HTM18

GRE is high in my opinion. no need to retake it.. email program incase they have a min score

Avoid.. I've and Couldn't.
In academic writing it should be ... I have... Could not..

You can submit a final paper for a course you previously took. The sample is to show your writing skills, does not have to be a long article, some universities may specify what kind or even page limit so please check with the program coordinator. Also, some may have writing prompts for you.
 

start getting ready for the GRE exam and make connections with professors for LORs

Just got through to the PI I want to work for which is such a huge relief and she would be excited to have me so I'm going to my top choice! Sorry for the freak out - I still honestly have no idea what I would've done if I hadn't heard back from her. 

I’m getting tired of people asking me if I heard back or not. I shouldn’t have told anyone I was applying. Lesson learned 

I think either would work. I had a visiting scholar write me an LOR even though I only took 1 class with him. The French professor could write a more personal LOR given that they know you better. Also, consider your grades for the courses.

Announcement: New grading policy! 
[Instructor] has decided to institute a new grading policy. [specifics]. This applies starting with the next assignment. Notice that this means that the numerical grade you will get might change, but the equivalent letter grade will remain the same. Notice additionally that since we are not retro-actively changing the grades on your first assignment, this will lead to some bump in everyone's final grades. 
I have never in my life had a student complain about getting a higher grade than they deserved. 
For any other questions, you refer them to the new grading schema and you point out that the grade corresponds to the same letter grade, and is what they earned on the assignment. I think you're blowing this out of proportion (though again, I don't think changing grading policies mid-semester is ever wise).

My recommender misspelled my name in the letter it was sent. It does not hurt your chances. They will care more about content.

Unfortunately, UK PhDs are not widely recognized.. institutions prefer someone with a US PhD. I would pick one of the funded US schools you were accepted in.

Unfortunately, UK PhDs are not widely recognized.. institutions prefer someone with a US PhD. I would pick one of the funded US schools you were accepted in.

This post might have been better put on the Venting thread. I am sorry for your experience thus far, and I agree that it is always good to keep perspective when a rejection comes in if you do have other offers or waitlists. That being said, people, even people who have acceptances, are allowed to feel disappointed when they are rejected and express that disappointment. It might be a school they thought they would fit in best at, or the school that would enable them to stay close to loved ones. It's a matter of being human, not being ungrateful. I personally plan to wail like an infant when Columbia rejects me, because I really see myself in that program and many of the people I love most in the world have moved to Manhattan or Brooklyn. (Though I will likely limit my wailing to the real world with only chihuahuas as audience.)
I really do hope you have an acceptance on the horizon, and that things turn around for you this season.