. Definitely check with the DGS, but you might also email a grad student or two to see how competitive funding is. I have a friend at a UC where they had to apply for funding each year, and it was definitely not just a formality. It sounded like it caused a lot of tension in the department (as well as personal stress), so it is something to watch out for. But congrats on the offers!

Oh also, just as a disclaimer: what I said above about schools losing funding after April 15 might not be true in science fields where students are funded from a professor's grant. But in humanities, this tends to be the case. It's why you read on here about schools pressuring admits to make decisions before April 15!

The real problem is that most schools lose any funding that isn't claimed by April 15th. So if you accept a US PhD with funding, then decide after April 15 to withdraw to go to the UK, there is a very good chance the school can't give that money to another student (so no, there won't be someone to fill your place). Also, from what I understand of UK schools, they don't tend to offer funding until you've accepted their offer. So even if you get into Oxford, you would likely have to accept before you knew if you would get any money, and I imagine the same is true of your Cambridge offer. UK funding is also extremely tight for international students (I am assuming you are American?). UK and US PhDs are also quite different. Are you more interested in Oxbridge because it'll be a shorter time commitment? Or is it just to be abroad (which I totally get so don't take that as a insult)? I would consider very carefully why you are more interested in the UK schools (as you seem to be) and see whether the funding risk is worth it. You might also try to contact someone at Cambridge to see how likely it is you will receive funding if you accepted their offer, and what that funding would look like. But I would urge you not to accept a US offer and withdraw after April 15, it isn't fair to the department or the other applicants on the waitlist. Good luck making your decision! It's a tricky spot to be in.

I agree with TakeruK that the school will almost certainly not adjust your stipend if you choose to stay on your current insurance, they will just not have to pay for your health insurance (which I am sure is fine with them). I am not sure, however, that the school will allow you to be on their health insurance and another insurance. But certainly check with the school, if you want to go that route.

I know some schools/departments state right on their websites that, due to the number of applicants, they cannot provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. That said, IF you were in close contact with a POI who helped you with the application process it MIGHT be ok to send them a polite email thanking them for communicating with you and (politely) asking if they have advice on how to improve your application in the future. I would also wait a bit after rejections go out so it doesn't seem like you are trying to get them to reconsider or something. It is NOT ok (as I think we all agree) to demand to know why you weren't accepted. Schools make no promises to provide you with that information.

Ingrid Bergman was in Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart Bogart was in The African Queen with Katherine Hepburn Hepburn was in The Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant Grant was in Charade with Audrey Hepburn Hepburn was in My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison Rex Harrison was in Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor Taylor was in The Flintstones with John Goodman Goodman was in Monuments Men with George Clooney Clooney was in Gravity with Sandra Bullock Bullock was in Speed with Keanu Reeves Reeves was in a couple of the Matrix movies with Gina Torres Torres was in Serenity with Nathan Fillion. That one was tough! And I'll admit I had to use imdb on a couple of those connections Bill Murray, Liam Neeson.

I didn't apply to Columbia's art history program, but was accepted by a related department. They've invited admitted students across all disciplines (or humanities at least) for visiting days March 6-7. Since there have been rejections and acceptances from art history, if you haven't heard anything you're probably on an unofficial waitlist. So you probably won't hear anything until people start accepting or rejecting offers, which likely won't happen until after visiting days. I know the waiting is super annoying! I am in the same position for another school that has sent out acceptances and rejections, but I've heard nothing.

Most programs will post average GRE scores for admits on their websites. Also, grad schools will most minimums, which are usually lower than what the department is hoping for. General opinion seems to be that to get into a good program you should aim to score 165 or above on verbal. You should definitely get a prep book (if you don't have one already), which will help with some skills (it isn't just about having a good vocabulary, though obviously that helps!). Good luck!

Definitely good advice above: no way to predict it, have to wait and see. That said, I was accepted off a waitlist for my MA program, as was (at least) one of the other student in my class of 4 (and a few people the year after). I think it is more common in MA programs, where some students seeking PhDs may have applied to the MA as a "back-up", got accepted to both and chose the PhD. I imagine that doesn't occur in your field, but that certainly doesn't mean that there isn't a chance to be accepted off the waitlist. As said above, write back thanking them and making your continuing interest in the program clear. Good luck!

A lot of schools send housing info to all students who have applied so they can apply early in case they get in. It probably does not mean you are accepted. Sorry But good luck!

Oh man, well I wasn't expecting much at this point.