CarolineNC

Probably UT Austin's PhD Lit program, unless I am accepted off the waitlist at Chapel Hill and then I'll have a tough decision. I'm not really considering any schools I have not yet heard from.

Thanks! I will take you up on that if I get in off the waitlist. Oh how I want to get in. So bad so bad. so bad.

It's pretty prestigious for lit as far as I know. I'm just stuck on California a bit

The stipend at Davis beats Austin and chapel hill's by quite a bit, but I feel like I need to go with the school that's ranked the highest. Is that dumb?

this this and this!!!! well put!

So happy for you!! You must be so so so happy! I hope that I can join you. I'm trying to keep the faith!

Oh, also I go to KU now. Don't love it as much.

Just fyi, I went to University of SC for undergrad and majored in English and I love that department with my whole heart. It is a wonderful, wonderful place.

AWESOME!!! YES!!

Did you apply to any MA programs that offer funding? If not, my advice would be to wait until next year and apply to funded MAs. I went to the University of Kansas for my MA and was funded, got teaching experience, and now I'm actually having pretty good luck with getting in PhDs. There are some MAs out there that fund. I think there's a list somewhere on grad cafe. I know Kansas State University funds its MAs. I've heard Villanova (which has a late deadline so it might not be too late to apply there) funds its MAs. Do some research before you shell out that much money.

Don't let this arbitrary, ridiculous process make you feel bad about yourself. And honestly, you've only heard from two schools. This is far from over for you. And if by chance it doesn't work out this time, you focus in and try again. This is what many, many people have to do.

What's your area of study?

Wait, I thought the last group of rankings was done in 2013? NM ignore me that's US NEws and World Report

ditto

you are very clearly the bomb dot com.

yes!!

Hi! I was also lucky enough to get into UT Austin too! I'm so so grateful. I'll probably end up going there, unless I get off the waitlist at Chapel Hill, and then only because my family is in SC and I want to be near them. So, cool, we might be in a cohort together!

Anyone know anything about how the waitlist at Chapel hill works? The email says the waitlist is very active and that there's a good chance I'll be admitted. But I don't even want to hope...

My experience has been the writing sample and the statement of purpose are the two most important factors of the application. My GRE scores aren't that great (a potato could beat my math score) but honestly I don't think it matters THAT THAT much. I say work until the last minute on your writing sample. Revise and revise and revise. Get a sense of the critical conversation surrounding your topic and make that clear in your writing sample. Make sure your argument isn't one that's been made before and is sophisticated. Get as many people as possible to read your writing sample. Your statement of purpose too. Go through multiple drafts. I think grad cafe might provide you with some potential readers, if you feel comfortable with that.

Rejected from Virginia. I'm lucky to have the offers I do, but I am kind of bummed. Virginia has been a dream since after my first undergraduate English class when I started ferociously researching phds. Oh well.

Haha, I'm planning on wearing what I darn well please. I've never seen a worse-dressed group than professors so I'm not worried about it.

Is it even worth negotiating a stipend with schools like Chapel Hill and UT Austin? Do they have any more money to give?

For those of you who are freaking out (me) about UVa, according to Clare Kinney, all acceptances, waitlists, and rejections should be within the next few days.

You are a freaking rockstar! Congrats!

That's so wonderful! So wonderful! Congratulations!