kadel

Just got the expected rejection email from nyu's mcc. Form, impersonal, from a grad officer. Boo hoo. Plus I've been binge watching Buffy and it's season 6 and willow is blowing it...boooo hooooo!!

Ah darn it sorry Katla I think you're right tho, I feel like it's better knowing at this point. Agitation is just getting to me... Feels like rejection anyway, only with more uncertainty lol. On that note, anybody apply to Cuny? Hear anything about that process? Search suggests I'll be waiting a while longer :'(

That's what I was thinking too. It's possible that everyone on grad café right now is in the middle of the pack. Not going to be rejected out right initially, but not going to be extended an interview unless the first group of interviews go really badly or something. I imagine will here within a week or two, but sadly it seems like not much sooner? Sry for typos voice-dictating due to injured thumb and too tired...

Yay thank so much for sharing! I was feverishly wondering who's rejection that was... Hopefully we'll all be 5 x 5 soon

If you look to the left of the body of the post, you'll find most people have listed the field for programs they are applying to underneath their profile data. For example, the person you're asking about says they're applying for anthropology phd programs. If people apply to more than one type of program, it seems like they usually list that kind of information in their signature. None of this is required of course, that's just one of the ways people here communicate to each other. If you want to add that info for yourself, you can edit your profile by clicking the links at the upper right of the page.

I was wondering about this too and I had an idea. It could be in part about the whole issue of yields/waitlists. Some schools seem to prefer contacting their first choices before even letting their second choices know they're on the waitlist, apparently. In that scenario, it would make sense to wait to inform all the rejects at once since some of them may be bottom-of-the-waitlist but never make it that far when the acceptances decide to take the offers, so they might be trying to reduce uncertainty about offers. Even tho obviously we feel this is way more uncertainty because this is taking forever and I'm losing my mind lol.

Oh it seems like there's probably only ten or twenty people on here who applied for MCC - I mean I've only seen about 5 or 6 users even mention it on a forum or in their sig, so that could even be an overestimate on my part. Honestly we don't seem to have too high a representation of their 200+ or whatever applications, so the results search may never help. Check previous years - it's practically random, and no more than two or three PhD listings per year whatsover. MCC is also an interdisciplinary program, and what I'm learning is that it seems like there's a higher representation of people in disciplinary fields active on this website. Perhaps just true for academia generally? Fewer people in interdisciplinary fields? But on the site it's also much easier to use when your work fits more naturally within a traditional field - I mean everytime I look at the menu I think, dang what do I click on? Also, nowaynohow has certainly shared more precise info than any of us could ever have access to, so you probably shouldn't give this person a hard time, even tho I know the frustration is making us all goofy. If you looked more closely at nowaynohow's post anyway, you'd see the field listed is "anthropology," and numerous anthro rejections from NYU have appeared on the board, so there's nothing being withheld there.

Yes!!!! Congrats!!! Pleasant weather decisions, here you come

Well that linked story is totally crazy and sad. I had a friend who was accepted by a great humanities department for a PhD, but initially rejected by the graduate school because of low quant scores on the GRE. They were in the 130s, really just low, but obviously irrelevant to the course of study. So, when even after a retake it was impossible to get the score up above the minimum, the department just petitioned and eventually the acceptance went through just fine. I think that's really more common than these instances where the school outright rejects the candidate and it's "final"… And if the university at large approves, I can't imagine they would ever revoke. The linked thread seems to refer more to clerical error type situations.

Ohh congratulations!!!! Harvard has such awesome resources yayy!! Despite the brutal New England winter representation among your options, looks like you have amaaaazing choices!! You know, these choices are actually so amazing that a funny side effect for other candidates is, in a few weeks some people are probably getting in off waitlists at some unbelievable schools! Wouldn't it be funny if that happened in real time with someone on this board? Lol

Nope really hoping someone around here hears soon so we can start moving on to the "implied" phase/2nd stage of grief

This thread is everything

My work also involves a lot of grant-writing, and I find this to be so true as well!! Especially the part about asking the right way. Foundations and such have agendas of their own and they need to know you'll be able to work towards something that will reflect back well on them, and as specifically and clearly as possible. It's probably like when you spend your entire time in your SOP talking about your brilliant work without letting the committee know how it'll actually fit into their program. But you can always get feedback, and beyond simple name recognition I imagine it has something to do with the number of people who end up getting big grants only after applying once or twice ... I do work in visual art though, where the old narrative of slaving away in poverty/obscurity until you're rescued by a rich patron maintains some allure(/truth ). Thanks for sharing the insight, I didn't realize how much this attitude was informing my thoughts on how to improve my applications for next round, but thinking of it like this is SO much more encouraging than just glumly mumbling "there's always next time" to myself

Out of upvotes but this is a very helpful perspective for me, so thank you for posting.

Hey youngcharlie, I feel you on this one although I have no advice! I'd love to hear other people's experience with this - when going for comp lit, which has interdisciplinary qualities, does it hurt to come more fully from one of those disciplines, or to be too interdisciplinary in a slightly different way?? I applied for two PhD's this cycle, but I feel a bit like I should've applied for MA's instead. I have a MFA in visual art myself, and although I've always been writing (and on topics that relate to comp lit within art, moving image, and experimental literature), my writing sample was definitely only partially related to comp lit (or media studies, my only other app). I wonder if the MA would help, just for having the time and focus spent directly on topics I'd plan to research further in my doctoral studies, and create the strongest possible writing sample. My best recommender also suggested I not apply to MA's yet, since her experience was that hiring later would be improved by my going directly to the PhD, but I wonder if that's not an out-of-date suggestion given the current job market. The things is, I've also been in and out of some serious medical issues ... and I did as much research as I could at the time to narrow my apps down to just two that I felt were the best fits (I'm limiting myself to NYC this round too, because of family issues) ... but after joining gradcafe I can see all these ways I could improve my chances, especially when it comes to contacting POIs and getting the best LORs and stuff. So part of me is also thinking I can do the work to improve my app next time (and apply more widely), and perhaps then start a PhD fall of '16 instead of '17 after another two year masters... I blame the waiting for all this overthinking, by the way!!!!!!! and good luck to you with your research, it sounds super interesting

lol YES also out of upvotes, but thumbs up for ancient aliens gifs Hannalore if you're taking more transmutation orders, I'd love stone silence to become an interview at CUNY - just a chance to TALK to someone at these places would mean a lot, yknow to get a sense for just how badly I am dreaming, for the next (wayyyy more informed, thanks gc!) round of apps

Let me add to the huge congratulations everybody!!!! Such amazing talent and smarts in this community obviously, wow. Gosh my heart rate goes up every time I check this board -- I have to say it's actually pretty exciting to lurk and follow along with everyone's windy paths! I hear you on the dark chocolate obrial - although I pair mine with beer as I bite my nails (and watch Buffy lol) *cheers*

oof, thank you both for the update, just as I was starting to tell myself to let NYU go, as surely they had notified interviewees already .... *back into the cave*

ahhh oh no I feel you on this one! definitely sending my pooch to day camp if I have any skype action coming up... and hey, based on your name, any experience with Brittany, France? oh noooo! I so feel this one, and me neither although it's extended to dumb health insurance issues and the like. that all reminds me, everybody - Mercury has now gone retrograde!! technology, communication, travel, and contracts can be wonky or take extra time. maybe just another good excuse to try distracting ourselves and refrain from constant contact with various depts

Hey lizardclan, I really appreciate your bravery in posting about this, you are totally doing the right thing by following your gut here! I'm in a similar but different situation. I've been diagnosed variously with depression/anxiety/bipolar II, with some (genetically passed down) addiction issues thrown in to make things fun, but I come from a highly highly educated and professionalized family who are verbally supportive but basically just look at my artistic aspirations with a sad, tiny smile. I've been working in visual and performing art for almost ten years now, and I have a MFA, but I want very much to focus more on my writing about culture, so I'm going for a PhD, with two (somewhat) tentative applications out now. My parents could not be more relieved, as they basically feel that I have a better chance of surviving within an institution than on my own out here in LA. However, being on the grad cafe forums has convinced me my chances are nonexistent. my educational background feels impressive to me, but it's just not looking "academic" enough. It would take a "fit" miracle for me to get in either place - and even though I personally want to pursue doctoral study very much, I am now even more terrified of disappointing my folks..... not to mention the fact that the schools are back east where they live, so I've already kind of agreed to move back in with them if I don't get in this round haha wah-wah.... I know it's a different field, but I had friends who LOVED studying art at UCR! you'll do great there! just take lots of trips to palm springs or the salton sea when you need a break

hey everyone, mostly a lurker here but getting too stressed not to jump in. I come from a fine art background so my PhD quest has been rather loopy and non-linear... I only applied to two programs (largely cuz I'm looking to move back to NYC to be with family!) and one is NYU's Media, Culture & Communication - I see it so rarely in people's sigs, anyone else going out for that one? Anyone know if they interview? Results survey suggests I should hold my horses til mid-Feb, but, what can I say.......