Scarecrow24

Thanks for the encouragement! I just sent out the emails thanking them for the opportunity and being so hospitable, but that another school is better fit. I do hope someone else is able to benefit from that!

Hello Everyone, I made a decision regarding the school I'm attending and officially notified them last week. I still haven't emailed one school to "turn them down" just yet because I've been waiting for a reimbursement check for traveling to the open house (which was March 16-17) and didn't want to ruffle any feathers. Question: Should I keep waiting for the check before I notify them? Will they not reimburse me for deciding a different program is a better fit? What's the best way to go about this? Many thanks!

Thank you so much. It hasn't been an easy journey, but I've definitely learned that everything happens for a reason, and usually for the best. I've learned a lot about myself as an individual and researcher and think that very few decisions have worked out poorly. As they say, "the only failure is when you don't learn from your mistakes." Best of luck with your Spanish linguistics path

Thank you all so much! While it's my top choice, there's still so much to consider. I don't know how this decision making process is going to be for all of us.

Ahhh! Finally got into Pitt! Has been my top choice since emailing my POI back in October! So excited! Open house is in a couple weeks and I'm all over the place this month and this process has been so difficult and I can't stop crying and laughing at the same time. Sorry I'll stop babbling now.

I don't think there's any one set way of going about things. I knew from my sophomore year of undergrad that I wanted to pursue doctoral studies in sociolinguistics. Language and identity has always been my main interest. After graduating my BA (double majored in linguistics and Spanish linguistics with a minor in Modern Greek from Rutgers), I applied to only 4 PhD programs with very little knowledge of how I wanted to approach research. I was rejected from each. I worked for a few years, ultimately getting teaching experience as a substitute teacher until I found a niche in editing for a small publishing company. On a whim, I applied to a one-year MA in Spanish linguistics with NYU in Madrid and got my master's that way. I applied to 7 PhD programs the year after, now with a legitimate writing sample and a focus on what I want to study and was rejected from each. Did not let that deter me, however. I got a research fellowship in Greece and Turkey and presented on a paper I wrote and here I am applying to even more schools and finally have found some acceptances. In short, never give up hope. There are many roads to Paradise.

Awesome, congrats! Now the fun decision making process

Just heard from UVA (well got an email at 1 AM). Rejected. Few positions available with competitive applicants.

The most cathartic aspect of this whole process is when rejections don't even phase you anymore.

Nevermind! I figured it out. Was rejected. It's all good. Over it.

Ah, when I submitted the application back in November I received an email notifying me that "Rackham Graduate School will send you an acknowledgement email to confirm the program," but they never did! I received email when each recommender submitted their letter, but nothing about the wolverine access. How should I proceed?

I just saw that a bunch of people received rejections from Michigan the past few days, either by email or website. I still have yet to receive any notification and have checked my application status through the rackham website multiple times. Any thoughts?

Thank you! And yes, it's been weird lurking on the two boards (ling and anthro). I definitely have more experience from a sociolinguistic perspective, so I might PM some of you guys for input

Hey there! I was the acceptance. Just got an email a few hours ago. This is a nerve-wracking process and there is just no way of knowing when or why things happen. I hope you hear some good news soon, though!

Long time lurker. Just got into UA!

To those waitlisted, how did you find that out? Did the school contact you, did you ask the department or are you just assuming that?

Congratulations! I'm not sure to be honest because I also applied to Chicago last year (obviously didn't get in) and never received an email for the FLAS. While my application improved in the meanwhile (more research experience, presentations), nothing statistical like GPA or GRE had changed. Hmm.

I haven't heard from them regarding a decision, but my POI contacted me last month to notify me that the dept had nominated me to apply for a Mellon Fellowship (for which I essentially had to submit a dissertation proposal, which was daunting to say the least). I haven't heard back since I submitted that on Jan 21. Like you said though, based on the results boards, funding seems limited so I'm wondering if my acceptance is purely contingent on receiving the mellon. :? Also, to those who were accepted into Chicago: were you asked to fill out the FLAS? I also was contacted by them for a funding opportunity, yet have not heard back regarding any kind of decision.

Stanford didn't even bother to email regarding the rejection this year. Had to find out about it by checking out the online application.

Hey! This is my third year applying to ling programs. I applied to CUNY ling, along with another friend who had an interview and said the Prof informed her only a handful of applicants were interviewed and they only accepted 2 students.

If I'm not mistaken, CUNY has an unusually bad funding situation, which leads them to only accepting a very small number of students. I believe only two doctoral students were admitted to CUNY's ling program for 2014.

Interesting. I still haven't heard back from UPenn (acceptance or rejection) and I also never had an interview with them. I did speak/email with a POI back in October, but that's about it. Any ideas? Waitlist maybe?

Thank you so much! UIUC is not my top choice, but I'm so grateful to actually have an option (especially after having unsuccessfully applied last year). The email also notified me of the open house on March 16-17 and hoped that I can attend, but didn't specify as to if that will be compensated or what. But I guess I don't have to mention it just yet.

JUST GOT MY FIRST ACCEPTANCE! How should I respond to the email?!

I'm in socio and haven't heard back from Georgetown yet. Assuming the worst, looks like Michigan, UPenn and Georgetown are all out