a_sort_of_fractious_angel

Real late to the party re: the MAPH but, as someone who did an unfunded MA, the duration of the MAPH program is arguably (very) concerning.
There are 1,000+ good reasons not to do an unfunded MA - I fully understand many of them having now experienced one. There are 1,000,000,000 reasons not to do an unfunded MA that lasts 2 semesters and is rigorous in coursework. 
Going into debt for what is two blinks of an eye in the academic world is high-risk. Doable? Sure, I had a peer who did the MAPH and (after taking a year off) got into several top 10 PhD programs. But, as @la_mod correctly points out, no MA program, no matter how fancy, guarantees anything - I had no offers when I applied during my MA and it was devastating.
I did, of course, have debt. Great. Yes. Love it. *knuckles turn white*
However, I also had two years of grad school under my belt and 3 reputable professors who remembered me when I emailed them a year and half after graduation (our MA was small - 12 people - so connections were easily made and grown over those 2 years.)
Since I didn't do the MAPH, I can't prove anything about it but I really don't know if, had my MA been 9 months, my professors would have ever remembered my name much less spent months helping me revise the WS and SOP, and (now) with PhD decisions. 
All to say, don't do debt. If you do debt, do not pay for a name and a whirlwind tour - pay for time and intellectual growth and thoughtful advisers and professional connections that will last beyond the time you're there, as all of these things just might - MIGHT - get you into a PhD. And only do that if you've got a financial plan that works.
Moreover, I have a friend who did a funded MA from a "no name" school who ended up at UPenn, so - not to hate on the unfunded MA people since I'm one of you - but, like, there's a lot of options out there .... 
Moving on from this rant. 
I'm gonna yell "BOooOOOO" at my computer for the rest of the week. This is too much. 

I received no PhD offers when I applied as a BA and I was 0/12 when I applied again as an MA. After graduating the MA, I took a 9-5 gig doing social media marketing and a full year off before coming back to applying. The job has done nothing for my application but it gave me enough money and enough time/flexibility to polish the heck out of my SOP and WS (and get some money saved.) The year off gave me time to think about what I wanted my scholarship to be/resulted in those SOP & WS edits. It's paid off so far. 
A conference may be useful for you - I wouldn't worry too much about publishing (I was consistently told it was not an expectation and that publishing just to publish wasn't necessarily the best call) - and if a conference doesn't make sense financially/professionally, I wouldn't be super concerned.
If you have friends or peers who are in graduate work now, I would speak to them; ask them to look at your SOP and WS. Current grad students are really useful since they are not far out from the process and my peers from school and GC have been really helpful in shaping this season's materials. Speak to profs too, of course, but a broad network of people + time + self & peer editing of the SOP & WS are probably the most valuable resources for applications. 
Just my $.02 of course (others here will have different and other awesome pieces of advice, so these threads may help too!)
 

Hmm LIKE YOUR FELLOW ADCOMM COLLEAGUES, @Warelin?!?!? 
#thetruthisoutthere

I think everyone feels this, except for the terribly egotistical people we don't want to be friends with.

I think this will depend on where you're applying, but dominating the GRE and Flaubertifying the SoP and WS are probably the two strategies most in your control to perfect. We all know that the GRE is an expedient way of whittling down the application pile (for top programs at least), so I'd stress that if you're like me (not gifted at standardized tests), then you should try to study for them as much and as intelligently as possible. I used spreadsheets to track my study progress and isolate areas in which I was weak. The SoP and WS, moreover, should be as flawless as you can make them. Show them to everyone: your letter writers, other professors, parents/friends, lunatics on the bus -- basically anyone whose opinion you value.  
As far as prestige goes, my undergrad institution is ranked somewhere in the top 50, and its English PhD program, I think, is below 100. I believe one of my letter writers has some kind of working relationship with a professor at one of the schools to which I applied, but I doubt that she reached out to him. I therefore attribute my three acceptances at this point to nothing more than good GRE scores, solid SoP and WS (I went through many, many dozens of drafts), and a lot of luck; or, in other words: blood, sweat, and tears. That's about it. In fact, if I hadn't worked for 1.5 years after graduating (which gave me time to hone my materials), I don't think I would've had as much, if any, luck. Of course, it's possible to be shut out even with perfect GREs and a stupendous SoP/WS, so YMMV. 
I guess what I'm saying, then, is if you think you need a little more time to prepare for grad school, it's not a bad idea to work for a year or two after graduating. And, although I'm not enamored with the business world, I have learned a lot from working in corporate America, especially about how to deal with people, set schedules, accomplish goals, etc. Most important, I matured a little more and began to understand in a deeper sense why I wanted to go to grad school. So, no shame in taking some time off! 

Real late to the party re: the MAPH but, as someone who did an unfunded MA, the duration of the MAPH program is arguably (very) concerning.
There are 1,000+ good reasons not to do an unfunded MA - I fully understand many of them having now experienced one. There are 1,000,000,000 reasons not to do an unfunded MA that lasts 2 semesters and is rigorous in coursework. 
Going into debt for what is two blinks of an eye in the academic world is high-risk. Doable? Sure, I had a peer who did the MAPH and (after taking a year off) got into several top 10 PhD programs. But, as @la_mod correctly points out, no MA program, no matter how fancy, guarantees anything - I had no offers when I applied during my MA and it was devastating.
I did, of course, have debt. Great. Yes. Love it. *knuckles turn white*
However, I also had two years of grad school under my belt and 3 reputable professors who remembered me when I emailed them a year and half after graduation (our MA was small - 12 people - so connections were easily made and grown over those 2 years.)
Since I didn't do the MAPH, I can't prove anything about it but I really don't know if, had my MA been 9 months, my professors would have ever remembered my name much less spent months helping me revise the WS and SOP, and (now) with PhD decisions. 
All to say, don't do debt. If you do debt, do not pay for a name and a whirlwind tour - pay for time and intellectual growth and thoughtful advisers and professional connections that will last beyond the time you're there, as all of these things just might - MIGHT - get you into a PhD. And only do that if you've got a financial plan that works.
Moreover, I have a friend who did a funded MA from a "no name" school who ended up at UPenn, so - not to hate on the unfunded MA people since I'm one of you - but, like, there's a lot of options out there .... 
Moving on from this rant. 
I'm gonna yell "BOooOOOO" at my computer for the rest of the week. This is too much. 

Real late to the party re: the MAPH but, as someone who did an unfunded MA, the duration of the MAPH program is arguably (very) concerning.
There are 1,000+ good reasons not to do an unfunded MA - I fully understand many of them having now experienced one. There are 1,000,000,000 reasons not to do an unfunded MA that lasts 2 semesters and is rigorous in coursework. 
Going into debt for what is two blinks of an eye in the academic world is high-risk. Doable? Sure, I had a peer who did the MAPH and (after taking a year off) got into several top 10 PhD programs. But, as @la_mod correctly points out, no MA program, no matter how fancy, guarantees anything - I had no offers when I applied during my MA and it was devastating.
I did, of course, have debt. Great. Yes. Love it. *knuckles turn white*
However, I also had two years of grad school under my belt and 3 reputable professors who remembered me when I emailed them a year and half after graduation (our MA was small - 12 people - so connections were easily made and grown over those 2 years.)
Since I didn't do the MAPH, I can't prove anything about it but I really don't know if, had my MA been 9 months, my professors would have ever remembered my name much less spent months helping me revise the WS and SOP, and (now) with PhD decisions. 
All to say, don't do debt. If you do debt, do not pay for a name and a whirlwind tour - pay for time and intellectual growth and thoughtful advisers and professional connections that will last beyond the time you're there, as all of these things just might - MIGHT - get you into a PhD. And only do that if you've got a financial plan that works.
Moreover, I have a friend who did a funded MA from a "no name" school who ended up at UPenn, so - not to hate on the unfunded MA people since I'm one of you - but, like, there's a lot of options out there .... 
Moving on from this rant. 
I'm gonna yell "BOooOOOO" at my computer for the rest of the week. This is too much. 

Real late to the party re: the MAPH but, as someone who did an unfunded MA, the duration of the MAPH program is arguably (very) concerning.
There are 1,000+ good reasons not to do an unfunded MA - I fully understand many of them having now experienced one. There are 1,000,000,000 reasons not to do an unfunded MA that lasts 2 semesters and is rigorous in coursework. 
Going into debt for what is two blinks of an eye in the academic world is high-risk. Doable? Sure, I had a peer who did the MAPH and (after taking a year off) got into several top 10 PhD programs. But, as @la_mod correctly points out, no MA program, no matter how fancy, guarantees anything - I had no offers when I applied during my MA and it was devastating.
I did, of course, have debt. Great. Yes. Love it. *knuckles turn white*
However, I also had two years of grad school under my belt and 3 reputable professors who remembered me when I emailed them a year and half after graduation (our MA was small - 12 people - so connections were easily made and grown over those 2 years.)
Since I didn't do the MAPH, I can't prove anything about it but I really don't know if, had my MA been 9 months, my professors would have ever remembered my name much less spent months helping me revise the WS and SOP, and (now) with PhD decisions. 
All to say, don't do debt. If you do debt, do not pay for a name and a whirlwind tour - pay for time and intellectual growth and thoughtful advisers and professional connections that will last beyond the time you're there, as all of these things just might - MIGHT - get you into a PhD. And only do that if you've got a financial plan that works.
Moreover, I have a friend who did a funded MA from a "no name" school who ended up at UPenn, so - not to hate on the unfunded MA people since I'm one of you - but, like, there's a lot of options out there .... 
Moving on from this rant. 
I'm gonna yell "BOooOOOO" at my computer for the rest of the week. This is too much. 

Real late to the party re: the MAPH but, as someone who did an unfunded MA, the duration of the MAPH program is arguably (very) concerning.
There are 1,000+ good reasons not to do an unfunded MA - I fully understand many of them having now experienced one. There are 1,000,000,000 reasons not to do an unfunded MA that lasts 2 semesters and is rigorous in coursework. 
Going into debt for what is two blinks of an eye in the academic world is high-risk. Doable? Sure, I had a peer who did the MAPH and (after taking a year off) got into several top 10 PhD programs. But, as @la_mod correctly points out, no MA program, no matter how fancy, guarantees anything - I had no offers when I applied during my MA and it was devastating.
I did, of course, have debt. Great. Yes. Love it. *knuckles turn white*
However, I also had two years of grad school under my belt and 3 reputable professors who remembered me when I emailed them a year and half after graduation (our MA was small - 12 people - so connections were easily made and grown over those 2 years.)
Since I didn't do the MAPH, I can't prove anything about it but I really don't know if, had my MA been 9 months, my professors would have ever remembered my name much less spent months helping me revise the WS and SOP, and (now) with PhD decisions. 
All to say, don't do debt. If you do debt, do not pay for a name and a whirlwind tour - pay for time and intellectual growth and thoughtful advisers and professional connections that will last beyond the time you're there, as all of these things just might - MIGHT - get you into a PhD. And only do that if you've got a financial plan that works.
Moreover, I have a friend who did a funded MA from a "no name" school who ended up at UPenn, so - not to hate on the unfunded MA people since I'm one of you - but, like, there's a lot of options out there .... 
Moving on from this rant. 
I'm gonna yell "BOooOOOO" at my computer for the rest of the week. This is too much. 

Real late to the party re: the MAPH but, as someone who did an unfunded MA, the duration of the MAPH program is arguably (very) concerning.
There are 1,000+ good reasons not to do an unfunded MA - I fully understand many of them having now experienced one. There are 1,000,000,000 reasons not to do an unfunded MA that lasts 2 semesters and is rigorous in coursework. 
Going into debt for what is two blinks of an eye in the academic world is high-risk. Doable? Sure, I had a peer who did the MAPH and (after taking a year off) got into several top 10 PhD programs. But, as @la_mod correctly points out, no MA program, no matter how fancy, guarantees anything - I had no offers when I applied during my MA and it was devastating.
I did, of course, have debt. Great. Yes. Love it. *knuckles turn white*
However, I also had two years of grad school under my belt and 3 reputable professors who remembered me when I emailed them a year and half after graduation (our MA was small - 12 people - so connections were easily made and grown over those 2 years.)
Since I didn't do the MAPH, I can't prove anything about it but I really don't know if, had my MA been 9 months, my professors would have ever remembered my name much less spent months helping me revise the WS and SOP, and (now) with PhD decisions. 
All to say, don't do debt. If you do debt, do not pay for a name and a whirlwind tour - pay for time and intellectual growth and thoughtful advisers and professional connections that will last beyond the time you're there, as all of these things just might - MIGHT - get you into a PhD. And only do that if you've got a financial plan that works.
Moreover, I have a friend who did a funded MA from a "no name" school who ended up at UPenn, so - not to hate on the unfunded MA people since I'm one of you - but, like, there's a lot of options out there .... 
Moving on from this rant. 
I'm gonna yell "BOooOOOO" at my computer for the rest of the week. This is too much. 

Real late to the party re: the MAPH but, as someone who did an unfunded MA, the duration of the MAPH program is arguably (very) concerning.
There are 1,000+ good reasons not to do an unfunded MA - I fully understand many of them having now experienced one. There are 1,000,000,000 reasons not to do an unfunded MA that lasts 2 semesters and is rigorous in coursework. 
Going into debt for what is two blinks of an eye in the academic world is high-risk. Doable? Sure, I had a peer who did the MAPH and (after taking a year off) got into several top 10 PhD programs. But, as @la_mod correctly points out, no MA program, no matter how fancy, guarantees anything - I had no offers when I applied during my MA and it was devastating.
I did, of course, have debt. Great. Yes. Love it. *knuckles turn white*
However, I also had two years of grad school under my belt and 3 reputable professors who remembered me when I emailed them a year and half after graduation (our MA was small - 12 people - so connections were easily made and grown over those 2 years.)
Since I didn't do the MAPH, I can't prove anything about it but I really don't know if, had my MA been 9 months, my professors would have ever remembered my name much less spent months helping me revise the WS and SOP, and (now) with PhD decisions. 
All to say, don't do debt. If you do debt, do not pay for a name and a whirlwind tour - pay for time and intellectual growth and thoughtful advisers and professional connections that will last beyond the time you're there, as all of these things just might - MIGHT - get you into a PhD. And only do that if you've got a financial plan that works.
Moreover, I have a friend who did a funded MA from a "no name" school who ended up at UPenn, so - not to hate on the unfunded MA people since I'm one of you - but, like, there's a lot of options out there .... 
Moving on from this rant. 
I'm gonna yell "BOooOOOO" at my computer for the rest of the week. This is too much. 

GOT THE UDEL CALL!!! 

Love it. Send it. Rants are good - ESSENTIAL - to, like, this human thing. Definitely this grad school thing.

@Elle Coronaria So stoked your app season turned out how you wanted it! I don't think you have anything to be self conscious of with your "doom and gloom" posts. We were all there together :-) 
@punctilious Omg, I have been rooting for you (him? Plural you) and I read the thread with my fingers crossed. So happy!
@a_sort_of_fractious_angel Damn, girl! You're going for a clean sweep hahaha Having to decide between offers is definitely a good problem to have.
@FishNerd Holy cow! It's hard enough to secure one spot in a grad program, much less synchronize two. Congrats!
And congrats to anyone I missed because there is just too much good news!

GOT THE UDEL CALL!!! 

GOT THE UDEL CALL!!! 

Phone call from unknown number - area code is Delaware. 
I don't pick up. No voicemail is left. Minutes pass. The sun moves across the sky. I wonder who called and for what purpose.
Out of sheer boredom, I Google the number - it's the UDel English DGS number. I Google it again - new tab. Same results.
I check my voicemail. Nothing. I check my email. Nothing. 
Did they accidentally call the wrong number? And realize when they heard my voicemail message?
Did they intend to call me but, upon hearing my voicemail message, think ... "oh. no thanks."
... Do ... do I call back? 
*dials Delaware*
"Hey ... it's me."

GOT THE UDEL CALL!!! 

GOT THE UDEL CALL!!! 

GOT THE UDEL CALL!!! 

I believe the standard expression is
“... you rang?”
Also, Cong!
(you’ll get the rest when you update us in the Acceptances thread!!!) 

Got accepted into Pittsburgh last night, my top choice, and promptly drank several glasses of wine!
Congrats to everyone!!

I got accepted to Pittsburgh. YAYY!!

At the beginning of all this, I split my schools into three groups (first choice, second choice, third choice) and had a "favorite" in each group - it was my attempt to minimize heartbreak and maximize joy. 
Now, I'm jazzed about the schools that have responded but am also itching to make a "decision" (which I cannot do) which leaves me a lot of time for thumb-twiddling. 
Choosing is definitely going to be difficult, @bumbleblu, and I'm curious about how things will change post-visit/contact; I'm so hopeful that seeing the place and meeting the people will help bring it all together (though I'm also terrified I'll just end up in a mental deadlock.)

Yep, I'm pretty much hoping that somehow, between now and April, things will become clear and the choice will be easy (or easier). We'll see!