DesperateKid

I'm not so sure what you mean by this, but having a clear research question won't hurt.

I work on premodern China. I didn't ask my POI about the size of the incoming cohort, it would have been great if I did.

I feel you, but I've heard a lot that grad admissions just don't work that way. If you say Berkeley was not your top choice, I think what you mean is they are not the best fit for you, and fit matters. So it means you still have hopes for those with better fit!

Same here. There are so many works that need to be done and I can't stop checking my inbox...

Don't quote me on this, but generally when the job market situation is not so good, grad admissions tend to be more competitive, so I would guess the same for the master's programs too I'm freaking out it's already February! The next two weeks will be excruciating...

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm sure we'll get into other programs we want. I'm not hearing back from them for any further interview, and I feel like I didn't do so well on the second interview, so I guess this is it for me. POI told me that if I don't hear back for a while, I could ask the administration about the process, and they will tell me the result. I'm just not asking them myself because it would just hurt me too much to actively reach out to them to hear the sad result...

I'm working on premodern Chinese literature, and I am also very much interested in interaction with Japan and Korea too! Happy to meet another premodernist here!

oooooh good luck with your interview!

Most of the interviews I had was about just providing more information about where I am coming from academically, adding on to your SOP/CV/Writing sample.

Hi! Another PhD applicant here! I've been just looking at the results and I finally found this thread suffocating from the endless waiting. I only had two interviews now, I wonder if this means that I didn't make it to the third round