Bopie5

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!

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!

Mostly distracting myself with work and reading if possible. If schools follow the same timeline that they normally do, I think I'll know about all but one of my schools by the beginning/middle of February which is a little daunting. Also thinking about alternate plans with my partner if I don't get accepted anywhere. 
But I did have my first weird application dream - not a nightmare luckily, I got into the school in question in the dream - but still frustrating when I woke up. Good luck to everyone else waiting - I hope you don't have weird dreams (or if you do I hope they're not bad ones)! And Happy New Year!

Happy new year! Hopefully by not obsessing over results like the last time I applied. I have a FULL course load this semester, so I hope that will keep my mind off it, at least a little bit. I've also been getting back into crafting and journaling. I was lucky enough to pretty much secure a job offer that would start in July if I'm not accepted into any programs, so that's something I've been reminding myself whenever I feel nervous or anxious about waiting for results!

Good luck everyone! Waiting sucks but it'll be April 15th in no time.

Happy new year, all! How's everyone doing? How are you planning to weather the next 2-3 weird months of waiting? 

Happy new year, all! How's everyone doing? How are you planning to weather the next 2-3 weird months of waiting? 

Wishing everyone a happy new year! Hope things go well in 2021!

Finished all my applications, did not anticipate having to write so damn much. Now it's the wait...

Hi folks! Just got all six of my apps in and wishing you all the best with yours! Realllly starting to wish it was February already though so I could get all the unknowing out of the way, haha.
Is anyone familiar with Ohio State's program, by chance? It's prob my topic pick right now but I'm not sure how often they accept people (like me) applying to their integrated MA/PhD straight out of undergrad.

Good luck, everyone!!!! It's been a tough year and I hope that there is good news waiting for you all on the other side of it. I hope everyone has a restful holiday period in the meantime ❤️ ☃️
 
 
 

awww thank you so much!! Your reply really made my day!

You can do it. You will do it. 

If possible, consider the benefits of setting up a time table for completing and submitting the six remaining applications. Ideally, the time table will include breaks during which you'll take care of yourself.

Give some thought to the kind of workflow that will work for you best right now. Do you want to finish one application at a time? Will you feel better if you work on your top choices first? Would a 'production line' approach help?

What ever mix of tactics you select, understand that you've worked very hard to get to this point of the process and you're almost there. You will have time to relax during the holidays.

When it's time to get back to it, consider the advantages of a "lessons learned" exercise -- you will be submitting more applications as a graduate student.

You can do it. You will do it.

Ok, that's enough of you.

I sent all 14 of my apps on Sunday and Monday, and all four of letter writers got their letters in, which is such a relief. 
@lilgreenblatt I loved reading your SoP, and I’m really hopeful for you! I’m going to project good things into both of our futures. 
Wishing you (and everyone else) the best. I’m sure this forum will slowly dissolve into worry/anticipation/anxiety over the next few months, but for now we should all celebrate the accomplishment of even getting our apps in given the circumstances! 

I sent all 14 of my apps on Sunday and Monday, and all four of letter writers got their letters in, which is such a relief. 
@lilgreenblatt I loved reading your SoP, and I’m really hopeful for you! I’m going to project good things into both of our futures. 
Wishing you (and everyone else) the best. I’m sure this forum will slowly dissolve into worry/anticipation/anxiety over the next few months, but for now we should all celebrate the accomplishment of even getting our apps in given the circumstances! 

I sent all 14 of my apps on Sunday and Monday, and all four of letter writers got their letters in, which is such a relief. 
@lilgreenblatt I loved reading your SoP, and I’m really hopeful for you! I’m going to project good things into both of our futures. 
Wishing you (and everyone else) the best. I’m sure this forum will slowly dissolve into worry/anticipation/anxiety over the next few months, but for now we should all celebrate the accomplishment of even getting our apps in given the circumstances! 

I sent all 14 of my apps on Sunday and Monday, and all four of letter writers got their letters in, which is such a relief. 
@lilgreenblatt I loved reading your SoP, and I’m really hopeful for you! I’m going to project good things into both of our futures. 
Wishing you (and everyone else) the best. I’m sure this forum will slowly dissolve into worry/anticipation/anxiety over the next few months, but for now we should all celebrate the accomplishment of even getting our apps in given the circumstances! 

Finished mine last week and all my letters have been sent off as well!! Fingers crossed and prayers (for those who believe in them and want them) for all! 

Good luck and good vibes to everyone submitting applications! 

Submitted 6/13 of my apps today. Going to do 4 more tomorrow, and then the last 3 next week. I can't tell if I'm relieved or even more anxious now that they're submitted. 
How's everyone else doing?

I'm celebrating today! I just submitted my first application, and I'm finalizing my SOP for the other. All my requests for LORs are out. I'm psyched because I'm still nearly a month out from the deadlines!

I just sent in my writing sample for final review w/some former cohort members and once that's done, I'm done with all my materials (except a diversity statement that I may or may not need depending on if a program decides to accept applications yet or not). I'm hoping that it's done next week so that I can submit/start reminding and pestering my professors to submit their letters. 

@EffervescentMoon I've made some dents in my materials, definitely also feeling a bit behind schedule. I am working on what should be the final draft of my writing sample, so once that's done I'll feel a lot better. Then I just need to customize a few more personal statements. I'll be cutting it close to the December 15th deadline for some of my schools, that's for sure.

I could see it being helpful if you are planning to go into the digital humanities, but even then it is very far from necessary. I would not spend your time doing that. If you feel you have major gaps in your coursework record somewhere in the major fields of English literature (medieval, early modern, C18, C19, C20/contemporary, a general literary theory course) then you might audit a graduate course in that field to boost your CV/educational background. But as long as you have taken a range of classes in English already, I don't think that even that's necessary.