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Sorry to be a downer all, but I just have to vent for a minute. Yesterday was my birthday and while I had a lovely day (thanks to my fella), I got rejected from the school he's attending, shutting the door to us being in the same place for the next 5-6 years. I also seem to have implicit rejections from another three, including a top choice whose wait list I didn't even make. That leaves me at 8/11. By this time last year I had two wait lists(including my dream school), and I only applied to 4 schools. Now I'm 8/11. This is my third cycle (as I applied to PhDs and MAs my first time and got an MA). I'm now at 21 rejections total with very little hope, despite a strong MA, recs, CV and what I thought was a much improved SOP and writing sample. (And I have a publication under review after being asked to revise and resubmit.) Sigh. I'm sorry to be bringing the chat down, but it's hard to talk to friends about this and I needed an outlet.

Not to trod on any hopes, but I do know my friend got an acceptance call today from Irvine. He and I both got shut out last year, and now that he's in (which I am TOOOOOO excited about), I'm super worried that I'll get shut out again this year. Nerves overload.

ACK! I'm so nervous about UNC!

Talking about partners, mine is presently in a PhD program, so if I'm lucky enough to get into a program, I'll probably have to do long distance at least 4 years. Yeesh. He was definitely a part of my decision making process, as he was last year when we both applied. However, I guess we're wagering that 4 years apart to get strong PhDs means we're more competitive on the job market to get hired together, thus reducing future long distance situations. The stressful part about it is if I get in, which would be SO exciting, it also means I'll have to move away from him. As if there was any way to make this process more stressful or upsetting, ha.

This may sound creepy, but I interviewed last year at Emory and really enjoyed the people I interviewed with, so can anyone who was there this weekend tell me how the first years are?

YAY! Congrats!

We're totally on the same reading wavelength (I read both TFiOS and TCV this year). The Casual Vacancy got mixed reviews, but I thought it was fantastic. Rowling's prose was beautiful, powerful, and just incredibly readable, as expected. I think people didn't like it because it dealt with class issues? Or that is was, frankly, horribly depressing? If anything, I think it can be argued that many of the characters don't change or deepen (which is my partner's criticism), but I found the characters to be quite realistic/believable. Reviews be damned; It deserves to be read and lauded. What else is on your list? I'm always looking for recommendations. (Since I finished my MA thesis last May, I've been devouring books.)

Do you think the Divergent film with Shaileen Woodley is going to be good? (It's also interesting that they're turning the YA series Delirium into a tv show with Emma Roberts. . .) While I admit Insurgent wasn't as good, I still found it compelling, and Tris to be a readable narrator; I think I'll stick it out for the third book (which based on the end of Insurgent, don't you think it should be named Emergent?!) And I'm halfway through Gone Girl, which is amazingly addicting. Has anyone read Nicole Krauss' Great House? I think it's next on my list. I loved The History of Love, but this one has gotten mixed reviews.

Indeed-- congrats to you two!

Ditto what everyone is saying right now. I applied straight out of undergrad and got shut out with my PhD apps, but I did get accepted at MA programs. I had an amazing experience during my MA. I learned so much and got so many opportunities to grow as an academic---presenting at a national conference, teaching a college course, helping work on 2 academic books with scholars in my field. My application is 1,000,000 times stronger having gotten that experience. [And I met my partner there! He's presently getting his PhD in English Llt, that bastard. ] While writing my thesis, I wanted to apply but didn't really have the time, so I applied to four schools. I got waitlisted at two, including my dream school. Sadly, I didn't get off those waitlists which is why I am applying this year again. BUT, I keep reminding myself that this process is just hard, and its results are random. If it doesn't work out this year, I have a MA from a well respected school. This year as I applied, I have been working on conference abstracts, doing research for a professor's academic book, and I have an article being considered for publication (revise and resubmit-- cross your fingers it makes the cut after revision and gets accepted!). It's good to remember, when wallowing and convinced that I won't get in anywhere, that there are options.

First off, congrats to the UC Berkeley acceptances (as well as all the others)! dazedandbemused-- I agree! It did seem surprisingly early, and I do feel strange that no one else has received a rejection yet. . .? When I applied for their PhD back in '09 (when I ended up going for a Masters degree), I didn't get my rejection until the very end of February. Katia_chan-- Last season I wrote the schools I felt most strongly about that I was rejected from-- one gave me really positive feedback that I felt I used this year, the other said they received too many applications to really give back any feedback. So, in all, I'd say it doesn't hurt to write. I had been nervous to write, but my advisor pushed me to do so, and all in all, I'm glad I did.

The UT Austin rejection is mine--email about an hour ago from Wayne Lesser.

Two rejections in one day. Cruel.

Ditto! I'm on pins and needles, even though I'd be cold as hell there. Patricia Yaeger, June Howard, and Tobin Siebers-- sigh. Good luck to you and all Michigan hopefuls!

Good luck to everyone this week/month! I got my second rejection today from Northwestern (and was in the Vandy bloodbath as well) with another two implicit rejections. Even though I have seven schools left, nine if I hold out hope from those two implicits, I still feel . . . doomed is maybe the correct word? Strangely enough, reading this thread and seeing everyone in the same situation, or better, seeing people get in, make me feel happy. Wow, this became a day time talk show very quickly, haha. And for those people hopeful for a Georgetown admit, I did my Masters there and can say it's a WONDERFUL experience. Good luck!!

I'm loving this conversation. I feel like I've been creepily listening and now I must join, because I've been on a serious YA kick too. Loved The Book Thief, loved The Fault in our Stars (and read An Abundance of Katherines--not as good). Code Name Verity is high on my list, so tell me how it is, proflorax! The best one I read recently was the Divergent series, but I'm trying to hit up all the big series [The Selection (better than I thought), Beautiful Creatures (saved only by the Southern Gothic elements), Delirium (didn't expect to enjoy so much), Chaos Walking (thought it'd be better)] right now because they're a great distraction from this purgatory we're all waiting in, haha. On a random note, just finished The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, and it was probably the best book I've read in the past year. Any other suggestions? I'm thinking of starting Fledgling . . .?

When I interviewed at Emory last year, they flew in an interviewee from France (or at least supported her in the cost), so I would assume international applications are invited.

Thanks ReadWriteNap! This waiting is SO NERVE-WRACKING so any news helps.

rainy_day, I hadn't heard anything either, even after writing Kathy Williams 10 days ago. So today I wrote Prof Wegner, and he immediately wrote back saying there had been a bureaucratic mix-up and some people hadn't been emailed (I had been waitlisted and accidentally not emailed). Therefore, if you write him, you might get back a response. Good luck!

I just want to pop in and say that this discussion has been so helpful and encouraging! I'm wait listed at my top choice presently so it's nice to hear about other people's experiences.

Hi everyone! I have also been pining for a response and finally got an email today from Prof Otis letting me know that I'm on the wait list. It's good to at least know something! Has everyone else heard back yet? Also, congrats pinkrobot!!

Nope. Besides my general admission info and a letter to commit to Georgetown/pay the deposit, I haven't heard anything. I wrote the department to check in about registering for coursework, and I was informed by the office manager that letter(s) will be coming from Prof Ortiz soon and registering will take place the last Monday in August at their grad student orientation. It's lovely to meet another English grad student! I've been feeling the same anxiety. . .mostly just because I feel like there's so much to do before I go!

Hi! I'm DC bound, for the English program as well! It's funny. I've been following grad cafe all this year but never registered. However, when I saw this thread, I knew I had to sign up to meet some fellow new Georgetownians! (Or is it Hoyas? Gotta get down the Georgetown lingo. . .)