mosquito0016

I am actually going to reply to my own topic, after some sleuthing. According to the results page JHU English has never waitlisted before. If anyone has any different info, please let me know. It think it's interesting that they've started this year. I think there are two options: 1) They, like everyone else, are expecting a lot of shuffling this year. 2) They really meant their story about not knowing the class size yet. If option 2 is true--and I'm leaning towards it being true--then I think our chances are good. The letter itself indicates that their estimates were conservative. What that says to me is that they admitted a conservative number and then waitlisted enough candidates to fill out the class at the ideal size. I think chances look pretty good in that light, particularly considering the turnover that's going to happen on top of that.

Not a school I'm too invested in, but they just waitlisted me. I've never been on a waitlist, honestly. I know for undergrad the advice is often to be very proactive: write letters, note changes to your resume, check up with the school's secretary every month or so. Is the advice the same for graduate programs? Should I contact a POI? How should I respond to the waitlist email itself? Should I say nothing in response, or provide a cover-letter-esque response about why I'm awesome? I'm posting this here because I'm also interested in anyone's specific knowledge about JHU's department, or about their admissions cycle this year. One thing I would kill to know is if the waitlist is ranked, and if so where I am on it. I'm guessing the secretary wouldn't be responsive to that kind of query, though.

Wow thanks for the really great reply! Good tip about the Co-ops.

Hello, I was recently admitted for Fall 2010. I was idly browsing websites trying to get a sense for the cost of housing when I noticed that most contained warnings similar to the following: "Register soon to guarantee availability for fall 2010. All apartments will fill up soon." This warning was even on UC sponsored apartments for grad students. What should I do in this case? It's certainly too early to commit to anything, but should I mput my name in the mix if I'm relatively sure I will attend? I don't want to end up next year with no good housing options. Or will they reserve spots for incoming students? Also, does anyone have tips on cheap housing in the area (and I mean very cheap)? I'm not going to have much money. Willing to commute.

My top choice : (

If you're right, that's amazing. I'm wondering though, weren't the emails split up to research and ETA applicants? that woud suck because it would mean there are still ~200 people competing for ~80 research grants (I think).

Finalist for Germany research here. Anyone else just get the email for passport photos to be sent? Think it means anything?

Thanks guys.. I feel a lot better now. I think what everyone has said are things I knew, but it's nice to hear them reaffirmed.

Thank you so much everybody, especially strokeofmidnight. I feel like I have a better sense for the quality of the offer, and for exactly what is being offered. If anyone else has opinions I'd love to hear them.

Sorry, but do you think it's not a proper deal? I really can't untangle the language. I'm worried that you're right; it is not a deal.

Not sure whether this belongs in "The Bank" or here. I just got accepted at Berkeley, which gave me a very convoluted funding package. I wanted to ask this community for thoughts on the package. Is it good? I'm unclear whether I'll be paying tuition (as they say" in-state" waivers). Is it saying that I will receive a fellowship my third year? Here is the wording: I regret that, due to our limited funds, we are unable to offer you a fellowship during your first two years. The Department can, however, offer you Readerships which pay small stipends (currently between $2,900 and $4,600 per semester) and cover the in-state registration fees (currently $5,900 per semester). It is also quite possible that we will be able to offer you teaching appointments in either or both of your first two years. After your second year, that is, after you have completed our course and language requirements, we can guarantee you at least two years of teaching appointments. These appointments currently pay between $16,600 and $18,400 per year and cover the in-state registrations fees. All teaching appointments are contingent upon satisfactory progress in our program. You will receive a Doctoral Completion Fellowship if you advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. by the end of the third year of study, receive a satisfactory Annual Progress Report, and if you are on track to file the dissertation in a timely manner. If you choose to accept the DCF, the possibility of financial support from the University ends after the seventh year. While at Berkeley, you will be able to apply for a range of competitive merit fellowships for continuing and advanced graduate students, including the English Department Fellowship and University dissertation fellowships. Our students also do very well in competitions for extra-mural fellowships.

I am one of the acceptance at Berkeley that just popped up on the results page. I'm excited, of course, but I wonder what people think about Berkeley's future, considering California's budget crisis. Is it normal to worry that if I enroll, my advisor will be bought up by another university, leaving me without a real fit, or that my funding will be cut, or that Berkeley itself will tank? The last idea is probably too much, but I want to know what people think (or know) about how the department stands now. Should I be as happy as I am about getting in?

Yep, true true!

Wow there are a lot of German finalists here..

That's awesome! I just PMed you.

Thanks for the thoughtful response! That really helps.

Hello, I'm trying to write the scholarship essay for the Ransome, and I'm finding the prompt too vague. There are no sample essays available so I was wondering if anyone had applied for this award before, or if anyone knew anything at all about what they were looking for in the essay. Anything at all would be helpful! Here's the prompt: On a separate sheet(s), please write 500-800 words in support of your application. Include your reasons for applying for the Ransome Scholarship, explain how you would expect to benefit from the opportunities the scholarship provides, and describe how you think you might contribute to St Andrews during your time here. You might also wish to mention activities or personal qualities that you consider particularly relevant to your application.

I'm a finalist for research in Germany! After waiting all weekend for my email and spending a lot of time on the phone today with IIE, I have finally had them resend me a copy of the missing notification (no explanation as to why, of course). This weekend was probably the most stressful of my life, not knowing whether or not I had been passed on. Congrats to everyone else who made it! I'm surprised and lucky to be among you.

Still have heard nothing. Anyone else still in my position? I'm wondering if they have the wrong email for me.

This is so annoying. They seem to be sending out bursts of acceptances and rejections not really organized by country. It's a system that assures people who haven't heard get the most amount of stress possible.

I've heard nothing : (

Yes it owuld be interesting to know what countries people have been rejected from. Also, it seems like more rejects so far have been ETAs. Is this true? Sorry to be so scientific about it. I'm sure I'll get my reject any minute now.

Yes, non-acceptances are showing up on Twitter as well. So maybe if you haven't heard anything yet it's a good sign? Maybe we WILL hear something tonight? Or maybe acceptances come tomorrow and the next day..

Are you saying you actually received an email from IIE?

I think we should all calm down. While it is wholly possible that after I post this a Fulbright email will appear in my box (thus making me totally wrong), I think that everyone is getting the wrong idea thinking they'll be emailed this evening. Why would Fulbright say "an email by the 31st" if they meant "by 5pm on the 29th"? The people reporting themselves as finalists on Twitter have clearly been pre-informed by their Fulbright advisors, not Fulbright itself. If IIE had sent out even one "round" of emails, Twitter would be exploding right now as would this board. Everyone should remain calm until Sunday, or else beg their advisors. Of course that's no good for me cause im at large : (