_Athena_

I feel all of that, plus obsessively checking the GradCafe results page. ?

Is it just me, or do minutes feel much longer than 60 seconds this week? Still waiting to hear back from five programs...

Hmm, I hope that means that CSR is not far behind rather than that they've already sent out acceptances. Thanks for the info!

@SAM311 No word yet, but I think we should expect to hear back very soon! As @alizeh55 uncovered, the committee met on Feb. 9, and admissions results are usually released about 2 weeks later.

So sorry to hear about all of those who received bad news today! I'm wishing you all luck and hoping other opportunities will open up for you.

Congratulations!! Really hope PhDs are not far behind...

Oh, that's interesting. Thanks for sharing!

I just got an email from them about graduate diversity resources and almost had a heart attack but no word on admissions results yet!

Acceptances for UNC have already been sent out. I know of one person who was waitlisted, but I don't know if they're sending out more. So sorry that I can't be the bearer of better news!

Very grateful for the support of this community, too, and very humbled by everyone's kindness and humanity.

Crossing my fingers for you to make it off the wait list!

No word from them yet! The professor I spoke to in my subfield seemed doubtful that there would be formal interviews.

Thanks so much!

In at Fordham!! Just got an informal acceptance over the phone!

I really tip my hat to everyone on this forum. :') This is possibly the worst application cycle to apply, and the academy can be so cutthroat and merciless, but you all seem like such lovely humans. Sorry for the sappiness, but the ivory tower could use more people like you all.

Nothing yet, either!

Since programs usually review applicants holistically, it's really hard to say, but I think both your SOP and letters of rec have the ability to make or break your application. If I had to pick one thing, though, it would probably be program fit. I would imagine your application automatically gets tossed into the "rejected" pile if your research interests don't align with those of any faculty members.

Dinged from Yale as well. That stings a bit, but I'm very grateful to already have a wonderful option under my belt. I was told by a professor that there were a maximum of 4 spots available for all subfields in the Religious Studies department - what a year to apply! Congrats to those who got in!

It certainly seems that way! But a lot of the usual suspects (Princeton, UPenn, Columbia, and so on come to mind) aren't accepting applications this year, and many of the programs that are accepting applications are doing so at a reduced capacity, so I suppose I'm not too surprised.

It seems to happen a lot, particularly if you've had extensive prior contact with a POI, but it's not always the case! I received an informal acceptance via email from my POI at UNC before I was formally accepted. I don't think not getting a phone call/an email precludes you from getting in, but I'm sure it depends on the program/professor in question.

I'm sorry! Good luck to you in the rest of the process as well!

Yes, Religious Studies - Ancient Mediterranean Religions.

From the sound of it, your interview went well! I would say a congenial atmosphere is a good sign, but I suppose you can never be certain with these things, unless you hear it straight from the horse's mouth. At the end of my UNC interview, my POI said that they were going to make a case for my nomination, but I'm not sure everyone would be that direct. Anyway, I definitely forgot some things I wanted to say and said some things not as eloquently as I would have wanted to, but I still got in. I'm sure any reasonable professor will understand the major anxiety factor that goes into an interview. I'm wishing you the best of luck and hope you get in!

When I applied to Yale Div School in the fall of 2018, I got in but was not interviewed. In fact, I don't think they conduct interviews at all now, but I could be wrong.