ExileFromAFutureTime

Wow, waitlisted at NYU. Wasn't expecting that.

Wow, waitlisted at NYU. Wasn't expecting that.

Now that we're approaching the end of the application cycle, what would you have done differently if you had to do it again? If you will go through the application process again next year, what will you change?
My own answer: I didn't prioritize 'fit' as much as I should have, which meant that I applied to schools that were an almost guaranteed rejection. I also didn't consider the present department faculty as much as I should; I applied to specific programs because of certain (now retired - or even deceased) scholars. I learned about certain exciting programs too late in the application process to apply - part of this is due to being an international applicant and not being as knowledgeable about the US academic scene. I definitely would have applied to UCSD English and UT Austin English and to fewer PA/NJ/NYC schools which shall remain unnamed. Finally, I would have spent far less time anguishing over the GRE quantitative section. 
Your turn! 
 

Now that we're approaching the end of the application cycle, what would you have done differently if you had to do it again? If you will go through the application process again next year, what will you change?
My own answer: I didn't prioritize 'fit' as much as I should have, which meant that I applied to schools that were an almost guaranteed rejection. I also didn't consider the present department faculty as much as I should; I applied to specific programs because of certain (now retired - or even deceased) scholars. I learned about certain exciting programs too late in the application process to apply - part of this is due to being an international applicant and not being as knowledgeable about the US academic scene. I definitely would have applied to UCSD English and UT Austin English and to fewer PA/NJ/NYC schools which shall remain unnamed. Finally, I would have spent far less time anguishing over the GRE quantitative section. 
Your turn! 
 

Hi folks,

I called the Yale Grad Admissions office (sorry Yale admins, if you are by any chance reading this- I am a total bug) and the nice person who took my call said that decisions should be going out in the next day or two. They said they did not have information on whether or not all offers of admission have been sent out, only that decisions (not sure which) would be going out sometime soon (in next couple days). It is possible that they have sent out all offers, but I suppose we'll know soon enough.

Rejection from U Victoria came through....
but I also got email from UCSC saying they had some good news for a phone call... could it be really good news?

@ekat97 I completed my MA in English Studies at Freie Universität Berlin this year and applied to mainly US-PhD programs (English/American Studies). In this cycle, I have been accepted into two programs and waitlisted at two programs. While I'm thrilled with the results, I probably would have had more success had I applied to more interdisciplinary programs that obviously fit with my interests (literary left history and transnational modernisms). Instead, I mostly applied to English lit programs, thinking that I had to continue in the discipline due to my MA. 
Anyway, back to your question: I think your Ph.D. prospects will be fine if you do your MA abroad. Most important is demonstrating that you're capable of PhD-level work and have defined areas of interest that overlap with that of faculty at your school of interest.
If I may pitch Germany: University is tuition-free regardless of nationality, and I even received a scholarship from the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, which paid for my living expenses for three years. The English Studies program at Freie isn't the most robust (in comparison to programs you would find in an English-language speaking country) but it did allow me the space to explore my interests with little financial pressure - and no debt! 
There are other perks: I learned German in university language courses. Cafeteria food is subsidized, and it's easy to get cheap ballet and opera tickets. The only cost is a semester registration fee which amounts to 600 euros/year; this includes a city-wide transportation pass.
In comparison to the US educational system, the German system is unstructured. No one is looking over your shoulder to make sure you're progressing and it's very easy to be a student for years on end. You're not required to complete courses you start - you can drop a course by simply not writing the term paper. This forced me to be disciplined with my time and organize myself, which I believe will help with the Ph.D. Happy to answer any other questions about my specific experience.
 

@ekat97 I completed my MA in English Studies at Freie Universität Berlin this year and applied to mainly US-PhD programs (English/American Studies). In this cycle, I have been accepted into two programs and waitlisted at two programs. While I'm thrilled with the results, I probably would have had more success had I applied to more interdisciplinary programs that obviously fit with my interests (literary left history and transnational modernisms). Instead, I mostly applied to English lit programs, thinking that I had to continue in the discipline due to my MA. 
Anyway, back to your question: I think your Ph.D. prospects will be fine if you do your MA abroad. Most important is demonstrating that you're capable of PhD-level work and have defined areas of interest that overlap with that of faculty at your school of interest.
If I may pitch Germany: University is tuition-free regardless of nationality, and I even received a scholarship from the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, which paid for my living expenses for three years. The English Studies program at Freie isn't the most robust (in comparison to programs you would find in an English-language speaking country) but it did allow me the space to explore my interests with little financial pressure - and no debt! 
There are other perks: I learned German in university language courses. Cafeteria food is subsidized, and it's easy to get cheap ballet and opera tickets. The only cost is a semester registration fee which amounts to 600 euros/year; this includes a city-wide transportation pass.
In comparison to the US educational system, the German system is unstructured. No one is looking over your shoulder to make sure you're progressing and it's very easy to be a student for years on end. You're not required to complete courses you start - you can drop a course by simply not writing the term paper. This forced me to be disciplined with my time and organize myself, which I believe will help with the Ph.D. Happy to answer any other questions about my specific experience.
 

Accepted at Rutgers  got a nice phone call from a POI. funny to me that i did well with traditional English programs and poorly with interdisciplinary programs when i thought it would be the opposite. 

In at Rutgers! What a thrill. Very sweet call from my POI. 

Hey all- Congrats on all the acceptances  I just got waitlisted at UPenn (my first choice /dream program) and was wondering if any of you admits might be turning down your offers? Trying to gauge possiblities. Also understand if it’s too soon to tell. Sending luck & well wishes to all waiting —

What a day: rejected at Penn (not a surprise) but accepted to the University of Houston.

Can Rutgers and Yale just reject me already so I can be done with this stupid process (except I’ll also be waiting for Columbia until April 15th at 4:55pm)

Honesty felt good to let those sweet, sweet UPenn and JH rejections wash over me this morning.
I’m ready for April.

really grateful for this thread! my first notification was good news so i decided to hold off and celebrate that when i had even more good news... and it's been downhill since then. i've been feeling pretty low tbh so this was a nice reminder to get out and celebrate, especially now that i’m pretty sure where i’ll be! thinking about doing something with friends this weekend even if it’s as simple as dinner and drinks. 

sure - I received a quick call from the DGS this morning. 

What a day: rejected at Penn (not a surprise) but accepted to the University of Houston.

What a day: rejected at Penn (not a surprise) but accepted to the University of Houston.

What a day: rejected at Penn (not a surprise) but accepted to the University of Houston.

Just got into UPenn! Finally, some tangible news. 

(Sorry, I posted in an old account above) Hi everyone! I'm currently at Yale in African-American Studies & American Studies and just wanted to update... from what I understand decisions have yet to be released & they're supposed to come out late Feb. Also, if you have any questions about the program, feel free to PM me. 

Today I was rejected by Columbia (email to check portal), waitlisted at CUNY (a nice email with an invitation to an open house mid-March), and accepted to University of Washington with funding! I'm overwhelmed :,)

FYI to those who applied to Purdue: Earlier this week I emailed the DGS of American Studies inquiring into my status (assuming rejection) and was informed that I had been waitlisted for the program. So if you haven't heard anything, do follow up. 

All the best to US! 

Waitlisted at Emory—this has been a dream school of mine since 2013, so not in the best place about it. 
DGS said I was on a small waitlist but not a ton of hope of movement since Emory has increased their stipend in a significant way this year.