LouPlease

Though I compulsively study the results board like John Forbes Nash Jr, I'm having trouble coming to a definitive timeline for waitlist results. Some schools seem to send them out with acceptances, some much later, and still others don't have any (at least on gradcafe). Anyone have that inside info on this? Do most schools have wait lists? Does a pending status always spell d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r?? Thoughts appreciated, Dramatic in Los Angeles

It's so funny you comment on the location being a negative because I'm quite relieved to learn it's just below Midtown! I thought CUNY was right near Harlem. Yes, Midtown is dreadful, but at least the location makes it possible to commute from Brooklyn. The F train was my jam when I lived there and it goes to 34th street which is just a couple blocks from the Grad Center. And let's not forget the blessed Q train which is so speedy!! This is all just to say that personal preference changes everything (not that you opined otherwise JessicaLange). And I appreciate your input on this.

I've actually emailed CUNY about the deadline before and received a vague Jan 1st response. I assume it's by end of day, but remember that's east coast time. If you're a west coaster make sure you have it in before 9pm. If it were me I'd forgo buying a new charger and just lurk at a coffee shop till I saw someone with my charger. Or do the same thing at the airport! Good luck!

And I used "crises" instead of "crisis" on the first damn page of my writing sample. ?

Got it. Do you currently have a Masters? University of Washington requires you to have a Masters before you can apply to the PhD program. If you don't already have one, they may have put you in the MA applicant pool as a result. This is from their website: A Master's degree in the discipline is required. Applicants without a Master's degree must apply to the M.A. program first and indicate the Ph.D. as their final degree goal. Because our M.A./Ph.D. program is fully integrated, students entering at the M.A. level can progress internally and non-competitively to the Ph.D. program given satisfactory academic progress.

Also- heyyyy to having the middle name Louise

Are you talking about the top right corner of the application that says: Applying To: English Language and Literature (PhD) Fall 2017 Deadline: December 15 Type: Graduate/Domestic Yours says (Masters) not (PhD)? Or is there a different portal you're looking at?

It is not abnormal to take time off before applying for a Ph.D. I am 7 years from my BA, 4 from my MA, and have also been working on and off as an adjunct. Youve remained involved in academia, too, which is consistent. Honestly I think it shows maturity and that you have thought through your choice. My age and the time I took off are at the bottom of my list of application concerns. It's so easy to convince yourself that you're a terrible applicant. I think we do it to mitigate our hopes, so that if we don't get in we can say, oh well I'm not surprised (as if that makes it hurt less). But its always better to put positive thoughts out there, even if it means disappointment. So fret not and be proud of yourself!

I'm reviewing my U of Chicago app and am stuck on this question: "Please give the names and professional affiliations of individuals most responsible for your decision to apply to the University of Chicago." Is this question is referring to POIs?

Ay yi yi. I'm so sorry, that is stressful. Can you maybe solicit a letter from someone else just in case? Even if it's from an employer or coworker that would be better than nothing, right? They could speak to your character and work ethic.

Fellow Applicants, How are you handling citations in your SOP? I lead into each of my two references with the title and author but am wondering if I need to go further... Also, I've heard mixed opinions on using any sources whatsoever in your proposed research section, but that seems absurd to me. I would think you'd want to situate your thoughts in the ongoing academic conversation. Apologies if this is addressed elsewhere but I couldn't find a thread on it and Google has been horrendously unhelpful.

Although the specific time can vary, a Dec. 6th deadline means the apps are due on the 6th, not the day before. For example, one of my apps was due by 5pm EST on the deadline date, while another was 11:59pm. To be safe I'd try and have everything in by 5pm according to the school's time zone. Also- not a stupid question Nothing like unadulterated panic to make you second guess everything!

I added mine a couple weeks ago and just had my last recommender successfully submit theirs yesterday. I'd say try again at a different time of day when less people are on.

I think a 600 is pretty darn good, personally. If it makes you feel any better, I did worse and am applying to both of those schools! I thought about addressing my low score in the statement but decided that would just draw attention to it. Also Duke does not require the subject test. Also, also there's nothing you can do about it now so don't sweat it! *I'm in full, "it's in the universe's hands" mode*

I've only seen that question on 1 or 2 applications. On NYU's application it follows up with this question: "If yes, please include a description of the work (title, where the work was done, name of supervisor, date and title of any publication, patents, etc.)". I took this to mean they only want to know about research positions you have held, not works you have published. There are not any sections on NYU's application to list publications so I assume they go on the CV. I know (maddeningly) every application is different but that's my take on it.

Congrats to everyone who already submitted their applications!! I remain in the last minute camp. On the topic of Writing Samples... what kind of format did you guys go with for the first page? I've edited a seminar paper and it seems odd to leave the course and instructor but is it also odd to format it like an article submission?

Thank you for your thoughtful response! This application process has me confusing up from down so I think i just needed someone to confirm what I already know.

I found this forum after being abused by the GRE Literature test this past weekend. Wow am I late to the party. I spent the last two months obsessively studying for the subject test only to find that nothing I studied was on the test! Yay! Dear future test takers, without violating my solemn oath to ETS to not help other people in a meaningful way, let me just instruct you to pry your ossified hands away from the Princeton Review book and focus on reading comprehension. Pick the densest, most horrible passages and poems and work on reading and analyzing them quickly. After not even getting to 50 questions (did anybody else have this problem??), I'm panicking about other other aspect of my application. Can someone please tell me I don't need to retake the General GRE? I got a 170 verbal but my baffling 4 on the the analytical writing has me drowning in self-doubt. Sincerely, desperately seeking consolation