Peter Kandinsky

I still think it's a bit early to hear back for formal interviews, so I wouldn't stress about them yet! Even if you have previously spoken with your prospective advisor, some schools will do a separate interview as part of the process, usually with multiple professors (for instance IFA, Columbia, Stanford, Berkeley, off the top of my head - there are others). You can look at the results board from previous years to get a sense of which schools include interviews as part of their process. I will say, it does get a bit confusing because some people post informal chats as interviews, and I certainly think there is a range between formal interviews and instances where an individual professor wants to get a better sense of a prospective student after reading their application. When I applied last year, some professors offered to speak when I indicated my interest in applying, and then I was asked to interview formally for some programs. However, because this was my second cycle, I was personally more laissez faire and felt I could have more in-depth conversations in the spring, if I were to be admitted. Hopefully this helps!

That's somewhat alarming, and I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. Have you been able to get in touch with any of their students at least?

Curious if anyone has heard anything from UCLA?

I haven't heard anything, but someone posted an interview with them a couple weeks back on the results board. I don't know if they usually send all interviews at once, or over a rolling period.

I applied there and have not heard anything. It seems like they sent them out around this time last year...

Do you already have an MA? They emailed me earlier this month to ask if I'd considering transferring my PhD application to the MA program. Someone wrote on the results board on the 11th: "Was told today by admin that there is a meeting tomorrow to make decisions, and all offers will be out by the end of next week."

Oh awesome - congratulations, and thank you for the intel!

I also have not heard a peep from Williams... I'm surprised no one has posted an acceptance on the results board seeing as several people from this site are typically admitted in mid-February, but who knows - especially if they are interviewing. I wouldn't totally give up hope if you haven't heard, in any case - they seem to keep a number of people in limbo and then send a few more acceptances right before April 15. I am pretty certain at this point I'll accept the offer I have (which is a specialized program for my subfield), but I would really like to have a full picture of all the options before I commit!

I don't think they typically do - but Columbia also doesn't typically and they did this year, so who knows. The application was free (I don't know if it usually is) but it seems plausible they got a huge number of applications. They also don't require applicants to send FAFSA until March 1 so perhaps they are still working on financial aid packages before notifying applicants. @wookie55 I don't have an MA, either! I think probably all my PhD applications will be rejections (heard from 2, and the other 4 have sent acceptances per the results page). In any case, I am super excited about a generously funded MA offer that I plan to accept. I have a BA from a top program where many graduates go directly into top PhD programs, but I do not yet have language skills in my area of interest, unfortunately, which I sensed was a major concern for the faculty I met.

I've been lurking for a while, but decided to go ahead and post... Has anyone heard from either Syracuse or Williams? Definitely looking pretty grim for me in terms of PhD applications, but I'm still hoping an MA might come through!