Green.Mango

so happy to hear from everyone in this thread where y'all are going! Congratulations 
i am going to miss this thread, what an intense last few months. Should we give advice to next year applicants as a goodbye to this thread? 
For me, I would say:
1. Don't underestimate yourself, unlike undergrad admissions in grad school they judge your interests, your personal statements, recommendations etc. When I first applied I was doubtful I would make the cut, but they look at your application as a whole, not just a test score or transcript.
2. Give professors plenty of time to write your recommendations.
3. Give your very best writing samples.
4. During visits, be confident and don't be afraid to ask questions to grad students and faculty.
5. Give yourself time, don't check your email twenty times a day during late January and February. The results will come.

@Carly Rae Jepsen that's a fantastic idea! For future applicants I would say: 
1. RESEARCH your programs. Do not listen to NRC rankings because French is too small and they don't make a whole lot of sense. Get a feel for humanities departments as a whole, and speak to your advisors about certain program fits -- they will know the field the best! Looking back, I applied to some programs where I had super weak fit, just because they were "good." Save your money, don't fall for it! 
2. On a whole, undergrad and grad school admissions are two completely separate beasts. One of the best pieces of advice I got from a professor is that grad school admissions are more like a job application than a college application. Think about the education, of course, but also think about the professional you will become. Think about the TAship opportunities and the academic/professor you want to be (or industry, if you're going into industry/translation/IR). 
3. ^ When you're picking schools, do not get opinions from non-academics, especially those who have no insight in your field. This sounds kind of snobby, but trust me; they will have a very undergraduate way of looking at it. 
4. This sounds so much easier said than done, but enjoy it! You are going to be putting yourself out there and asking for 5+ years of funding and knowledge (albeit accompanied by really hard work) in a field you love and have a passion for. Get excited! Keep the spark going as much as you can. The process is exhausting, but even in the event that grad school doesn't work out, you have so many options in the U.S., in France, in academia, in industry... I can't tell you how many people I met during this process that did TAPIF/had some really amazing jobs abroad/worked in think tanks, etc. Relish it! I
5. This is something I don't tell people much, but I had a sub-3.4 coming out of undergrad, and was certain I wouldn't get anywhere. I almost didn't apply this cycle because I felt so dumb, but I got 4 funded offers out of 7, including my dream program (where I am going :)). Strengthen as much of your application as you can, and NEVER sell yourself short. 
6. On a sadder note, rejection. It is more than likely going to happen, and you do not 100% know what other programs are looking for. They don't publish (a) exactly which researchers they're seeking, (b) if certain advisors are leaving or (c) if they have any funding issues, all of which are huge steps in the decision-making process on their end. If you don't get in, it is likely that one of these reasons is a catalyst, and you have no control over that. Don't take it too personally, and enjoy the options you have! I knew people who only ended up with 1 option, and it was a reciprocal appreciation that ended up being the best possible situation in the end. 
7. Once you get invited to visit days, ask questions, be confident and have fun! Meet the other people matriculating with you; even if they don't pick your school, they will be your camarades, and they will be indispensable networks (and friends) in the future!
8. Always remember that French is very special. It's small, intimate and a very strong community where everybody just about knows everybody. You may not realize this specialness just yet, but you will if you speak to bigger departments like English, History, or the sciences. People who study French love French, and being in that environment for 5+ years should be exciting. Although the market is rough, French is also one of the more stable job market prospects. Finally, you are also in one of the few fields that funds and encourages their students to frequently leave, travel, research in multiple countries and do fellowships/teach abroad. Wild! 
Of course, I'm not trying to sugar coat everything; naturally, this is a stressful process. If you are reading this for the 2019 app cycle, you may be having a nervous breakdown, and that's ok. Breathe. You know yourself, your French capacities, and your intelligence better than anybody else. Put it all on paper, and SELL yourself and your abilities to those programs. Hope for the best, and the universe will work out as it should. You will learn a lot of important truths about yourself through this cycle, so don't buy into sunk cost fallacies or negativities. No matter the outcome, the amount of work you put in will lead to great intrapersonal growth and reflection. Profitez!!!! 

@Frenchlady Here is my mega essay on how I ended up with my final decision! It was a super difficult decision, and I'm about to type a lot, but bear with me. ALSO, the things I found important may not be important to you. Everybody is different and everybody has different needs. I am single, female, and just turned 23 after a gap year; I would have different needs from somebody with a family, somebody with a boyfriend, someone who is 21, somebody fresh out of undergrad, or somebody who is 40. 
I'm lucky in that the schools I was accepted to all had pretty similar funding in the end (even though the cost of the bay area is gross, I'm trying to make it work!) So with that said, funding was pretty moot at the beginning, but is typically a large consideration for people. Always consider the cost of living where you are looking, as well. 20k will be ok in Bloomington, but scrape the barely survivable level at, say, Berkeley or CUNY. 
From me, personally, here was my ranking process:
1) Intellectual/Academic Fit: This was CRUCIAL. All of the programs had, no doubt, brilliant students and fantastic professors that I enjoyed talking to. But I paid a lot of attention to how fluid and energized my research topics were supported. If I felt myself having to really bend my interests, lose confidence in my pitch (cause nobody seemed too interested) or silently nod in unenthusiastic agreement (lol), then that was more of a red flag. I also plan to sway my research a little more towards modern postcolonial/banlieue studies. Berkeley had a fantastic foundation in what I already studied (feminism, philosophies, critical theory), but they also have people in Urban Studies and multiple people in MODERN Francophonie studies. I could have talked for days at Berkeley, and am still continuing conversations with professors that I had on visiting days a few weeks back. The classes excited me so much, and I cannot wait to start. Also, look at resources the university provides humanities grad students! Townsend was one of the big reasons I chose Cal. Are there reading groups? Working groups? Affiliate centers or minors/designated courses you can add to your CV and help you round out your dissertation? 
2 Tie) Personality: I am an extrovert. Cal was a school that I could tell had a pretty nice balance of extroverts, but it wasn't wild/messy. Just very energetic!! There's a lot of hugging, very casual dress, and a lot of exclamation points/smiley faces in emails (which I heard was characteristic of West Coast schools, haha). Some people might dislike this, and prefer a more traditional/conservative environment, and that's absolutely okay! I love discussing theory, and I could talk to the students about way "out there" ideas. Some people, especially in linguistics, prefer empiricism. I went through a really negative interaction in undergrad with a potential advising professor because our personalities were on totally different pages. I try to avoid that as much as possible. These people are your colleagues for years, you might as well like them. If you prefer to be more isolated or away from people, this may be less of a consideration and that may also be a factor when choosing. 
2 Tie) School Location: Grad students have a startling rate of depression. I'm very pro-therapy, pro-self care, and know what environments I thrive best in. It came down to the fact that I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder very badly, and I know this about myself (I almost dropped out of TAPIF because I was so miserable and depressed in the Parisian winter). For my health and wellness, I looked around at the surrounding communities and tried to see what was best for my self care and which environment had the most opportunities for my hobbies and side-activities. Grad school is going to be hectic and I don't expect to be hiking the wine country every weekend, but I did want an environment where I could go on long walks/walk to campus, unwind near water, and read outside -- all activities that make me happy and keep me sane. 
3) Time to completion/Length of Funding: I was told to steer clear of programs that get ya in and push you out within 4/5 years. When asking about applying to Post-Docs, I was told that students in for 6/7 years or even more tend to do better. You teach more classes and have a more concise dissertation. Given the state of academia, you will be on the market for a while, and being stranded without funding or a job is a nightmare. I would personally prefer longer financial aid packages, or a package that is renewable. Graduate school is a marathon, not a race! 
On prestige: When evaluating my offers, "prestige" of the program was closer to the bottom of my list. DO NOT LISTEN TO UNDERGRADUATE OPINIONS, and do not ask every Peter, Paul and Mary for their opinion. If you're concerned with prestige and reputation, ask advisors. The school I chose is a prestigious public school, but it was recommended to me as a great program with a great strength in my interests. In the realm of French Departmental prestige, there is no clear measure. The 2010 NRC rankings don't make any sense, in my opinion, and my advisors all told me to steer clear of it since it's rather outdated and ridiculously subjective. Therefore, I personally feel like prestige shouldn't be as important in French, since it's such a small and idiosyncratic field where every school has it's own ~flavor~. Certain departments may carry more prestige in a certain subfield, but it's hard to even standardize that measure. It's going to come down to the people you want to work with amongst all of the factors listed above. If anything, look into placement and retention. These things are definitely important considerations. 
Hope this wall of text somewhat helps!
If it comes down to it, widdle it down to two schools and flip a coin. You may find yourself wishing for a certain outcome  

I'm loving IU. The department is fantastic and top-notch and it was winter wonderland with all the snow when I arrived, lol. 
They offer a critical theory minor too which sounds amazing. 
Bloomington feels rather small, though. I think living a city where I could escape the academic bubble every other weekend would be ideal for me. But I still haven't made my decision.

Thanks for the advice and for the kind philosophical words about our French journeys. 
I hope we carry these interactions forward even after we've made our final decisions. It's nice to see final decisions being made. Best of luck everyone!

Good morning, everyone! Well, I did it. I declined 6/7 of my offers of admission. All of the offers were incredible, and there isn't one program that I wouldn't strongly recommend. However, Penn State was the best human, intellectual, and...locational? fit for both my wife and myself. Plus, this way, anyone on the waitlist at some of my other schools will hopefully get some good news!
@Carly Rae Jepsen I hope my rejection of Pitt's (really generous) offer will mean more funding for you. If you haven't already accepted WashU''s offer, I'd encourage you to look into Pitt a bit more. They have some really incredible faculty and students, and the grant possibilities are out of this world! My wife and I are just weird, and we prefer living in really quiet areas instead of cities.
 
 

Keep your head up!  WashU is a great great school and many would love to be in the situation you are in!  Getting an interview at freaking Stanford is an accomplishment in and of itself

@Carly Rae Jepsen bummer about Stanford, but you have such amazing options and I'm sure you could thrive in any environment! I'm so happy that this lightens the weight on your decision, though, especially if you felt wary about fit vs. environment. Best of luck with your visits!! I'm certain you will have a lovely time. 
@HomewardBound You hit the nail on the head. It gets exponentially harder when you meet these people, exchange numbers, look them in the eyes, smile, hug, have drinks, etc. and they're more than just photos on a website or signatures on a letter. Either way, as much as we are armoured for rejection, waiting and bad news while applying, they must feel the same as we make our decisions! 
I am, however, STOKED to see where we all end up and how this journey continues! No matter what, every program I've seen mentioned so far is awesome (there is no collective "best" or "perfect" program for every single person!) and I'm sure the Frenchie universe will take us all where we need to be  These things always work out for the best, even rejections, waitlists, or the treacherous unknown.
Just some advice, since I've already told two schools "no" in some form -- be prepared to say where you will be going, since they like to collect that information and both have asked me so far. I don't know just yet, I'm between Berkeley and Cornell (and am waiting for my Berkeley visit to finish on Monday), but I told them that I would be making a decision soon and would let them know! You're not obligated to apply, but try to be nice/civil and don't be taken aback if they ask you "why?" or "who?" That was the hardest part for me. They have to know so that they can offer another person a spot, so rip it off like a bandaid! 

Yup, that's the one! It was really interesting and that prof made an effort to summarise what they had done already so that we weren't as lost! There was one student from a the comp. lit background I think, which is why it was in English. 
@Frenchlady I don't think it'll be as bad as no spoken French for 5 years! But it'll definitely NOT be all French all the time. I'm hoping it's a healthy mix. But hey, you've made your choice! congratulations!

@Monsieur Vénus Ah, that's got to be a weird mix to follow... some students referring to the original text in French and some referring to its translation. But I guess that's what you get for being truly "interdisciplinary"  hehehe.
On a serious note, the small number of French PhD students can be an understandable reason to open the course up to others and it does help in getting multiple perspectives on the topic. I sat in on a grad level class at IU which was in English too. But from what I was told, the term papers and everything that the grad student needs to submit must be in French. I think that's how it'll be at most departments.

Good luck with the visit! Everyone is really nice there! Really! And yes, the department is really diverse and they're doing some interesting courses. 

Good luck with the visit! Everyone is really nice there! Really! And yes, the department is really diverse and they're doing some interesting courses. 

@Green.Mango thank you! Glad to know your visit to IU went well and you liked the department, it strikes me as a diverse department and I've heard Bloomington is a nice town. I'll be visiting next week and I'm excited.

@Carly Rae Jepsen and @meliboeus good to know your visits at Stanford went well. Hope you hear good news soon!
@Monsieur Vénus glad to hear that you had a good visit at UMich.  Did they tell you that all classes were in English? coz that's strange. Like the others have said, it's usually the cross-listed ones that are in English and others are in French.
@awhiterussian congrats on the funded masters at NYU! You have some amazing offers for a PhD as well right? Tough choices ahead. All the best!
I had a great visit at IU! It seems like a really good fit and they have a very good department and program. 
Got to know I'm kind of on a waitlist at Boston University, so will only know their final decision by the end of this month.  
And I finally heard back from NYU and it's a NO from them... a little disappointed because it was a really good fit and they were keen on my application.  
 
 

@Green.Mango I completely get where you're coming from about prospective job opportunities. All of the professors that I consider to be my mentors here at my undergrad have had conversations with me about the dismal nature of the current academic job market, but I just know that there's nothing I want to be doing more than teaching AND doing research. On a slightly more depressing note, I've also just noticed that growing up poor has given me an outlook on my future career (that is probably not healthy) where I just sort of say to myself, "As long as I'm not as poor as I was growing up, I'm happy!" So really for me it's all about the fact that I've loved being in academia thus far, so if I can find any way at all to stay in it, that's the direction I want to go.
Back to a lighter note: Enjoy your visit to IU! The weather here has taken a turn for the better, although it's started to get chilly again. If you have any down time and need recommendations on places to check out or eat at, let me know and I can share some of my favorites. 

Re-analysing application choices and why we didn't apply to so-and-so place vs why we chose to apply to certain places where the chances were next to impossible etc etc are thoughts that plague me (and I'm guessing a lot of us) all the time. But you have some solid reasoning to go ahead with a funded MA program and I wish you all the luck. 
I have been wondering about the dismal job market too. It seems like everyone wants to prepare prospective students about this, professors, current grad students, everyone. Which is a good thing in a way because one needs to be realistic about this. But the funny part is that despite this impending doom of no jobs and the constant pressure of building a successful life in academia, why is it that most of us still choose to get into the PhD? It's like we know what's coming for us but we live with the hope that it'll all work out. 
Apologies for this random post. I've been in a reflective mood the past few weeks I guess. 
On other news, I'm still waiting to hear from NYU. Wondering if I should email someone at the department.
Got rejects from most other places. I'll be visiting IU next week so I'm excited and nervous about that. 
Congrats on UVA, Northwestern, CUNY, Maryland you guys! 
And for the rest who are waiting to hear something, hang in there and best of luck! Fingers crossed for good news!

Just got a letter from the DGS at CUNY for an acceptance!  On a Sunday!!  They had been writing emails for weeks saying how they were interested in my candidacy.  So nice to finally get an acceptance!

Just received an offer of admission to the University of Connecticut! Although I'm only now realizing that the funding situation there seems far less than ideal... It seems that funding decisions are only made after a student has enrolled, which seems very strange?
I am very excited for my visit to University of Michigan, however. Everything I've seen from them so far has far exceeded my hopes for a graduate program, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the campus and meeting the faculty. I should probably scrape together a little money to buy new pants so I don't show up in jeans, though...haha

And I'm out of Stanford -- Bummer, but fit wasn't amazing, and I'm glad to have all my results! 
@awhiterussian wait on NYU because they have a silent waitlist after visiting days and a lot of people seem to get admitted afterwards! 

This is probably the best French grad application forum in the history of French grad application forums. You all rock. : D

moi je voulais dire la même chose... Bonne chance à tou.te.s cette semaine, et mes meilleures pensées !

Le silence de la semaine dernière a bien été bien assourdissant!  Meilleurs vœux à tout le monde pour une semaine remplie de bonnes réponses!

Status has changed on Rutgers profile, and I was able to accept the offer of admission!

@Saltshaker hang in there!!

Just got an email informing me that Boston University has recommended for admission with 5 years of funding! Finally more good news!