WildeThing

I would assume that acceptances went out first, especially since someone posted about a friend getting accepted.

Considering the amount of Waitlisted people on the board, I’d say yes.

More work is true, but that’s also true of abolishing fees. Perhaps it’s work that is worth doing. Similarly, more people might apply, but if they actually get in, doesn’t that mean that the system is flawed if readers can’t tell who is actually committed and who isn’t? I feel more for the person who winds up giving up on the dream because they didn’t know about X program or thought they would never get it and missed out.

What is your area? Trying to confirm the hypothesis that medievalists and early modernists are the ones that get interviewed there. Do you know who is interviewing you?

I would do anything to meet Rankine, even if it meant getting accepted for a PhD to have the chance.

I agree, but there’s no reason why committees can’t figure that out from a standard SoP than from one tailored to them. Instead of an SoP you could have sections to write about (what are your plans, why do you want to study a phd, what theories have influenced you, teaching experience, etc.).

Here me out. Forget about applying to schools. Imagine everything was centralized. All English departments were in one database. You upload all your stuff and list maybe some places you’d like to go. Departments then go through everyone and choose who they want to send offers to. Not considering any medievalists this year? Filter them out of the pool. This way, we’re not wasting time applying to schools that won’t consider us for hidden reasons, and maybe you fit at a school that you didn’t think to apply to. Is it too much work for committees? I dunno, they can figure it out.

HAve them due for Friday.

Got the CUNY one as well. Kind of cruel.

My understanding is that the medieval camp interviews (perhaps some others) but not at all specializations. While being interviewed is probably a good sign that you’re being considered, it doesn’t seem to be a prerequisite like Emory or Chicago.

I definitely prefer to use IRs so that I don't basically go through rejections twice.

Anyone else waiting on Boston College? Expected to hear back by now and dunno if nothing is because there have been no news or because it's such a small cohort that no one accepted is on here.

Last year UCLA switched systems midway through the cycle and extended the deadline as a result so everything took longer.

I have Boston College, Vanderbilt, Maryland, and Northwestern down for responses this week (also Chicago but having not received an interview request I am taking that one as a loss). I really hope this will be a good week since the following week i only had Rice, who have already notified apparently. The two weeks after that should be the major ones, as all but 1 of the remaining schools should be notifying acceptances over that period.

To be fair, GradCafe isn't exactly the place to be reassured. It's the place we come to get any information on the programs. For most of us, much of that information is going to be disheartening. Ultimately, information is information and will be useful to some, reassuring others and unnerving for the rest. Any information any of us shares after applications have been submitted can be dangerous in this way (for instance, Warelin has made the opposite argument multiple times: that Chicago seems to only accept people from the interview list). I think we just have to hope for the best and power through. And as someone said, if this is true, this information can be helpful to someone being interviewed. For those of us with no news, this is but a green light across the bay with no real significance (and going the other way, the comment could be construed as disheartening for this camp because it gives false hope). Most of us with no news will be rejected, maybe some won't. But I don't want anyone to be discouraged any information because next cycle there will be others like us panicking over Chicago and it could help them.

I have January 30th. Could be sooner or later, but it was based on the results page.

This is apparently something that happens at Columbia, where they split into specialties and some specialty committees interview and others don't. From my understanding, though, Chicago is not one of those places.

I have noted on my calendar the day on which I think admissions decisions will arrive (for those accepted and/or interviewed). So far, Emory and UW have notified on the day or even a day or two before. Chicago did so a week early. I have Vanderbilt down for exactly one week from now. I guess we'll see.

Congrats! Are you planning on doing the Afro-American Bridge program?

Several of us have not received this email.

First implied rejection for me as Emory interviews are officially on the board. Oh well, 17 to go.

Congrats! So it has begun!

Emory should be sending interviews any day now. That's great.

Gotta love how the thread has become so active as we are officially in decision season.

My gut reaction is that the "list" is people with/without missing documents, rather than anything decision-related.