snorkles

I think this is fair. I was able to attend Berkeley for 2 years, and presumably I had good letters written for me, but I was not guided through the process at all. Others in my program, who went to much lower ranked schools for undegrad, had faculty mentors who were heavily invested in them (not a critique of Cal here) and I think it shows/showed in their ability to navigate these spaces much more functionally than me. 

I definitely think prestige plays a role. I don't agree with the mentality that it's a singular barrier to entry, nor do I think that it's worthwhile to dwell on the question of whether it is or isn't. So much of academia is learning to speak the language. When I was shut out my first cycle, I was caught up in similar patterns of thought (ageism, first half of undergrad in community college, first generation student, and the list goes on), but I settled on the more productive notion that maybe I didn't speak the language as well as others and that had I presented my materials differently then maybe I would have had more success. 
Biases, patterns of selection, etc. all factor into this system, absolutely, but I just don't think writing off one's failures to them is worthwhile in the long run. 

I definitely think prestige plays a role. I don't agree with the mentality that it's a singular barrier to entry, nor do I think that it's worthwhile to dwell on the question of whether it is or isn't. So much of academia is learning to speak the language. When I was shut out my first cycle, I was caught up in similar patterns of thought (ageism, first half of undergrad in community college, first generation student, and the list goes on), but I settled on the more productive notion that maybe I didn't speak the language as well as others and that had I presented my materials differently then maybe I would have had more success. 
Biases, patterns of selection, etc. all factor into this system, absolutely, but I just don't think writing off one's failures to them is worthwhile in the long run. 

I'm a very nontraditional student. Chicago and Brown, at least, didn't seem to care last year. Add those to the list, I suppose--though I don't know how I feel about the advice to avoid Ivies otherwise. If it comes down to finances, I suppose one might exercise some guesswork and apply to what seems viable. I'm partially responding to some  frustrations in other threads here about academia only caring about prestige. Maybe, maybe not. It just doesn't help to think that way if you're trying to succeed within said system. 
Biggest thing I've learned, which I utterly failed to take advantage of, is to get eyes on your materials. Nearly every person I've encountered who has had major success has had close relationships with faculty who guided their applications. Really, guiding their success in general--which is not trying to undermine anyone's hard work. Having a network of close mentors in undergrad forward means an extraordinary amount in academia. 
 

This is wonderful. I agree 100 percent. 

This is wonderful. I agree 100 percent. 

Congrats! The faculty at Cal are wonderful. Great vibes there. 

Oh my goodness....I got into Berkeley??? Funding for five years!!! WHAT

I was just about to go to bed and I got into UC Berkeley ?
EDIT: Just noticed the line: "The Berkeley English Department has nominated you for a prestigious university fellowship; as soon as we know the outcome of that nomination, I will be back in touch to clarify the offer." WHAT??! WHAT!

Got in Chicago Comp Lit! Was very sad when I didn't get the interview email, but what a plot twist!

Got a very nice phone call from the Penn State DGS!  

was notified that I'm on a very short waitlist at UCLA—my senior thesis research was inspired by my POI at UCLA, so that would be amazing!

Acceptance from Duke's Literature program! ?

Speaking as someone in their second quarter at Chicago, I can say that I would have been happier at another program if it meant my partner could come. This is to say nothing about the program at Chicago. It's great. But once you're here and settled, it all becomes normalized and you realize that great people and programs are everywhere. A committed, supportive partner is less common. 
Edit because ambiguity: My partner was able to come with me, and it has made everything much easier. 

Speaking as someone in their second quarter at Chicago, I can say that I would have been happier at another program if it meant my partner could come. This is to say nothing about the program at Chicago. It's great. But once you're here and settled, it all becomes normalized and you realize that great people and programs are everywhere. A committed, supportive partner is less common. 
Edit because ambiguity: My partner was able to come with me, and it has made everything much easier. 

Speaking as someone in their second quarter at Chicago, I can say that I would have been happier at another program if it meant my partner could come. This is to say nothing about the program at Chicago. It's great. But once you're here and settled, it all becomes normalized and you realize that great people and programs are everywhere. A committed, supportive partner is less common. 
Edit because ambiguity: My partner was able to come with me, and it has made everything much easier. 

Speaking as someone in their second quarter at Chicago, I can say that I would have been happier at another program if it meant my partner could come. This is to say nothing about the program at Chicago. It's great. But once you're here and settled, it all becomes normalized and you realize that great people and programs are everywhere. A committed, supportive partner is less common. 
Edit because ambiguity: My partner was able to come with me, and it has made everything much easier. 

Speaking as someone in their second quarter at Chicago, I can say that I would have been happier at another program if it meant my partner could come. This is to say nothing about the program at Chicago. It's great. But once you're here and settled, it all becomes normalized and you realize that great people and programs are everywhere. A committed, supportive partner is less common. 
Edit because ambiguity: My partner was able to come with me, and it has made everything much easier. 

Speaking as someone in their second quarter at Chicago, I can say that I would have been happier at another program if it meant my partner could come. This is to say nothing about the program at Chicago. It's great. But once you're here and settled, it all becomes normalized and you realize that great people and programs are everywhere. A committed, supportive partner is less common. 
Edit because ambiguity: My partner was able to come with me, and it has made everything much easier. 

Northwestern and Duke said no... but Chicago said yes! It really is a crapshoot—that being said, it really does come down to luck, rather than qualification, after a certain point. 

Found out this afternoon that I've been accepted to the University of South Carolina! I'm so excited! 

Just learned that I have put the "in" in Indiana. ?

I've been a long time lurker on this forum, and used it for some great advice earlier in 2019. So I thought, you know, good time to post that I got my first decision of the cycle, and it was an offer from the University of Chicago. !!?

Small note on SoPs (not sure if I've said this before): one of the people in my cohort and I read each other's SoPs one day to see if we could spot trends (especially since we both came off the waitlist). They were completely different. One of them was less specific about the work of the POIs here and broad about what the project would be, but more detailed about how previous work had led them to that point. The other barely discussed previous work, presented a fairly specific project, and cited specific POI articles. In other words, they were as different as they could be but we both made it to the same place. It sucks, but there's just no way to know what works until after the fact, and even then, you don't really know why. The only thing that seems true across the board is that what you write is not a binding contract.

Haven't posted to the results board yet, but I am also in at Northwestern. The professor who called me (not one of my POIs, which I thought was a little odd, but she was nice!) specifically asked me NOT to say anything to other applicants until Monday because, she said, they can't call everyone they're going to call before then and they don't want everyone who didn't get a call yet freaking out all weekend. But since the beans have already been spilled, I thought I should let everyone know to rest assured that if you didn't get a call today it's not a surefire rejection.