TeaOverCoffee

Hahahaha! Same! "The decision on your application was not favorable." Ok, cool. So why do you need to tell me three times?

I removed all email notifications from my phone, AND I created a new email for my grad apps. So I think I feel a little less tense than I otherwise would. That's not to say that I don't check my email at least every fifteen minutes, but I'm assuming I have mitigated my stress minutely.

So I'm on OSU's wait list. How many people do we think actually get in from the wait list, though? Are wait lists just false hope for most people? I just ate an entire box of skinny cow caramel chocolate; I'm ready for frank answers. Also, these sporadic Purdue acceptances are possibly driving me crazy. Just send them all out at once, Purdue. All. At. Once. Nobody likes the guessing game.

So do we know if UIUC has sent all of the acceptances/wait listed emails?

You're right; the committee isn't always the same group of professors. My advisor used to be on the committee, but he wasn't this year. So I assume it varies every year.

Long nineteenth century literature or Victorian? I'm interested in Gothic Victorian literature, with an emphasis on eco-critical studies (urbanization, structures of buildings, etc.). It's so exciting to meet someone else with similar interests!

I'm on the wait list for Ohio State, too! I'm ecstatic. I don't have any acceptances with funding yet, so this could be my only option. From my understanding, they will inform the wait list people as people begin declining their acceptances from late March--early April. What is your sub-field, softcastlemccormick?

So I spoke to my advisor today, and I'm going to look for jobs that are temporary but could be permanent. I'm currently looking into PR internships for the summer. Any other ideas (besides an office assistant)?

I don't know if they usually do this, but Temple offered me acceptance to their masters program with no funding.

Haha. I reread today what I wrote, and I'm sorry I sounded so awful, guys. I had a momentary lapse. I'm completely fine today and tomorrow, I think. However, I greatly appreciate all of the support! You guys are the best!

Hi, guys! I've applied to six PhD programs and four masters. I've been rejected from Temple's PhD program but accepted to the MA program with no funding, so I ultimately had to decline that offer. With my undergraduate loans, there is no way I can afford to pay for an entire masters degree with loans; it's just not feasible for my situation. I just want one acceptance to any of the programs I've applied to, but I'm slowly losing hope. I have three rejections and two implied rejections so far. I expect to be rejected from two other programs, so I'm banking on good news from one of the three remaining schools. I'm the epitome of a tragic car accident right now. Everyone backs away from me but continues to stare. Frankly, I'm pitiful at the moment, and with this impending ice storm (what the south considers an ice storm anyway), I'm going to stay indoors and indulge in chocolate and other unhealthy food, which I will undoubtably regret devouring once spring break arrives.

I know I only applied to ten, but I definitely understand where you're coming from. I have three rejections, two implied rejections, so I'm waiting on five more. It's terrifying, but I hope you and I both receive at least one acceptance. That goes for all the others waiting to hear good news, too. If you think you're having a bad day, just look at HONY pictures/quotes. You really begin to questions how you were so upset when people in much more difficult positions are smiling through it all. Honestly, I was feeling really down last night about this whole process/anxiety, but once I looked at those pictures, I felt selfish for being upset about what seems so small compared to others' problems. I know that doesn't seem like incentive to look at the photos (I mean, who actually wants to feel selfish?), but they range from really uplifting to I could cry for hours for these people. Regardless, they make you realize that not getting accepted isn't the end of the world, though sometimes it may feel like it.

You have no idea how thankful I am that somebody let me know. It's not even necessarily the answer that causes so much anxiety. It's the suspense of waiting. It's like a horror movie; you know something bad is about to happen, but your heart continues to race regardless.

Why hasn't Ohio State contacted me yet? Never in my life have I felt so desperate. Do you think they just haven't decided for all the sub-fields yet? Were any Victorian literature prospectives contacted?

I received a rejection, too. Did yours explain why or just give a standard, "we were impressed with your application, but due to the increase in competative applicants this year, we were unable to offer you admittance"? Keep us updated on what the doctor says! I hope all is well!

Tufts rejection. I'm scheduling am appointment with my advisor to discuss other options next week. 3 rejections, a likely 7 more to come.

Whoever submitted the Columbia rejection with TLC lyrics, you have won my heart (or whatever is left of it after this whole damn waiting process).

You are not alone. I'm frantically checking OSU's website at least five times per day. The "pending" status is driving me nuts. Although, it does provide a sliver of hope that I could be waitlisted. In all likelihood, probably not, but I haven't completely lost it and neither have you! Fear not; we shall prevail.

I currently am unsure of what I could actually do with only a BA in English if I don't get accepted to grad school with funding. I mean, I could try to do an internship this summer in hopes of getting a PR job. But honestly, I'll probably look around at universities to get an office assistant job so that I can apply to grad school again the next year. It's so sad to think I won't get accepted anywhere, but it's also a bit heart-wrenching to think about what I could actually do with a BA in English without taking the Praxis and with no experience working a full-time job. I've saved enough money to move to graduate school, so I could use or to move somewhere else I suppose. I built my undergraduate career around going to grad school, so I am MORE than open to options outside of academia if someone wants to share.

Edmund Burke states, "[A]stonishment is that state of the soul in which all its motions are suspended, with some degree of horror. In this case the mind is so entirely filled with its objects, that is cannot entertain any other, nor by consequence reason on that object which employs it." Though this is often referenced to gothic fiction, I'm fairly confident it describes every person waiting to hear positive news from a graduate program.

That moment when you decline an unfunded masters program but begin to worry that's the only acceptance you'll receive this season. INFJs overthink everything.

I'm reading The Monk by Matthew Lewis, and it's such a strong novel. I mean, it's the typical gothic novel, but who doesn't love gothic? I read As I Lay Dying in high school, and I grew obsessed with Faulkner. There's just something so gothic/morbid about his work. Maybe it's how he marries normality to the disturbing aspects of life and death? Read his short stories; you'll thank me later.

I received my first rejection/acceptance! I applied for Temple's PhD program, but they were unable to accept me due to funding. However, they did offer me admissions to the MA program, which also offers no funding for any MA student. So it's a step in the right direction, I think. Unfortunately, I more than likely will not accept this offer unless I can find a sufficient amount of outside funding, which is very unlikely.

I don't personally believe in astrological signs, but I am a Pisces, so perhaps I will hear some good news this week (or at least this month).