queenofcarrotflowers

Anyone else shitting bricks over UT Austin?

a. Routine only for a few programmes. Some programmes (eg Chicago) require an interview to admit you, others interview a few, but not all, of their admits (historically this has been the case for Stanford, but don't quote me on that. Strangely, some of the interview posts from last year seem to have disappeared from the results page...). You can see if any of the programmes you've applied to interview by checking the results page. b. Again, depends on the programme, check the results page. I know Irvine has conducted informal interviews in February.

Out of curiosity, those of you who have started to get acceptances/ rejections, do you feel better or more nervous after hearing back and waiting on the rest?

If whoever posted on the results page about decisions for Stanford coming out in approx. 10 days is on here, thank you for letting us all know and congrats on getting an interview!! Was just wondering if that’s ten days from the date of your interview or from today? (Not that it probably makes that much of a difference !)

From what I can gather historically they didn't interview everyone but I have no idea whether this is/is not the case this year. Seeing the invites has sure got me on the edge of my seat ?

Also, huge congratulations on your offer!

April 15th is the standard deadline for all US schools. Of course, if you’ve definitely decided against a programme you should inform the university ASAP to free up waitlist spots.

Will preface this by saying I have absolutely no expertise on this subject, since I’m just a first-round PhD applicant! It’s certainly not unheard of to pursue a literature MA/PhD if you’ve got a STEM undergraduate degree— many of the current graduate students’ profiles I looked up whilst researching programmes listed STEM backgrounds. However, and sorry if this is unhelpful, I’m a bit confused on what your academic goals are, and what you regard as being a ‘literary scholar’. Also, you mention creative writing as a previous passion— have you considered an MFA, or are you definitely more interested in studying, rather than writing literature now? Sorry, I know you’ve already clearly stated your interest in critical theory and contemporary American lit, but since you seem to have a talent and passion for creative writing, I’m wondering if that’s a track worth considering/ one that would fit with your interests and goals best.

from what I can tell (someone correct me if I’m wrong!) they did last year, but it was for the first time in a while (they did not for many previous years), and they did not conduct them for all admits.

Nothing yet! (at least, according to the excessive amount of times I've checked my portals today...) I'm hoping to specialize in Southeast Asian and African Anglophone!

Yup, it's such a bummer that there isn't even a slight catharsis to it. Submitted my apps relatively early, thought to myself beforehand 'hey I've got basically no chance of admission anyway so I'll feel much better and forget about it once they're in!'... oh the sweet summer child I once was.

Long time listener, first time caller. Had to make an account just to say this is so relatable, I'm doing the exact same as you (trying to suss out numbers of applicants, pointlessly looking at apartments, lurking on academic twitter...). It's nice to know I'm not the only one getting mentally sucked into grad application-related stuff! I told myself I would forget about applications as soon as I had them in, since I'm not really expecting any acceptances this cycle, yet it's all I'm thinking about now... I'm even checking application portals even though there's no chance of decisions until February at the earliest!