OHSP

Don’t discount Penn yet, though. Some people will be trying to make a decision about schools right up until the April 15 deadline. I’m amongst the terrible people who’ve turned down offers on April 15 (and I know that, at Penn, when I turned down my offer someone else was offered a spot in my place). Ie if you’d prefer Penn over Temple, wait it out for a while, even though it’s painful, because you don’t want to be in a position where you accept Temple then get into Penn etc etc—it just becomes a mess. 
Also, to people weighing multiple offers, try to turn down offers you know you’re not going to accept as soon as you can. If you’re tossing up between two schools even after visit days, get in contact with as many relevant people as you can—grad students, potential committee members etc.

Sorry to bear bad news, but it’s my understanding that all wait lists and acceptances have gone out and prospective students day was last week. 

A good reason not to accept offers until you've heard back from everywhere. 

Are you crazy to turn down a cash cow program that looks great on paper, but may not provide you the resources to become the scholar you want to become?
Unless you're independently wealthy, there's no persuasive reason to take it.

I got into a good MA program with full funding with a pretty varied course load. The director of the program didn't mention my course load at all, but emphasized that they were impressed by my writing sample! I know that @OHSP already mentioned this, but Masters at Ivy schools have a reputation of being cash cows, and I'm pretty sure that MA programs in the UK also tend to be unfunded. Funded MA programs are rare, but they exist! I've always heard the advice of not paying for graduate school and I believe that whole-heartedly.

Oxford and “the ivies” are not equivalent and MA admissions work differently in different countries. Ivy MA programs are often cash cows. I’d also question why you assume “the ivies” (a relatively diverse group of schools) will be the best place for your research, and why you’d assume they’re necessarily better than other schools—it rings some serious warning bells. 

We’ve been in pretty solid contact so I would feel pretty comfortable emailing them. Thank you. I’ve been in final review for at least a week so I’m still hopeful, and I haven’t gotten a rejection either. 

Currently working on my MPhil at Cambridge.  They don’t really care about courseload.  They do however care about research experience.  At Oxbridge in particular, the masters level degree is quite independent and very much research based.  Understand this going into one and you’ll love it, but I have friends that are a little disappointed because they thought the masters would be structured like programs in the U.S.  Personally, I’ve had an amazing time, but my research interests fit very well with my department’s strengths and I’ve been lucky to have fantastic advisors.  

I personally think it's appropriate to cave, email the main POI who interviewed you, and ask when you can expect to hear back--and express your interest, how great it was to speak with them, etc. 

I definitely screwed up this cycle by focusing too specifically on finding programs with "perfect" (or near-perfect) fit geographically, topically, and period-wise and probably dismissed a number of programs out of hand that could have been a really good match for my research interests.  I really appreciate your (and @AfricanusCrowther)'s suggestions for the next cycle.  I think I doubted my ability to pitch myself in a way that showed enough flexibility to schools where the fit wasn't completely ideal.  I feel much better about that prospect for the next go round.

btw did you consider applying to NYU, as an Africanist? There's Julie Livingston, Michael Gomez, Robyn D'Avignon, amongst others--all big names with good records of placing students. 

btw did you consider applying to NYU, as an Africanist? There's Julie Livingston, Michael Gomez, Robyn D'Avignon, amongst others--all big names with good records of placing students. 

Oxford and “the ivies” are not equivalent and MA admissions work differently in different countries. Ivy MA programs are often cash cows. I’d also question why you assume “the ivies” (a relatively diverse group of schools) will be the best place for your research, and why you’d assume they’re necessarily better than other schools—it rings some serious warning bells. 

btw did you consider applying to NYU, as an Africanist? There's Julie Livingston, Michael Gomez, Robyn D'Avignon, amongst others--all big names with good records of placing students. 

Rutgers is still a really excellent school! I decided to apply to the English program when I had the same experience with AMST— they didn’t respond to my inquiry either. But don’t write it off as a school, their humanities programs are some of the best PhD programs in the country, and I’m sure it’s the same for sciences etc. 

Just wanted to share that I finally received my first acceptance this morning, to the Master's program at the University of New Mexico! ? 

I’m not sure if I mentioned that I was also flying from Australia to the east coast—there are often (at schools like these) weird pockets of secret money that only appear when you ask if they exist. I’d just ask, visits are crucial.

I’m not sure if I mentioned that I was also flying from Australia to the east coast—there are often (at schools like these) weird pockets of secret money that only appear when you ask if they exist. I’d just ask, visits are crucial.

I’m not sure if I mentioned that I was also flying from Australia to the east coast—there are often (at schools like these) weird pockets of secret money that only appear when you ask if they exist. I’d just ask, visits are crucial.

I’m not sure if I mentioned that I was also flying from Australia to the east coast—there are often (at schools like these) weird pockets of secret money that only appear when you ask if they exist. I’d just ask, visits are crucial.

And this is why you unionize. 

YUP. Since starting (in 2017) our health insurance has been reduced and the once "virtually guaranteed" 6th year funding has become available only a competitive basis (this is across the school not the department, and the department's response has been very good, but shit happens etc). 
I'd also add that you don't necessarily want to get it done in 4. Taking time to let your research interests evolve is important--and, more cynically, the more years you have in the PhD the more time you have to try and stack up a few things that (depending on your field and where you want to go after) can really, really matter--whether languages, prestigious grants/fellowships, publications, or serious teaching experience (running your own units, etc). I don't really have much insight into whether you're less competitive on the job market if you take an inordinate amount of time to complete, but that seems logical. 

YUP. Since starting (in 2017) our health insurance has been reduced and the once "virtually guaranteed" 6th year funding has become available only a competitive basis (this is across the school not the department, and the department's response has been very good, but shit happens etc). 
I'd also add that you don't necessarily want to get it done in 4. Taking time to let your research interests evolve is important--and, more cynically, the more years you have in the PhD the more time you have to try and stack up a few things that (depending on your field and where you want to go after) can really, really matter--whether languages, prestigious grants/fellowships, publications, or serious teaching experience (running your own units, etc). I don't really have much insight into whether you're less competitive on the job market if you take an inordinate amount of time to complete, but that seems logical. 

YUP. Since starting (in 2017) our health insurance has been reduced and the once "virtually guaranteed" 6th year funding has become available only a competitive basis (this is across the school not the department, and the department's response has been very good, but shit happens etc). 
I'd also add that you don't necessarily want to get it done in 4. Taking time to let your research interests evolve is important--and, more cynically, the more years you have in the PhD the more time you have to try and stack up a few things that (depending on your field and where you want to go after) can really, really matter--whether languages, prestigious grants/fellowships, publications, or serious teaching experience (running your own units, etc). I don't really have much insight into whether you're less competitive on the job market if you take an inordinate amount of time to complete, but that seems logical. 

See if they'll fly you over. I attended all of mine and one school booked my flights home with less than a weeks notice.