Warelin

Accepted at Howard University

I attended a mid-sized, recently founded state school for undergrad, and was often very intimidated that my education wouldn't hold up compared to students who'd studied at top-ranked state schools or the Ivies.  What I've come to find is that at a mid or low rank school, the number of very good students is smaller than at very competitive schools - maybe 5% very good students to 50% very good students - but the caliber of work the very good students are capable of doesn't change that much from school to school.  I've had some competitive fellowships and internships now where I have worked alongside students educated at Ivies or at top public schools, and I've been capable of just as much as my coworkers/fellow students.  Don't be intimidated.  You were chosen for a reason.

I need to visit Texas one day. I've never met an unfriendly Texan nor an unhappy one. I need to drink some of that...water.

Does that mean a 7th color is coming soon for withdrawn apps?
 
I think there's hope! Most programs seem to admit 2-3x their incoming class in order to meet their target size. SLU says there are 64 grad students in their program. This equates to around 12-13 per cohort! Not everyone will accept their spot and someone in the first or second spot might reject for a different offer!

I posted this a year ago and recently rediscovered it:

Big News? You're alive.
-There are currently seven billion people alive today and the Population Reference Bureau estimates that about 107 billion people have ever lived.  -Having just a few coins makes you richer than most people on Earth.
-You are unique and nobody in the entire world is like you are
-The opportunity to attend school is something many people don’t have. (Which makes having a college degree even greater!)
-Most people lack a bed of their own to sleep in
-Many people on earth lack access to clean water.
-Cell phones make talking to loved ones easy.
-You can enjoy pizza. Or Ice Cream.
-There are people in your life who love you more than you could ever know -The Internet, n'uff said?   But in all seriousness, try not to compare yourself to others. We have a tendency to look at how great the lives of other people are going without realizing the stresses they're hiding. There may even be people looking at you and saying, isn't it great that Shaun or Rachel are taking chances to pursue what they want no matter the cost? They don't realize that you're refreshing your e-mail every minute waiting for news.
 

I posted this a year ago and recently rediscovered it:

Big News? You're alive.
-There are currently seven billion people alive today and the Population Reference Bureau estimates that about 107 billion people have ever lived.  -Having just a few coins makes you richer than most people on Earth.
-You are unique and nobody in the entire world is like you are
-The opportunity to attend school is something many people don’t have. (Which makes having a college degree even greater!)
-Most people lack a bed of their own to sleep in
-Many people on earth lack access to clean water.
-Cell phones make talking to loved ones easy.
-You can enjoy pizza. Or Ice Cream.
-There are people in your life who love you more than you could ever know -The Internet, n'uff said?   But in all seriousness, try not to compare yourself to others. We have a tendency to look at how great the lives of other people are going without realizing the stresses they're hiding. There may even be people looking at you and saying, isn't it great that Shaun or Rachel are taking chances to pursue what they want no matter the cost? They don't realize that you're refreshing your e-mail every minute waiting for news.
 

I posted this a year ago and recently rediscovered it:

Big News? You're alive.
-There are currently seven billion people alive today and the Population Reference Bureau estimates that about 107 billion people have ever lived.  -Having just a few coins makes you richer than most people on Earth.
-You are unique and nobody in the entire world is like you are
-The opportunity to attend school is something many people don’t have. (Which makes having a college degree even greater!)
-Most people lack a bed of their own to sleep in
-Many people on earth lack access to clean water.
-Cell phones make talking to loved ones easy.
-You can enjoy pizza. Or Ice Cream.
-There are people in your life who love you more than you could ever know -The Internet, n'uff said?   But in all seriousness, try not to compare yourself to others. We have a tendency to look at how great the lives of other people are going without realizing the stresses they're hiding. There may even be people looking at you and saying, isn't it great that Shaun or Rachel are taking chances to pursue what they want no matter the cost? They don't realize that you're refreshing your e-mail every minute waiting for news.
 

Just received an acceptance from Texas Christian University with a fellowship, very excited to potentially be back in my home state. 

I posted this a year ago and recently rediscovered it:

Big News? You're alive.
-There are currently seven billion people alive today and the Population Reference Bureau estimates that about 107 billion people have ever lived.  -Having just a few coins makes you richer than most people on Earth.
-You are unique and nobody in the entire world is like you are
-The opportunity to attend school is something many people don’t have. (Which makes having a college degree even greater!)
-Most people lack a bed of their own to sleep in
-Many people on earth lack access to clean water.
-Cell phones make talking to loved ones easy.
-You can enjoy pizza. Or Ice Cream.
-There are people in your life who love you more than you could ever know -The Internet, n'uff said?   But in all seriousness, try not to compare yourself to others. We have a tendency to look at how great the lives of other people are going without realizing the stresses they're hiding. There may even be people looking at you and saying, isn't it great that Shaun or Rachel are taking chances to pursue what they want no matter the cost? They don't realize that you're refreshing your e-mail every minute waiting for news.
 

I posted this a year ago and recently rediscovered it:

Big News? You're alive.
-There are currently seven billion people alive today and the Population Reference Bureau estimates that about 107 billion people have ever lived.  -Having just a few coins makes you richer than most people on Earth.
-You are unique and nobody in the entire world is like you are
-The opportunity to attend school is something many people don’t have. (Which makes having a college degree even greater!)
-Most people lack a bed of their own to sleep in
-Many people on earth lack access to clean water.
-Cell phones make talking to loved ones easy.
-You can enjoy pizza. Or Ice Cream.
-There are people in your life who love you more than you could ever know -The Internet, n'uff said?   But in all seriousness, try not to compare yourself to others. We have a tendency to look at how great the lives of other people are going without realizing the stresses they're hiding. There may even be people looking at you and saying, isn't it great that Shaun or Rachel are taking chances to pursue what they want no matter the cost? They don't realize that you're refreshing your e-mail every minute waiting for news.
 

I posted this a year ago and recently rediscovered it:

Big News? You're alive.
-There are currently seven billion people alive today and the Population Reference Bureau estimates that about 107 billion people have ever lived.  -Having just a few coins makes you richer than most people on Earth.
-You are unique and nobody in the entire world is like you are
-The opportunity to attend school is something many people don’t have. (Which makes having a college degree even greater!)
-Most people lack a bed of their own to sleep in
-Many people on earth lack access to clean water.
-Cell phones make talking to loved ones easy.
-You can enjoy pizza. Or Ice Cream.
-There are people in your life who love you more than you could ever know -The Internet, n'uff said?   But in all seriousness, try not to compare yourself to others. We have a tendency to look at how great the lives of other people are going without realizing the stresses they're hiding. There may even be people looking at you and saying, isn't it great that Shaun or Rachel are taking chances to pursue what they want no matter the cost? They don't realize that you're refreshing your e-mail every minute waiting for news.
 

Does that mean a 7th color is coming soon for withdrawn apps?
 
I think there's hope! Most programs seem to admit 2-3x their incoming class in order to meet their target size. SLU says there are 64 grad students in their program. This equates to around 12-13 per cohort! Not everyone will accept their spot and someone in the first or second spot might reject for a different offer!

Big News? You're alive.
-There are currently seven billion people alive today and the Population Reference Bureau estimates that about 107 billion people have ever lived. -Having just a few coins makes you richer than most people on Earth.
-The opportunity to attend school is something many people don’t have. (Which makes having a college degree even greater!)
-Most people lack a bed of their own to sleep in
-Many people on earth lack access to clean water.
-Cell phones make talking to loved ones easy. -The Internet, n'uff said?   But in all seriousness, try not to compare yourself to others. We have a tendency to look at how great the lives of other people are going without realizing the stresses they're hiding. There may even be people looking at you and saying, isn't it great that Shaun or Rachel is taking chances to pursue what they want no matter the cost? They don't realize that you're refreshing your e-mail every minute waiting for news.
 

Small note on BA-to-phd Applicants: Some programs *may* prefer to train candidates to their way of doing things. They might think it's easier to get them to learn how to do things under their style.
Small note on MA-to-phd Applicants: Some programs consider MA applicants to be more ready for the PHD since they have previous graduate work. They may consider them less likely to drop out.

Some programs are generous in the amount of coursework they allow you to "transfer" in for credit. Others accept little-to-no previous graduate coursework. Most programs do accept a mixture of MA and BA applicants into their phd program.
 
 

One of the topics that I frequently encounter is that some programs prefer applicants directly from the BA. A lot of websites don't give a directory of their graduate students. What schools prefer students directly from the BA? Is there a way to do more research into this?

If Penn is the best program fit for you, go to Penn. If there's another school with a better fit, go to it.
Besides fit, funding matters. Are you comfortable with the stipend they provide when compared to your current lifestyle?
Just as important: which schools could you see yourself devoting the next half-full decade at?

Hope it goes well! Good luck!

You have some great choices for Rhetoric/Tech Comm!

Don't forget that stipends aren't taxed Social Security/Medicare. Some programs tax federal/state beforehand; others rely on you to deal with paying taxes during tax season. Some cities may have 'city' taxes that you may be required to pay.

I just got a second chance to submit missing materials for what I thought was an implied rejection. Wish me Luck! 

Don't forget that stipends aren't taxed Social Security/Medicare. Some programs tax federal/state beforehand; others rely on you to deal with paying taxes during tax season. Some cities may have 'city' taxes that you may be required to pay.

Don't forget that stipends aren't taxed Social Security/Medicare. Some programs tax federal/state beforehand; others rely on you to deal with paying taxes during tax season. Some cities may have 'city' taxes that you may be required to pay.

Congrats
 
Also accepted at UConn!

Won a Graduate College Distinguished Fellowship from Illinois. 
 
I don't know what to do.

I can't speak with 100 percent confidence on Comp Lit, but the answer to this question for Rhetoric/Composition would be no. Syracuse, Michigan State, Illinois, Penn State, Arizona, Arizona State, Miami of Ohio, Penn State all have stronger Rhet/Comp programs than English Literature programs.