fall-11

Just wondering if there's others out there who haven't heard anything from BU. They sent out both accepts and rejects on Friday, but I didn't hear either way. Are there others in the same boat?

I have three. My advisor tells me one is all I need, and honestly ONE is all I'm asking/hoping for.

Well, Ohio State has notified most people over the past 2 weeks, and they said they'll notify the remaining folks within this week. U of Georgia sent out a couple of acceptances some time ago, but I've heard nothing so far. And Boston University did a bunch of notifications on Friday (both accepts and rejects), but I haven't heard anything.

Another day gone with no news. I literally feel like I'm keeping a vigil. It's like time isn't moving forward. I just hope I get some good news from somewhere, anywhere, this week. It's just killing me

Anywhere it said current or mailing address, I put my US mailing address. I only put in my home address where it specifically said "permanent address" or something like that. I know logically it should be fine, but anything and everything is worrying me now...

I've suddenly been seized by a new source of anxiety -- what if decision letters get mailed (or have been mailed) to my home address rather than my US mailing address (where I live)? I'm an international student, so it'll take at least 2 weeks for any letter to reach my home address, and there's no one living there right now who I can ask to keep an eye out for me or let me know either. They send stuff to the mailing address, right??? Did it happen the other way round for anyone? Thanks...

Well, it looks like UVA has begun calling -- I see an acceptance posted just now. Congratulations! Anyone want to claim it? Also, do you know how many folks they'll be accepting? Thanks.

It shows up if you search for "University of Virginia" rather than "UVA". It doesn't mention whether he/she is a fellowship nominee, but I'm guessing that person is one of the two Jefferson candidates that giaour mentioned were invited to visit. I think the regular admits (non-fellowship) haven't been notified yet. Keeping my fingers crossed...

This is mostly grumbling and nothing substantial, but WHEN is USC going to notify??? Last year, all the acceptances were given out on Feb 9. This year, its Feb 20 already, and only one acceptance on the results board so far, but that one was a fellowship recipient, which means the regular admits haven't gone out yet. Also, their deadline was Dec 1, so they really should be done by now. Aarrgh!! Sorry, the waiting is driving me nuts

That's awesome! Congratulations!! I love reading your blog and your posts, and I've been rooting for you!

That would be awesome!

Oh my goodness, you sound like my twin! I also did my BA in 2002, in a completely unrelated but "practical" field, and started my English coursework in 2007 by taking online correspondence courses (from good universities, not from Phoenix-type places, I mean). Then those profs became my recommenders when I applied to MA programs.

I didn't apply to Kansas, but just wanted to say this post made me really happy It's just wonderful to see this kind of fellow feeling, and that's exactly why I love the Grad Cafe. Also, to echo what's already been said before on this issue: I don't think Kansas would think you ungrateful for bowing out gracefully with a polite and courteous email. I'm sure they know that you're a top candidate who's likely to have other offers. And if you feel awkward about turning them down earlier rather than later, you can say something like you wanted to release your spot so that they can offer it to someone else who is waiting anxiously to hear. If anything, they'll appreciate your being considerate about others. Congrats on your other offer, and good luck with the remaining ones!

Just to chime in about the age factor, I'm 30 and applying to PhD programs, and I do think I'm much more mature and focused now than I was when I was in my early 20s, and hence much more prepared to start the PhD. Also, where I'm currently doing my MA, most people enter the PhD in their mid to late 20s, and graduate in their early 30s. ETA: Just to give the flipside, about being too young -- I know someone who started her PhD (in Chemistry, though, not English) at UPenn right after her BA. So she was around 21 or 22. And in her first semester, she basically had a nervous breakdown because she wasn't able to handle the pressure and wasn't really psychologically prepared for the huge transition from undergrad to PhD-level work. She's obviously extremely smart and talented, but she just hadn't realized what she was getting into. She ended up taking a semester off on medical leave, and then returned the following year. She's doing fine now (and in her second year there), but she said in retrospect she should have waited a year or two to "grow up" a little bit before throwing herself into the pressure cooker of a PhD program.

Thanks ecg1810 -- it was thanks to you (a few posts above) that I mustered up the guts to call -- and you're right, the grad coordinator is quite friendly and was not at all irritated! It's great to have such wonderful Grad Cafe colleagues

Catherinian, no problem at all. That's what I guessed had happened Thanks for checking and letting us know, and congrats again. Dang, I wish I knew whether to be hopeful or not that I haven't heard yet... but with only 1 spot for external MAs, it's a really long shot.

In case there are others who are still waiting -- I called the grad coordinator today, and she said that over the last 2 weeks they've finished reviewing and notified most of the apps, and if I haven't heard yet, it means that I'm in the last remaining batch and will hear within a week. In other words, if we haven't heard, we're not out of the running yet. There may still be some acceptances in that last batch of apps. Fingers crossed!

That's awesome, catherinian -- congratulations!! I'm a bit puzzled by this information, though. I emailed the DGS in November and she confirmed what I had heard before, that they usually take 1 or at most 2 applicants with external MA's each year. So it can't be that they've suddenly switched to taking 5-7 students with external MA's. Can you double-check what the email you received says? Thanks. ETA: I haven't heard from BU yet... Are there others who also haven't heard?

Did you apply for the PhD, or the for the MA-leading-to-PhD? In other words, are you applying with only a BA, or do you have an MA? If you're applying with an MA from another institution, like I am, they typically take only one student a year with an external MA. Last year, their PhD cohort had 7 people, of which only one had an external MA while the other 6 had just completed their MA at BU. But if you're asking about how many spots they have for the MA (leading to PhD), I don't have numbers for that. Either way, good luck!

So are you the one who posted that information on the results page? (About there being 450 applications, and that they're going to accept 15-16 for a class of 6.) Just asking because I'd rather it was you than somebody from Brown as others have been suspecting!

I just saw it a moment ago. Not really holding my breath, though -- Brown is too high up there for me to have a chance... good luck to everyone.

Really? I've done the same thing, and at least for my schools, the opposite seems to be true -- by this time last year, USC, UVA and Illinois Chicago had started notifying, but this year they're late. Good luck, though.

From the results board, it looks like they started notifying on Feb 26 last year, so it's still too early.

Great song, thanks woolfie! Here's another one, along the same lines, "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, that someone posted on Waiting It Out. The good old 90s! Reminded me of high school (that's where I was when this song first came out, and I used to watch it on TV). "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never going to keep me down!"

Me three...