a_sort_of_fractious_angel

In practice, I'd email my letter writers or former professors ASAP. They've likely encountered this before with past advisees (and, heck, maybe even lived it themselves) and will be able to give some solid advice on the best ways to handle this. In theory, I think I'd go visit these places unless I was absolutely positive that I wasn't going to attend the other institutions. If I knew that this top choice was The Choice, I'd cancel the visits and (in the same email) decline the offers. Here's my reasoning why: y'all certainly aren't the first people to get a call from The Dream School after starting to engage with other places. I'd guess that all of these institutions have likely seen this happen before - it's part of the process. Declining both the offer and the visit would open up a spot for someone on the wait list (and possibly in time for the visiting weekend), which helps the declined institution put time/energy/money toward someone who may attend their institution. At the same time, if you guys have a smidge of an inkling of a doubt and, accordingly, want to be informed about your other options because you may want to go there instead - go visit. You of course have every right to be as informed as possible about your choices. Hopefully, there are maybe GCers lurking who have navigated this problem before and can chime in?

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

I'll add a Virginia rejection (email notification) and a Rutgers rejection (portal check) to the pile. Light 'er on up, boys.

For sure! I have several friends working in industry around the area - if you end up definitely deciding on Delaware, I'm happy to share what I know in terms of employment. It's a great area!

Yes, congrats to all y'all. Also, congrats to this thread. I've pored over a lot of the past threads debating the unfunded/partially funded/funded MA here and elsewhere and (being only somewhat biased toward the thoughts of our application cohort because, well, we're a cohort and a TEAM of INTErNET FRIEnDS) I really do think this is arguably the best version of that debate that I've seen.

Sounds good - finances come first, always. And there's no problem to which an unfunded MA is the only solution.

Please! I'll give you all the advice I got!

Happy to chat about unfunded MAs @WildeThing, if it's something you're going to seriously consider - just shoot me a PM. All of them require a "Here There Be Dragons" approach and some with a side of "Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter."

This may have come up previously, but is anyone here prepping placement questions? I keep trying to formulate a few but I'm not sure I'm asking the right stuff or in the right way .... I'd be happy to chat on here or via PM about it (if anyone is also trying to figure out how to phrase these kinds of questions).

It would be a bummer, absolutely. For one of my programs, the DGS has been working with me to meet with a POI - I'd guess that UD's DGS might be able to do the same for you? If I were a DGS, at least, and had a potential admit who wanted to meet a POI, I'd definitely want to know/try and make that happen. If she's not physically there, hopefully you can get a conversation going via email (or phone!) At the least, I'd let the DGS know that you're really excited about this professor and want to meet her (that's always a good thing) and see what they say.

Yay! And yea - funding is important (at least for me). UD definitely offered something sweet and the university (with its proximity to Philly and its 'burbs) will have a ton of employment opportunities. I think her being there is 50/50 - depends on what she's doing with the sabbatical. Like @Warelin, one my LWs was on sabbatical but she made time to read and respond to my stuff. Do you think you could email the DGS to ask? Even if she's not around physically, you could see if was OK to email her and get a conversation going (provided she's not somewhere with 0 internet or is super busy) - I imagined she'd want to hear from a potential student!

Me! I was really thinking it'd be today. But it'll be tomorrow, I can feel it. I also got a super lovely email from some current students and I asked a bunch of questions and they already responded which was awesome. I'm guessing you got one too, @LibraryLivingJT (or will soon)? And yay! That's awesome you're figuring out where you'll likely be! Great feeling (and great program!)

Hey! I (obviously) haven't been in that position and I don't recall knowing anyone who has. But, if I were you, I'd think that (on one hand) they're obviously excited to have you and they host the recruitment event with the hope that you will accept, you know? And if you do say yes prior to going, the visit will still serve a purpose for you in terms of meeting people, getting the low-down on the living situation, etc. However, I totally get why it feels a bit weird. When is the visit? Is it possible to just hold off until you go and then maybe tell them in person (if you'd like to do that) at the conclusion of the visit? And then fill out the forms/paperwork? It'll give you (in theory) the opportunity to make sure that it's a cool spot/people don't mysteriously disappear into broom closets/you don't have an evil, 3-headed doppleganger in the 'burgh. And will bypass the maybe weirdness of saying yes prior to showing up? Apologies that this really isn't a definitive answer but I am super jazzed for you.

I'll shoot you a PM!

I agree with @midwest-ford - Temple changed my portal over a weekend and I heard from the grad school that Friday. Buffalo took a day or two between grad admittance and dept contact. It's hard to wait but they will reach out soon!!! And likely have all sorts of good information for you!

I'm chalking up Rutgers to a nope - could be wrong, but 3 seasons of apps have illuminated certain trends (and have made me an early adopter of the implied rejection.) On the other hand, Rutgers visiting day (if I recall correctly from the website) is mid-March (?) So, I may be wrong. I'd guess they (the poster) have updated late in the day. I have no evidence other than (1) my gut and (2) my reading over past results board results. But late night (Yale time) seems odd, right?

Congrats to today's UVA admits and future-congrats to those accepted tomorrow! I did my MA there, so if you'd like to chat about Cville or the program, shoot me a PM!

Hey, all, I'm searching placement rates for the programs to which I've been accepted. One breaks down placement (by year) into 3 columns of groups (with the university or employer listed, not job title) ... The three groups are (1) tenure track or equivalent, (2) full-time, non-TT (including post-docs and lecturers), and (3) alt-ac. Two columns of percentages follow those groups: (1) Full time academic (TT, lecturer, postdoc) and (2) full time academic or alt-ac What is the equivalent to a TT position? A VAP? Where do adjuncts fit in this scheme? Why 3 columns of "groups" but 2 columns of percentages? I'm planning to ask the DGS about it but if anyone here if familiar with how/why this is broken down as such, I'd appreciate any input. Thanks!

I agree with @Crow T. Robot and @clinamen that contacting POI prior to applying not necessary in any way. It is definitely doable (provided you do it the right way like @clinamen and put thought into each and every email) but it's not going to overcome the other, weightier parts of the application. To add some anecdotal evidence, I did not contact anyone at the 14 programs to which I applied. 3/4 of my acceptance conversations referenced specific parts of my SOP/WS, so my efforts to align my work with POIs and the dept's larger strengths worked (for them, at least.) A semi-related piece of advice I found helpful - use the SOP to not only show what the department can do for you but what you can do for the department. Linking your work to a POI/a dept's area of strength (like poetics or Am studies) is great (and obviously necessary) but don't shy away from showing what kinds of expertise you can bring to that department. For me, that meant targeting schools with dedicated global/transnational areas of focus. Two of my programs don't have scholars working in my exact region but (judging from convos with the depts) I think that worked in my favor - I can now expand my expertise by working under these faculty while also bringing something ~unique~ to the table.

That's solid advice for sure - I'm sure these visits seem to fly by. And I will definitely crack a joke or two myself - I've already (awkwardly) revealed my deep love (and need) for paperwork to the DGS of one program, so perhaps they won't be all that surprised. But the jokes are ready for everyone who hasn't yet been introduced to my multi-color clicky pen. Also, the thought of sitting in on a class and just .... staring at people .... I can''t. I won't. I figure I'll just note down what's discussed and in what way. That's gotta be less awkward than peering at people, right?

this brings me joy.

In prepping for my first visit, I realized that I don't know if I should/could take notes? Looks like there are 4 parts to the visit: one on one meetings, social meetings/gatherings, a sit-on on a class, and some prepared remarks. I think taking notes at a bar gathering/lunch/one on one meetings is perhaps a bit much but would it be bonkers to take notes during the class and the presentations?

Hey! That makes total sense re: the commute. Princeton looks unlikely for me (as does Rutgers, lol) but CMU, Buffalo, and Delaware are options. Congrats on Stony Brook!

Hey, fellow Temple admit!

Howdy, all - 20th and 21st American (mostly contemporary) in relation to transnational/hemispheric studies.