LiteratureMajor

Sorry to hear about the first-year funding problem. It looks like their program changed the curriculum a bit from last year (when I applied). I take it you would be attending on campus. I know someone who applied to be a part-time PhD student, but no word yet. Do you think all accepted students have been notified? My friend doesn't participate on this site, so if I can get any info that would give them peace of mind I'm happy to do it. Thanks for responding!

I noticed there is an Old Dominion PhD acceptance posted on the results board today (March 23). Would anyone like to claim it? Who notified you? Congrats.

A friend of mine who doesn't participate on the site applied for DePaul's MA in English and is wondering if anyone has funding updates. I applied for PhD programs elsewhere so I have no inside scoop about this. Do any of you? Thanks!

Hilarious! I needed a good laugh today. +1 for you!

It seems in many humanities programs decisions are coming later this year. One program I applied to stated that they are working to notify applicants by April 1. Since the response deadline for most graduate programs is April 15, I am a bit concerned that such late responses would put applicants in tight spots with only two weeks to make final decisions. Are late-March/early-April decisions common?

Last year I was waitlisted at my top choice university and ultimately didn't make the cut. I reapplied this year. It's now time for decisions and I haven't received one, so I am wondering (worrying!) if it's likely that I have been waitlisted again. Please understand that I do not want to be outright rejected; however, the thought of being waitlisted and ultimately rejected again makes me a bit depressed. Have any of you experienced such a thing, or maybe know someone who has?

A few days ago a university that previously notified me that I have a high position on the waitlist sent me a rejection e-mail and updated my online app. status to rejected. Prior to this I was told that I could potentially remain on the waitlist throughout the summer. To add to my confusion, the department told me over the phone that despite the rejection e-mail, I am STILL on the department's waitlist and have a chance at being admitted for the fall. They mentioned having to comply with the law and notify all applicants of either accept or deny by a certain date. So my question is, am I waitlisted or rejected?

Hello, all. After fifteen minutes of composing and deleting numerous drafts of inquiries to the school where I am waitlisted, I'd like to gather some suggestions of how to phrase this e-mail. Basically I was instructed to follow up this week about my status on the waitlist (last I heard I was in a high position and a few chosen ones from the first round of acceptances hadn't made their decisions). I want to know if my status has changed and once again let them know I am prepared to accept their offer of admission, hoping this will encourage them to indeed make me an offer of admission. Thanks!

What are the chances of someone with a high position on the waitlist being admitted after April 15th? The school I am pursuing maintains the waitlist all the way to September and has in the past pulled people from the list more than once. This is my only shot at getting in this year, but I don't want to cling to fruitless hope the entire summer if it comes to that. Any suggestions on how I should go about communicating with the Grad Program Director and my POIs? I was invited to follow up with the program toward the end of this week and don't want to completely ruin the sliver of a chance I do still have. Though I'm fighting to remain calm, the waiting and uncertainty is beginning to get to me. Advice is very much appreciated.

Thank you! That is a kind gesture and much appreciated. I tried to vote you up as well but reached my maximum for today. So many great comments that deserve a bump, you know. I'll remember you tomorrow though.

I noticed the "-1" with this comment and wanted to clarify that I don't mean to offend anyone. I just wanted to express how it feels to be in a high position on a waitlist but still uncertain whether I will ultimately be accepted or rejected. I've never been on a waitlist before and this is new territory for me. So please know that it is never my intent to insult or offend any fellow applicants.

"even though the comments are not about your submission they bear some merit"... WTF? I am surprised they actually had the balls to say something so ridiculous.

After the way University of Can't-Make-Up-Our-Mind-About-Your-Admission treated you, I believe you are making the best decision in sticking to your guns. The admissions roller coaster is probably a preview of how life would be for you if you committed to five-plus years in their program. I'm very sorry this happened to you. You certainly don't deserve this kind of treatment. No applicant does. It's inexcusable.

This happened to me as well. Unfortunately, the waitlist is my only hope for PhD study this round. I would rather give birth without an epidural than go through this process again.

Same here, windycitystudent. I understand that those with multiple offers need to be cautious in making their decisions, but some people at my top choice are waiting until the eleventh hour to decide when I would accept this position within minutes of getting the offer. There's nothing more I can do at this point but wait, right? I've already sent a cordial thank-you note expressing my continued interest in the program and stating I would be accepting should I get an offer.

Thank you for your sage advice, modernity. After I stopped spewing profanity I contacted the school, gave a rundown of what happened and... was approved for a refund. Nevertheless, there is no excuse for such douche-bagosity.

Disclaimer: This MAY be regarded as a rant, and DEFINITELY contains colorful language. A university's (whose name I shouldn't reveal so I reserve the right to refer to them as Douche Bag University) graduate admissions office and the department to which I was applying have just pissed me off royally. The program's faculty essentially sold me on their program, wooed me with syllabi and topics of things I could study while attending, and the program director even went as far as to tell me that their PhD program is "perfect" for me. Okay, I applied in January. In February the department put me through fucking hoops, asking for EXTRA materials that were not requested in the application. That's Fuck You Number 1. I sacrificed the time and expense to do this. In March, what do you know, the school tells me that despite the fact that they swore up and down that my application was complete a month ago they were missing a document. That's Fuck You Number 2. So yes, I jumped through those hoops to get them this document and they e-mailed me stating that the application was complete. Hmm, but on the online application status it was changed from Complete to Incomplete. Finally, in April I get sick of seeing the "Incomplete" status and ask the graduate admissions department for an explanation. I find out that the English department forgot about the application that they put me through hell for. And how do they respond? By re-fucking-jecting me FIVE minutes later. That's Fuck You Number 3. Enjoy the 80 bucks I spent on this shit, Douche Bag University. Like I said, I'm pissed. I don't appreciate being handled this way and this is me being polite. So has anyone else been put through situations like this, and should I even bother trying to express my sentiments to this school (fine, without the profanity)?

Hello, everyone. While my fate this application season remains to be seen, I was in contact with someone interested in Old Dominion University's PhD in English program who has questions. Has anyone heard from them? Any acceptances or wait-lists out there? We're practically in April and with the 15th deadline looming near, I've also been a little concerned about late notifications. Any thoughts? Thank you!

I wonder how many students they are offering this "deal" to. If you did do the MA--funded or not--you still wouldn't have a spot for the PhD program the following year, correct? I don't see how that can possibly help you. Do you already have a master's?

Hadunc, Did you muster any additional information about this "possibly" funded MA? This is strange of the school to comprise a wait list before a list of accepted students. How many are they admitting this year?

Clever game idea. To add to the discussion, an adcom member at a university asked me flat-out where I obtained my degrees and let's just say that for some programs, background does indeed matter.

Sorry about your rejection, though I have a feeling with your credentials you will receive at least one acceptance. You are right that a lot of programs surprisingly overlook solid credentials and one must wonder if the adcoms place all the apps on a Lazy Susan and spin that f*cker...

Is anyone familiar with Loyola's master's program in English? Have you received funding for this, were (are) you better equipped for PhD study? Is the environment welcoming and effective for graduate students? Someone in a previous post mentioned being offered a "possibly funded" MA position or a PhD waitlist option.... Is going for the MA at Loyola essentially worth it? Please discuss your experience and any insider knowledge about the department and program. Many thanks.

I heard from a source that today is the day for all UIC PhD decisions. Has anyone found any status changes on the website?