Nothingtown

Echoing what @brightorangesocks said, it largely depends on your own situation--finances being a big part of it. Most apartments are unfurnished, but you can definitely find a furnished one if you want. 
If you'd like to take your stuff with you, I'd recommend going with Penske over UHaul. They don't charge by the mile like UHaul does, so it comes out waaaaay cheaper for cross-country trips (I've done this a few times). Also, their pricing changes based on where you're coming from and going to. For instance, it's more expensive to take a Penske TO Austin, TX, than FROM Austin, TX, just because a lot of people live here and they have enough trucks here already. This may work for or against you, but definitely take a look at their site and give them a call. I negotiated the price down a little--definitely be nice to the reps on the phone, as kindness goes a long way in these situations. 

UT's probably stressed because of all the SXSW-goers wanting to move to Austin.

When your English PhD rejection letter has a typo...
I'm not sure if I should feel relieved or even more mediocre for not being in the "less than a quarter" of applicants that were spared the "pleaseure" of reading this gem of a rejection letter

You could also get free boxes from stores. They usually have tons of boxes after deliveries (I'd avoid food stores, but places like liquor stores or Home Depot or something). Just go in and say you're moving and are hoping if they have any boxes. They may have some or tell you "our next shipment is on x day, come then." I have never paid for moving boxes. Worst case, you drive around back of some malls and grab a bunch of boxes you see out by the dumpsters. 

When I was moving my stuff cross-country, I checked into PODS and Penske was more cost-effective than PODS. I didn't check U-Pack. However, I was moving my stuff from Austin to an undisclosed location on the east coast (lol) so, had it been in the other direction, I don't know. I did just run a quote on U-Pack's website and it's about 2x what I paid for my Penske 3 years ago. I hear you on the not wanting to tow your car behind you though. 
You can also look into getting a trailer to attach to your car and tow some of your stuff in, rather than towing your car. I know U-Haul has those; I don't know if they charge by the mile on their trailers though. 
My best advice is to use the website quotes and call these places asking for quotes. Calling is nice because you can usually negotiate a little, but the web quotes will give you a ballpark idea. 

Future applicants, if you read this early enough to reconsider which schools you're applying to, I hope you may consider my advice. 
Your credentials and achievements are no guarantee of admission. That's been my big takeaway from this cycle. If I could do it all over again, I'd have applied to more MA programs (ones with a good record of placement in a PhD program and with high likelihood of good funding). A lot of people go into a PhD program from MA--there's nothing wrong with that! Just try to avoid paying too much for it. 
I thought (naively now, I know) that I was good enough to get into PhD programs. I assessed my financial situation, got a partial scholarship to cover application fees, and got a waiver for 1 and paid around $550 - $600 for 10 schools after the scholarship. (Side note--You'll see a lot of people here do more than 10, but please don't go broke doing this. Instead, be honest with yourself and apply to schools that are a good fit for you. Not schools that have a great reputation--don't apply solely on the reputation. If your AOI fits and they have a good reputation, awesome! But focus on fit above all else.) In my case, I decided to apply to 9 PhDs and 1 MA because I thought that is where my application money would be the most effective, and I thought my chances of getting into a PhD program were quite good. 
I'd been told by several professors at different schools that my Fulbright would be a major boost to getting me into grad school. Not quite a golden ticket, but almost. I had a 4.0, I was valedictorian of my graduating class, had a few published papers and presentations, spoke a second language. I'm waitlisted at two schools, waiting on an interview/preview weekend for a third, and accepted in an MA program. That's it. My point is not to brag about my accomplishments (they didn't get me much of anywhere, did they?) but rather to advise future applicants that nothing is guaranteed, no matter what anyone told you. This process is going to suck. There will be people who get into 5 top schools, but most of us don't have that kind of choice. And it's not your fault. It's not a judgment on your capacity as a philosopher or scholar at all. This is a highly competitive process, and sometimes things just don't work out--your POI is going to be leaving or is on sabbatical,  last year's cohort had too many people with your AOI, etc. So many things are outside your control, and the chances you'd know about them in advance are slim, depending on the circumstance.
But if you read this early enough, add those MA programs to your list! Assuming you are coming straight from undergrad, that is. They'll give you a leg up and a chance to come back with a stronger application next time. They're a nice fallback plan if the PhD apps don't work out.
Best of luck to everyone! 

Future applicants, if you read this early enough to reconsider which schools you're applying to, I hope you may consider my advice. 
Your credentials and achievements are no guarantee of admission. That's been my big takeaway from this cycle. If I could do it all over again, I'd have applied to more MA programs (ones with a good record of placement in a PhD program and with high likelihood of good funding). A lot of people go into a PhD program from MA--there's nothing wrong with that! Just try to avoid paying too much for it. 
I thought (naively now, I know) that I was good enough to get into PhD programs. I assessed my financial situation, got a partial scholarship to cover application fees, and got a waiver for 1 and paid around $550 - $600 for 10 schools after the scholarship. (Side note--You'll see a lot of people here do more than 10, but please don't go broke doing this. Instead, be honest with yourself and apply to schools that are a good fit for you. Not schools that have a great reputation--don't apply solely on the reputation. If your AOI fits and they have a good reputation, awesome! But focus on fit above all else.) In my case, I decided to apply to 9 PhDs and 1 MA because I thought that is where my application money would be the most effective, and I thought my chances of getting into a PhD program were quite good. 
I'd been told by several professors at different schools that my Fulbright would be a major boost to getting me into grad school. Not quite a golden ticket, but almost. I had a 4.0, I was valedictorian of my graduating class, had a few published papers and presentations, spoke a second language. I'm waitlisted at two schools, waiting on an interview/preview weekend for a third, and accepted in an MA program. That's it. My point is not to brag about my accomplishments (they didn't get me much of anywhere, did they?) but rather to advise future applicants that nothing is guaranteed, no matter what anyone told you. This process is going to suck. There will be people who get into 5 top schools, but most of us don't have that kind of choice. And it's not your fault. It's not a judgment on your capacity as a philosopher or scholar at all. This is a highly competitive process, and sometimes things just don't work out--your POI is going to be leaving or is on sabbatical,  last year's cohort had too many people with your AOI, etc. So many things are outside your control, and the chances you'd know about them in advance are slim, depending on the circumstance.
But if you read this early enough, add those MA programs to your list! Assuming you are coming straight from undergrad, that is. They'll give you a leg up and a chance to come back with a stronger application next time. They're a nice fallback plan if the PhD apps don't work out.
Best of luck to everyone! 

Our former chair at Fordham had a strong aversion to the PGR, and (at least according to my memory of a conversation I had with one faculty member) we have in the past, for that reason, not consented to be ranked. Caveat, I haven't run this down to apodictic certainty. One treads lightly in such things...

Only got the one acceptance (and two waitlists), but luckily it was my top choice! I'm finishing up an MA at Boston College, and I'm thrilled to continue on to their PhD.

Wow really? I thought he went to Penn. I would Google it but I don't want to look at his face...

Accepted to Duquesne off the waitlist! So excited! Going to accept.

Places are just now having their prospective visit day and I'd bet only 1-2 of those who come take the offer. So once they turn offers down, places will begin going into their waitlist. That is very normal. So if you are still waiting, keep your morale up. But places can't make more offers until people turn down current offers and that depends upon them making a decision and whether they get in to other places they are waitlisted at & they'd prefer going.
My advice: get off of grad cafe and calm down. A lot won't be decided until the day of the final deadline (April 15th, right?). If I were you, I'd call those departments you are on the waitlist for on the 15th because that day can be a very hectic mad dash to replace students who only reject their offer at the last minute.
 

Today, I declined Florida State and removed myself from the waitlists at UC Davis (where I was third on the waitlist); SLU (unranked); and Syracuse (where I was approximately 13th on a waitlist of 20). It was really hard to do this because these are all good programs, but it just wouldn't be fair to the other applicants. 

I haven't rented a townhouse or a house before, but I feel like a realtor can show you both. There are also many online sources/phone apps you can use to find places to rent, and the school you are going to attend might have its own online resource for finding off-campus housing.
When renting a house or townhouse, you might just have a landlord instead of management. You want to ask them about their rules, if utilities are included, if they will cover the maintenance of the house, etc.
Good luck!

Hi! I've done decently so far given that I only applied to 8 top-10 schools (Pitt Acceptance/Rutgers Waitlist/Yale and MIT Rejection) so far. Granted I came from a leiterific UG, but I wish I'd applied more carefully, so please don't follow my example and apply on impulse.
I don't have much to add in terms of improving the chances of admission, but in terms of reducing the anguish of the process, here's some things I think I did well/wish I'd done:
1. Take your GREs early. It's an archaic and expensive test etc., but it still can take up time and unneeded stress. You are already going to doubt just about every bit of your application. Don't add any extra variables to fret over if you can help it. 
2. (along the same line) PACE YOUR APPLICATIONS/APPLY EARLY. I edited most of my sample surreptiously at work/on the floor of a hotel room at 2am on vacation. Don't do that. Deadlines get missed, and typos happen, and important details get treated with a lack of care. It's also unnecessarily stressful.
3a. Spend some time away, if you can. This isn't just for apps, but also for academia in general. Most of my professors recommend this, just because it gives you perspective, and helps keep you a little bit more sane in grad school. Also, if you realize you still really like philosophy, then you'll know it's not because you didn't know anything better! 
3b. Keep in contact with your professors / grad student friends if you take time off. Make sure they remember you, that they're constantly engaged, and that they're still invested in you. This also helps you stay invested in philosophy! I heard a professor say 'this person wants my rec but I don't remember them anymore'. Umm, don't be that poor kid. 
4. Find something to throw yourself into after you apply. Waiting and lack of control are the worst. It might help to distract yourself with working out, a new group of friends, a new pursuit, etc. Refreshing tgc won't make the results come faster, as much as it feels like some semblance of movement. Keep forcing your body to produce those tasty endorphins!!
5. Know that philosophy admissions are not necessarily a reflection of your ability and worth as a philosopher. Do the best schools pick amazing philosophers? Yes. Do all the amazing philosophers get into the best schools? Not necessarily. The process, as outlined in previous posts, is multifaceted, and sometimes involves things that are a function of privilege. Control the things you can (sample sample sample), and acknowledge that getting through the admissions process alone is something to be proud of. 
 

Hi. Georgia State just sent out results for all applicants who submitted their apps by the February 1 initial round deadline. However, we're still accepting applications between now and April 15, which we'll consider on a rolling basis. Applicants during this period are much more likely to be placed on our wait-list rather than immediately receiving an offer. However, strong applicants still have a chance of being admitted. (To increase your chances of getting in off of the waitlist, it would be better to submit an application in the next few weeks rather than shortly before April 15.)
If you're interested, you can check out our areas of research strength and teaching preparation program, and then start your application. All admitted students receive funding.
Thanks. 

Got accepted to Columbia's HiLi program when I was checking my email during a thesis-writing break!

Rutgers University - New Brunswick English, PhD (F19) Rejected via E-mail on 5 Mar 2019 A 5 Mar 2019 report spam Stephen King's first book, Carrie, was rejected 30 times before it was published. Steven Spielberg was rejected twice from USC's School of Cinematic Arts, and now has a building there named in his honor. If this cycle isn't panning out for you, don't worry, success rarely comes easily or on the first try. Keep at it.  
?cheers to that

Future applicants, if you read this early enough to reconsider which schools you're applying to, I hope you may consider my advice. 
Your credentials and achievements are no guarantee of admission. That's been my big takeaway from this cycle. If I could do it all over again, I'd have applied to more MA programs (ones with a good record of placement in a PhD program and with high likelihood of good funding). A lot of people go into a PhD program from MA--there's nothing wrong with that! Just try to avoid paying too much for it. 
I thought (naively now, I know) that I was good enough to get into PhD programs. I assessed my financial situation, got a partial scholarship to cover application fees, and got a waiver for 1 and paid around $550 - $600 for 10 schools after the scholarship. (Side note--You'll see a lot of people here do more than 10, but please don't go broke doing this. Instead, be honest with yourself and apply to schools that are a good fit for you. Not schools that have a great reputation--don't apply solely on the reputation. If your AOI fits and they have a good reputation, awesome! But focus on fit above all else.) In my case, I decided to apply to 9 PhDs and 1 MA because I thought that is where my application money would be the most effective, and I thought my chances of getting into a PhD program were quite good. 
I'd been told by several professors at different schools that my Fulbright would be a major boost to getting me into grad school. Not quite a golden ticket, but almost. I had a 4.0, I was valedictorian of my graduating class, had a few published papers and presentations, spoke a second language. I'm waitlisted at two schools, waiting on an interview/preview weekend for a third, and accepted in an MA program. That's it. My point is not to brag about my accomplishments (they didn't get me much of anywhere, did they?) but rather to advise future applicants that nothing is guaranteed, no matter what anyone told you. This process is going to suck. There will be people who get into 5 top schools, but most of us don't have that kind of choice. And it's not your fault. It's not a judgment on your capacity as a philosopher or scholar at all. This is a highly competitive process, and sometimes things just don't work out--your POI is going to be leaving or is on sabbatical,  last year's cohort had too many people with your AOI, etc. So many things are outside your control, and the chances you'd know about them in advance are slim, depending on the circumstance.
But if you read this early enough, add those MA programs to your list! Assuming you are coming straight from undergrad, that is. They'll give you a leg up and a chance to come back with a stronger application next time. They're a nice fallback plan if the PhD apps don't work out.
Best of luck to everyone! 

Writing sample, writing sample, writing sample. Spend all the time you can manage on it. Get honest feedback on it. If your advisors aren't prepared to be ruthless, find somebody who will be.
Obviously don't phone the rest in but you can get away with relatively weak aspects of your application elsewhere just as long as you have produced something that is near enough publishable quality. And while there is some degree of talent required to write well, it is most definitely a skill that can be developed through hard work. Re-write as often as required, be ruthless with yourself, if your paper doesn't stand up to the quality you see in the best journals in your area then try again.

I'm right there with you. I can't concentrate, my performance is lacking lately, and I'm starting to get physical symptoms of anxiety. Now, I should preface and say I already have anxiety and depression as-is (both under treatment; I'm functioning fine), but this is making it so much worse. I have this muscle twitch that won't go away, it's great. 
Basically, what you're experiencing is perfectly normal under the circumstances, but there is never anything wrong with seeking professional help, especially if it would help you weather the storm. Go for it!

I'm right there with you. I can't concentrate, my performance is lacking lately, and I'm starting to get physical symptoms of anxiety. Now, I should preface and say I already have anxiety and depression as-is (both under treatment; I'm functioning fine), but this is making it so much worse. I have this muscle twitch that won't go away, it's great. 
Basically, what you're experiencing is perfectly normal under the circumstances, but there is never anything wrong with seeking professional help, especially if it would help you weather the storm. Go for it!

Hi there! Taxes are not typically withheld from fellowships, but are usually withheld from stipends for TA and RA positions. I only know this from doing tons of research. I have included a lot previous forums about this subject. I am sorry it is a lot, but taxes are super complicated and I am still trying to figure them out myself. I hope this helps!
 

Pretty much me, too. I have both an anxiety disorder as well as Persistent Depression Disorder, and I've been in an depressive episode since January (only gotten worse the last few weeks). Headaches. Lack of sleep. Constant going to the bathroom. Stomach bloating. Trouble breathing, etc. I've just been getting through it lol. It's been hard to get serious work done, although I have been doing some reading and playing my drum kit.

I'm right there with you. I can't concentrate, my performance is lacking lately, and I'm starting to get physical symptoms of anxiety. Now, I should preface and say I already have anxiety and depression as-is (both under treatment; I'm functioning fine), but this is making it so much worse. I have this muscle twitch that won't go away, it's great. 
Basically, what you're experiencing is perfectly normal under the circumstances, but there is never anything wrong with seeking professional help, especially if it would help you weather the storm. Go for it!