semiotic_mess
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Posts posted by semiotic_mess
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My situation might be a bit different since I do continental philosophy, but I strategically made my thesis project both about my interest + included stuff that I was less interested in that demonstrated an engagement and understanding of the history of philosophy because I knew that would be important and what departments would be looking for. I got into one of my top choices + had a few offers and interviews, so it seems that it worked out. Definitely pick something you are excited about; don't stick yourself with a project you will resent and will suffer from your lack of interest (I'll be honest that I hate and suffered through that chapter, but I learned a lot writing it and my other chapters were much better), but there is nothing wrong with strategizing a little bit in order to make yourself an attractive candidate for the kinds of programs you want to end up at. Find some sort of balance.
Best of luck!
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On 3/8/2021 at 9:42 AM, user18394078 said:
Do decline in haste if you can!
I am on the waitlist along with Larry David.
Hey I understand the anxiety and a lot of people are in the same position, but this isn't really cool. Generally putting it out there for people to decline at a certain school is already a grey area, but asking a user directly if they can decline soon is an unfair position to put someone in and is crossing a boundary.
I don't want to sound mean because I totally understand the pressure and position you are in and no one will hold it against you, just a general note to everyone that as long as you are taking others into your considerations, everyone has the right to take the time and manage their decisions how they need to and it isn't fair or cool for anyone to be pressured to decide or make their move fast (especially asking a specific person directly).
I only say this because there are people gracious enough to share publicly their offers and where they stand which is some insight that is very useful for those anxiously waiting to hear back, but if people start getting targeted and asked to decide quickly then people will feel uncomfortable sharing this information and we won't have it anymore.
99% of people aren't jerks and know that there are people who will be affected by their decision and know to make their decision as soon as they are comfortable, so everyone deserves the time they need to be 100% sure and officially decline.
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Also waitlisted at Villanova.
I have a much better offer so I will be turning it down, but it might be a week or two until I do because per strong recommendation of my professor I am going to wait until I officially accept elsewhere and have things locked in and I want to wait until after the virtual visit to do so. Since I am on the waitlist anyway my spot doesn't matter as much atm, but if I get off of the waitlist beforehand I will make sure to turn them down earlier so that the next person can hear back quicker. Best of luck to everyone!
- Marcus_Aurelius, bemusedbobcat, Ploy51 and 1 other
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4 minutes ago, thescientificmethod said:
Why do schools wait forever to send out rejections...? There are programs that already sent out acceptances and waitlists like a month ago but not the rejections... Just give us a quick death rather than drag it out please ?
Sometimes universities have a policy where a department can't send out rejections until all spots have been filled (there are also variations of this). It makes no sense and is cruel, but that is one of the reasons. I know the anxiety is rough. We are all there with you ❤️ Hang in there!
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16 minutes ago, anti-theorem said:
Anyone claiming the University of Georgia acceptance?
Someone in the FB group did
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@HomoLudens and everyone else, I know its super hard, but don't get down on yourself and don't give up hope! I can't take my own advice and this is my second season, so I understand the pressure and frustration. I have had many panic episodes and other anxiety induced behaviors this season (and it is still so early), but I was literally in the middle of crying (like in actual tears having just come down from hyperventilating) while having a panic attack about being sure I was getting shut out because of a few rejections and an implied rejection from one top choice and rejected after an interview at another top choice (that one really stung) and then I got an acceptance email with anxiety tears still running down my face. I then also found out that my app at the other top choice (which I thought I was rejected from) never even made it to the department and since it was an issue with the graduate school the committee is going to look it over (I am not sure how that is going to work exactly. If it is successful, maybe added to the waitlist?), but it just goes to show that you never know what to expect. There is so much left of this season and there is plenty of time for something great to work out!
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8 hours ago, Kapol-in said:
Downside however is that I'm an "alternate for funding" and that they're "working on funding" for me, no idea what this means, it was very vague, but hopefully it all turns out okay...
This is pretty typical for MAs. Since a lot of people apply to MAs as a backup while they also apply to PhDs, usually the first accepted people to get the funding are those who are probably also accepted to a PhD and decline the offer. I know the thought of that kind of stings, but I was in that position too. I was really sad about only getting into an MA and being waitlisted for funding, but I did get off the waitlist plus I was offered a graduate award that bumped up the stipend even more. I also wish I had told myself at that time how much of an advantage an MA is when you apply again. My first round I was waitlisted at 1 PhD program and I was heartbroken when I didn't make it off and then only had the 1 MA offer with no word on funding. Now this cycle I have been doing much better and have an offer from a MUCH better MUCH more well funded program than the one I was waitlisted for. I also feel much more prepared for PhD work where now I look back and think that I would had ad a really hard tike jumping into a PhD (but everyone is different of course). I think an MA offer can sometimes outweigh some PhD offers in the long run, so having this offer is a good thing no matter what. I hope it all works out!
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It is not a stupid question! Schools are very unclear about these things and they all have their different definitions of things like "rolling," so I think your best bet is to email the DGS and ask! This is a very good and important question, so don't feel bad or stupid for asking about it! I am not sure about the schools you named, but I know that for some MAs they will have a hard deadline for funded admission and then afterwards they have rolling admissions where basically they will review and accept/decline as applications come in, but they are without any funding (which I would highly recommend against unless you have some sort of external funding like a fellowship). I would definitely email the schools ASAP so you can make sure you apply for the funded positions if that is still an option. Never feel like a question is too dumb to email the department about! There is a person designated to answer these questions and also this info tends to be very hard to find or decipher. Best of luck!
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What happens if it is later discovered that there was a system issue and your application never got reviewed? Many people got rejections on the same day from a school and I never received one, so I went to check the portal. When I looked at my status, it said:
"Your application fee has not been received and your application will not be considered for admission until payment is received. You or another individual may pay the application fee by credit card via the Graduate School Payment Portal, or by check/money order using the Application Fee Form."
I was granted a fee waiver and I entered it when I submitted my application no problem and went through. Other times I checked the portal that message wasn't there.
Under that message it said:
"A decision regarding your application has been reached." And that I would be notified soon about it from the department. (This is also the message everyone else had under "status")
I am worried that my application may have never even been looked at? What if it never made it through, what would the department do at that point? I emailed the DGS, but I am interested to hear from people while I wait to hear back...
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I have really loved following and being apart of this thread and you guys have been very great and supportive. I was really heartbroken because I was rejected from Duke Lit after an interview, but the next day (while in tears and being absolutely SURE I was going to be shut out) I got an email I was accepted to Emory's Philosophy program! I know this isn't a philosophy thread (I applied to both Phil and Comp Lit), but I thought I would share to encourage everyone not to count themselves out and keep your head up! (i feel really silly for letting the stress get to me before I had heard back from almost half of my programs). It ain't over until it's over ❤
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This is what you all look like to me and probably sums up grad application season well. Congrats to everyone!
- mirror_, cassidyaxx, Hard times! and 6 others
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1 hour ago, clara salmon said:
Congrats!! I'm accepted to Davis as well, also my first acceptance! Good luck with the rest of your applications
Congratulations! I wanted to just heart react, but apparently I have used too many reactions today...
- clara salmon, Bopie5 and Magic Lantern
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Just now, Bopie5 said:
It may sound trite, but I genuinely am rooting for everyone on here. It makes me so happy when any of y'all get acceptances, and sad when bad news comes in. There's a good sense of "we're in it together" here, which makes me excited to inevitably cross paths with some of you at events, conferences, etc--someday, when those things are possible again.
I feel this way too! Second-hand happiness from everyone's success
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11 minutes ago, wildsurmise said:
That conflicted feel every Sunday when you don't want to work the next day, but you want Monday to come for more ~cursed admissions updates~ ... like even when I didn't apply to schools I thrive on learning the info for some reason. What have I become?
Best of luck everyone!
I feel the same/do the same. I have read through a bunch of forums that are years old or in different disciplines and I also go to the results page that just has the most recent entries generally and read the comments. There have been a few where I see a comment and go to that specific program's results page and follow the drama ?. It has made me really appreciate this thread and how nice and supportive everyone is. A few other disciplines (mostly STEM) seem to have some really nasty and competitive people. But it makes for a good distraction ?
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Hello,
So while I am pretty realistic about the idea that if a school sent out interviews and you didn't get one, you are almost certainly out of the running, BUT I always see people advising that "it isn't over until it's over" and I was wondering what makes people say that in this situation. I am guessing that means that there are sometimes (but probably rarely) exceptions to this? I was hoping to hear what people had to say about this. Do you know of schools or instances where people were waitlisted and/or accepted without being interviewed at a program that has interviews? I am not getting my hopes up at all, but I figure that it's worth it to at least ask questions to bide the time....
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2 hours ago, PhilBlast said:
I have yet to hear back from anywhere...is this a bad sign? Really stressing about it at the moment.
I am also stressing so much too, especially since I know people who have had multiple offers already, but its only the beginning of week 2 of Feb, so it is still really early! This year is so unpredictable and has already been different than other years, so we really can't count ourselves out until its over. Even on normal years there are always acceptances that are unexpected, or later than others, or some other weird circumstance. I know saying all this probably doesn't help that much (I would know, because I am still extremely on edge anyway), but it is something to hold onto when you're really spinning... *Insert cliche classroom poster of a kitten hanging onto a tree branch that says "Hang in there!"*
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18 minutes ago, Larik001 said:
But why would that person get an acceptance at the end of January and I will have to wait till the mid of February?
There are so many reasons this could happen. Departments have to deal with a lot of bureaucracy every year to get funding. One reason could be that they use dept funding for their first pick offers and then could still be waiting to hear about fellowships or other external funding sources that would allow them to accept more people (or vice versa). Sources are limited. There are also a ton of other reasons that things go that way. That's just how it is. It's not a very transparent process and as unfair as it might be, we kind of just have to deal with it. We all "have to wait" in one sense or another.
- j.j.pizza, nowherelit and Larik001
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2 hours ago, Larik001 said:
So it’s on rollintg basis?
I will also add that it is not uncommon for there to be a few days in between acceptances (like some on a Monday, some on Tues or Wed) or even sometimes a week or two (this is usually the case with places like Buffalo, for example), but that wouldn't be considered "rolling" as in accepting continuously as applications come in. I think that for the bigger programs you can see the data of when acceptances went out in past years and extrapolate from that. If all the acceptances came on one day in past years, that is probably the case this year, if there are a few days in between acceptances, that is most likely the case this year.
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3 minutes ago, LtotheOG said:
It was transferred to CL from Eng on the 20th, after I realised I had made a mistake and submitted my app to Eng instead.
Ah, I see. That is great that you were able to transfer the app! If they accepted it on the 20th, then they most likely aren't on the same timeline as last year (sending interview invites around then). But I'm curious if the lack of interview invites maybe means they aren't doing them this year? Who knows. This year is wack
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22 minutes ago, LtotheOG said:
I applied, and I have not heard anything. My application began being reviewed after 20th of last month.
What do you mean/how do you know your application was being reviewed after the 20th?
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Has anyone heard anything from Emory Comp Lit? According to the data from past years their interview requests would have gone out already, but I haven't seen anything.
(sorry for the repeated post from the other group, I just wasn't sure who checks what)
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5 minutes ago, buendia.macando said:
I honestly can't remember the last time I've been this anxious / depressed and I'm having trouble dealing. I keep wondering if it's just me? I've kind of accepted it at this point. I do think it's exacerbated by COVID given the limited options of things to do and being unemployed atm. I at least try to journal every day, exercise, and go into youtube-rabbit holes. Honestly I feel like I'm having an existential breakdown that revolves around my deep-seated fear of failure and rejection ;(
Trust me, its not just you
- angrychalupa and azu
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1 hour ago, factical.illusion said:
Just had my Yale comp lit interview with two professors, both of whom I mentioned in my SoP and cited in my WS lol. Did anyone else with an interview have mixed feelings about their own performance?
I felt/feel the same about my interview( with Duke Lit, not Yale). I don't know the outcome of my cringey interview yet, but I am just trying to remember that I have heard so many stories about how people thought they completely flubbed their interview, but then got an acceptance. Come to think of it, every person I have talked to who was accepted after an interview didn't think they did that well ?. I think the adcoms know that we are nervous and we are all probably harsher on ourselves than they will even be. I wish I could say something to help with the anxiety of waiting, but I haven't worked that out for myself yet either, but you seem to be on track with the wine! I have found that sweet treats that you wouldn't normally get yourself help too (but I would save it for a week that you might be expecting an answer because you'll need it more then). I got a fruit tart last week for Tu Bishvat (Jewish tree holiday where you're supposed to eat fruit) and having a special treat to go bury my feelings in helped a lot.... I recommend people get themselves admission season cakes from now on.
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41 minutes ago, RamonaQ said:
Hi everyone! I've been checking this website for a while but just created an account to be able to also post here. Applied to Comp Lit programs + Duke's Literature. I was wondering does anyone have any updates about Duke? I got an interview and they told me they will try to get back to everyone by the end of January but I haven't heard back yet. I know that someone else also got an interview on this website. Should I assume a rejection at this point?
No, never assume a rejection until you get one (especially if you were interviewed)! That other interview was me! I am extremely lucky that I connected with a current student there over this application process and they were nice enough to let me know that there have been some delays because of typical bureaucracy stuff plus a new DGS. It could be this week, but I wouldn't be surprised if it took until next week. I'm sure you are dying like I am....
What are your AOI, btw? Mine is social political philosophy, 20th century Continental philosophy (especially Deleuze and Foucault), psychoanalysis, queer theory, and digital media (I have done a lot on Internet sub cultures). I also flagged that I studied film in undergrad and I'm interested in German expressionism and horror, but I honestly haven't done any of that since undergrad, but I would love to be able to get back into film analysis.
2021 Waitlist Thread
in Philosophy
Posted
They could just be terrible at responding and really busy (I am dealing with that kind of DGS at the program I am going to in the fall). I wouldn't worry about it too much! I think if you give reasonable time in between emails, it is perfectly reasonable to check in again because that is their job.