Kam

I applied. It seems like they can notify way late into the season, even into April. (And regarding their PhD, maybe they don't have the 2 years of MA that most PhD programs have, making it necessary to get the MA before you can continue in their PhD at all. I don't know if this is true at all, but it's a thought.)

I asked one of my professors for a recommendation during my first class with her last fall. she didn't seem at all worried that we'd only had the one (incomplete) semester together. At the same time, though, that class wasn't the first time I'd had interaction with her. I'd seen her give an informal talk a year before, and I was introduced to her the semester before by another professor of mine, so when I brought up those instances to her she remembered me, generally. I think that as long as you show that you're performing well in the class, then it shouldn't be a problem. I'd guess that in a seminar, active participation would go very far in making a great impression. There's also grading to look into, since for my class I'd already handed in 2 of the 3 papers for the semester by the time the professor wrote the recommendation, meaning she was familiar with my work. I would hesitate to tell a professor that you want to use a paper from that class for your writing sample, however, because with some application due dates being mid- or early December, that doesn't give much time to work on and perfect the writing sample that hasn't even been assigned yet. (This is, of course, assuming that you are taking the class in the fall semester in which applications go out. If it's before application season, then I think such a mention would be fine.)

Anyone have any new/updated information on Penn State? Like BCEmory08, I'm mostly wondering about housing...

@ Soul Invictus this is a bit off topic, but where did you find a medieval studies ranking system?

I've been meaning to read Jonathan Strange for years now, but the size and weight of the book makes it so inconvenient for carrying around. Maybe this summer I'll finally get to it, since I'll be home with little to do.

under construction

At first I was a complete mess, sleeping just a couple hours each night and checking my phone, email, and the results page pretty much every other second (including during quick breaks in classes). I'm usually a very relaxed person, but this process completely destroyed my zen attitude. Then I got my first acceptance and I thought I'd feel relief and/or happiness, but it never really came. While the program is great, and the DGS was more than enthusiastic, I'm not too keen about the location or the prospect of living there for at least 2 years, and maybe 6. Even when I would picture myself at the school, taking classes, learning, and doing what I want to do, as soon as the facts of the location hit me, the interest fades almost immediately. So even with the acceptance, I still felt like I was in limbo. Then I got a second acceptance and I was over-the-top with my excitement. I'd put the program on my list a year before and it had never left, and I loved the location and what I knew of the program and I think I told everyone who would listen within 5 minutes of getting the email. My acceptance high didn't falter until I spoke to the DGS and was completely turned off bu virutally everything I learned about the program. It had gone from being one of my dream schools to being a place I could never see myself happily attending or gaining notable experience from for later. Once again, I was back to my anxious, worried, zen-less state, with 4 programs left to hear from. 3 of those, it seems, are implied rejections at this point. 2 have sent all acceptances, and 1 doesn't have any acceptances logged on results, but it's a very small program and if past timelines mean anything, I should be receiving a rejection by post any day now. For some reason, after realizing that a great match wasn't at all, that I probably wasn't even on the radar of three dream schools, and the logical, and only, choice just doesn't feel right, I've suddenly become completely zen again. I don't know why--it isn't like I have a job lined up or significant amounts of money saved, or any plan whatsoever--but I feel almost completely at peace with the thought that I might end up turning down my only two acceptances (which seems crazy, I know) to end up with nothing...but I think I've come to the conclusion that if I'm going to do this, I have to do it right and be all for it from all angles. Not that my one school would be settling, but I don't want to settle, if that makes any sense. So, to answer the question, I guess I'm holding up quite well right now.

And I'm very near the end of the alphabet... I guess we've figured out pretty much nothing. haha I'm just going to pretend that we've all been secretly waitlisted and will be admitted any day now. Yup. That's what I'm telling myself.

Has everyone received emails directing them to the Columbia site for a decision letter? Are they, by any chance, going out in waves by last name? I noticed a couple in Results, so I was wondering how this was all working out... has anyone else received no word (like me)?

bad romance

Baldur's Gate (any pc gamers out there?)

past life

french fries

soda pop

Looks like an acceptance just popped up.