Bopie5

Okay, with the disclaimer that absolutely everything I am about to say is total conjecture (aka, I have little to no data, quantitatively or anecdotally)...
I think that because of our near-total lack of information, it's actually pretty easy to make the case for either side here. For instance, one could argue that the programs who paused admissions for this cycle logically make this cycle more competitive (more or the same number of people applying to fewer programs). However, there's no way to know if programs pausing also led some applicants to pause, which might balance it out. Right now, we have a sense of how many programs paused admissions, but there's no tangible way to map how that impacted the applicant pool (yet). Like @kirbs005 says, the pandemic caused some people to apply to fewer programs (1-5 instead of 10-20), whereas I ended up applying to more programs than I anticipated I would last April (14 instead of 5-6). 
Similarly, if we go off 2008, we might be able to reasonably assume that unemployment and other pandemic-related issues will push more people to apply to grad school. At the same time though, I know a few people who are not interested in applying until they can be sure that they'll be able to safely start their program in person. I think there's a bit of an apples-to-oranges element there.
One could also make the argument that more applicants does not necessarily actually make the pool more competitive. Obviously, numerically it does, but I think it can also depend on your subfield--an influx of c19 applicants might not impact you that much if you're a medievalist and not many more medievalists apply. This also isn't even considering applications that don't make it past the "first round" (if that's how the program does their admissions process).
All this to say, I think we can speculate on this, but we truly cannot know anything until schools share data, if/when they do so. I think there's certainly reason to believe that this cycle is more competitive, like@DanArndtWrites suggests. I think it's also likely that this application cycle will simply be weird. Essentially, I think there's no way for us to know, and the lack of data makes it easy to make a convincing case either way.
I don't know if this is comforting or stressful, but as others have said, please remember we are not our results! As a friend of mine currently in a program told me, an acceptance is personal, but a rejection isn't. Wishing us all good luck, and hoping everyone is managing the anxiety of these next few weeks!
 

I know right! This is so unnerving, and sharing this experience with good people indeed helps. I would have gone insane by overthinking every second or just by living inside my head (which, I promise, is a nightmare), if I didn't find this forum. I wish you and all the beautiful people here the very best of this season! May everyone get into their desired schools.

Hi! I'm new here too, as of a few days ago. I totally understand your anxiety - mine has skyrocketed so much over the last few days, I've been struggling with finding ways to cope. Personally, academic admissions has always been a weird struggle for me - despite being an excellent student and having good extracurriculars, varied interests and lots of passion and commitment, I have NEVER gotten into even the top three schools of my choice - not for undergrad, not for grad school, not even for high school! 
This forum has definitely helped me though, in finding a community of people who are going through the exact same stress and anxiety that I am! We just have to keep reminding ourselves that we're all in this together - even though admissions is technically "competitive," it shouldn't pit us against each other. 
Hope you hear good news soon! 

Okay, with the disclaimer that absolutely everything I am about to say is total conjecture (aka, I have little to no data, quantitatively or anecdotally)...
I think that because of our near-total lack of information, it's actually pretty easy to make the case for either side here. For instance, one could argue that the programs who paused admissions for this cycle logically make this cycle more competitive (more or the same number of people applying to fewer programs). However, there's no way to know if programs pausing also led some applicants to pause, which might balance it out. Right now, we have a sense of how many programs paused admissions, but there's no tangible way to map how that impacted the applicant pool (yet). Like @kirbs005 says, the pandemic caused some people to apply to fewer programs (1-5 instead of 10-20), whereas I ended up applying to more programs than I anticipated I would last April (14 instead of 5-6). 
Similarly, if we go off 2008, we might be able to reasonably assume that unemployment and other pandemic-related issues will push more people to apply to grad school. At the same time though, I know a few people who are not interested in applying until they can be sure that they'll be able to safely start their program in person. I think there's a bit of an apples-to-oranges element there.
One could also make the argument that more applicants does not necessarily actually make the pool more competitive. Obviously, numerically it does, but I think it can also depend on your subfield--an influx of c19 applicants might not impact you that much if you're a medievalist and not many more medievalists apply. This also isn't even considering applications that don't make it past the "first round" (if that's how the program does their admissions process).
All this to say, I think we can speculate on this, but we truly cannot know anything until schools share data, if/when they do so. I think there's certainly reason to believe that this cycle is more competitive, like@DanArndtWrites suggests. I think it's also likely that this application cycle will simply be weird. Essentially, I think there's no way for us to know, and the lack of data makes it easy to make a convincing case either way.
I don't know if this is comforting or stressful, but as others have said, please remember we are not our results! As a friend of mine currently in a program told me, an acceptance is personal, but a rejection isn't. Wishing us all good luck, and hoping everyone is managing the anxiety of these next few weeks!
 

I checked on the portal found I got accepted to OSU! I wasn't expecting much because I had been making changes to my SOP and writing sample until the last minute, so it's a pleasant surprise  

Okay, with the disclaimer that absolutely everything I am about to say is total conjecture (aka, I have little to no data, quantitatively or anecdotally)...
I think that because of our near-total lack of information, it's actually pretty easy to make the case for either side here. For instance, one could argue that the programs who paused admissions for this cycle logically make this cycle more competitive (more or the same number of people applying to fewer programs). However, there's no way to know if programs pausing also led some applicants to pause, which might balance it out. Right now, we have a sense of how many programs paused admissions, but there's no tangible way to map how that impacted the applicant pool (yet). Like @kirbs005 says, the pandemic caused some people to apply to fewer programs (1-5 instead of 10-20), whereas I ended up applying to more programs than I anticipated I would last April (14 instead of 5-6). 
Similarly, if we go off 2008, we might be able to reasonably assume that unemployment and other pandemic-related issues will push more people to apply to grad school. At the same time though, I know a few people who are not interested in applying until they can be sure that they'll be able to safely start their program in person. I think there's a bit of an apples-to-oranges element there.
One could also make the argument that more applicants does not necessarily actually make the pool more competitive. Obviously, numerically it does, but I think it can also depend on your subfield--an influx of c19 applicants might not impact you that much if you're a medievalist and not many more medievalists apply. This also isn't even considering applications that don't make it past the "first round" (if that's how the program does their admissions process).
All this to say, I think we can speculate on this, but we truly cannot know anything until schools share data, if/when they do so. I think there's certainly reason to believe that this cycle is more competitive, like@DanArndtWrites suggests. I think it's also likely that this application cycle will simply be weird. Essentially, I think there's no way for us to know, and the lack of data makes it easy to make a convincing case either way.
I don't know if this is comforting or stressful, but as others have said, please remember we are not our results! As a friend of mine currently in a program told me, an acceptance is personal, but a rejection isn't. Wishing us all good luck, and hoping everyone is managing the anxiety of these next few weeks!
 

I applied and was thinking the same. However, I definitely agree with Kirbs and bopie that timelines may be looking a bit different this year. 
As for a competitive cycle, the way I've been looking at it is that every cycle is competitive. Even if this cycle is more (or less!) competitive, the application process is grueling and a lot of the time, great applicants will be accepted and rejected from schools. I don't know if thinking that way necessarily makes me feel any better, as it still worries me tremendously, but I agree with bopie that an acceptance is personal, a rejection isn't!

Okay, with the disclaimer that absolutely everything I am about to say is total conjecture (aka, I have little to no data, quantitatively or anecdotally)...
I think that because of our near-total lack of information, it's actually pretty easy to make the case for either side here. For instance, one could argue that the programs who paused admissions for this cycle logically make this cycle more competitive (more or the same number of people applying to fewer programs). However, there's no way to know if programs pausing also led some applicants to pause, which might balance it out. Right now, we have a sense of how many programs paused admissions, but there's no tangible way to map how that impacted the applicant pool (yet). Like @kirbs005 says, the pandemic caused some people to apply to fewer programs (1-5 instead of 10-20), whereas I ended up applying to more programs than I anticipated I would last April (14 instead of 5-6). 
Similarly, if we go off 2008, we might be able to reasonably assume that unemployment and other pandemic-related issues will push more people to apply to grad school. At the same time though, I know a few people who are not interested in applying until they can be sure that they'll be able to safely start their program in person. I think there's a bit of an apples-to-oranges element there.
One could also make the argument that more applicants does not necessarily actually make the pool more competitive. Obviously, numerically it does, but I think it can also depend on your subfield--an influx of c19 applicants might not impact you that much if you're a medievalist and not many more medievalists apply. This also isn't even considering applications that don't make it past the "first round" (if that's how the program does their admissions process).
All this to say, I think we can speculate on this, but we truly cannot know anything until schools share data, if/when they do so. I think there's certainly reason to believe that this cycle is more competitive, like@DanArndtWrites suggests. I think it's also likely that this application cycle will simply be weird. Essentially, I think there's no way for us to know, and the lack of data makes it easy to make a convincing case either way.
I don't know if this is comforting or stressful, but as others have said, please remember we are not our results! As a friend of mine currently in a program told me, an acceptance is personal, but a rejection isn't. Wishing us all good luck, and hoping everyone is managing the anxiety of these next few weeks!
 

Hi all! I want to echo all that's been said here and introduce myself. Though I can definitely be obsessive about checking grad cafe, it's been so so helpful to come to this forum and not feel so alone, especially in a process that's hard to understand from the outside. I decided to create an account when my scrolling of past forums got a *little* too excessive, but I'm looking forward to being on this wacky journey with you all!! 

Definitely agree with all of the previous posts, I have most certainly been feeling quite anxious knowing results will most likely head my way soon. I cannot stop imagining what it will feel like if I do get accepted (but also the disappointment of when I'm rejected) I worked in retail as a manager before getting accepted to my current program, and my worst fear has been having to stay in retail or go back into it after this semester. I do have a backup thankfully, a teaching job, but that hasn't stopped me from panic checking my email and the results section every day. I became really obsessed with results when I applied last time, so I've been trying to limit my time here on Gradcafe. The semester also started for me today, so I'm hoping that can occupy some of my time and keep me from being so obsessive!
Despite being ridden with anxiety, I have so many good feelings for all of us. I remember some of you from the last time I applied, and there is just no way we have not become stronger scholars and people in the last couple of years! I really wish all of us the best and that people get into their dream schools this cycle!

Thank you for all your thoughts and apprehensions. They make me feel seen despite some silence we've had here in the last few days. This year's forum has certainly been less active than last's and that made me wonder about the state of everyone's health, knowing full well the anxiety and anticipation that comes after app submission. In my case, my backup plan is to go for the deferred admission to a English-CW program but with partial funding, it is not a very attractive option. My main source of worry is what colleagues will think of me if I get shut out this year; most of them have gone to top programs in the US and UK and one is usually dismissed if no grad experience abroad. I am also hoping for the best but the more I read how competitive this season is, the more I feel inadequate and sure, SURE that I won't be getting in anywhere.
But that doesn't stop me from compulsively checking GC and reddit everyday, and jumping when an email notification comes in.
Hugging you all from across the Pacific. 

That's a great way to think about the situation! We can still make changes in our lives with or without a grad school offer. Thanks for helping me put things into perspective!

Please remember that you are not your acceptances. You are not your writing sample nor are you your statement of purpose. You are not your grades. You are much more than that. Please don't let your acceptances define you.

This is definitely daunting to think about! Now that all my apps are in and there's nothing more I can do, I've found that my thoughts keep getting sucked into random things adjacent to the idea of getting into a program (trying to guess whether the pandemic led to more or fewer applicants, looking at apartments in all the cities even though that is definitely a waste of my time, lurking around academic twitter, reading endless articles about the dire state of the job market/the humanities in general, etc). None of these things provide much in terms of peace of mind, but I can't stop myself from trying to find whatever information I can, no matter how tangentially related.
Once next semester actually starts and I'm busy writing my thesis, it will be better! Wishing luck to everyone. It's a strange season, but we have done all we can, and even getting apps in is such an accomplishment given the circumstances. I hope there will be a lot of good news going around this forum in a few months!

Hi all! I've been pretty MIA on this site for a while after last year's cycle ended, but I just wanted to pop in and wish you all good luck. I can't even begin to imagine how stressful this process must have been this year, and each one of you smart, strong candidates deserves to make it into your first-choice programs. ?

I do Orange Theory about 3-5 times a week and then yoga/long distance running each once a week! I've always wanted to get into barre but couldn't budget it with my Orange Theory membership. 

Me: I'm not going to stress over applications this year.
Also me: just woke up from a nightmare where applicants are eliminated survivor style by judges. Instead of each school judging, there was one set of judges who went through every single application. I was one of two in a double elimination and they gave us a "fact sheet" about our applications and for my level of skill they had written "fricken undergrad!" Results, please come faster lol.

I can't tell y'all how many puzzles I've been doing lately... It really has that amazing power to make hours go by without having to think about anything except putting pieces together and matching color schemes. But then once I finish the puzzle my brain goes, "well I guess we might as well go refresh the *english results page on Grad Cafe for literally no reason!" As a survivor of last year's application season, I am sending all of you my sincere best wishes. Stay strong and support local bookstores with your puzzle obsession! 

My sister just picked up knitting and has been trying to get me to join her! I love how dainty and sweet embroidery is. And I love houseplants! My room in my house is too dark, so I stick to succulents, but I am also a houseplant enthusiast. 
I just read Transcendent Kingdom and enjoyed it lots! I'm currently trekking though Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates. 

I'm so sorry to hear about your job! I can't imagine how stressful that must be. I'm jealous of your puppy though. Feel you though--I've been focusing a lot on my yoga practice, and I'm writing my master's thesis, and that's pretty much my entire life right now.
Have you tried embroidery? It's not active necessarily but it's easy to pick up and nice to do something with your hands while watching tv. I've also gotten really in to tending my houseplants (I have over 25...). 
I've gotten much more in to reading for fun over the last few months. A few I really enjoyed recently were The Idiot by Elif Batuman, Memorial by Bryan Washington,10:04 by Ben Lerner, and Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. What have you been reading lately?

This is definitely daunting to think about! Now that all my apps are in and there's nothing more I can do, I've found that my thoughts keep getting sucked into random things adjacent to the idea of getting into a program (trying to guess whether the pandemic led to more or fewer applicants, looking at apartments in all the cities even though that is definitely a waste of my time, lurking around academic twitter, reading endless articles about the dire state of the job market/the humanities in general, etc). None of these things provide much in terms of peace of mind, but I can't stop myself from trying to find whatever information I can, no matter how tangentially related.
Once next semester actually starts and I'm busy writing my thesis, it will be better! Wishing luck to everyone. It's a strange season, but we have done all we can, and even getting apps in is such an accomplishment given the circumstances. I hope there will be a lot of good news going around this forum in a few months!

First of all, love your username. Second of all, this is so real and relatable! I thought I’d feel better once I got them all in, and in some ways I do. But I’m feeling like, phantom deadlines, imagining there are things due that I’m forgetting.

Hi everyone!
I'm new here! This is my first round of applications so I am nervous and of course so uncertain about what this cycle could bring.
I'm interested in law & literature and critical theory. Most of the programs I applied for offer a critical theory emphasis (UCI, Davis, and Berkeley). I am a 7th grade teacher so I spent my winter break finalizing applications, and now I'm trying to shift all of my focus to teaching before admission results come out.
Good luck to everyone!

Hi! Been lurking since last year when I applied to four PhD programs in English where I got completely shut out (my lone acceptance was creative writing). This year, I've applied to five UC schools: Berkeley, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Irvine, and San Diego. Finally created an account to express solidarity with everyone applying in such unpredictable times and say thank you in advance for making this process feel less lonely. ? ?

Long time listener, first time caller. Had to make an account just to say this is so relatable, I'm doing the exact same as you (trying to suss out numbers of applicants, pointlessly looking at apartments, lurking on academic twitter...). It's nice to know I'm not the only one getting mentally sucked into grad application-related stuff! I told myself I would forget about applications as soon as I had them in, since I'm not really expecting any acceptances this cycle, yet it's all I'm thinking about now... I'm even checking application portals even though there's no chance of decisions until February at the earliest!