Glossed

Silly question, perhaps, but what is appropriate dress for a open house admitted student weekend? Casual, dress casual? Thanks all!

Hey Noxrosa, Wonderful! I'm definitely heading out there for the open house and will be doing a bit of apartment hunting as well (assuming all goes well with the meet and greet). Do you have any advice as to which neighborhoods are best (good mix of safe, cheap, etc.)? This will be my first trip to SB, so I am completely unfamiliar with the area. Thanks!

I've been accepted to UCSB's English department and looking for fellow admits (to any department) who know a bit about the area or are planning to attend an open house! Thanks!

I got a call also, very very excited about it. Anyone attending the perspective student day?

Looks like there are two acceptances posted on the board. Anyone care to claim? Any information you could share?

I've yet to hear anything from Irvine--not rejected, not admitted, not waitlisted. Oh the agony.

Anyone had any info about Santa Barbara?

It seems peculiar that there isn't more action on the boards about UVA. It seems that at least 4 people have been accepted thus far (two on our results board plus the two Jefferson Fellowship interviewees?). I'm really tempted to call, but I hate to be *that* student!

I'm curious, but not incredibly hopeful of actually getting in

Saw a 2nd acceptance--any more info?

I'm right there with you--the wait is killing me.

Grats Eli! Look forward to hearing more!

Grats to the person who posted the acceptance. Mind sharing details?

Is anyone aware of any acceptances to Irvine? Going a bit crazy since those rejections were posted but I haven't heard anything.

Its odd--I have yet to hear anything. Either that's a good sign, or my app was so dreadful that I didn't even deserve a formal response.

Curious if anyone has heard from this department?

Hi, I also applied to UCI. I haven't received an email yet, but immediately after I submitted my application I was given a website that tracks "Application Progress Review." Is that the site to which you are referring?

I applied to Duke's Literature program and assume that I will not be accepted since I did not receive an invite for an interview.

These board is probably as bad as a drug addiction--I just can't free myself.

The application of one program to which I am applying has a section to list the professors with whom you have had contact. Is this merely a way for them to decide which professor will give your application the first read? If so, it seems redundant with the POS listed in your personal statement. Any thoughts on contacting (via email, most likely) potential professors prior to applying? If that is a good idea, what is the best way to open the dialogue short of "I want to study with you"? Thanks!

In addition to being scattered, they are not nearly as friendly as many of the schools with whom I've had contact--I know everyone is busy, but a little love goes a long way!

Anyone turning down an offer to UC-Irvine?

Another reason to get the M.A. before applying to PhD programs would be a switch in disciplines. I hold a B.S. in the hard sciences, but discovered toward the end of my undergraduate education that my passion was in English Lit. Because I did not have the paper trail of dedication to the field, I only had a few options to be competitive in the PhD application process: 1) going back to undergrad studies and completing english courses or 2) doing an M.A. in English Lit. I opted for the latter. The results this year have been varied: having the M.A. definitely hurt my chances with a few schools that prefer to teach their graduates through the entire graduate process (Boston U, for instance)--on the other hand, I was able to be competitive at a couple of top 20 schools despite the change in my field of study. It seems like an issue that has no hard or fast rules--its very dependent upon the school's criteria.

I see on the results page someone was pulled from the waitlist. Congrats! Anyone care to claim the good news?

This must be the waitlist to top all waitlists. Beginning to wonder how big that "top" is if we are all sitting on it.