Germaine123

Today being the day would be ideal.

Yesss. I also say: , which seems like my "I'm ready to crawl back into bed and be annoyed and not talk to people anymore or do anything productive today" face. Happy Wednesday! (Also huge congrats to the acceptances!)

Anxiety cure-all?? http://attackofthecute.com/

Started the day with some kind of suspicious hope and now watching it slowly dissipate into anxiety and aimlessness. Sounds like a typical February day to me.

I'm just going to go ahead and assume the latter!

In my experience, love of scholarship is contingent on many things, and naturally, fluctuates from time to time. Yes, I love literature and history. Yes, I love writing. I love discussion, teaching, and intellectual epiphany. But I would also love some affirmation that all the time I've put into this love will lead me to an actual career. I would love validation of some kind. I don't need someone patting my back the whole way through, I just need to get into a PhD program so that I can continue to do my thing! I've been thinking about this a lot lately: I don't want my curiosity of life, literature, and scholarship to be led by "getting into a PhD program." But, we do live in the real world. How many years (how much money) can you throw at the system before it concedes to begin paying you back? The above might hinge on the cynical, but, the truth is that my thesis is driven (and will continue to be driven) by the love and investment I have for (in) it. It's just hard to find that sometimes, especially right now. Just gotta hold on to those moments when the excitement hits, and try not to check GradCafe for as long as you can, haha.

YES x 2. It is TOUGH doing an MA thesis at a time like this. Especially if you've thought to use the MA as a springboard to the PhD. Even though I'm excited about my project, it's tough to feel motivated while in limbo. Deadlines are the only thing that keep me going. Barely.

Hm. I didn't receive any of those emails. Just the slew of emails that tell you where you to check your status etc. mid-December. Looking back though, I did get the email that you received back in 2010, mid-December, the first time I applied. I don't see a method to their (very courteous) madness.

UUUURGH. I'm supposed to be working on my MA thesis right now. Oh, the guilt. I also tried to stick to my passions in my SOP, though, I did a lot of obsessing, trying to figure out what "they" wanted to hear. Really, my main goal was to prove that I am capable of doing the things that are required of PhD students. "Talking the talk, walking the walk," so to speak. I also applied to CUNY, by the way. I think they'll be coming out with decisions relatively soon. Nervous about that one.

Right. I wholeheartedly agree that departments should be clearer about this. Everyone (including LORS) is left to speculate one way or another. It seems to me that if someone is a good enough applicant, they should be accepted regardless. Yet, certain programs "prefer" certain types of applicants. I don't even really understand why a department would prefer someone with a BA over an MA; maybe it's the department wanting to "groom" students from the ground up? In the end, they probably don't want to discourage anyone from applying (or, perhaps, giving them money). But, I've already thrown so much money away on applications in past years. It's frustrating.

I've heard SO many contrary things about this from so many different people, and, have pretty much chosen not to think about it this time around. I feel like for some schools you might have to be willing to do a second MA as well, if they accept you on that level. Especially if you have an MA peripheral to Literature/English.

I essentially knew that I wanted to do a PhD after undergrad, but, as it happened I ended up doing an MA first (finishing it up now). The MA was necessary in my case. It was especially helpful because my undergrad degree was in a peripheral field to Literature/English. There are a few things about my MA program that make it particularly useful for those wanting to continue on to the PhD – such as being able to take PhD-level courses. The MA has taught me how to handle PhD-level reading loads, assignments, and discussions. And, of course, it's given me great contacts and LORS. I do feel as though if/when I do get into a PhD program, I'll be fully prepared for it. Also, the degree itself is relatively cheap, especially compared to other such programs. If you're unsure about whether or not you want to pursue a PhD, I'm sure attempting the MA first would help you decide. I certainly know several people who decided that they had had enough of school after the MA.

Nevermind, got my rejection. On to the next!

Congrats, waitingwaitingum! Also, do you (or anyone) happen to know anything about the application statuses for UMN American Studies? Mine changed from "Awaiting Program Decision" to "Final Review" today. I took UMN (and still do) as an unofficial rejection, but, of course now I'm a tiny bit curious as it seems like an accepted poster above also had the same status. I'm going to take it to mean "Final Review" before rejected, haha, since the 8 have already been notified. Just fishing around for non-existent glimmers of hope left and right. Yeah!

I'm also surprised at how many schools have already made decisions! Last year I didn't even start thinking about hearing back until early March. Ignorance-bliss was had for much longer than this...Oh the days. By CUNY did you mean the Graduate Center, Grunty DaGnome? Their website is so ambiguous: "These notifications begin in March and continue through June." But yes it does say that their review process begins early February.

Seconded. This UW thread has surely been epic!

Hey, just got mine too. Relieved to know too. Good luck to all!

Bah! seconded. Does anyone know anything about how their waiting list works?

Just out of personal curiosity - since it's an MA with a supposed implicit lead into their PhD, do they say anything about providing funding once you do go on to the PhD stage?

I assume those committee folks have more important things to do...

Watch the forums? Really?

Yeah, I feel ya. Still have no idea whether to expect something in the mail or email. I wonder how their waitlist works, considering that several people on the results board that got in on the MA level without funding seem to indicate that that won't be an option for them. I too, need closure. Majorly. I'm being reviewed on the MA level but my field is 19th, 20th American Literature/film/psychoanalysis. P.S. Congrats to those accepted!

Haha well I'm sure Brian Reed appreciated the "women" part

I caved and emailed; asked about whether a decision had been reached on my application. Haven't heard back yet. Seems like they're pretty busy over there, which, seems like a good thing. Good luck to all those that haven't yet heard back!

I see on the Results board that there have been [four] MA acceptances via postal service today, and another MA rejection via email yesterday. Yet, I've heard nothing. THIS KILLLS. AAAArgh.