madame psychosis

Hi! I just got a call notifying me of my place on the waitlist and, due to a combination of my inability to act naturally during phone calls with academically influential strangers and fear that if I prodded too much he would've revoked the offer right then and there, I didn't ask any questions about the acceptance package. I likely won't end up at Rutgers (it doesn't sound like I'm close to the top and I'm lucky enough to have had other offers), but I'm wondering if one of the acceptances would mind PMing me with the details in case I hear there's a spot for me on the morning of April 15th. I'm not sure if there's anything I can offer in exchange. Maybe an e-card? Or a drink on me, if I end up at Rutgers in the fall(!)? Also, someone asked how many they extended acceptances to. I was told that it's 24, and that this is a big reduction from last year. Good luck!

Yeah, way to go dudes! Reading all of this good news makes waiting for the rest of my schools a little less painful. But really, it's still pretty painful.

Edit: Just checked again. I am NOT the most recent acceptance on the board! More evidence toward the whole strange-acceptance-pattern thing!

I wouldn't scratch yet! I think I'm the most recent acceptance on the board. I received my notification days after the others (last Saturday). It was an informal email asking me if I'm still seriously considering UNC or if they should extend the invitation to someone else. Has anyone else had a program ask this? Could they have done this because I listed the other schools I was applying to on my application? Was that a bad idea?? Anyway, I replied and told them that I'm still very much interested in the program and would like to see the official acceptance packet. I haven't heard anything since! My including this information isn't supposed to sound braggy; in fact, I promise my stats are really nothing extraordinary (sorry, I feel uncomfortable sharing exact numbers). I just mean to say that things seem to be a bit unconventional on their end this year and that I really doubt they've extended all of their offers, or at least that's the impression I got from the email. Good luck!

Mine too, and I haven't heard a peep! If anyone decides to contact the department (much too timid over here), could you please post an update? Cornell's the dream, ain't it?

No, sorry. Though I imagine they're higher. Good luck!

Re Brandeis: I know that they only plan to accept two applicants into their PhD program this year. Sorry for the rotten news. Just thought it might help soften the blow of a rejection letter...

Hi, I'm one of the acceptances. No phone interview, just a call to notify me of the decision. And I don't know exactly how to put it so that it will sound like it's coming from a person who has earned her acceptance into Northwestern's English PhD program, but I'm so excited I can't even sleep!!!

Of course you should! As someone dreaming up worst-case scenarios re subject exam scores, I'm feeling just as weary about this whole advanced-degree thing. But I've decided I'm not going to let a poor score hold me back, and it doesn't seem like you should either. Your application looks great outside of this one pesky statistic, and you can trust that the schools will see this. Besides, what have you got to lose? It seems like you're pretty far along in the application process anyway. Stick it out with the rest of us! Solidarity and all that.