Ciboney

Hey, guys and girls, any reaction to checking your programs in the rankings posted earlier? It does show that candidates have to be careful not to confuse the reputation of a university as a whole with that of a specific graduate program. I used it to pick up a list of decent programs that was modified over time as important considerations were added such as no GRE or TOEFL exams, courses taught and their descriptions ("examination of capitalistic imperialism oppression of the feminine gender and bisexuality under Fascist dictatorships in South America as expressed in marginalized music and oral poetry of the favelas" was a party pooper and a red flag), geographical location and living expenses, etc. The original list was significantly reduced, although I left a poorly-ranked one (that ended up rejecting me anyway!). ? Who else is waiting for decisions? I have four still. Although I highly doubt I would go to two of them if they would accept me (which I doubt). I just do not have a good feeling I would be happy there. Very different programs though. Indiana@Bloomington is sending out notifications in the last couple of days. I was informed today by email that I will hear from Purdue by the end of the month or earlier. I am quite interested in the literature faculty of the program there, and the institution in general.

If anyone following this thread applied to U of Colorado, Boulder: results were posted this morning, at least for some people.

Greetings again, applicants in my field. Although not particularly a fan of rankings in general, I thought I might share the National Research Council (USA) rankings of literature & linguistics graduate programs in the United States from 8 years ago, the latest. You can check your programs (where you applied to) there. The most useful for me where the first two columns on reputation/prestige among scholars and the last two columns on the quality overall of the programs after an evaluation of all factors. https://www.chronicle.com/article/nrc-rankings-overview-spanish/124661

Marion: re "They are lying, obviously. OR those posting results are lying. I got a response from Wisconsin just now saying they are reviewing applications and will make decisions in the next few weeks. Yet one of the chatters here says she has been accepted by Wisconsin. Obviously another discrepancy." I assumed it was not you, but the email I received from Wisconsin saying they had not made decisions yet. Obviously, some decisions have already been made as your case shows. Congrats to those admitted to programs they applied to in the last few days. Rodrigo: you are applying for Portuguese? I noticed that you are in Brazil. From the information I am getting, the last week of February will be the time then to hear from Northwestern, Colorado@Boulder, and Wisconsin@Madison. Pity that they do not communicate rejections first, like Maryland or Illinois. I wonder how is it that others can make decisions in 2 weeks or 4 weeks... Probably better organized faculty and graduate program directors. Borderlands: Macunaíma by de Andrade expresses better how I feel lately than that poem by Lope de Vega. ?

Oh! And thanks for sharing info on interviews for Northwestern.

They are lying, obviously. OR those posting results are lying. I got a response from Wisconsin just now saying they are reviewing applications and will make decisions in the next few weeks. Yet one of the chatters here says she has been accepted by Wisconsin. Obviously another discrepancy. And about Northwestern ... I did find their statistics: about 40 applicants last year if I recall correctly. They accepted about 5 people. They all accepted the offer.

Minnesota is not on my list. I have seen something about it posted in "Results" ... Curiously, I decided not to apply there because, although highly ranked, they requested a recorded presentation as part of the application. Ironically, then I was forced to do it for the School of Languages and Cultures at Purdue University since it was required. What program were you accepted to, Master's or PhD? Are you in linguistics or literature? Purdue U. informed me that they had made their decisions for linguistics already. (I am in literature, so I still have some hope in that school. Their program is considered one of the top 10, but the most important thing is that the faculty seems to be so interesting and humbly scholarly, as opposed to the information available in some many Internet sites for others. Guys: what are your fields of interest? Literature or linguistics? I plan to study Spanish-American literature, 19th and early 20th Centuries. But I have a strong interest in the Renaissance and Golden Age of Spain as well. What made you decide on applying to the programs you chose? In my case it was: the rankings of their quality (National Research Council study of 2010), the faculty areas of specialty, lack of GRE as a requirement, and the possibility (in my naïve vision) of getting admitted. This last criteria was crushed by reality and later (post-application) research on their available statistics showing the huge amount of applications from all over the world!

Marion: I am wondering too. Was it the MA or the PhD track at Wisconsin@Madison? By the way, neither Wisconsin nor Northwestern replied to my email inquiry yesterday. Pittsburgh did within an hour. This seems to be like the mystery religions in the Roman Empire.

Thanks for sharing the news about how your schools are responding. ?

Ah, some news... Good luck, Laura. That is good you got waitlisted at Illinois. I got rejected.

Got a message from U of Pittsburgh. Decisions will be communicated in mid-April.

Marioncrane: thanks for the information! I applied to the MA in literature. I have not heard from them, not even to reject me. The graduate/coordinator position was vacant in December. I found a name and email today and just asked about the status minutes ago. I was most probably rejected, based on past experiences. I also asked today about time frames to Pittsburgh and Northwestern. In Purdue and Colorado, Boulder they have been very friendly and quick. I am not sure about these ones yet. U of Wisconsin seems OK based on their own websites' official stories. A couple of instructors there I would like to work with. Yet, there is something about it, after I watched some videos in YouTube that just does not click with me. I don't know what it is. It does not matter; I'm most probably rejected.

The statistics for applicants, admitted, and attending students (those who accepted offers) can be found in the official websites of some universities like Wisconsin@Madison or Northwestern. The only program lacking the information at Northwestern happens to be mine! Anyone has any news besides those posted in "Results"? I am waiting and waiting from those that still have not communicated their decisions. U. of Colorado at Boulder informed me last week that they will be sending their decisions in the next few weeks. Nothing yet from Northwestern, Wisconsin@Madison, Pittsburgh, or Purdue. ?

1/28 Update Rejected: Emory (PhD), Michigan@Ann Arbor (PhD), Illinois@Urbana-Champaign (MA), Maryland@College Park(MA) ? Pending: 6 of 10. ? Running to the closest pub to have a couple of shots. ?‍♀️

Marion: good luck with the interview with Madison, Wisconsin. I applied there for the Master's program and I have not been rejected so far. I assume your interview is for the doctorate. And yeah... that Emory... I thought that my research focus was a good fit and thinking that Emory's is the lowest-ranked program in my list nationwide (NRC)... but, as I said, I was really worried about extremely expensive area and the South in general as personal fits, not the program. I still have to hear from a bunch like Colorado, Boulder or Purdue or Pittsburgh... I am not very hopeful. Its looks like what a friend told me about the Spanish literature programs or (even the linguistics fields) is true: the world-wide applications from so many good candidates from foreign countries and with graduate degrees makes it brutally competitive; too many factors, he told me, like "several" teaching assistantships only for only 40-60 applicants. My friend described this game as "playing the f_____g lottery;" it is not about merit or qualifications basically but about luck.

Thanks, Gonza! I have dealt with two rejections so far and I have weeks of waiting for the other five applications. Where did you apply to, if you do not mind sharing the info? Besides the two rejections already on the thread here, my other applications were: Colorado at Boulder, Northwestern, Wisconsin at Madison, Maryland at College Park, and Pittsburgh.

"Just received good news from Michigan ? accepted w/funding for 5 years!" Congrats, Saluh. They rejected me, yesterday. Sincere congratulations if you choose to go. I thought that it was a good program for me. Others I applied to, I was not so sure. Besides the excellent reputation of the university as a whole, the location is excellent. I am still waiting to hear from others. Already rejected from the one that was at the bottom of the list (preference, good overall fit). Wish me luck! ?

Good! Thanks for the good wishes!

That is the way to do it, when you are ready in your life to take that responsibility. Pets do help with bringing the muses too. We have Northwestern, Michigan, and Illinois@Urbana. Good luck.

Nothing yet from applications due in December. ?

Reputation only... https://www.chronicle.com/article/nrc-rankings-overview-/124660

No, most grad programs in languages/cultures/linguistics do not; but some do, from what I have read. I think only two in my list do, Northwestern and Emory. However, the fact that some programs do not usually have interviews does not mean that a professor can call you and schedule one as well. It depends on how much interest they might have on you or that they want clarification on something in your application. Most interviews are by phone, if they do take place. Let us know if they ask for an interview! ?

I agree with JD. It depends on the deadlines, the faculty work ethics, the numbers of applications... Some of my applications' deadlines were in early-mid December. I already got a response. Yet others' deadlines were in early-mid January. I know in my field people get decisions notifications in late February to mid March very often. Some programs have interviews as part of the processes, which takes more time for decisions.

Hi, Saluh! I had not checked the thread in a while and I had not seen your post. Michigan, Ann Arbor is on my list; the others are not. Michigan-Ann Arbor is highly regarded and highly ranked. (2010 ranking of doctoral programs). Strong program and the campus is gorgeous, from all that I have seen (that Law School area is amazing!). Location is an asset too. I do not have much hope to get admitted by that program though.

I think that now, around the end of January, from what I have read. None of those programs are on my list though. And I do not know of any interview so far from anyone.