fancypants09

No dreams, but just a never-ending, nerve-wrecking cycle of thoughts 24/7 which goes something like this: 
 
1. I wonder when I'll hear back. 
2. There's nothing I can do. My applications are done, so I may as well just try to enjoy the downtime. 
3. But what if I don't get in anywhere?
4. But I worked so. hard. on everything! There must be at least ONE program that will see that and take me. 
5. Oh but what if there is some mistake on my application that causes all the programs to reject me? 
 
Repeat 4 & 5 several times before going back to 1 to start the cycle all over again. I wish I could just hiberate until the decisions came out. 

OMG CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

You guys, I think I just got accepted to UWashington!!!! It's really late so I may be hallucinating but still.... AAAHHHHHH!!!!

If I may chime in about the necessities of MA in pursuing a PhD...my impression is that there is a pedagogical divide on this issue. I took a convoluted route but essentially am going from BA to a PhD (the JD may help with certain aspects of my research later on but doesn't "count" in the same way as a humanities MA). Some POIs expressed concern that I didn't have a MA in the humanities, even though the programs at their schools grant master's in passing to PhD students after completion of coursework; others told me that the lack of MA didn't matter because I had other skills to offset the lack of literary training (proficiency in languages, since I am in non-English national lit and plan on doing quite a bit of comparative work) and that they would guide me through the coursework and any other background knowledge necessary for me to do well. Those concerned with me having/not having the MA were worried about whether I was more than a burnt-out attorney/literary-studies dilettante who could hold her own amongst others who had BAs and MAs in English or other literary studies (my BA is a joint humanities and social science degree but decidedly not literature), and whether I could pass the candidacy exams on time. This did put extreme pressure on me to produce the best writing sample that I could under the circumstances (I had to write one from scratch since I hadn't written a literary analysis since the last time I had such a course in college). My one acceptance thus far came from the school/program with the POI who specifically told me not to worry about not having the MA. I've said it elsewhere before but my admissions results underscored for me the importance of talking to POIs beforehand to get a feel for their take on this and other issues, all important in determining that elusive fit. Regardless of what we make of the admissions process, many highly qualified candidates are rejected not because they aren't smart/worthy/hard-working but because they don't "fit" as well as others do.

THIS. Just to echo what has already been expressed in slightly different terms: I think you should be pretty careful about relying on rankings for determining reputation, especially of a doctoral program. For example, certain top ranked programs (may include OMG College) may have scholars that are well-renowned and amazing resources, but have really poor placement. Great for reputation of the school and the scholars, but not so much for the students. On the other hand, professors at some lower ranked programs may go to bat for their students through personal connections (something you won't be able to perceive unless you know the details of the layout of your field rather well) so that they do get the jobs that they want post-graduation. 

Well - obviously rank is a touchy subject for anyone associated with a particular school, so I think you're wise not to name names, and I'm going to follow your example. But I think there are a couple of different ways to see if a department "ranks" at a different level (either higher or lower) than the institution it's part of.
 
The first thing would be placement - does the English department at the school you're looking at regularly (or ever) place Ph.D. graduates at universities ranked higher than that school? (So - if the university is ranked #55, does the English department place students in the 40s and 30s? Or is there a downward trend?) If graduates are getting placed at higher-ranking universities than the one they attended, that suggests the department is stronger than the school as a whole.
 
The second thing would be faculty - where did they attend graduate school? Who have they published with/list in their book acknowledgements? How often are they cited? If a faculty member at Blah University studied under Professor GodKing Amazing at OMG College, chances are s/he will retain stronger connections and a higher reputation within the field than if s/he came to Blah University with a Ph.D. from Mediocre State - and these connections, of course, will be passed down to his/her students.
 
In general, I think, the overall rank of a school matters because the money, opportunities, and prestige offered by Schools #1-10 make the process of getting a graduate degree much easier - even in a field like English, where job prospects are dismal. I think most programs are "worth" attending in that they will offer challenges and opportunities to students - but prestige? That's a different story. Privilege is real. But it's a variable that changes with each publication, hire, retirement, etc... pedigrees, like currency, are always in flux. 

Big hugs! As with all break ups, time will heal. In the meantime, I suggest indulging in sappy break-up songs and wine, in addition to the ice cream. 

I was planning on saying precisely that. Then dropping the mic (or phone, whatever).

I've never heard of anyone doing it, but I imagine that it won't cause any problems so long as you phrase it graciously and orient yr query around practical concerns (e.g., timing visits, promptly responding to other offers, etc.) and not, "Yale let me in, so what does that mean to you, PRINCETON?!?!?!?!?!" 

Oh gosh - hey now! Hang in there. *hugs* I know it's torturous. And maybe it would help to step away from all this, if you're overwhelmed - take a walk, watch a movie, cuddle a friend. Breathe. (I made rune cookies tonight! I'd share if I could.) But either way, you ARE doing it - and you're doing great! My mom says that the worst thing we can do to ourselves is to stop showing up, and so I always tell myself: one foot in front of the other. That's all we can do.
 
I hope things feel better for you in the morning... take care of yourself! You deserve it now more than ever, just for getting this far.

Informally waitlisted at UC Irvine. Likelihood of moving up is low. It sounds like they admitted enough to get the yield they want.

I received a detailed and informative email about the strengths and weaknesses of my app. They clearly paid a lot of attention to my file which made me feel good.

Hello everyone!
I have been silent for a while because I accepted a PhD offer quite a while ago and was asked to keep secret. I think it has been long enough and there is no point in hiding anymore. Let's just say the university is in Philadelphia
I am so happy to finally be able to leave Montreal!!!!! (I did my BA at McGill) I cannot wait to live somewhere with NORMAL weather =   = I think I'll go crazy if i have to deal with Montreal any longer
How is everyone doing? I think the American PhD offers are pretty much out? I have a classmates who is waiting for Canadian and British schools and they seem to be slower. 
Is anyone travelling to China this summer?? =)

Thanks everyone for your "how to get out of a funk" suggestions!
 
 
Hannalore, your suggestion was the best. I'd put myself in ultra savings mode---I have two international trips coming up next month, and with trying to plan for an international move with all of my glorious things in the summer to wherever I end up, I'd been penny pinching, minus the splurge of starting yoga classes at a new studio. I had a wonderful sashimi dinner yesterday and marveled at how just that one little treat changed my entire evening---I ended up cleaning the apartment a bit, even! I woke up to a day of responding to emails.

I find, and I think the suggestions already posted are along these same lines, that the best way to distract from something like this is, in the words of the great Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford, to "treat yo'self." There's much to be said for eating right, exercising, and staying generally healthy - this is how you stay sane long term. But with such a high pressure, high stress experience like this, a little self-love can go a long way. 

I got a new productivity app for my phone (for those with smart phones) and it has been a miracle. It's 30/30, and you can set your schedule for all day (I make sure to include lots of breaks. I was in a funk and then started using it and have actually been able to get back into a semi-regular routine. I sound like an advertising service, but sometimes it's about finding what works for you for breaking back into that routine too.

Congratulations fancypants! This is amazing news! I'll keep my fingers crossed it'll develop into a real admittance!

That's amazing! Congrats. Really hope it converts to an acceptance for you.
 
I think it's absolutely kosher to ask about the wait list procedures for reasons lyonessrampant mentioned above. 

To MM and all others in this situation: it's entirely appropriate to ask any and all questions at any point in the decision-making process. I suggest asking the DGS or whoever you've been communicating with the most (perhaps a poi).

This is critical to realize: after you receive your first acceptance, you are in a position of power. Own it! Ask your questions directly. Negotiate your package. We are all rhetorically savvy; trust that you know how to best advocate for yourself in a respectful and convincing way.

And specifically to MM: both of your concerns are valid. Your DGS has been asked about language training funding and placement rates several times in their career.

Lastly, enjoy this brief period where you have some power!

All wonderful advice.  NowMoreSerious, I have been quietly absorbing and sincerely appreciating all the advice you give on this forum.
 
I'm wondering if people know anything about the etiquette regarding asking questions about funding packages.  I recently got my funding offer from the University of Chicago, and it's really quite generous, but I'm not sure about asking certain questions.  The stipend is plenty generous and due to start in the Fall quarter (late September), but, should I attend there, I would also really like to be able to take a language course in their summer language immersion program.  I can't afford it with my current income/debts/other financial obligations, but one of my POI's mentioned that one or two of the students she wants to introduce me to during the visitation days (from another department) took language courses the summer began they started their programs.  Would it be uncouth to ask about that via email so soon after getting my funding offer (which came last night), or should I just wait until I visit and ask current students about it?
 
I would also be curious to hear tips on where to poke around and who is the appropriate person to ask about details like placement -- particularly what NowMoreSerious refers to when he advises to "Look at the job placement in your field, and from the dissertations that were advised by the professors you might be working with."  UChicago is particularly vague about their placement on their website, just giving lists of recent placements without any further data -- is this sort of information usually collated somewhere, or is it more of a matter of gathering the information yourself through talking to lots of people?
 
So many little things I worry about and don't know about -- I've been accepted to one of my "dream" programs, but I feel so ignorant and humbled asking questions a lot of the time.  This is all so new to me -- I don't know anyone else personally attending a PhD program, and no one's ever gone to graduate school in my family... I just feel like I got extremely lucky and fortunate to get such an offer and don't know how to ask these sorts of questions without feeling ungrateful...
 
Thanks!

I don't know if it's all the anxiety in the last two weeks, but I've been having trouble keeping a normal and productive rhythm to my days. I don't have any real obligations right now, and I thought I'd get some fun reading done, travel, and clean the apartment but I usually find myself sleeping and waking at odd hours and leaving the house only to meet people. My house remains a pit...and I'm incredibly exhausted even though I'm trying to do good by eating well and exercising regularly. Any tips anyone has on snapping out of this slothful state would be appreciated...

Seriously you guys, Comp Lit departments what is UP...crickets chirping in my inbox right now. 

Waitlisted by Harvard, applied for non-English national lit. The letter reads that it was "due to financial constraints." 
 
For those from application seasons past: Is it kosher to ask the department what their wait list policies are? The letter simply reads that the university admissions office will get back to me once they have an opening in the department. 

Got a call while I was in the movies and assumed it was a telemarketer. Just saw they left a 2:00 minute voicemail, so I checked. Michigan acceptance?????

Well, I suppose this is in the realm of "good news." While I didn't get accepted to UMD's Ph.D. program, I was offered acceptance to their M.A. program. So that's something, I suppose. It might be unfunded, or might be partially funded. The one reason why it's a true consideration for me is because it's fairly local -- my wife works in D.C., and we were going to be moving this year no matter what. Moving from the Virginia side of D.C. to the Maryland side is not a big deal, overall.
 
Had it been an M.A. offer from any of my other programs, it would be small consolation...but this might actually be worth considering.
 
If nothing else, I feel a little better about things overall. I was starting to fear that there was something profoundly undesirable about my applications in general...so to make the top 15% or so of applicants to UMD is at least partially relieving...
 
(Oh, and there's also the intangible Proflorax factor!)
 
Hmm...

Big hugs, everyone!! Hang in there.