anon4now

@amstu nay

If you're still completing your BA, it's very possible that your department will pay for your travel expenses to attend the conference. Wouldn't hurt to ask the department chair or, if that's too intimidating, a professor you're close with who would then talk with the chair. I really hope you're able to attend.

As someone who got 158V/149Q/4.5W on the GRE and accepted into a couple of Ivy Leagues AND a top 10 program AND waitlisted by another top 10, I think it's safe to say that the GRE does not matter. Fit, SOP, and writing sample are key. Channel all of your energy into those components of your application, especially if you're poor like me and can't afford to retake the GRE. Why stress over the GRE when you can be utilizing that time to perfect parts of the application that a) you have the most control over and b-represent you best? One last thing: Don't be afraid to be creative in the work you present to these universities; be poetic and speculative and a bit unsure. Ask unanswerable questions. Good luck to all current and future applicants! Edit: I also got an incredibly embarrassing score of 430 on the subject test. I only share all of this to give hope to people who, like me, suck at tests. Don't waste your time, your money, or your sanity on them. Just do *your* best.

Hope this helps people out: I've been accepted into Columbia's Ph.D. program in English and Comparative Literature. Received an email from the DGS this morning, and my acceptance letter appears on the application website. I was not interviewed, so this was totally unexpected. The email says over 540 people applied and they hope to admit on average 16 students. Not sure how that translates into number of people accepted. Best of luck to the rest of you still waiting!

Dear Columbia, WYA?! -My Anxiety

@shoestofollow You the real MVP.

@Yanaka It's so great that you're getting help! I've been very lucky in that I had the opportunity to write a senior thesis and my letter writers read through several drafts of my SoP. Feedback is key. Still: I wouldn't be discouraged yet, if I were you. You still have several schools to hear back from.

I'm so sorry I assumed otherwise! You seem to be a very unique candidate. It might just be fit? Or you might need to revise your writing sample? Or this process is just too esoteric and arbitrary to ever really know what the hell is happening? *nervous laughter*

@Yanaka Oh okay. I checked the results page for comp lit and see what you mean. Strange that they're taking this long to send out rejections (assuming its rejections from here on out). If it's any consolation, I was pretty disheartened by my Northwestern rejection for about 5 minutes until I realized what a weird fit it would have been for me. I honestly don't expect any other offers than the one I received from UCLA (except maybe Yale) strictly due to fit. (Yale is a perfect fit, but it's like shooting for the moon with amateur equipment (I have mediocre GRE scores and I'm a first-time applicant)). I'm certain you are completely capable of doing graduate work, and it might be possible that the programs you've received rejections from just aren't a great fit. On top of which, you're an international student! From what I understand, your competition is even steeper than current U.S. citizens. I really, really hope you are admitted into a program this year. Don't give up hope! (Sidenote: I'm a bit obsessed with parentheticals. My apologies.)

So hi, I'm one of the people who posted an acceptance from UCLA (yay!). The acceptance came as a letter from the DGS. I've been a bit hesitant to post about it on this forum, though, because I'm still technically waiting for UCLA's Graduate Division to approve funding. I'm assuming the department wouldn't recommend me for admission if they weren't certain I'd be guaranteed funding by the university?...Right??...help! Anyway, to answer your question more directly: I've checked the decision portal and it still says, "to date, no decision has been made on your application." The decision portal is *NOT* the same portal through which you submitted your application. Confusing, I know. Here's the link to save you some time: https://appstatus.grad.ucla.edu/ In my opinion, no news is better news than bad news. If anything, look out for an email from the DGS. That might be the surest sign of an acceptance (for UCLA, at least). But Yanaka, I know you've mostly applied to comparative lit programs. Is this true for UCLA as well? I applied to their English Ph.D. Program, so the process/timeline might be slightly different. In any case, congrats to those who got into programs! To everyone else, I wish you the best of luck! Just remember to remain hopeful. Everyone here clearly has a passion for graduate studies and deserves to be in a program.

I am also super anxious!!! Glad I'm not alone.

@piers_plowman Congrats on your Northwestern acceptance!!! Wondering if anyone has any information regarding Northwestern's English program sending out more acceptances or just rejections from here?...

lol you're right. Agh!

Wondering if the people who posted interview invites from Columbia on the results page are both comp lit? One says 'English' and it's freaking me out.. congrats to you both, regardless!

I'm out of likes rn but congrats to both of you!!! Participating in these forums now has me super emotionally invested in everyone here getting into a program lol