Radcafe

Congrats and best of luck to everyone! I'm headed to UCLA, can't wait to meet my cohort!

Yaay, can't wait to meet you both!! And congrats jean-luc, I'm glad there were spots for both of us!!

I'll be turning down UCR asap because I got into UCLA UCR's visit day was amazing, and it's a really lovely program, so I hope this helps someone!

This morning, I was ACCEPTED TO UCLA! So excited! I had another very lovely offer, but this is amazing...UCLA's a top 10 school, I visited in March and loved it, the funding package is amazing, I'll get to work with Christopher Looby and Rachel Lee... Last year, I was essentially shut out of programs (got into 2 unfunded things). I was rejected from UCLA. I took a gap year to move to Berkeley where I took classes and got a new rec letter, reworked all my materials, and began working as an editor. If at first you don't succeed...KEEP APPLYING UNTIL THEY LOVE YOU

Anyone still considering turning down UCLA? Sorry to badger, just going crazy over here. I'm happy with my other school, but knowledge is power and I want to know all my options

I'm coming! I'm flying into Ontario 10:30 AM on Wednesday and might try to shuttle to UCR.

I'm excited!! Hope to see you there

No, but I love your URL. SO much. Just needed to tell you.

Hah, I read those too...yay over-preparedness!

I turned down a "safety" last year (U of Washington) to reapply, but it was unfunded for at least the first year. So I had a really good reason to turn it down. I'm glad I chose to reapply because my options are already looking better. But had the program been funded, I probably would have gone. Applying is stressful and time and money consuming. Maybe in April you'll have a better sense of what you want to do!

Great, thank you!

How are the 2 language requirements met, out of curiosity? And will we be reimbursed for travel expenses for the visit day? Received an additional email from Tina today! Thanks!

Congrats to those admitted! And hugs to those who are stressed out! Passion for the profession will ensure a happy ending for you beautiful people! It's not over yet! I took a gap year this year after not getting in any (funded) programs, and it was sucky, but I'm having an awesome year and am learning a ton about literature while training as a competitive ballroom dancer. So there's always that.

Got an email from Heidi Brayman Hackel and another from Tina today. Don't worry, the emails will come soon! More info about the visit day to follow. Can't wait to meet my potential future cohort! rdsull89, we have some mutual interests (American poetry, queer theory). Which faculty members do you work with at UCR? What does the GSEA do exactly? And how do you feel about the grad student community? Thanks!

Hah, I told you so! My application was so strongly geared towards feminism and Native American studies that I was sure they'd have room for you Congratulations! Hope I'll meet you at the visit day!

I'm also waitlisted at UCLA! Good luck to you, hope 2 spots magically open up. Many top students who apply to UCLA also apply to programs like Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia etc, so fingers crossed.

Dude, I hope so. Crossing my fingers for you! I actually applied to work with Professor Raheja (I also do some Native American studies) and Professor Tyler (feminism!!) so there should be room for you!! But I was waitlisted at Davis last year, and was super bummed when I didn't get in. It's an amazing program, so be very proud and excited!

Thank you friends! I literally poured myself a mimosa moments before seeing the email. Moral of the story: celebrate at all times, until you have a real reason to!

Admitted to UC Riverside!! I applied to 10 programs last year with no success so it's a thrill to get in somewhere. I also got something called the Chancellor's Distinguished Fellowship Award, so funding! Yaaay! Congrats to Lycidas, Columbia is awesome!

Hey! Quick advice question: I've done a couple of academic-y things since I finished my apps (submitted a paper to journals and it's under consideration, helped begin a Literary Theory group for undergrads and grad students, am taking some new courses) and I'm wondering whether I could email department people at schools I haven't heard from yet to update them. Would that seem too desperate? I felt it might strengthen my case but would it seem too forward? Thanks!

Congrats to those admitted! Still waiting on pins and needles, but seeing the success of others always cheers me up somehow

Some U Chicago interview invites are up! Already bumming myself out a bit because I haven't heard from anywhere yet. I don't even want to move to Chicago! Anyone want to claim them?

Hi friends! Just wanted to share: Last year I was a senior in college and applied to 10 programs. I had good grades and references, so I wasn't worried...until notifications started going out! Refreshing the results search page became addictive and unhealthy. I didn't hear back from a lot of programs that were already admitting students, so I was really stressed and struggled to focus in classes. I was finally waitlisted to a decent program, but that didn't exactly fix the issue. I started getting my rejection letters and had to start coming up with the dreaded back-up plan. The waitlister program finally rejected me in April, then I was accepted to an MA/PHD program with no funding for 2 years (boo). I decided to do a gap year instead. In June I was accepted to Columbia's unfunded MA program but turned that down for the same money reason. I just didn't want to pay for an MA. I'm sharing this because I want people to be aware of the rejection-season stress and take good care of themselves! I cried a lot last semester but everything turned out for the best. My gap year is going well, and my applications this year are (I think) stronger. Doing a writing sample and SOPS while you're in college is really difficult so having a year off has helped a ton. It's a good idea to have a backup plan. I ended up working for Kaplan (ok) and becoming a freelance editor on Elance (awesome). Get on Elance.com if you think you'd enjoy editing people's novels. I'm editing one now for $650; it only takes me maybe 24 hours to do a novel and I get to set my own hours. Freelancing is a great way to get some experience without actually being hired by a company, and I think grad schools will like to see that I'm a "professional" as well as a teacher. Let me know if you'd like more info on freelance fiction editing. It's shockingly easy to get started. Good luck to everyone as we send in the rest of those apps!

650!! Got a 630 last year, so I'm thrilled. Man was that hard.

PM me! I love exchanging SOPs and would love more advice.