TeaOverCoffee

He actually hasn't graduated yet with his BA, which is why I was so shocked because I thought you had to have a MA before you could apply to their PhD program. I'm incredibly excited for him, but it gives me a bit of anxiety to know that UIUC is sending out anything so early, especially since the deadline was ten days ago. He attended an event at the university over this semester for graduate school recruitment, so perhaps that was a plus? I'm not sure. You never know with these processes what could give you an advantage over another applicant.
 
I didn't realize how anxious this entire process would make me. I have four shows on my Prime watchlist, so perhaps that will keep me occupied until January. 

A friend of mine sent me a hockey holiday card over email and I literally jolted with fear until I realized it was her. It's going to be a long couple of months. I'm feeling a bit like Kris right now, while Kim is basically my department's listserv.
 

If you're willing to live in Upper Arlington, try Fox and Hounds. I got an apartment with them pretty easily as an out-of-tower and plenty of dog owners there.

Yeah, I definitely think it's because of finals and grad apps. Once this semester ends and everyone gets caught up on sending their applications and supplemental materials, I think there will be a lot more activity on the threads. Honestly, I want to avoid grad cafe once mid-Jan rolls around, though. Hearing of rejections and acceptances when I have heard nothing may drive me insane. I even created a separate gmail account for all of my graduate school apps so it's not sent to my phone directly from my university email account. I don't think I can handle the constant anticipation each time I receive an email from online stores or Merriam-Webster. 

It's also a.) finals week, b.) the start of the holidays, and c.) the start of application deadlines - so a lot of us are just too busy to post! Between learning two new languages, trying to process and engage with the protests happening in my town, finishing my applications, turning in final projects and developing an honors thesis I just don't have time to post unless I REALLY have something to say! But I do check in on the forums at least once a day.
 
Today I turned in a 20-page research paper for my favorite professor 15 minutes before the deadline, which is really pushing it for me; it's a strong idea and pretty well-written, I think, up until Page 14 - and then I crumble downhill to a VERY weak conclusion. It's driving me nuts. I'm thinking about giving her an edited version on Friday just for the sake of my pride and her eyeballs... she's seen a ton of my drafts and works-in-progress before, but somehow every time I write something terrible I'm just SURE I'll disappoint her forever...
 
Also, the "storm of the decade" hits tonight in California! All the schools are having a "rain day" in the Bay Area tomorrow, which I find mildly absurd. But it is Berkeley! We don't really have weather here, I guess.

No. I was whining about it over the summer and early autumn, particularly after reading such lengthy and informative threads from years past. It's probably just an anomaly this year. Then again, it's possible that all the (justifiable) doom and gloom over the state of the industry has finally started to dissuade a lot of would-be graduate applicants. At my current college, I've only come across one other person who is applying to English Ph.D. programs. I don't socialize much, given the age gap, and the distance I live from campus, but I still find it odd that I haven't come across more graduate hopefuls, given the relative prestige of my school.

*feverishly starts on an 18th application*

Welp. There goes the Stanford app and $125! I very much expect moths to come fluttering out of my wallet any minute now...

I had so many application expenses that Visa filed for fee waivers.

In the beginning was the Word.1

Ha I did the same thing in the first few apps before I noticed it. The thing is, these schools get hundreds of applications, all with long writing samples. I am sure a couple misused words and an extra source will be ignored and dismissed. It's just so stressful.

By January, I had the cleanest inbox ever. I unsubscribed from all the things (good bye MoveOn, Planned Parenthood, and Groupon) because every time I saw I had an email, my heart jumped! 

That moment when you get an email and just see "IMPORTANT ... USC..." and nearly choke. That additional moment when you remember you submitted your app 4 days ago and it's just the initial "here's your ID" email
 

 
It's going to be a long couple of months.

I am actually very much so surprised - and a bit frightened - I thought acceptances would be focused more around early-mid March. But I guess most schools prefer February! Jeez; talk about soon.

That moment when you realize that you actually aren't a good fit with a university after you've already FedEx'd your transcript for $30 there. Good-bye, Penn State.

I'm applying for my first two tomorrow. Absolutely terrified to say the least. 

This was definitely a rule made up by high school english teachers to prevent students from writing opinion-based analyses, i.e. "I think Hamlet is lonely and I feel the same way." In my freshmen comp classes, students really want me to settle this issue for them, once and for all. I remind them that different instructors and different disciplines have different takes on this policy but a good rule of thumb is to say what I "does" and not what I "thinks/feels." So you can say "I argue" or "I study" but not "I believe" or "I like." 

How'd you get a copy of my writing sample?

I'm just going to be honest. I haven't studied for it yet. I'm going to begin this weekend hardcore. I'm a little terrified, but the majority of the schools I've spoken to don't care much about the test. I've heard it's just a formality from some of the schools. That's not to say that I'm not going to study for it. But I'm honestly just not going to fret too much. 
 
All the best to you guys!

I'm just going to be honest. I haven't studied for it yet. I'm going to begin this weekend hardcore. I'm a little terrified, but the majority of the schools I've spoken to don't care much about the test. I've heard it's just a formality from some of the schools. That's not to say that I'm not going to study for it. But I'm honestly just not going to fret too much. 
 
All the best to you guys!

Don't know about you guys, but I'm going to take this news ecstatically and continue tearing through season 1 of Hannibal on Netflix instead of studying for my English Lit GRE. I mean, now that we don't have to worry about the competition, right?!?!?!?!? RIGHT?!

We can only hope there are fewer and fewer applicants as years go on. Unfortunately, my guess is things are just really quiet.

I'm an undergraduate English major, and I'm applying to graduate school for Fall 2015. I intend to apply to 14 programs total (a mixture of MA and Ph.D. programs). Is it inappropriate to ask my professors to write 14 recommendations for me? I have three professors in mind who more than likely will accept to write recommendations for me, but I just don't know if it's asking too much.

I'd happily go to any of the schools I've chosen, so there aren't "fall-back" schools in my list. So personally, I don't think my list is too much, so I'm not interested in reducing my list. I can't fathom not receiving a single acceptance because I lazily didn't apply to every program that I considered. I'm simply wondering if I ask a professor to write 14 recommendations, will that be an overload for them? Should I instead get four or five professors to write recommendations, alternating professors occasionally?

If you're worried about apartment startup costs, you could look into grad housing wherever you end up since that will probably come furnished (bed, desk, etc.), leaving you to buy the kitchen type stuff but not the large furniture.
 
But really, save up as much money as you can. 3-4 thousand is what I would guesstimate. A lot depends on how much flights are and whether you live in a furnished or unfurnished place from the beginning.

I would recommend a few thousand dollars for startup costs, but as you said, it depends on a lot of factors (so that "a few" might mean 2 or it might mean like 4!). Maybe it's more helpful for me to just list some of the biggest ticket items so that you can figure out a good estimate for yourself:
 
1. Flying to new city. This cost about $600-ish for me from Eastern Canada to California.
2. Moving our furniture. This cost about $2000 (but you said you're not moving stuff--just listing it here for completeness). This was the stuff my spouse and I had from our one bedroom apartment.
3. Apartment deposit. This can be as high as 2 months rent in some places. Our deposit was $800 (a little higher due to international status = no US credit)
4. First month's rent, which is due on move-in usually, $1400 for us.
5. Probably safe to save for 2nd month's rent too. We arrived in Sept but my first pay period was not until the end of October.
6. Deposits for various things like utilities. Every company wanted $100 or $200 from us because of the whole no US credit thing and no SSN (until a few weeks later). 
7. Buying new furniture if necessary -- cost would vary a lot!
8. Initial grocery / cleaning supply run; extra costs of eating out or whatever as you get settled in and unpack/buy kitchen stuff...a few hundred?
9. You may have to pay big ticket student fees right at the start too (e.g. health insurance etc)
 
So, the cost of rent and the move itself is really the biggest driver of startup expenses. I would say something like estimated cost of move + 3 months rent is probably good to cover most things. My school had a $2500 no fee no interest startup loan meant for these expenses exactly. They gave us 6 months of no payments and then you repay the $2500 in 18 monthly payments (no fees/interest!). Other schools pay you for each semester up front, so perhaps that is another way to help offset the high initial costs.