cassidyaxx

Just saw these and wanted to chime in- I am a first year PhD at BC in English doing Irish studies. I've found the faculty here to be very friendly and accessible, and I truly love this program so far. However, did want to jump in and say while Boston College does have a strong Irish Studies program, they don't lean heavily towards only admitting Irish studies candidates. In fact, I am the first candidate accepted who primarily does Irish studies in about three years, and the only one in my cohort of four. So don't count yourself out if you don't do Irish lit! I'd also be more than willing to share my experience here with anyone who applied to BC-- feel free to PM me!

I just want to put out there that if there are any other people attending Boston area schools in this thread who are looking for a roommate, I'd love to chat! I'm potentially looking for one and I'm looking at living in Brighton or on the green line, as I don't want to take my car. Figured I'd ask here first rather than a more general group

@WildeThing @Rehana202 @Warelin @Bopie5 thanks so much, everyone ❤️ I am beyond thrilled! I'll be celebrating with some tacos!! And I agree with Bopie, I can't wait to see what all of us achieve and I hope we run into each other one way or another in the academic world someday. I'm so thankful for the gradcafe community

I JUST GOT ACCEPTED TO BOSTON COLLEGE! I'm crying so hard. I'm so thankful and in disbelief, I've been shaking since I got the email. I'll be emailing shortly to take myself off of the UConn waitlist and I hope this helps someone else out. Thank you all so much for your kind words and support through this whole process. It's especially wonderful because yesterday marked one year since my dad passed away, and I can't help but feel he's looking out for me.

Tysm!!

Just got an email that I'm now at the top of the waitlist at Boston College. Fingers crossed! I'd love to see a five + year dream/goal achieved and never have to go through an admissions cycle again ?

It's such a difficult process... but I'm hoping the best for us!

I received an email from the DGS at BC saying that she expects movement in the next two weeks, and that's she'll keep me updated about what's happening. I'm glad to hear that she expects movement, but man oh man these next few weeks are going to be killer.

I'd like to speak to some of your post as I was in a vaguely similar situation two years ago. I had worked full-time throughout undergrad as my family was very poor. I had been in an emotionally abusive relationship for four years, and I made the decision that if I got into one of my dream programs, I would go, and do something for myself. I had visited Portland State, and fell absolutely in love with it. Well, I got off the waitlist for funding. I then also got into Villanova with funding, and thought about attending there as well. Well, then on April 11th, in the eleventh hour, I got off the waitlist at UConn (which I had planned to just deny). That same week, my father was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. I made the decision to attend UConn largely because of my dad. If I had attended another school, I probably wouldn't have been able to fly back or see my dad as much as I was able to. My dad passed away last April, and I don't regret my decision at all. I got to spend time with him every single week. It was a really, REALLY, difficult time for me, as it happened right after the start of lockdown, and smack dab in the middle of the spring semester. I truly believe this would've been miles worse if I had chosen a program farther away. You phrase it as picking between your dream school and your family, but it's a lot more complicated than that. I know it will be a heart-wrenching decision for you either way. However, I would really weigh the pros and cons, and consider what you would regret more. If you're able to travel and see your family and think you'll have the funds for it, I'd say pick the dream school and perhaps let the department know about your situation when you start the program. If it would hurt you more in the long run to not be able to spend as much time with your family, or be able to support them in a more direct way, so to speak, I'd say go with SMU. I personally know it's not even that straightforward, but that's just my personal take on it as someone who had to make a similar choice.

@clara salmon @brockdenbrown802 @anxiousgrad thanks all! This made me feel better about reaching out. I'm going to draft an email soon!

I've seen a few posts like this before, but I'm wondering if I should reach out again to BC and reaffirm my interest in their program as well as see about my place on the waitlist? I've been accepted to two more conferences since I submitted my application, and received two awards. I'm wondering if it could be a kind of two birds one stone sort of email, or if I should wait to send an email like this when we get closer to April.

Congrats for getting into your reach school! If you would feel comfortable, would you mind PMing me what your research interests are? I'm waitlisted at Boston College and am curious. If not, no problem

Yay! Can't wait

The extension for abstracts is the only thing that saved me, lol. I'm presenting on the Irish female celebrity body and it's connections to the Irish landscape in a way that sort of acts as an extension of colonial ideals! But more broadly it will be about Grace Kelly ?

Hi all! Despite what I think may be an encroaching shutout for me, I'm trying to get excited about other things happening in my life. That said, I'm presenting at NeMLA this Friday (it's virtual)! If anyone else is presenting there and would like a friend in their audience, feel free to let me know because I would love to meet some of you and see your neat research in action! I have the day off so besides my panel (5-6:30), I'll have plenty of time to check out people's amazing work.

Thanks for letting me know! From the way the waitlist has been explained to me, I don't think we'd be in competition for the same spot, but I'd definitely appreciate it if you let me know if they do end up taking themselves off the waitlist! I'll do the same.

Omg! Congrats to you!!!

Also I know this is a long shot of people seeing this specific post, lol, but if any one currently waitlisted or accepted at BC is planning on turning them down, I'd love if you could let me know whenever you plan to do so. I only know a few of the people who have been waitlisted. I have a vague understanding of where I am on the waitlist but would love to keep track of movement as best I can. This has always been my dream program and I legit cannot sleep at night sometimes thinking about the possibility of getting in here, lol.

You are definitely not alone! I am a first gen student as well (though it's my third cycle applying). It is SO hard to be a first gen student battling through the application cycle for the first time, and I had no idea the amount of etiquette I would need to learn for my time in graduate school. If you ever need any help, you can always DM me on here! I'd be more than willing to share follow-up emails I've sent and what not.

Tysm!! I hope everyone else does too! Hopefully we'll start seeing some movement some places as we move into March

I am legit losing my mind waiting to hear back. I have to read two novels, read three critical articles, grade about 100 assignments, and write multiple response posts by Monday and yet all I can do is refresh my email while looking at tiktoks.

Thank you!! This makes me feel a whole lot better one of my friends was waitlisted at FIVE programs during her cycle, no acceptances, and she got off of four of those waitlists! So never give up until the very end, people.

Hi everyone! As you can probably see, I'm currently waitlisted at BC and UConn, and hoping to at least be waitlisted at Notre Dame. My top choice is Notre Dame followed closely by BC (both have been my absolute dream programs for years) I primarily do 20th century Irish lit and identity studies. I do like (or hope) to think that there's a chance for a lot of us! Many people get accepted to more than one program but can only choose one, obviously, which ends up normally creating at least some movement.

A thread where people can post which offers they've declined and waitlisted folks can unite

i'll see if I can make one rn!!