[Spanish Fall 2017]

11 hours ago, lemonlions said:

I would say follow your gut. If you think you'll be happy there and you enjoyed what you saw of the program, go for it! I am in a similar situation (with other factors in play), but I was given full funding and a fellowship from UC Riverside. I haven't heard back from other schools yet, but UCR reached out to me and every interaction I've had with them has been positive and inspiring. There are several things to consider, though. I'm not sure how much of this you've already done, but I can tell you some of the reasons I chose UCR:

1. Someone mentioned this earlier, but it seems that if a school really wants you and thinks you're a good fit, they probably would have contacted you by now. Personally I would prefer a school who chose me right away as opposed to putting me on a wait list. I do realize not everyone is lucky enough to have found that school that is a good match mutually, but it seems like you have with UVA.

2. Feedback from current grad students. Have you contacted them and asked them about the program? How have their interactions been with the advisors and professors, etc.? Do they feel like they have support?

3. The TA position (if applicable). UCR has a coordinator who works with all grad student TAs, plus everything is planned for them: the rubrics, the lessons, everything. So all I would have to do is give the lessons and do the grading. This was so important to me because I want to be able to have sufficient time to devote to my studies.

4. Interactions with advisors/professors. Have they responded to your concerns? Do you sense that they care about your success?

5. You already did this when you chose where to apply, but reconsider the similarities in your research interests. What school has faculty that match up well with your potential research topics?

These were some of my main concerns, but obviously everyone has different preferences. Think about what is important to you in a grad program. Another thing that helped me decide was I considered what I would do if those other schools offered me acceptances. Would I even accept? I decided I wouldn't because UCR feels like the best match for me.

That being said, you do have until April 15th. There is no rush to accept. You could wait a week or two, see if anyone else gets back to you, and see if you still consider UVA as your top choice. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your amazing and in depth response! I 100000% agree with everything you said. All my interactions have been extremely positive and they definitely reached out to me first and have made contact very easy and helpful. Thanks for throwing in the point about whether I would even consider another offer. I do feel pretty set with UVA but waiting a week can't do any harm either. 

 

Thank you you so much! If anyone else has anything to add please feel free to respond as well! I love all the different opinions I can get!

[Spanish Fall 2017]

On 3/4/2017 at 11:27 AM, strudelbox said:

I've been on this site for a while, but I haven't posted anything until now. Has anyone heard back from Vanderbilt yet? I applied to their dual Spanish and Portuguese PhD program. I saw an acceptance on the results page, but nothing since. I'm guessing that I'll be rejected or waitlisted at this point, which is fine because I have other offers.

I just received an email today that informed me that I was rejected! Which is honestly no big deal. I was expecting it to be honest. I have a question for everyone though. 

 

So I have been accepted 4 programs so far and still need to hear from Tulane, Emory, Chapel Hill, and Pitt. Chapel Hill isnt really in the running since their stipend is awful. I visited UVA a coupole of weeks ago and really really loved it. The atmosphere, the professors, the other grad students, everything. Should I even bother to wait for the others? UVA would be in state for me, but a change of pace to where I live now, close to home but not too close, great stipend, health insurance, its undoubtedly an incredible university with an incredible reputation. I just want some advice from you all. I keep catching myself saying "when I move to Charlottesville.." etc. I just really don't know!!! I'm sorry for my horrendous grammar in this post. I have been all over the place recently and am just burnt out with this decision making and finishing up my BA. 

 

Can't wait to hear from you all!

[Spanish Fall 2017]

I am kind of starting to worry because I have yet to hear from UNC Chapel Hill. 

[Spanish Fall 2017]

52 minutes ago, elsueñodelretorno said:

Hi! Yes, that was me. they emailed me yesterday. 

Ahhhhhh So nerve wracking. I also applied to Chapel Hill and have not heard anything.....

[Spanish Fall 2017]

5 hours ago, Argengringa said:

I applied to 12 programs and have only heard back from one: an acceptance into the Phd in Spanish Lit at University of Illinois at Chicago. I'm dying to go to NYU, but since I haven't heard from them about an interview, I'm super nervous :(.  

What's even worse is that I finished my applications in October, so I feel like I have literally been waiting a million years for responses!! How does everyone deal with the anxiety?

I personally eat my feelings and make myself crazy by looking at campus photos of my top choice schools ... not sure I'm much help... this is just such a stressful time. 

I would also love to know how some of you are actually dealing with this anxiety. 

[Spanish Fall 2017]

1 hour ago, Yak1030 said:

Congrats @Spanport !  And thanks for the good vibes from both you and @scarvesandcardigans. My last name does begin with a Y...haha. And I don't know if it makes a difference but I applied to the masters program. Did you apply for the masters or PhD? 

Thank you so much!!!! I'm so excited! Now only 6 more to go!

[Spanish Fall 2017]

1 hour ago, Yak1030 said:

Congrats @Spanport !  And thanks for the good vibes from both you and @scarvesandcardigans. My last name does begin with a Y...haha. And I don't know if it makes a difference but I applied to the masters program. Did you apply for the masters or PhD? 

I applied to the PhD program! So that could definitely be a factor! 

[Spanish Fall 2017]

4 hours ago, Yak1030 said:

@Spanport Have you heard anything back from Indiana yet? I'm still waiting...though we are around the timeframe when they start making decisions. 

I have actually! I just got an email today! I was accepted with a fellowship! I hope you hear something soon! My last name is pretty early in the alphabet, so it could simply be administrative. Crossing my fingers for you!

[Spanish Fall 2017]

Based on the forum from last year, we should be hearing back from most of our schools by the end of February at the latest. Hopefully sooner rather than later. i just want to know already!!!!!

[Spanish Fall 2017]

1 hour ago, Yak1030 said:

Congrats to both of you on your admissions! @elsueñodelretorno @Spanport

Thank you so much!!! Only 7 more to hear from. The suspense is killing me. I just want to know already. 

[Spanish Fall 2017]

1 hour ago, erasingdinosaurs said:

Has anyone been admitted to a program without an interview process? I'm curious what to expect  

I was admitted to both Ohio State and U.Va. without an interview. I had phone calls and skype interviews after the fact to ask questions but that was it. 

 

Also congrats @elsueñodelretorno!!! U.Va. is an INCREDIBLE option for both of us! It's definitely up there in my second or third choice if I am rejected from Vanderbilt. 

[Spanish Fall 2017]

Thanks @scarvesandcardigans! I'm sure your research is also awesome! 

 

How is is everyone holding up? Is there any sort of firm universal deadline for us to accept or decline offers of admission?

[Spanish Fall 2017]

1 hour ago, scarvesandcardigans said:

Congrats! Are these all for MA or PhD or a mix of both? It must be such a great feeling to have those offers solidifies for you! Are they general programs, lit, linguistics, etc? 

I haven't heard anything yet but I applied to 6 programs. Currently finishing up at NCSU which is only a handful of miles from Chapel Hill, actually! 

(Also side note, I'm glad that language people are reaching out on here. I was beginning to feel a little lonely.)

All 9 of the programs I applied to are PhD programs! Some of them, like U.Va. and Tulane, you apply directly to the PhD program but really you have to get your masters and then petition for PhD candidacy. 

All of my programs are Literature and Culturally focused! I want to focus on Latin America (especially the Caribbean) and conduct comparative research between the Spanish Americas and the Lusophone world. 

I hope others start posting more updates! Especially with Spanish and Portuguese, it can be hard to find peers on the same track. @scarvesandcardigans best of luck on your applications! Where did you apply if you don't mind me asking?

[Spanish Fall 2017]

Hello all! 

I will be graduating with my bachelors from a small school in VA in May. I have applied to 9 programs: UVA, UNC Chapel Hill, Ohio State, Indiana, University of Kentucky, Tulane, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, and Emory. 

I have already heard back from Ohio and UVA- accepted to both!!!! Ohio even wants to give me a scholarship to exempt me from teaching. 

When does everyone think we will hear back from others? I am incredibly surprised as I did not think I was qualified enough to be accepted into a PhD program. But clearly I was wrong! I never thought in a million years I would get in to UVA. 

I hope everyone else has received good news!!

Best of luck!