Genghis

Thanks for all the support from you guys. I got some very kind PMs. Don't worry, I wouldn't really do anything drastic, I was extremely drunk when I wrote the above post and was really depressed. I'm ok now though.

Thanks for all the support from you guys. I got some very kind PMs. Don't worry, I wouldn't really do anything drastic, I was extremely drunk when I wrote the above post and was really depressed. I'm ok now though.

I got rejected from UW today (Asian Lang and Lit). That one really hurt. Have you ever seen a 6'4" 230 lb guy cry? Well if you were at my house tonight you would have.

I got rejected from UW today. That one really hurt. Have you ever seen a 6'4" 230 lb guy cry? Well if you were at my house tonight you would have.

I'll trade you-- I get all the breast enhancement spam, and I'm a guy.

Can you tell me more? Do you feel they help? Do you have any links to the studies? I also have severe anxiety disorder and every lit bit helps.

I'm getting married on May 30 this year. I envy some of you single guys, as I might end up at UT-Austin or comparable schools with some of the most gorgeous undergrads in the country! I never had that American college experience I see in all the movies. I hope I can resist the temptation. Of course, it shouldn't be that hard as I am terribly unattractive.

Ok I have the skinny. Just talked to the guy at the religion department (after 15+ tries on the phone, long distance from Bangkok). He told me that decisions will be posted on the website in... wait for it... APRIL! I then asked him if he could tell me my decision now, and he said "If I knew, I couldn't tell you." So I guess I should just chill for now. I suspect he said April just to ensure I wouldn't call again-- perhaps they will be posted before then, and that's just the official party line. I'm guessing we'll find out before then. I'm glad I didn't tell him my name, cuz he sounded kind of pissed. He sounded like an asshole, to tell you the truth.

AM Divinity and PhD South Asian Languages and Civilizations (both departments lay claim to Steven Collins, the homeboy I wanna work with).

The info given graciously by general_jr is driving me nuts. I've called the department like 5 times but nobody will pick up I'm gonna keep calling til I reach somebody, and then I'll let you other guys know the result.

If you wanna chill out from this app stress you gotta go for Cat Stevens and James Taylor. I know, its not as hip as what you young kids are listening to, but nothing else can make you calm down like they can.

I agree, and that's a very good point. However, I think the real issue is not the increased number of applicants (which someone posted elsewhere have not dramatically increased), but rather the fewer spots available due to limited funding. Someone on a subforum for my field, on good authority, noted that Harvard admissions were declining from 18 to 10 this year due to financial concerns. And that's a private school!I have been told by a prospective advisor at UCLA that, in my program, funding and thus admits are tighter this year than any other in his 20+ year career. That's what's gonna end up fucking us in the ass, not secretaries applying for English PhDs.

OP, if you have no problems affording it, which you seemed to indicate, and don't have better options, why not go for it? I'm sure it will be a great educational experience. On this site, and in the admissions process in general, it' s easy to become obsessed with future potential, placement, prestige, etc- and I am no exception to such. But when we step away from that, we are all here because we love learning. That is what it comes down to for me- what is the best education you can afford? Most of us have to rely on full-funding packages, but if you don't, why not take a year out of your life to study with some of the finest scholars in the world? Who cares if the program is not as well-respected/advantageous to our careers as we would like? If MAPH would have been a financial reality for me (which it isn't, as they only offer at most half-tuition), I would have applied there, and possibly had the best year of my life studying with academics I hold in high regard. As it is, however, I will very likely end up at a second-tier school with second-tier academics.

That's what I thought too. The fact remains that, at least in my field, a lot of schools sit on the notifications for quite a while. I don't know why. There is no reason i can imagine that UVa wouldn't just tell me I have been rejected in March-- it's already decided. Nonetheless, that's what they do. I could understand if they don't tell a few people, who are on the brink of admission/rejection, just to see if tons of admitted students decline. But my case was cut-and-dried (only potential advisor retiring)-- I don't know why they wouldn't just tell me. The poster I mentioned above has his own theory: "I chickened-out at Emory and emailed the graduate secretary to see if there was any kind of waitlist, since I wasn't invited to the "cool kids" weekend 8) . No response, as expected, but it brings up a really valid question. What is the big deal with all the secrecy and wielding of information power. Let me climb up on my soapbox... So why is it that programs routinely incorporate deception into the whole process? It seems quite normal that large groups of folks have been de facto rejected, but the program doesn't send them official notice on the off chance (probably like .5%) that the few waitlisted folks also decline offers. Why don't they disclose when they're going to be deciding, and when official offers had been made? Do they really think that absence makes our hearts grow fonder, rather than just rationalize away about how we didn't like the program anyway (even if they do admit us)? It seems like we're all adults here, and the only thing that makes us less-than-adultlike is the ridiculous information power these programs are hoarding while we try to figure out the next step of our lives. In your case Genghis, they had already made a decision, but apparently weren't going to let you know until the "official" letters are sent out in April 2027. That's ridiculous and unfair to you. It's like middle school all over again..."

Thanks for the info! Now I'm getting nervous. As to the statement that they'll probably let me know soon, I don't know if that's the case. A lost of programs sit on their decisions forever. UVa's decision (about me at least) is already in but I won't get official notification until March, I'm guessing. See the excellent rant deamondeac made on this topic in the 2009 decisions thread (p 7) Edit: the student you spoke to was referring to history or religion decisions?

I had about the nicest rejection one could get. it was an e-mail from my prospective adviser (long before official rejections come). She wrote to inform me that she is retiring in 4 yrs, and that "3-4 years is not enough time to get anyone through the PhD program, even someone whose qualifications are as strong as yours." She also praised my writing sample and told me she would be using some of it for her class next semester! She also thoroughly answered a research question I asked her, and attached a pdf of an article she thought would be useful. That's pretty damn nice! It is in a way worse than a standard rejection because it only made me want to work with her more!

Goddamnit just a bullshit letter from my mother in law

i am waiting for a mysterious letter. I live in Thailand, and any international mail sent through EMS, etc, is held in the office of my apt building. I got a notice for a piece of mail, and saw it last night at 7:30-- office already closed. I have been waiting up all night, unable to sleep. It is now 8:58 am. I have not slept. 2 more minutes until the office opens. Its probably just a letter from my grandmother-in-law, but I'm hoping its from a school. I've called everyone in my side of the family (not my wife's) asking them if they sent a package-- all said no. Wish me luck. The time taken writing this has brought with it post-9 am status. I'm going down now. I really need prayers now! In return I will pray for all of you (in my tradition we don't exactly pray but still extend good will towards others)!

I don't quite understand. Were you the poster of that result? Maybe they have already told the clear rejects and/or admits but are waiting on us middling folks. That poster could be correct even if most decisions aren't out yet-- I know my status for UVa already (rejection) even though almost nobody has been officially notified yet.

My advice-- call NOW! I have had problems with materials being processed (Penn)-- and often a single phone call can straighten things out- that was the case for me. You should have your application status complete now. On the GSAS website they give you a number you can call from 2-5pm, M-F. Please don't throw away your app fee and chance of admission just because you are hesitant to call!!! The secretary at GSAS was very polite and accommodating-- she would not mind if you called. That is a large part of her job. If you are talking about the Div school and not CSREL your status should be posted by now. My online status indicates a complete application. You can call HDS and talk to a guy named Dana to confirm your status. He is curt but professional.

Jesus man! Everybody knows that-- the poster above was just trying to cheer up the poor sot who was the OP. Have a little compassion will ya?

yep. I'm 0 for 2 so far. Already depressed and looking at other career options.

I'm wondering if the person who just posted the UVA acceptance is just a vindictive bastard and making it up (not androidhu, the new one). The reason? Also today someone posted an acceptance to Berkeley South Asian Studies, the other program from which I have been rejected. He/she is the first person in the history of this site to post about the tiny Berkeley South Asian department (other than me). I think they had like 15 applicants this year, based on counting the e-mail addresses listed in the departmental mass e-mails to applicants. The chance that one of those people is on gradcafe is exceedingly small. I hope they're fakes. I'm clinging to that hope. Otherwise I just took a huge kick to the nuts.

Yeah, I kind of circumvented that problem by blowing off my thesis for 3 months. Now I'm sort of screwed.

UW is awesome. I would be thrilled to go there-- a lot more than Berkeley, in fact. Competition there must be tough-- they have so many amazing scholars in so many disciplines within Asian L+L. I imagine every decent applicant in every field of Asian Studies is applying to UW.