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I have accepted UTK's offer. The funding is solid, the fellowship is great, and I'll be working with one of the top Anglo-Saxonists in the world (seriously). Thanks for all the advice. Who knows, I maybe be posting on here about the horrible, upcoming move!

I've been offered a $16k/year fellowship. The average rent where I'd be moving is around $450/month, which isn't bad. I do not have -- and do not want -- a car to worry about. I thought I had been rejected by 6 schools this application year but a last minute offer came. Unfortunately, I have NO savings to speak of. If I stay at my current job I can easily save about $12000 by next Fall, which would mean absolutely no worries about financial matters. However, that would mean turning down my current offer and hoping I can get something similar offered next year. Aaarrrggghhhhh... Oh, sorry to get off topic.

I'm currently trying to decide if I should except a fellowship offer from UTK's English PhD program. Unfortunately I'm living in Seoul (not Korean, just an American working as an editor/writer here), which makes visiting any city in the USA impossible AND finding a decent apartment a huge hassle. Does anyone know what sort of housing is available for graduate students? How about living close to Cumberland Avenue? I don't have a car and have NO desire to get one, hills or no hills. I'm not a "biker" but I'm in very good shape so I could manage if absolutely necessary.

Well, the $3500 itself isn't the issue -- I've been a "poor" student for most of my life and I can handle that part. I guess it's just a stand-in for a MASS of other [imaginary] problems. The bottom-line is that I can finally have what I have been planning for... and that is definitely scary. I've been living overseas for a year now and having a blast: decent pay and few responsibilities. This is like a second childhood only better. However, starting a PhD program sort of puts a cap on that stuff. I'm okay with that, logically, but that jumping and shouting kid inside of me wants to fight back. I know I know, I shouldn't whine: this is an opportunity that thousands of people on this site wouldn't pass up for anything. I probably WON'T pass it up but I hope I'm a bit of time to lament the passing of a great era in my youthful years. This is a great program for me because there are some great Anglo-Saxon scholars at UTK and there is a lot of money for medieval studies student at this time. I'm excited, no doubt, but there is no "cut and dry."

I got an email that sweetened the deal. They are also offering me a special 5-year fellowship. It would waive my first year of teaching, add to my monthly stipend, and reduce my teaching/assistant load in subsequent years. This seems like an easy choice but I'm just not sure I have the funds available to move back to the USA in August. If I break my current employer contract I'm losing out on around $3500. However, even if I can get them to defer admission, the chances of me getting the same fellowship are... slim, to say the least.

Okay, here’s the deal. I applied to 6 schools, got waitlisted at two but hadn’t heard anything from them for 3 weeks. I’m currently living in Seoul, South Korea. Mentally I told myself I was going to be here for another year and I even began researching schools to apply to for next year; I argued for a raise at work on the grounds that I would be here another year; I officially started dating with a girl I had been seeing but hadn’t been serious about because I thought I would be leaving in the summer. This morning I wake up and have an email from the Graduate Director of UT-Knoxville’s English Dept—I’ve been accepted with a fellowship and funding. This is obviously good news… but also not so good. I was devastated when I didn’t get accepted into any schools, but I straightened up and told myself another year overseas is not a bad thing. Mentally (emotionally) I’ve moved on. I have been very excited to research other schools, get in touch with faculty, etc. This may seem like a no-brainer to some people, but I’m emotionally torn and conflicted in a BIG way. Another factor is the time-line. My year contract at my current employer is up 6 days before the official start of the semester at UT-Knoxville, leaving me NO time to initiate and complete a successful, international move. My hope? Admission deferment, if that's even possible. But then, how do I find out if I can without scaring off the department? Excuse me for inserting a locution of our time but… FML.

Well, nothing that I've heard here surprises me... or fortifies my strength for applying to UK programs. However, I thought it was at least worth a try. Thanks to everyone who read/posted. I am not able to afford attending school anywhere without university-funding of some sort. Also, while I do have quite a bit of teaching experience, the academic world is a competitive enough ecosystem without me choosing to turn down more (i.e. giving up teaching opportunities by entering a UK PhD program instead of a USA one). This has been very helpful.

Well, having been rejected by 4 schools and wait–listed by 2 (and still receiving no further information from the latter), it is time to think about applying next year. Along with looking at 10 American universities, I am interested in pursuing graduate study at a UK school. My concentrations are Anglo-Saxon/Translation Studies, and many UK programs have better resources in these fields. I’ve done a bit of research, not much, but enough to learn that the main problem is, of course, funding. Also, I’m not entirely familiar with the MPhil or MLitt programs. I’ve considered entering a university to get an MPhil or MLitt (I already have an MA in English Lit) and then continuing onto a PhD from there. Of particular interest to me is Warwick, U of Edinburgh, U of Glasgow, and U of Leeds. If anyone has information about funding for non-UK students, MPhil or MLitt programs, PhD study in the UK, or any of the universities I mentioned above, I would appreciate if you would share it via this thread or a private message. Beyond that, ALL general comments are welcome.

I've started my home Latin-study program, with books, workbooks, and language software. I'm not killing myself over it--doing it a bit every day, stretched out over time, will provide me with the solid foundation that I will need by the time I enter a program. I did send emails out to programs about how to best improve my application and I'm awaiting their replies. Another idea about applying next year came to mind over the weekend. What if I applied to another MA program at a more prestigious school and then attempt to get into their PhD program that route? I have an MA but my university is by no means a renowned institute of higher education (but it's not bottom-of-the-barrel). Has anyone had any experience with this, or know of anecdotal stories involving such an attempt?

Unfortunately my Latin is... non-existent. However, I am starting to study on my own now. My Anglo-Saxon/Old Norse is pretty good. I'll reapply to UT-Austin and UT-Knoxville for sure, though I haven't decided about ASU or Indiana U yet. Ugh... just writing these names again brings around a small bout of depression. I was a presenter at the VAGANTES Graduate Student Conference at FSU in 2009, so I got to meet Drs. Treharne and Johnson. I can't think why I didn't apply there in the first place, to be honest.

Well, I'm going to allow one month of a break while I wait to year from my waiting list schools. Again, I've been given little reason to hope for anything from UT-Austin, but UT-Knoxville still presents a glimmer of an opportunity. However, it's best if I simply assume I've been rejected all around so I can start (almost) from scratch, with a clearer head. I am a bit embarrassed to have to request more LOR from profs, but... this is the type of game we are all playing. If current academics can't be understanding of our situations, well... we're in even bigger trouble. Anyway, it looks like I'm on the hunt for even more Anglo-Saxon/Translation Theory programs, as well as searching for good journals (even online ones) that are willing to publish graduated MA students. Any ideas from the all-knowing community?

I think he is being quite professional. He is careful, however, to not say anything that could be read as "yes" or "no." Really, this email doesn't provide any clues as to the status of your application. Sorry if this isn't the news you wanted!

I actually was extremely specific about my past/current/future research interests in all my SOPs. While I am an Anglo-Saxonist, I'm most interested in the application of translation methodologies to Old English literatures. Though Translation Theory is a small field, it is one of the "up and coming" topics and I was really hoping that my unique niche would make me more attractive. However, obviously I was wrong.

Oh, sorry, I got 620 on Quantitative, 640 on Verbal, and 6 on Analytical Writing. Certainly my general scores don't represent my best work, and I'm already starting to prepare for taking the test again. I knew that was one of the weaker spots on my applications. As for the Subject... 710 is about as good as I'm going to get--placed in the 96th percentile for this year. SOPs... yeah... well, I'm the kind of writer who needs to draft and draft... and draft... and draft. And I handle criticism, tips, etc very well. Unfortunately my graduate mentor/thesis chair was having difficult family matters to deal with and was unable to provide me with the help both of us expected. Of course, I'm in no way blaming him or anybody else. I found schools with scholars who specifically worked in my field and really aimed my letters at them. However, these scholars are all BIG names in the Anglo-Saxon world, and I'm competing with every other Tom, Dick, and Harry who is into medieval anything. I'll have to widen my net and try to apply to 10-12 schools, perhaps even some UK schools. (Again, does anybody know much about MLitt/MPhil programs?) Another aspect of my applications which certainly needs to be improved is publications: I have none. That is a whole other can of worms unfortunately, with its own set of rules and frustrations. As it stands now, however, with only 2 schools left and the prospects not looking so good, I have to seriously start to work on whatever I can. Thanks for the help everyone.

Here's the story: I've got a BA and MA in English Literature, both from the same rather unremarkable school with a student body of approx 12000 students in mid-Illinois. My BA GPA is 3.5; MA is 4.0. I've gotten a few awards, been a graduate assistant, taught 2 years of Freshman Comp as part of that assistantship, taught ESL in Turkey for 2 years, and have lots of conference experience. My general GRE cum. is 640; my GRE Lit Subject is 710. I'm 26 years old and I am currently living in Seoul, South Korea (but I'm American, not even Asian-American) and working as a curriculum writer/editor. This is my first year applying to PhD programs. I sent apps to UT-Austin (waitlisted but not hopeful), UT-Knoxville (waitlisted and still hopeful), Berkeley (rejected), Indiana U (rejected); I'm still waiting to hear from Arizona State and Cornell. I'm trying to think long term here, of course, and wondering about my options if I don't get accepted into any program this year. I know I'm young but, in my SUPREME arrogance, I just didn't imagine getting rejected across the board. There's the economy and blah blah blah. That means very little in the face of complete and utter and depressing failure. So, how common is it to get rejected and have to reapply the next year? Should I be working on my GRE general score? Should I be freaking out, grabbing a bottle of wine, and disappearing into the wilds of ESL teaching for the rest of my days? What about applying to a UK school for an MLitt or MPhil program and trying to weasel my way in that route? Anything... from anybody?