VampireLincoln

No, Wisconsin didn't offer any funding (not even any tuition remission!). I will be exploring other possibilities over the next year...I may reapply in the fall, but it's not really looking that way now. I think if I can find a job that I don't totally loathe, I'll be OK not doing grad school right now. Maybe later in life.

Well, I hate to be a downer, but looks like there's no miracles for me this year... Just got the email that Chicago has filled its cohort and I'm not in it. Although I can't complain too much, because - hey - I actually made it onto the U Chicago wait list. I practically consider that a win in itself!

WIN. I've gotten really into reading fake history books lately. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was surprisingly good (I was disappointed by Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, so wasn't expecting much). If anybody hasn't yet read it, World War Z by Max Brooks is REALLY well-written.

Congrats!!! That is seriously AWESOME dude.

Indeed! I am currently on book 3 of Stephen King's Dark Tower series. Of course, I may also not be going to grad school in the fall, so there you are.

Aww, thanks! Honestly, I've made my peace with the whole situation. If I don't get in, it won't crush me or anything. Working a real job for a year and having actual income and free time has actually been pretty cool, so I'm OK with continuing that. I just want to know what's going on so I can rent an apartment for next year! And look for jobs and stuff.

I just emailed him today to check in, and he seemed to indicate that he'd let us know for sure on April 15. He also seemed to indicate that it was NOT likely that I'd be getting in. Bummer.

Hip Hip Hooray!! I can't speak (uhh....type?) for ticklemepink, but they wouldn't give me anything concrete. I think they told me I was "high enough that there was a possibility of a spot." Or something like that.

I had the same experience! I got the acceptance from Wisconsin in, like, late January, and it totally lulled me into a false sense of security. Then I got denied a bunch of places. But the financial situation there is so terrible that I did, in fact, basically make the decision to *not* go to grad school instead of (most likely) paying to go there. Unless a whole bunch of Americanists turn down offers at Chicago and Indiana, that is.

Not that it's really worth anything to anybody waiting for wait-list news, but I did send my email declining Wisconsin today. I was sad to do it, but it had to be done.

AMEN!!

I think the intent was more toward people who had *already* made their decision, not to people who are still going over their offers. Just to notify the places you *know* you won't be attending. Of course we wait-listers don't want to rush anyone's decision process!

Seriously, priceline is awesome. As long as you don't have to stay in a *particular* hotel, you can get the craziest deals. I've gotten 3 1/2 star hotels in Chicago (multiple times) right downtown - North Michigan Avenue and the Theatre District - for under $100 per night uncluding taxes and fees and stuff. IT is really good for big cities, or places where there are a lot of hotels to fill. Trust me, we're on a really tight budget, too (my husband is a student right now, and I work for beans).

I don't want to sound like an advertisement, but we used priceline and got a crazy good deal (the name your own price thing). We put in 3 1/2 or 4 start hotel Downtown at $45 before tax and got the Sheraton! I think it's under $60 (including tax and fees) for Saturday night (we've got to leave Sunday to get back for class/work).

Can I just tell you guys who are already accepting offers that I absolutely love you? A whole lot? The wait-listers of the world thank you.

Yes, just because I have no other real offers right now. I didn't get a fellowship, but maybe there are still other options...might as well hold out hope while I wait to see about my wait lists! I'm going to the recruitment event this weekend (though to be fair, I live in Illinois, so it's not a huge investment of time or gas money). I don't really know what to expect from recruitment weekend...anybody have any advice? I don't know what to *wear*!!

I'm right there with you! It's really scary for me (and my husband!) to not know where we're going to be living next fall, and if I'll even be in school. It's really awful!

Dude, that is crazy terrible. I can't believe someone would do that! Did the school you applied to forward this information, or did you ask?

Haha, I am now totally mortified...I emailed Indiana to see if there was a good weekend to visit, and apparently they are of the opinion that it would be "soul crushing" too. First my advisor told me he was going to be out of town most weekends in spring (maybe I should've taken the hint?) and then the DGS told me they don't like to "encourage" students who haven't been admitted to visit. Looks like I may be moving down the wait list, haha.

I've heard back from all the places I applied...but since I was pretty much just wait listed (I'm still not counting Wisconsin, but I, too, will be going to the Recruitment Weekend!), I still have a few weeks to wait before I find out where I'm going (if I'm going anywhere). So those of you that have made decisions, notify notify notify!! I was thinking I might visit the places I've been wait listed, just in case I *do* get accepted and have to make a super quick decision. But somehow doing that feels presumptuous... and also I don't want to get my hopes up. Any suggestions?

Yeah, somewhere around there. Are you from that area? PM me, I bet we know some of the same people!

Haha, I have heard that. But still, I grew up about an hour south of Chicago, and it's pretty much loomed as an awesome, shiny (OK, not literally shiny) tower of academia. They idea that they'd actually let me in there is pretty ludicrous to me.

Did anybody else get wait listed at Chicago? At first I was flattered, but didn't really expect to get in. But the official wait list letter was just so nice ("In a normal year, I would be offering you admission and financial aid at this time. Due to the economic realities of the current year, however, we must place you on a short wait list.") So now, I'm starting to actually hold out hope, which is probably a bad idea. Is there anybody else who is in the same boat?

I can't believe no one has mentioned Two/Three Buck Chuck. It's pretty much the Holy Grail of cheap wines!

Oh yeah, I'm sure there's a list. I just meant that they probably won't send out a mass email to us saying they're not going to fund us. They're probably just notifying those who are funded. Even more so when all that's the case *and* it's your only acceptance!