Meglet

Now that I've gotten a second acceptance (Indiana!) and I know the first one wasn't just a fluke, I'll share.  I'm pretty un-anonymous in my username, picture, etc, so I'm not too concerned about sharing.
Undergrad: Pretty unrelated (technical theater, German studies, minor in Art History), respected small liberal arts college, 3.68 GPA, finished 12 years ago (ouch)
MA in Middle Eastern Studies from SOAS in 2007, with distinction
GRE: 170 V/156 Q/5.0 AW
At the two schools where I've been accepted so far, plus two others, I proposed research on belly dance and cultural appropriation, and I'm a semi-professional belly dancer with 13 years of dance experience.  At three of the schools I applied to, I proposed researching why Muslims in Scotland are highly likely to identify as Scottish, when very few of them in England identify as English, suggesting that it has to do with particular narratives of history and identity constructed to highlight their difference from the shared colonizer (England).  I don't have much on my CV that ties me to Scotland, just a personal obsession and 3.5 years living in the UK, so it will be interesting to see if I get any acceptances on that project.

Now that I've gotten a second acceptance (Indiana!) and I know the first one wasn't just a fluke, I'll share.  I'm pretty un-anonymous in my username, picture, etc, so I'm not too concerned about sharing.
Undergrad: Pretty unrelated (technical theater, German studies, minor in Art History), respected small liberal arts college, 3.68 GPA, finished 12 years ago (ouch)
MA in Middle Eastern Studies from SOAS in 2007, with distinction
GRE: 170 V/156 Q/5.0 AW
At the two schools where I've been accepted so far, plus two others, I proposed research on belly dance and cultural appropriation, and I'm a semi-professional belly dancer with 13 years of dance experience.  At three of the schools I applied to, I proposed researching why Muslims in Scotland are highly likely to identify as Scottish, when very few of them in England identify as English, suggesting that it has to do with particular narratives of history and identity constructed to highlight their difference from the shared colonizer (England).  I don't have much on my CV that ties me to Scotland, just a personal obsession and 3.5 years living in the UK, so it will be interesting to see if I get any acceptances on that project.

Broadly: Middle East, Muslims, Identity, Performance, History
I proposed 2 different projects to the various schools I applied to, so it will be interesting to see if I get any acceptances for the other research proposal.
Sadly I don't think it's that simple.  I did a LOT of stalking the forums and results board last year, and here are a few of my conclusions:
-Not all schools do interviews - e.g. I don't remember seeing any posts on the results about Berkeley interviews last year, just admissions in mid to late February.  There were definitely a few schools I applied to that just sent acceptances and rejections without interviews.
-Some schools do (Northwestern definitely seems to always interview) and if you see a solid history of interviews on the results board plus someone getting an interview this year, you can probably cross that school off your list.
- Just because some people report acceptances from a school and you didn't get one doesn't mean you're out of the running.  Some people report their POI emailing them about the department's recommendation to admit them, which isn't an official admittance yet, and can come at different times if notification is left to the whims of individual professors' schedules.  Also, you could be on the wait list.  Last year, I saw people post acceptances and rejections from University of Oregon, and I heard nothing until I finally emailed them in early April, at which point they told me that I had been waitlisted (but they forgot to tell me), but they could now tell me that all applicants had accepted and there was no spot for me.
I really wish there was more definitive information out there, or some way to make our waiting less tortuous.

Broadly: Middle East, Muslims, Identity, Performance, History
I proposed 2 different projects to the various schools I applied to, so it will be interesting to see if I get any acceptances for the other research proposal.
Sadly I don't think it's that simple.  I did a LOT of stalking the forums and results board last year, and here are a few of my conclusions:
-Not all schools do interviews - e.g. I don't remember seeing any posts on the results about Berkeley interviews last year, just admissions in mid to late February.  There were definitely a few schools I applied to that just sent acceptances and rejections without interviews.
-Some schools do (Northwestern definitely seems to always interview) and if you see a solid history of interviews on the results board plus someone getting an interview this year, you can probably cross that school off your list.
- Just because some people report acceptances from a school and you didn't get one doesn't mean you're out of the running.  Some people report their POI emailing them about the department's recommendation to admit them, which isn't an official admittance yet, and can come at different times if notification is left to the whims of individual professors' schedules.  Also, you could be on the wait list.  Last year, I saw people post acceptances and rejections from University of Oregon, and I heard nothing until I finally emailed them in early April, at which point they told me that I had been waitlisted (but they forgot to tell me), but they could now tell me that all applicants had accepted and there was no spot for me.
I really wish there was more definitive information out there, or some way to make our waiting less tortuous.

An acceptance!  I got into University of Arkansas!  Funding is TBA, but after straight rejections last year, this is super exciting!

Does spending the evening with my cats and looking at real estate porn count?

An acceptance!  I got into University of Arkansas!  Funding is TBA, but after straight rejections last year, this is super exciting!

Does spending the evening with my cats and looking at real estate porn count?

An acceptance!  I got into University of Arkansas!  Funding is TBA, but after straight rejections last year, this is super exciting!

An acceptance!  I got into University of Arkansas!  Funding is TBA, but after straight rejections last year, this is super exciting!

I've been reading up on linguistic anthropology, because some of it is really interesting and relevant for me. It's funny. Some of these articles are wonderful and clear and so interesting. Some other ones seem to be basically just a headache distilled into words. 

Nope, haven't heard either! I am starting to feel like members of the Columbia admissions committee probably check this forum every day cackling to themselves in the face of our suspense and agony...alternatively I may just be losing it at this point...

Yup. Ohhhhhhhhhhh-hio.

I agree that fit is important, but after completing a second round of applications with only one offer, I feel like I also have learned a hard lesson about the application process and about the community of scholarship I am about to enter: anthropology is still holding onto certain ideas about disciplinarity, and what is and what is not anthropological. 
 
I've been in touch with a few POIs at places that rejected me (after interviews or in-person meetings) and I have gotten a lot of weird feedback that I feel isn't reflected very much on these boards. Fit IS important, and your SOP is largely the most important part of your application profile; however, multiple POIs have told me that committees have trouble warming to students without prior degrees in anthropology, and they are wary of (cultural) students with US-based projects. This obviously isn't a blanket statement, and I know for a fact some programs (like the one I will likely be attending) want students that work in the U.S. Similarly, plenty of places are willing to overlook a non-anthropology background for a fabulous project. 
 
But these are just two things to keep in mind. Do you want to work in the U.S.? I have been told I should have at least had an international comparative site in mind, if only to "make it more anthropological." Do you not hold a prior degree in anthropology? You better have some way to prove you're ready to do that work. And don't think a handful of courses and LORs from anthropologists (even big name ones) are enough to overcome an interdisciplinary background. You are still competing against a large pool of capable applicants who have those qualifications and more. It will take a Fulbright, considerable professional experience in your proposed project area, or a publication (or two, or three) in a major professional journal to make up for what is seen as a significant and glaring problem with your lack of training thus far. It is also why, if you look at many 'elite' cohorts, many students are right out of top-tier undergraduate programs. A BA or MA in anthropology from a brand name school is worth more than we like to admit here at TGC. 
 
Fit is important, but at the end of the day, most programs make their decisions collaboratively. Some departments can be described as being one way or the other, but that is not true of most departments. It is generally difficult to articulate one orientation or subject area that typifies an entire department. If you have a project that sits squarely in the area of interest of a few faculty, but pushes the envelope of what, say, a lot of the other faculty might see as 'anthropological,' you are taking a huge risk. If you are a student with a colorful background, but you don't have the proper institutional credentials of a 'real anthropologist,' plenty of professors can easily write you off as a dabbler or somehow less prepared than other applicants. 
 
Cultural anthropology is still tied to the figure of a white man in a pith helmet scribbling notes on a people he has already made his mind up about. That tradition and the training it inspired is still celebrated by many top programs. This historical archetype established the discipline, and haunts it still. I think this is something important to consider when pursuing this career.
 
I considered not even posting this, because I know it isn't what people want to hear, and I know a lot of awesome people right here on this forum have had very different experiences; however, I also think that multiple perspectives on the application process can only help future applicants. 

But limbo is SO NICE this time of year!  *thumps head on desk repeatedly*

In all seriousness, congratulations!  You have some great programs to choose from, and that's awesome!

not over until its over! hope good news comes your way soon. 

Holy crap.  I just got into Virginia Tech with a fully funded GTA position and a 14K stipend!!!!! Is this real life?

I think that pretty much sums up what we were all thinking. I mean....hooray for confidence?

I have already accepted a PhD offer from Harvard, so this rejection is utterly inconsequential at this stage.  
mfw

This needs to be on a motivational poster, or better yet, a pair of promotional sweatpants and a bottle of whiskey sent by ETS after you give them all your money. Matching set.
 
As for UMass, if I check Spire one more time I think it might take out a restraining order against me. 
 
Historically Yale results come in over the next couple of days, so keep your fingers crossed! 

Also, to this poster from the results board:
 
F*&% you Columbia, and your archaic windswept halls of exotica.  
You made me laugh so hard that coffee came out of my nose at work and I'm mad at you.

When I read it, I got an image of Godzilla stomping back into the ocean and flipping off the GREs.  I kind of want programs to reject me with an Oatmeal 'nope' comic instead of a fake-nice letter.
 
 

THANK YOUUUUUU! I'm so excited I can barely breathe. My lungs have noped.

And The Oatmeal was actually my inspiration to verbify "nope". The Godzilla who sees a bee or something and stomps back into the ocean going "NOPE!" and flipping off Tokyo. It was just so relevant to my thoughts and actions.

I was just thinking about you Meglet! It's weird, isn't it? You can't really help but to take it personally! 

This waiting game is the absolute worst part of the process.