caffeinated applicant

Congratulations! I haven't done any PhD interviews so I'll resist the urge to launch into the tips I exchange with friends for jobs, but in the meantime, Duke of Bookingham (current UMD PhD student, in 3rd or 4th year) wrote up a nice tips post over here: https://dukeofbookingham.tumblr.com/post/190293342155/so-ive-been-in-the-room-for-prospective-phd

Duke interview. Am freaking out. Any tips?
(I'm exceptionally horrible at interviews...) 

I've got two programs that used ApplyWeb (Brown and Penn), and both of them just say "submitted." I'm pretty sure all of the ones I've got that use whatever infrastructure that Chicago and Duke use also just say "submitted." UT-Austin's recently switched to a slightly longer message that includes "Forwarded to the Graduate Committee for review," but frankly I can't remember what the prior message said to see if that indicates "decision on the way"... 
I'm sure it's just a difference in what system the programs use. @Tessjane77's signature also says they're applying to MAs, not PhDs. 

Yes, all my application statuses show up as 'submitted', including UChicago (which was an implied rejection) and Emory (where I landed an interview).
No official rejection email(s) yet either, though most of the schools I've applied to typically notify candidates between mid-Feb to early-March.
I'm guessing it'll take another couple of weeks, at least, for the portals to be updated/pending emails to be sent out.

I got the official acceptance email just now from OSU with the funding/healthcare/visit day information all attached. I know there were some people in another forum worried that because they didn't have the email yet that they didn't -actually- get in but it looks like everything should be fine! 

Go for business casual. A nice pair of jeans or chinos with a reasonably unwrinkly collared shirt and a simple blazer (with dress shoes, flats, or boots) will probably be fine. The average high in Boston in February is 38 degrees Fahrenheit, so you'll probably want a sweater or coat, too. I have never worn a skirt or dress (well, I did once, but it was on stage and indoors, so I didn't get much of a feel for how cold they are) so I don't know if it's too cold for that, or if that's a consideration for you?? (I've lived in places where it never gets cold for the past 14 years.)

ANYWAYS, from what I can tell, dressing in academia is a complicated matter, especially for women. I say the goal is to wear something vaguely nice. That way, you won't look unkempt or childish (avoid the Rick and Morty t-shirt and cargo shorts combo). But not something so gorgeous and eye-popping that it will distract them from all of the insightful and intelligent things I'm sure you'll be saying. 
Of course, if you have a specific personal style that you feel expresses your identity, there's no reason you can't go for that. (Unless your identity is best expressed by a Rick and Morty t-shirt and a pair of cargo shorts, in which case you should stifle your identity as vigorously as possible. I'm just kidding, kind of.) Literature professors tend to pretty non-judgmental about these things, in my experience.

An article that I have found useful on this: https://stylishacademic.com/top-4-academic-fashion-tips-you-should-know/
Good luck and congratulations!!

Had quite the admissions related fever dream a few nights ago that I hope will help distract people, even if for just a bit, from the agonizing wait that is decisions.
I was just recovering from a sudden bout of the flu that came on as the Winter quarter was just starting. I got home one night with my head pounding and wanting to sleep. I was expecting to sleep at around 10pm, but an hour before that I wanted to lie down and close my eyes for a second. There was no way I was going to do extra work as I spent most of the day socializing, and talking for hours usually tires out my brain fairly quickly. As soon as I closed my eyes, I basically knocked out.
From there I remember finding myself reading a rather informal e-mail that I was accepted into Princeton Comp Lit of all programs. It was an e-mail of a group of fictional POIs and names I didn't recognize. The excitement I felt from that was so strong that during the time I was dreaming, and even for a few moments when I found myself slip back into slight consciousness (or if I was sleeping within the dream and 'waking up' during that dream), I was convinced that I made it to Princeton. The rest of the dream saw me traveling by plane to a facsimile of what I assumed Princeton to be. Even weirder, it was a trip I did on my own and randomly. There was no recruitment event attached to it or anything, nor did I visit any fictional POIs. The second part of the dream involved a going back home snafu that involved me hitchhiking with two other people, getting breakfast, and being late for my flight back to California.
As far as I know, this is the most recent dream I vividly remember having. It was quite the trip haha
Good luck to everyone as decisions come out! I'm rooting for you all
As an addendum, I'm now remembering the other admissions I had while I was applying last year. The first I had for sure was seeing an e-mail of UC Irvine sending me a rejection letter, and this dream happened the very night before I got notified from UCI faculty about wanting a phone chat. Then the next dream was a school that had UW-Madison's school colors publicly posting the names of new admits one by one in some site.

? I didn't even apply to Yale and that seems alarming...
Reading down this thread, the same seems to be true at Chicago:
and Columbia... 
(Sidenote: this Tweet embedding thing? Very neat!)

Congratulations!! 

I just got an email from Northeastern inviting me to their pre-admissions welcome event! I am SHAKING! I really could not even process what I was reading when I first opened the email. Feb 9-11, reimbursement for flight/train, shared hotel room paid for by the university, meals covered... Having a mini-heart attack over here, y'all. Is anyone familiar with how many folks Northeastern invites to their event (seems like an informal interview/recruitment weekend sort of shindig) vs. how many they ultimately accept to the program? 

? I didn't even apply to Yale and that seems alarming...
Reading down this thread, the same seems to be true at Chicago:
and Columbia... 
(Sidenote: this Tweet embedding thing? Very neat!)

Edit: partner and I both just received interview requests!!!!! We are international so they've requested Skype interviews rather than inviting us to recruitment weekend.

? I didn't even apply to Yale and that seems alarming...
Reading down this thread, the same seems to be true at Chicago:
and Columbia... 
(Sidenote: this Tweet embedding thing? Very neat!)

Congratulations!! Very exciting to see the good news start to flow! 

Hi all! I was accepted to OSU today via the online portal so I created this chat so we can all announce our acceptances and celebrate the accomplishments of ourselves and of each other! Best of luck everyone

I just checked the OSU portal after I saw your post & see that I've been offered admission as well! No official communication or any information about funding yet, but still very exciting.

I JUST GOT ADMITTED TO OSU!!! No email, check the website

I can't say with any certainty about the people who declined their offer, but everyone in my cohort was interviewed, which includes English and TAPS.

Oh boy! That's exciting, if true – I applied to Chicago on a whim, thinking they would toss my application aside at first glance with a chuckle.
I'm a Romanticist and my partner does C20/21 fiction.

Hi, fellow Comp Lit-ers! I'm interested in the intersection between Ancient Greek tragedy (especially female tragic figures) and postcolonial literature of the African diaspora (in English, French, and Italian). I applied to six schools and am not expecting to start hearing back until early-mid February. Wishing everyone the best of luck!

Hi all! I'm Audrie, and more than a little late to the game with this thread ?
 I finished my BA (double major in English + Comm) in December and my last application went out at the beginning of the month! I'm a first-gen student who is mystified by even the application process for grad school, but I was lucky to have some amazing mentors (faculty and otherwise). I only applied to a few programs, but I am excited to see where this journey takes me. Congrats to everyone who is already hearing good news!! 

Got an email from a member of a graduate committee at a school I applied to asking if I would like to talk on the phone. "Not a formal interview in any way, just a chat." That's not nerve-wracking at all. I think it's mostly to get me to flesh out some of my research interests and try to align them in a better way with the department than my statement does.
 
Ergh. Talking on the phone.

Emory U invited me to a Skype interview, too! I'm an international applicant as well.
Congratulations to everyone who received good news, and good luck to everyone who's yet to hear! Although Emory is one of my top 3 places, I'm still waiting to hear back from the rest of my schools, it being still quite early in the application season!

I haven't been on the forum for quite a while since starting my M.A. but I'm back and have applied for this cycle's PhD programs. Luckily, all applications are submitted and I have a lot of faith in my applications for this year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Got the email for a visit/interview from Emory today so I'm thrilled, since I was outright rejected my very first time applying straight out of undergrad (which, in retrospect, was definitely a reach).

I received an interview request from them as well! First news of this application cycle for me. Best of luck!