C-Money

I'll echo the comments above--do the M.A. and then reapply to PhD programs. It sounds like a slam dunk to me.

I'm not driving to Madison today after all because there is ice on the roads (upper midwest weather... ugh) and my car is scary in the snow. Hopefully, I'll be able to drive up very early tomorrow for the Sunday activities.

I kind of feel like applicants with offers have the right to take their time in finalizing their decisions (and I'm on wait-lists, for what it's worth), and that the OP comes across as a bit self-centered. Also, I received an acceptance yesterday, so it's not like admitted applicants are necessarily sitting on acceptances that they've had for several weeks. More importantly, can anyone speak in more concrete terms to the issue of better fellowships leading to better fellowships further along the PhD track? It seems somewhat unfair to award fellowships based on who already has fellowships (rather than on some other competitive basis), but I basically have no idea how graduate programs work. Also, is whether or not someone got some random "prestigious" fellowship at whatever program they went to really going to be a significant factor in terms of getting a teaching job (especially relative to factors like what program they're getting their PhD from, the strength of their dissertation, etc.)? It seems like kind of a minor issue to me, assuming that you are otherwise performing.

I'm also staying at the hostel (I'm trying to acclimate myself to a student budget, although if I had known how cheap a hotel would have been, I would have done that). I'm going to try and scope out some apartments (or at least check out the downtown/university area) Saturday.

I didn't get a fellowship either, but I'm still considering the program, and I also live in Illinois, so not a big investment to drive up for the recruitment weekend. I'm assuming just wear business casual?

Is anyone else seriously considering Wisconsin? Is anyone going to the recruitment weekend?

Clearly, they are only inviting people with guaranteed funding packages.

What I read said that they are going to call it "Northern Vineyard" or something hokey like that.

I read that Walgreens (the drugstore chain) is planning to release its own wine label to be sold in Walgreens stores at two dollars a bottle, followed by a "premium" brand at five dollars a bottle. I'm not making this up.

I'll add to the chorus recommending against trying again next year. Given the glacial effect that the economy seems to have on admissions, things may be even more difficult a year from now, and it doesn't sound like you would really be doing much to improve your application in the mean time. Banking on getting into Yale is probably unrealistic, no matter who you are. Maybe you are not ivy material (hardly the end of the world). I would accept an offer of admission this time around or think of something else to do with your life.

I second this--Evanston is a close (adjacent) suburb 15 miles from downtown Chicago, connected by train. On the other hand, Northwestern is not in the top 10, so you should drop it from consideration right away.

...so are they going to give any information to the rest of us who didn't receive university fellowships?

I got in, though without first-year funding. Has anyone heard anything about a visitation day? My acceptance letter doesn't say anything about that.

Does anyone have any idea what's going on with Harvard (or UNC)? Are they just sitting on their rejection notices? I feel like I'll start getting into decision-making mode pretty soon....