Kilos

Congratulations, @Kilos! The funding situation may be less than ideal, but an acceptance is an acceptance...and Carnegie Mellon is one of the best in the country for rhet-comp.

I know the prevailing advice around here is to not pay for grad school (and I think that's generally great advice), but if the cost is mitigated a great deal by scholarship and RA money, it still might be a reasonable option if you plan on moving forward with the Ph.D. in the future. I suspect that a rhet-comp MA from Carnegie Mellon could help your chances in the next cycle.

All of that being said, it's still early, so it may be a mood point in the face of other Ph.D. acceptances very soon. Either way, congrats again on this positive result!

Got a phone call from one of my academic/professional heroes Saturday afternoon; she was letting me know that Carnegie Mellon was excited to offer me a spot in their Rhetoric M.A. program. I'd applied for the Ph.D., but she very kindly explained that they only take 2-3 people into their Ph.D. program per year, and that those admitted almost always have graduate degrees (typically from CMU's own M.A. program). I knew this was the case before I applied, but the huge difference is that the Ph.D. program comes with a full tuition waiver. We had a really nice conversation (almost half an hour) and she got me really excited about an amazing program that I know I ultimately can't afford.
If anybody's curious, I think CMU's tuition is around 42k a year. They offered me a very significant scholarship and an RA-ship, but it would still leave me on the hook for a chunk of money (over 10 grand). Before I'd even started this application process I promised myself that I wouldn't pay for graduate school; if I can get a full-ride I'll take it, but I'm not paying for relocation, housing, tuition, etc. I told her I'd be considering it (which I genuinely will, as it's just about my top choice); she told me that another POI would be calling me this week, and that they'd be in touch with further info and an official offer letter, and that was that!

Got a phone call from one of my academic/professional heroes Saturday afternoon; she was letting me know that Carnegie Mellon was excited to offer me a spot in their Rhetoric M.A. program. I'd applied for the Ph.D., but she very kindly explained that they only take 2-3 people into their Ph.D. program per year, and that those admitted almost always have graduate degrees (typically from CMU's own M.A. program). I knew this was the case before I applied, but the huge difference is that the Ph.D. program comes with a full tuition waiver. We had a really nice conversation (almost half an hour) and she got me really excited about an amazing program that I know I ultimately can't afford.
If anybody's curious, I think CMU's tuition is around 42k a year. They offered me a very significant scholarship and an RA-ship, but it would still leave me on the hook for a chunk of money (over 10 grand). Before I'd even started this application process I promised myself that I wouldn't pay for graduate school; if I can get a full-ride I'll take it, but I'm not paying for relocation, housing, tuition, etc. I told her I'd be considering it (which I genuinely will, as it's just about my top choice); she told me that another POI would be calling me this week, and that they'd be in touch with further info and an official offer letter, and that was that!

Got a phone call from one of my academic/professional heroes Saturday afternoon; she was letting me know that Carnegie Mellon was excited to offer me a spot in their Rhetoric M.A. program. I'd applied for the Ph.D., but she very kindly explained that they only take 2-3 people into their Ph.D. program per year, and that those admitted almost always have graduate degrees (typically from CMU's own M.A. program). I knew this was the case before I applied, but the huge difference is that the Ph.D. program comes with a full tuition waiver. We had a really nice conversation (almost half an hour) and she got me really excited about an amazing program that I know I ultimately can't afford.
If anybody's curious, I think CMU's tuition is around 42k a year. They offered me a very significant scholarship and an RA-ship, but it would still leave me on the hook for a chunk of money (over 10 grand). Before I'd even started this application process I promised myself that I wouldn't pay for graduate school; if I can get a full-ride I'll take it, but I'm not paying for relocation, housing, tuition, etc. I told her I'd be considering it (which I genuinely will, as it's just about my top choice); she told me that another POI would be calling me this week, and that they'd be in touch with further info and an official offer letter, and that was that!

Got a phone call from one of my academic/professional heroes Saturday afternoon; she was letting me know that Carnegie Mellon was excited to offer me a spot in their Rhetoric M.A. program. I'd applied for the Ph.D., but she very kindly explained that they only take 2-3 people into their Ph.D. program per year, and that those admitted almost always have graduate degrees (typically from CMU's own M.A. program). I knew this was the case before I applied, but the huge difference is that the Ph.D. program comes with a full tuition waiver. We had a really nice conversation (almost half an hour) and she got me really excited about an amazing program that I know I ultimately can't afford.
If anybody's curious, I think CMU's tuition is around 42k a year. They offered me a very significant scholarship and an RA-ship, but it would still leave me on the hook for a chunk of money (over 10 grand). Before I'd even started this application process I promised myself that I wouldn't pay for graduate school; if I can get a full-ride I'll take it, but I'm not paying for relocation, housing, tuition, etc. I told her I'd be considering it (which I genuinely will, as it's just about my top choice); she told me that another POI would be calling me this week, and that they'd be in touch with further info and an official offer letter, and that was that!

Not me. Not a peep from HGSE. 

Same, not a peep.
I was really bummed last week, but I knew from the start that I didn't really have a chance.
I'll wait for the official rejection to put the bow on it, but I'm considering this application closed.

I just got accepted to USF's HESA program! That was so fast!

Great thread and reminder!
A major precipitating factor in people experiencing overwhelming (debilitating) anxiety is the feeling that they're losing control, having some kind of mental break, or losing their sanity. It's important for people to understand that these kinds of feelings of inadequacy or being an "impostor" are normal, common, widespread, and likely a psychological byproduct of the intense stress of academia coupled with the weight of future unknowns. I think these troublesome scenarios are compounded and intensified by the fact that graduate application cycles typically come about at pivotal moments in students' lives, when many are feeling especially vulnerable about their futures. I also believe that it's incredibly taxing to concisely compile the entirety of your life's achievements into a small stack of documents only to then mail them off into an opaque void where groups of strangers judge you and decide your future. It's an incredibly humbling (potentially devastating) thing to pour your being out for somebody to rubber-stamp "accept" or "reject." It's rough. Never forget that it's rough for everyone. Just take to heart that you're not alone, you're not nuts, you're not losing it; we're all going through it to varying degrees, and if you weren't feeling a bit volatile that would be the real cause for concern.
Keep your chin up!

Love the sentiment!
The only thing any of us here can really do is to make sure you know you're not alone in your anxiety. About six months ago, when i'd finalized my list of prospective schools, I was feeling exhilarated and invincible. I was ready to knock out the applications and sit back and reap the rewards of a decade of hard work. Somewhere along the way--whether it was the GRE, or the essays, or the application fees, or the intensely competitive nature of this very opaque process--I lost that indomitable spirit. I know some people have it worse, as I don't think I'm to the point where I'm obsessing or rethinking everything like you are, but it's really all I can think about. I think my wife's going to strangle me if I bring up one more "what if" hypothetical.
Here's what helps me: Understand that everything is now 100% out of your hands. Life is full of mistakes, and if you made some, so be it. You've done what you needed to do; you completed your end of the deal, trudging through the arduous process of submitting the applications. The entirety of the outcome is out of your hands. Relax and try to move on. You'll get the notifications one way or another, positive or negative, and you'll be just fine win or lose. If you get into one of your schools, fantastic! If you don't, you'll have learned valuable lessons and gained experience that you could not have found anywhere else; you can use that experience to make sure you get in somewhere next cycle.
All the best to you--just try to get back to life until you get some feedback!

Well, excited about the possibility of a positive outcome I guess. Lol. I'm still sad about the all-but-rejection from Vandy, but I'm choosing to be optimistic! That's the only way I'll get through this week. 

Ahhh! My pessimism is at record levels. Hard to be excited when you're certain you'll be rejected. I'm excited for the possibility of a positive outcome, I suppose!

Great thread and reminder!
A major precipitating factor in people experiencing overwhelming (debilitating) anxiety is the feeling that they're losing control, having some kind of mental break, or losing their sanity. It's important for people to understand that these kinds of feelings of inadequacy or being an "impostor" are normal, common, widespread, and likely a psychological byproduct of the intense stress of academia coupled with the weight of future unknowns. I think these troublesome scenarios are compounded and intensified by the fact that graduate application cycles typically come about at pivotal moments in students' lives, when many are feeling especially vulnerable about their futures. I also believe that it's incredibly taxing to concisely compile the entirety of your life's achievements into a small stack of documents only to then mail them off into an opaque void where groups of strangers judge you and decide your future. It's an incredibly humbling (potentially devastating) thing to pour your being out for somebody to rubber-stamp "accept" or "reject." It's rough. Never forget that it's rough for everyone. Just take to heart that you're not alone, you're not nuts, you're not losing it; we're all going through it to varying degrees, and if you weren't feeling a bit volatile that would be the real cause for concern.
Keep your chin up!

@jmaroon and @Espeon: *earmuffs*

This is great, thanks! I'm gonna have a craaazy February. ha. ha.... ha... somebody kill me?

Great thread and reminder!
A major precipitating factor in people experiencing overwhelming (debilitating) anxiety is the feeling that they're losing control, having some kind of mental break, or losing their sanity. It's important for people to understand that these kinds of feelings of inadequacy or being an "impostor" are normal, common, widespread, and likely a psychological byproduct of the intense stress of academia coupled with the weight of future unknowns. I think these troublesome scenarios are compounded and intensified by the fact that graduate application cycles typically come about at pivotal moments in students' lives, when many are feeling especially vulnerable about their futures. I also believe that it's incredibly taxing to concisely compile the entirety of your life's achievements into a small stack of documents only to then mail them off into an opaque void where groups of strangers judge you and decide your future. It's an incredibly humbling (potentially devastating) thing to pour your being out for somebody to rubber-stamp "accept" or "reject." It's rough. Never forget that it's rough for everyone. Just take to heart that you're not alone, you're not nuts, you're not losing it; we're all going through it to varying degrees, and if you weren't feeling a bit volatile that would be the real cause for concern.
Keep your chin up!

Great thread and reminder!
A major precipitating factor in people experiencing overwhelming (debilitating) anxiety is the feeling that they're losing control, having some kind of mental break, or losing their sanity. It's important for people to understand that these kinds of feelings of inadequacy or being an "impostor" are normal, common, widespread, and likely a psychological byproduct of the intense stress of academia coupled with the weight of future unknowns. I think these troublesome scenarios are compounded and intensified by the fact that graduate application cycles typically come about at pivotal moments in students' lives, when many are feeling especially vulnerable about their futures. I also believe that it's incredibly taxing to concisely compile the entirety of your life's achievements into a small stack of documents only to then mail them off into an opaque void where groups of strangers judge you and decide your future. It's an incredibly humbling (potentially devastating) thing to pour your being out for somebody to rubber-stamp "accept" or "reject." It's rough. Never forget that it's rough for everyone. Just take to heart that you're not alone, you're not nuts, you're not losing it; we're all going through it to varying degrees, and if you weren't feeling a bit volatile that would be the real cause for concern.
Keep your chin up!

It's normal! Worrying about it only adds to the stress, perpetuating the cycle.
I'm actually doing the exact same thing. One day I'll feel like there's no way I can get rejected, the very next morning I feel like I'm an idiot for even trying or wasting the money on applications. Based on what I've seen and heard from others (during undergrad, in the workplace, and here on these forums) countless others feel the same way. Our shared experiences seem a bit too similar to be coincidence; I'm assuming this kind of cyclical self-doubt is probably a psychological byproduct of laying your entire life's achievement out in the open for groups of strangers to judge. It's an incredibly humbling (potentially devastating) thing to pour your being out for somebody to rubber-stamp "accept" or "reject." It's rough. Just take to heart that you're not alone, you're not nuts, you're not losing it; we're all going through it to varying degrees, and if you weren't feeling a bit volatile I'd be more worried. 
p.s. Seeing a shrink is never a bad thing if you can somehow afford it. There's a stigma associated with therapy that I'll never understand; in my experience there are few things more valuable than a good critical listener who's trained to help you understand misaligned thought processes. I wish I had the time and resources to sit down and talk to somebody once in a while!

Love the sentiment!
The only thing any of us here can really do is to make sure you know you're not alone in your anxiety. About six months ago, when i'd finalized my list of prospective schools, I was feeling exhilarated and invincible. I was ready to knock out the applications and sit back and reap the rewards of a decade of hard work. Somewhere along the way--whether it was the GRE, or the essays, or the application fees, or the intensely competitive nature of this very opaque process--I lost that indomitable spirit. I know some people have it worse, as I don't think I'm to the point where I'm obsessing or rethinking everything like you are, but it's really all I can think about. I think my wife's going to strangle me if I bring up one more "what if" hypothetical.
Here's what helps me: Understand that everything is now 100% out of your hands. Life is full of mistakes, and if you made some, so be it. You've done what you needed to do; you completed your end of the deal, trudging through the arduous process of submitting the applications. The entirety of the outcome is out of your hands. Relax and try to move on. You'll get the notifications one way or another, positive or negative, and you'll be just fine win or lose. If you get into one of your schools, fantastic! If you don't, you'll have learned valuable lessons and gained experience that you could not have found anywhere else; you can use that experience to make sure you get in somewhere next cycle.
All the best to you--just try to get back to life until you get some feedback!

Love the sentiment!
The only thing any of us here can really do is to make sure you know you're not alone in your anxiety. About six months ago, when i'd finalized my list of prospective schools, I was feeling exhilarated and invincible. I was ready to knock out the applications and sit back and reap the rewards of a decade of hard work. Somewhere along the way--whether it was the GRE, or the essays, or the application fees, or the intensely competitive nature of this very opaque process--I lost that indomitable spirit. I know some people have it worse, as I don't think I'm to the point where I'm obsessing or rethinking everything like you are, but it's really all I can think about. I think my wife's going to strangle me if I bring up one more "what if" hypothetical.
Here's what helps me: Understand that everything is now 100% out of your hands. Life is full of mistakes, and if you made some, so be it. You've done what you needed to do; you completed your end of the deal, trudging through the arduous process of submitting the applications. The entirety of the outcome is out of your hands. Relax and try to move on. You'll get the notifications one way or another, positive or negative, and you'll be just fine win or lose. If you get into one of your schools, fantastic! If you don't, you'll have learned valuable lessons and gained experience that you could not have found anywhere else; you can use that experience to make sure you get in somewhere next cycle.
All the best to you--just try to get back to life until you get some feedback!

Love the sentiment!
The only thing any of us here can really do is to make sure you know you're not alone in your anxiety. About six months ago, when i'd finalized my list of prospective schools, I was feeling exhilarated and invincible. I was ready to knock out the applications and sit back and reap the rewards of a decade of hard work. Somewhere along the way--whether it was the GRE, or the essays, or the application fees, or the intensely competitive nature of this very opaque process--I lost that indomitable spirit. I know some people have it worse, as I don't think I'm to the point where I'm obsessing or rethinking everything like you are, but it's really all I can think about. I think my wife's going to strangle me if I bring up one more "what if" hypothetical.
Here's what helps me: Understand that everything is now 100% out of your hands. Life is full of mistakes, and if you made some, so be it. You've done what you needed to do; you completed your end of the deal, trudging through the arduous process of submitting the applications. The entirety of the outcome is out of your hands. Relax and try to move on. You'll get the notifications one way or another, positive or negative, and you'll be just fine win or lose. If you get into one of your schools, fantastic! If you don't, you'll have learned valuable lessons and gained experience that you could not have found anywhere else; you can use that experience to make sure you get in somewhere next cycle.
All the best to you--just try to get back to life until you get some feedback!

I can completely relate; that's exactly how I feel. 
I'm sure you don't want my life story, but I'm a nontraditional student wrapping up my undergrad at a different school after a long (9 year) hiatus. I resumed my undergrad with the express understanding that the end goal would be a Ph.D. in my field. My first instinct was to cast the widest net possible, and my initial scratch-paper list was nearly twenty schools long. It didn't take more than a week or two to cut that down to twelve, and then eventually to eight, and ultimately five. I guess what I'm getting at (in my rambly, roundabout sort of way) is that it doesn't matter that my goal has always been graduate school--if I'm not over-the-moon excited to pack up all of my stuff, sell my house, thoroughly befuddle/disorient my cat, and move somewhere for 5-6 years, it's probably not going to work out. As you put it, I don't want to just go to school SOMEWHERE, I want to get an education so perfectly aligned with my goals and interests that I'll never look back and think "what if..." 
Frankly, if that means I'm not good enough to get into those perfect programs, then so be it. I poured a lifetime of hard work, high marks, and passion into those five apps, and at the end of the day that's all I can do.
(still, ditto on the panic tho. brb hyperventilating into a paper bag.)

I have become a shadow of myself. All I do is fret, obsess and rethink every word on my applications. GAH, I hate myself this way.
My dear husband sent me a message earlier I'd like to share:
"If you have the courage to make it through a lonely night with nothing but your self destructive thoughts to keep you company, 
darling, you have the courage to make it through anything"
 
Hope everyone is doing better than me at this point.

Awesome @Espeon! That sounds very promising.
I only applied to five schools, and four of them won't be sending out admissions until March-ish. My top choice (an education program) typically contacts potential admits for interviews around January 20th. I'm not really expecting any contact until then, and even then I'm not expecting anything (i.e. trying to be pragmatic) because it's an insanely competitive program. 
I'll be checking this thread constantly, though, because I love hearing about people getting interviews/admits.
The one thing (above all else) that really gets me about this whole graduate school thing is the near-mystical aura around every stage of the process. I'll have my B.A. in May, so this is obviously my first application season, but it's been a rollercoaster. One day I'm floating on clouds, feeling incredibly confident about my prospects as a top-tier candidate... and the next I'm mocking myself for thinking I ever had a shot. I'm all about suspense, but I really can't wait for this whole thing to be over. I've got an awesome job offer waiting for me if I don't get in anywhere, and that takes a bit of the edge off of things... I can't imagine what others (who don't have that luxury) must be going through. Such an incredible weight/unease.

Excellent news! I'm sure you'll nail the interview--just remember they contacted you for a reason, just be yourself.