fall-11

Hopefully it'll all be worth it in the end, for all of us -- hang in there.

Yes, they do have a terminal MA program, but without funding. ETA: sorry, cross-posted with Margate!

Thanks ecg1810 -- I think I might just do that, maybe at the end of this week. Actually, I was waitlisted a couple of years back when I applied to the MA program, although eventually I was rejected from the waitlist. But still, at least being on a waitlist provides some hope.

The frustrating thing is that last year, they had already sent out a bunch of acceptances by this time... so they're taking longer this year.

EnglishEnthusiast10, maybe you could ask one of the moderators/admins to lock this thread? Unfortunately, we all have frayed nerves right now, so any new person stumbling onto this thread for the first time might get worked up over it and write something unpleasant. Might be best to have it locked, if possible.

I'm still "In Review" even though it's been a while that they've been notifying. Is this a hopeful sign that I might be on a waitlist? Would it be really obnoxious to call the grad secretary and ask?

Yes, that's exactly how I feel every evening... another day gone, still no news. I know I should put things in perspective, and it shouldn't be a big deal, but we put so much of ourselves into the apps (not just intellectually, but emotionally as well) that it's hard not to feel depressed at the prospect of not making it.

Mine has said "Manual Review Req" for quite some time now. But I sent in my app in late November. Basically it's in the dept's hands, awaiting their review.

To echo Safferz, what it comes down to is not a matter of which school wants you more -- I think it's more about how secure YOU feel about yourself. If you were able to get those great offers, you are obviously VERY smart and talented. But if you can't believe in that yourself, then all the fellowships and awards in the world aren't going to make you feel good enough / special enough / smart enough, etc. You obviously ARE all of those things, but that belief has to come from within yourself, otherwise no amount of external validation (e.g. fellowships) will ever suffice.

That's an understandable fear. But given the high stipend they're paying, I'm guessing this is a well-funded private school, so their teaching load will probably be 1 course per semester, which should be pretty manageable. Also remember that they will probably have a fairly thorough TA orientation/training before the semester starts, where they will likely also provide a lot of the materials you will use in class, plus there will be support available throughout the semester as well. Everybody going into this for the first time will be just as scared as you are, so don't just hide away somewhere -- if you're having trouble with teaching or with time-management, talk to others in your cohort, talk to older grad students, etc. It'll help to get advice from the seniors, as well as share the burden of fear/anxiety with others in your cohort. You'll make it -- everyone does.

Okay, if you're really asking for advice, I'll try not to sound insensitive, but honestly you're making a huge deal out of nothing. If the committee said they loved your application -- well, that's why they accepted you over hundreds of others, right? As for fellowships, only one or two people get them out of those 400 or 500 that applied. We all would like to be special -- and you're already special enough that you made it into the 10 or 12 spots they had out of something like 400 applicants. To ask for even MORE specialness, to want to be that ONE person out of 400 who gets a fellowship -- well, isn't that asking for too much? Once again, I'll reiterate that I'm not trying to sound mean or insensitive, if this truly is bothering you as much as you say. But please remember also that many of us here, including myself, have not gotten ANY offer yet, and hence are feeling very un-special indeed, so you may not really get too many sympathetic responses. Seriously, it's not healthy to let such a small thing bother you so much. Try to put it in perspective, and be grateful for the amazing offers you've gotten. Congratulations on those admits, and good luck with making your decision.

I'm really sorry about Mark and Ashley. Yes, our worst case scenarios would seem wonderful to them. Thank you for putting things in perspective for us.

REM -- "Everybody Hurts" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pudOFG5X6uA

I never liked the Backstreet Boys, but suddenly "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" seems kind of appropriate: Feel free to add more!

Well, not really -- this only happens to me when I'm *supposed* to be doing other things, like writing my thesis, or term papers or something. It's like I'll do *anything* to avoid writing the thesis, but at the same time I don't want to feel like I'm being unproductive, so I start revising poems or sending out submissions. In some twisted way it makes me feel like I'm doing something useful, while in reality I'm avoiding my thesis.

Holy crap, this is freaking me out

I hope you're kidding! Can you provide a link to the thread you're talking about? I looked at the linguistics subforum, but couldn't figure out which thread this is in. Thanks.

Aww, that's so sweet -- love on the Grad Cafe Ha ha, that's what happens when we're all stuck nervously on the Grad Cafe 24-7, even on Valentine's Day!

Cyborg -- that's awesome, I love it!!

That's great that you have such a good attitude about it. Hope it rubs off onto the rest of us -- god knows we need it! I also tend to turn my attention to my writing in times of stress -- it's a way of channeling all that nervous energy into something you can actually control, you know? I finished two poems last week, and in the last 2 weeks, I've sent out submissions to 11 journals and 3 contests. I figure if I don't get in, at the very least, I'll have gotten some poems out it!

Not at all! I'm probably just more desperate and ready to grovel for an acceptance if necessary

Shouldn't that be: I fall at the feet of adcoms! I plead!

Yes, lots of love to my fellow Grad Cafe afficionados! We're all awesome and I swear, one of these days one of those damn universities will want us to be their Valentine!

Thanks hopefulwoolfian and crae -- what would I do without this forum? Anyone else want to contribute some doggerel for distraction? It's a great way to procrastinate from your thesis!

Oh my goodness -- I laughed so hard at this! But now that the laughing's done, I feel like crying again... the "dream of university" does seem so much like a "fancy" right now