Katia_chan

Definitely just raced to the Panera website to make sure I can get my cinnamon crunch bagel fix if I move to California. 

Medi Veg.

That sandwich is so good. So happy.

I heard from University of Missouri. Waitlisted .
 
The letter was postmarked on February 20th though. I have no idea why it took so long to get here.

I just got into Syracuse's MA! Holy shit. Weight lifted.
 
Funding info to come, but they try to fund everyone. Woooo!

Hello, group. I've been waitlisted at my DREAM school (New Mexico) and would so appreciate if people who have been accepted and don't plan on attending could let the department know. I'm so surprised and excited and now am a bundle of nerves. I'm waiting on five more after this, but this is certainly my first choice. Ahhhh! 
 
Also, if you have been accepted, can you let me know your speciality? Apparently there's only two people on the waitlist for what I study and I'm one of them!
 
/endrant. 
 
I now need ice cream. 

Hang in there!  It's the weekend--very easy to think they'll spread it over a few days. *hugs and crosses fingers*

I'm reading this thread and seeing your stories and concerns, and they transport me back six years ago, when I first applied to graduate school. I applied to graduate school right out of my undergrad. All the PhD programs rejected me. This was after I had received such encouragement from my professors, a high major GPA, and several awards for both my academics and extracurricular activities. I was kinda a big deal in college and had told everyone about my pursuits. The rejection letters completely rocked my sense of self. I taped them to my bedroom door as punishment, because I wanted to feel them mocking me, putting me in my place everyday. Friends and coworkers were asking all the time about my plans, and each time I had to answer, I felt my inside shrivel up a bit. 
 
I was not in a good place. 
 
I don't know if I would have felt better if I could have seen in the future, but if I could have, I would have known that I had an awesome life ahead of me, regardless of those rejection letters. I ended up doing an MA program, where I met the best of people, produced some fun work, and presented at fancy conferences. I ran into an old friend during my first year of my MA program, and now we are married and have one adorable dog. In the past five years, we've traveled around the country and the world. I taught for three years at a community college, three years of the best years of my life, where I met the most tenacious, witty, and creative students. I am now in a great PhD program in a different field, one I didn't even know existed when I first applied out of my undergrad.
 
It's impossible to know what next year holds for us. But I am hoping that my story demonstrates how little those rejection letters reflect who we are. For me, my letters did not signify that I was worthless or a loser, which is 100% what I felt six years ago; rather, the letters signified that I wasn't ready for grad school and I wasn't applying to the right field. So trust me when I say this: your rejection letters do not define you. 

You guys! I've been accepted by the University of Eat All The Food In My House! 
 
It's unfunded, but they have calorie reimbursement. 

Initially read that as Muppetry.  Started reevaluating what I wanted to do with my life.

I wish I had a non-gross apartment bathtub that I actually felt sanitary bathing in...

Hahaha! Frantic nerdy sharks. I love it. If we had a GradCafe mascot...

To quote the wise Abed... I think I may have done some damage here.
 
I didn't mean to introduce a tizzy about re-asking for letter recs.  To clarify, it was the part *I* most hated about reapplying, but every single person I asked was incredibly wonderful about it.  They didn't say boo to the fact that I had to do it 3 times, and they were encouraging and helpful every single time.  I couldn't have done it without them.  I got encouragement, and even suggestions for schools I had never considered before, one of which is my only current acceptance.
 
And I know it's becoming my mantra, and I'm the repetitive crazy lady in the corner, but there is NO harm in reapplying.  These days, less common is the one who gets into something their first round.  There are just so many of us, and so many spots.  And we all converge on the top 20 like frantic nerdy sharks, and a bunch are bound to go hungry.  So you swim and circle for a year, take the time to become more awesome, and you do it again. And maybe there's a cooler shark, and you have to try again, and maybe again. But eventually you eat.
/Shark metaphor.
 
...and reapplying is a drug.  Every year I wondered if I had the gumption to go through it again.  And then October came around, and there I was, gathering materials and being all optimistic and annoying.  If it's what you wanna do, you just...have to keep doing it.  Either that or I have an obsessive disorder and should seek help soon.  But I can go both ways.

To quote the wise Abed... I think I may have done some damage here.
 
I didn't mean to introduce a tizzy about re-asking for letter recs.  To clarify, it was the part *I* most hated about reapplying, but every single person I asked was incredibly wonderful about it.  They didn't say boo to the fact that I had to do it 3 times, and they were encouraging and helpful every single time.  I couldn't have done it without them.  I got encouragement, and even suggestions for schools I had never considered before, one of which is my only current acceptance.
 
And I know it's becoming my mantra, and I'm the repetitive crazy lady in the corner, but there is NO harm in reapplying.  These days, less common is the one who gets into something their first round.  There are just so many of us, and so many spots.  And we all converge on the top 20 like frantic nerdy sharks, and a bunch are bound to go hungry.  So you swim and circle for a year, take the time to become more awesome, and you do it again. And maybe there's a cooler shark, and you have to try again, and maybe again. But eventually you eat.
/Shark metaphor.
 
...and reapplying is a drug.  Every year I wondered if I had the gumption to go through it again.  And then October came around, and there I was, gathering materials and being all optimistic and annoying.  If it's what you wanna do, you just...have to keep doing it.  Either that or I have an obsessive disorder and should seek help soon.  But I can go both ways.

To quote the wise Abed... I think I may have done some damage here.
 
I didn't mean to introduce a tizzy about re-asking for letter recs.  To clarify, it was the part *I* most hated about reapplying, but every single person I asked was incredibly wonderful about it.  They didn't say boo to the fact that I had to do it 3 times, and they were encouraging and helpful every single time.  I couldn't have done it without them.  I got encouragement, and even suggestions for schools I had never considered before, one of which is my only current acceptance.
 
And I know it's becoming my mantra, and I'm the repetitive crazy lady in the corner, but there is NO harm in reapplying.  These days, less common is the one who gets into something their first round.  There are just so many of us, and so many spots.  And we all converge on the top 20 like frantic nerdy sharks, and a bunch are bound to go hungry.  So you swim and circle for a year, take the time to become more awesome, and you do it again. And maybe there's a cooler shark, and you have to try again, and maybe again. But eventually you eat.
/Shark metaphor.
 
...and reapplying is a drug.  Every year I wondered if I had the gumption to go through it again.  And then October came around, and there I was, gathering materials and being all optimistic and annoying.  If it's what you wanna do, you just...have to keep doing it.  Either that or I have an obsessive disorder and should seek help soon.  But I can go both ways.

I stayed with a student on my visit, and it was great.  Unless the program is really scary, the student you'd be staying with probably volunteered.  And it's free.  And also, it gives you a possible chance to have a long chat in an atmosphere where there's less "selling" going on.

I actually just finished doing one, and I agree with all of this.
 
The part that's been addressed here, and that I hadn't really expected, was how...interested they were in asking me about what I did.  It wasn't so much about "so, how will you benefit us," as it was "I see you study this, and I love it/am interested in it/would like to learn more/haven't seen anyone study that before."  My experience was that they wanted to geek out with me.  It was surprising and nice.
 
Also, if you're teaching, find out if it's a pre-prepared course, if you will be designing your own, etc.  Also find out about summer funding/job opportunities.
 
...and if you're an introvert like me, sleep for a week beforehand, because you will literally be talking to people for 12 hours straight.  Amazing, but utterly draining.  We got stuck in traffic with only 3 of us in the car, and I was so relieved to just be able to sit and listen...

I would say there's nothing wrong with an unfunded MA, but it's the fact that it's in New York that is kind of tipping the scale.  Your costs are going to be insanely high just to live, and that is without taking into account the cost of school.
 
I say this without any founding, except in guesswork, but I also assume, with the number of unfunded MA positions NYU offers out, it...feels pretty likely that they will be using your money to fund others.  Again, I have no proof of this, but it's just not a great feeling.  Some people have talked about programs with later deadlines, and those might be worth looking at.

this. and it was really making me feel guilty somehow? but that was last week. this week i'm like the hamburglar (showing my age)....i'm just going to take it and run. muahahahhaa

I’m no expert on all matters placement, but I’m going to respectfully disagree with this on a a couple of points. This is NOT a flame post, so please don’t take it that way:
Plenty of students get into Ivy and First-Tier PhD programs after completing an Master’s degree rather than just applying with a Bachelors. Perhaps I’m wrong, but the implied sentiment here is that if don’t get in right off the bat, you’re somehow not good enough to hack it in academia. That’s simply not true. As the anecdotes from the boards indicate, some people are completely shut out one year and get into three or four top schools the next.  It isn’t everyone’s goal is to teach at an R1 or an Ivy. Even if that is the goal, bear in mind that most candidates--even those who graduate from top schools after a straight BA-PHD route--will likely not get these positions. There are currently recent Harvard and Penn State grads who are working at liberal-arts colleges ranked in the 120s and below.  I agree with the idea that your MA should absolutely provide teaching experience. Everyone is going to have to rely on teaching experience to get their work, even those who come from top schools. As mentioned in my previous bullet point, most candidates will end up working at teaching universities, not R1 universities.  You don’t have to graduate from a first-tier program to get a job. Baylor is ranked 121 and their placement records for tenure-track positions are almost unmatched.   
That being said, I agree with the sentiments by several posters that unfunded MA’s typically aren’t worth it. I understand, though, that some people do them and it propels them into a great position. You really just have to decide what is best for you. 
 
Edit: grammar issue

Who else has been accepted, but is having "How can I make this work (financially)?" and "I'm not good enough" worries? 

I looked at them after my advisor recommended them.  Didn't end up applying, and I don't even remember why anymore.  But they look amazing.
 
It sounds like WUSTL does a ton of conference support, so maybe we will be able to see each other at conferences and stuff.
 
Fingers crossed for you there!!!!

I'm really glad Fordham is notifying earlier than in the past, in spite of the amped up anxiety; I wasn't looking forward to waiting another two weeks.
 
Also, I know this is sick and wrong, and I can't believe I'm saying it, but I...almost hope they reject me.   I just got back from an amazing visit weekend, and Fordham was also near the top of my list, and I think choosing between the schools would be absolutely awful.  I know that I'm an ass for even saying that, but...I can't decide what I want for dinner.  How could I choose between two amazing schools where I'd be spending 5+ years?
 
So I'm wishing all the luck onto you guys--you're both amazing, and should definitely have spots there.  They would be fools not to bring you in--fools, I say!

This is mostly for Katia's benefit, given her research interests, but I thought the rest of you might be interested too: http://www.inthemedievalmiddle.com/2014/02/susan-crane-animal-encounters.html
A nice review of Susan Crane's 'Animal Encounters' by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen. He posted this yesterday. Reading his thoughts on anthropomorphism and environmental encounters makes me wish I had sent along the marvels and bestiaries chapter of my MA thesis as a writing sample to WashU. It would have been right up his alley. sigh.

I think this thread is a great idea.  I came *this* close to (probably) 0 acceptances, so even though I thankfully won't be needing to reapply, there were still plenty of what-ifs going through my head.
 
There are a few things I would do.  The first one being one a lot of other people have said--I'd submit everything earlier.  Maybe not over the summer, but at least by Thanksgiving.  I had a few crunches, and while nothing screwed me over, it was still stressful.  I was finding out about transcript issues long after some deadlines, and not getting LOR writers their notifications until rudely late.  Luckily I think they've all forgiven me, but I still feel like it wasn't very considerate of me.
 
Secondly, I would get over myself and have more people read over my SoP.  I'm fairly shy and insecure, so I was scared to have people look at it.  It's a bad habit I need to shake in a lot of areas of my life.  More input, as long as you can weigh it, is always good.
 
I'd also spend more time prettying up my writing sample.  While it was a nicely representative piece, I think it could have been made much better.  (also someday I want to publish it maybe, if I'm ever confident I located all the plotholes, and if I'd spent more time on it now I'd have less work to do later).
 
Hope that's helpful to someone.  Hopefully those looking at this who don't have acceptances yet will still get them this year.  But, if not, there is nothing wrong with getting up, dusting yourself off, doing something interesting for a year, and putting yourself through this hell again.  Eventually it pays off...

I actually just finished doing one, and I agree with all of this.
 
The part that's been addressed here, and that I hadn't really expected, was how...interested they were in asking me about what I did.  It wasn't so much about "so, how will you benefit us," as it was "I see you study this, and I love it/am interested in it/would like to learn more/haven't seen anyone study that before."  My experience was that they wanted to geek out with me.  It was surprising and nice.
 
Also, if you're teaching, find out if it's a pre-prepared course, if you will be designing your own, etc.  Also find out about summer funding/job opportunities.
 
...and if you're an introvert like me, sleep for a week beforehand, because you will literally be talking to people for 12 hours straight.  Amazing, but utterly draining.  We got stuck in traffic with only 3 of us in the car, and I was so relieved to just be able to sit and listen...