veilside

A nice bit of news to start this which is the last agonizing week of being a waitlistee.

Hi, I have been waitlisted for the PhD at UNC for about 9 agonizing weeks now. I have offers to other programs, and in fact am being pressured to reply by April 10 by one of them. (Their exact words were: "we would very much appreciate hearing back from you by April 10 regarding our offer.") I would imagine that they ask this in order to go to their waitlist in time... UNC is my first choice, and I do not want to be clogging up the process for someone waiting for a spot that I have been offered. I also am terrified that if I wait until after the 15th I will thereby loose those spots I have been offered due to my waiting out for UNC, and then nothing will materialize from UNC, and I will be stuck with nothing. This whole waitlisting thing is awful, as I'm sure that some of those offered a spot at UNC are waiting on school X, and someone at school X is waiting on Y, and that one is waiting on school Z, etc... A horrible gridlock that will be an exploding mess on the 15th. I know that UNC received around 430 applications, accepted 16, and waitlisted 6. Is anyone here part of the 16 and has already or will be turning down UNC? Also, as it is clearly a related question, has anyone here accepted UNC?

I am hoping that I can get some feedback from people here regarding what to do... I have been accepted into a few programs thus far, and waitlisted for some others. I have applied to MA programs and have the ultimate goal of a PhD with a focus in ancient history. 1. I have been accepted to the University of Arizona, which has an ancient history MA through their classics department. They offered me a TA-ship, and a full waiver of all tuition and fees with a stipend of around $8000 an academic year. 2. I have been accepted to Tufts University for a classics MA. Tufts' grad program is not an independent grad program and is run in tandem with the undergrads. Tufts did not offer me a TA-ship, but did offer me a scholarship of about $18,500. This will end up leaving me with about 40% left of the tuition to still pay. I live in the northeast, and for this reason Tufts would be far cheaper to move to, as well as being much closer to family and such. I'm not awfully concerned about the money, but more-so on how PhD programs would view these two MAs. Is one far superior to the other? Any advice, opinions or what have you would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. BTW, I am waitlisted for the Classics MA at Tulane, and waitlisted for the PhD program at UNC-Chapel Hill. So feel free to toss in these possibilities into the equation.

I just logged in to find out that I am accepted!!!! Good luck everyone.

I might have mispoken before.... I re-read the email from Professor Nishimura-Jensen and she stated that they typically try to notify the apps within "three weeks" since if they are taking summer course they can make the proper arrangements in time.... that being said, this is week three coming up, so hopefuly we all will hear sometime this week.... Good luck to us all

Magnocaudax, Thank you again for all the quick and helpful replies... Everything sounds great about the program there, and I already feel very excited about proving myself there, and I'm not even accpeted yet. But, hopefully I will here by the end of next week as Professor Nishimura-Jensen told me that they tend to reply in a few weeks so that those who are taking summer courses there (myself included) can make adequate preparations.... I really hope that all goes through for me and I know that my LOR's are very strong, I have a 3.83 major GPA and a 3.52 Cumm GPA, already have 9 semesters of Latin, and am finishing my second in Greek.. so hopefully all comes through here.... I'll keep my fingers crossed... Good luck to everyone else applying to the program here or elsewhere....

Magnocaudax, Thanks. My reasons for wanting to take a course at Princeton is due to the fact that they are my number one choice, due to Edward Champlin, and to have an opportunity to take a course with him before applying to grad programs again next year would most likely prove to be only to my benefit (so that he personally know me, and more importantly my abilities). Even if it were not for credit, some kind of audit, I wouldn't mind... and I plan on driving, but maybe Philly is not quite the easiest city to drive in and around in... so, who knows about that, but either way I would love to have a chance to sit in on one of his courses. How are the seminar classes set up? I mean, in the upper level Latin that I am taking now we, basically, translate x number of lines from an original author, come to class and take turns reading our translations, and perhaps a little bit of grammar discussions here and there, but no tests, quizzes, or finals. Is the post-bacc seminars similar to this, in that they are in-class performance graded, or are there tests and such? Is it appropriate to ask for a LOR from those outside of the post-bacc program there? For example, if I was taking a class with Professor Grey, would this be out of line to ask him, since prof. Nishimura-Jensen is probably expecting most post-bacc students to ask her for one it wouldn;t be out of line to ask with such a small amount of time being a student of theirs... But someone outside of LPS might look not so favorably on this... is this the case? Thank you.

Magnocaudax, When you entered the program did you take the summer intensive Greek there at UPenn? And if so, what text do they use? I am in the second half of my elementary Greek now (we use "Athenaze"), and if accepted to UPenn, I would take both the intensive elementary and intensive intermediate Greek before beginning the seminars in the fall. I know that there are very limited introductory Greek texts, and surely there are also limited ones for intermediate as well, just curious if you know what they use there. Also, I understand that they encourage you to take other courses while there besides the standard seminars in Greek and Latin, but are you allowed to cross-register to say, Princeton? When you do take other courses there are you allowed to take graduate courses, or are you limited to undergrad ones? One more question.... How does the cost all figure out? I understand that being a post-bacc you are eligable for certain loans and scholarships, so when it all boils down how does it come out in the end, are you left with a bill or just a loan to reapay? Thanks.

As far as the whole 'transforming' thing goes, there is something to it. As justsomeone has pointed out, if one comes from a not-so-well-known university, this surely makes you stand out more. I also come from a lesser known school, SUNY-Albany, who actually has a diminished classics dept and have a "program" now instead. There are a few issues that can be tranformed from taking a post-bacc first...they are: 1. Your language skills, which PhD programs see as being the most obvious obstacle to overcome for all applicants, regardless of their qualifications otherwise, are then properly remedied. To have a dedicated year of study for the sole puropse of strengthening language abilities will surely bring you a step closer to a top PhD program. 2. Your status. Being a senior in an undergraduate program when applying is a weakness. You cannot show the last fall grades, only what you are enrolled in, and have nothing to show for the spring. This is bad becasue who's to say that your grades will not fall off a cliff, or that you'll end up withdrawing from certain courses that the PhD program sees on your current list ony to have you drop or withdraw later. By being a graduate you show a definate GPA, and have a solid and final list transcript. 3. Your realization. By taking a post-bacc program it shows that you are serious about being able to perform in a PhD setting. You are mature enough to be able to realize that you are not quite ready for a PhD in classics and that to humbly take a year in limbo, so to speak, shows your commitment. 4. UPenn is an Ivy. The fact that the post-bacc will be acheived at an ivy league school holds a good deal of weight in and of itself. Especially if one comes from a lesser known school it gives an admissions committee something else to go on, namely that you are *now* of the calibre that they would expect. Even if they happen to admit more than they should, which I'm not so sure is the case, to be able to survive a year of intensive Greek and Latin at a demanding school is quite tasking. For example, according to UPenn's official post-bacc in classics site it states that 1/3 of the graduates end up not pursuing any further education (there's your excess of students for making money), another 1/3 go on to graduate work but not in classics at all (perhaps even more of the "excess" students), and only 1/3 of the incoming class go on a PhD in classics or ancient history. Of those who do go on for a classics PhD go to other Ivies, and the "par-ivies" (Stanford, UC-Berkeley, Chicago, Chapel Hill, etc,..) 4. Who reccomends you. By having a professor, or two from an Ivy be a recc for you, you have greatly increased your appeal to any admissions committee... No matter what, the elite schools are a closed circuit, and having any insider help you can, will only benefit you all the more. 5. What admissions committes say, it definetely does matter. A professor of mine is close friends with the former head of the classics department at Cornell. And he told her that: "for as long as I was the head of the department we usually took all the post-bac students from Penn.....let me rephrase that; we 'always' take the post-bac students from Penn!" Direct from an ivy department head's mouth. Now bear in mind that it was surely the last 1/3 that applied there, and I find it likely that they have denied one or two over the years, but the bottom line is this: While a post-bacc in classics from UPenn will not guarantee admission to a top PhD program in classics, nor tranform you into a top-applicant, it can greatly improve your chances of getting in, and one could argue that that, in and of itself, is transforming you. Sorry... that was somewhat long-winded, but felt I had to get all of that out...

The deadline for applying to UPenn's Post-Bacc has already passed... was March 15. From what I understand it is quite competative. They take a good dozen or so, but there are, according to their website, more qualified applicants than they have room for. I have applyed for this upcoming fall's program there, but it may not be too late to apply to Columbia, UNC-CH, or UCLA... they also have good post-bacc programs, and might have a later deadline than UPenn. Good luck though.

It's probably not a good sign since it wasn't the history dept. that I applied to there... I applied for the ancient history program there and that happens to be through the classics dept. The classics dept. has been contacting at least 4-5 people on this forum for interviews, and have contacted the waitlisted.... so...I'm prob. rejected there too..... we'll see though.

I just got the letter today (live in NY). Rejected... really suprised since I have a 3.76, 10 semesters of Latin, 5 of Greek, 2 French, 2 German, a very well received writing sample, strong reccs, and a tight SOP, and was invited down for two days in October by Talbert..... Oh well... the economy has caused a good number of problems.... Good luck to those waiting to hear. BTW, it was a very small letter, and a pathetic one at that. I only have two more schools to go, so far I have no acceptances.... waiting for Princeton and Penn State..... I'm probably screwed.

Does that first round of decisions mean they have definite "yesses" and "nos" or that they only know who is a definite "no"??

Have you spoken to Dr.Lee recently?? Maybe some useful information can be found there. Post anything that you find out please.... I'm going nuts too.

Kind of suprised that there have been no more results posted yet... Makes me wonder if they're doing it very piecemeal as UChicago is....

Whoa!! Looks like they've already begun to send out letters. Saw a reject post via postal for someone who applyed for American History there.... Must have lived close to NC... I'm in NY so it might take a day or two..... nervous now.

Yes he is... I had the chance to sit down and talk with Richard Talbert, Fred Naiden and Werner Riess... All three of them were very nice and welcoming. UNC is a top choice of mine, but with everything that's been going on this year with the economy and all, things seem shakey.... Thanks for the wish of good luck.

The official numbers for ancient history is that they received 11 applicants, and can accept anywhere from 1-4. Most likely they will prob. take one Greek and one Roman history student in. So that brings it down to a 1/6 chance for me... Plus, from what I have been told by those there at UNC, language experiance is a killer for those going into ancient. Luckilly I have 10 terms Latin, 5 terms Ancient Greek, 2 German and 2 French. So maybe my shot is more like 1:2 since very few apps tend to be properly trained in languages, especially when applying to a history dept. It would be all differant if this was a Classics Dept. that taught ancient history... in that case most apps would have 10+ terms in all 4 languages!! I had a good experiance when invited to go down to visit in the fall, and hope that things work out here for me. Hopefully we hear sooner rather than later.....

I have jsut gotten of the phone with the graduate cooridinator at Princeton and was told that they are still in the middle of the review process, and have not yet begun to make their last acceptance.... She stated that even though the amount of apps this year has increased since last year, the admitted amount will still be about the same, and that waitlisting will also be a factor this year. Nervous since I did not receive an invite to have an interview in Jan/Feb when I asked about this she said that there are still more interviews to come, and that not all profs will contact via e-mail or phone, and that all official answers yes, no, or waitlist will be notified at the same time, prob by mid March. This is my first choice, and I know that by applying to a "Classics" dept. for ancient history is setting myself up for a slim chance, due mainly to the fact that many applying to the PhD in classics there will have 10+years in Latin, 5+ in Greek and 5+ in French and German, have published articles and maybe already an MA... so this is by far the longest of my long shots, but we'll see. Has anyone here that has been contacted for an interview been applying for ancient history???

For all of those wondering about the current status of UNC-CH's History Dept. here it is. I just got off the phone with the graduate cooridinator, and she said that they are still processing, and still reviewing applications and that they expect to send out letters in late March. Very late indeed, but at least they're taking their time in reviewing, not just scanning the GRE's and such as other schools who notified all applicants in January must have done. I know that there is a current thread for stats, but it has gotten bogged down with misc. topics, so here is one dedicated to Chapel Hill, thoughts on the program there and a place for its prospectives to discuss things. I'll start... I am an ancient history applicant, and actually have visited the campus back in October and I have to say that the profs that I had the chance to meet with were great! I really hope that this comes through for me, so far two of the three ivies that I have applied to have told me no. Who else is all out there, what's your field and such???

According to the official U-Chicago website, under graduate program, then under Admissions FAQ, is this: ***************************************************** 11. How difficult is it to get in? The Department of History is highly selective. Every year, we decline more qualified applicants each year than we have the resources to accept. We typically receive 300-350 applications. We admit 50-60 students, all of whom receive some kind of financial aid. ***************************************************** If they are making 40% fewer offers, then, the number for 2009 admissions should be: 30-36. Still not so bad, but who knows... We'll find out for sure within a week or two. Good luck to all!!

I called Chicago on Friday the 20th, and they told me that all decisions have been made and that letters are going out in the first week of March (realistically though, they will prob. go out this coming week). Don't worry!!! Just because three people posted in the results page that they received an e-mail from a potential advisor, does not mean that all fields and all profs are doing so.... If this were the case, then there would be at least a dozen or so posts in the results page. Chicago typically makes offers to 50-60, although this year less, more like 30-40. But with that many people getting offers, there would be way more than 3 posts in the results page. Most likely it is one prof. from one field who likes to contact early.... When I asked about the fact that there are "internet postings" of prospectives claiming to be notified via email by a prof. they seemed very shocked. They said that they really never do that, and are not really supposed to. So, don't stress about it and watch the mail starting prob. late this coming week.

Jenn, I appologize if I have now, in turn offended you... I'm not sure if you have read through this whole thread, but when I was called out on my original statement that I was treated rudely by PSU, I stated that it appeared that you were already in a bad mood before the conversation even began... If I was wrong, and I humbly feel that I am, I sincerely appologize.... From a prospective's perception, this is a very hectic and trying time, and perhaps one gets hyper-sensitive to anything to do with a prospective school... In my case, when I called perhaps you were not upset, just busy, but in my frantic and anxious mind I perceived it as rude... So for what it's worth, I am sorry. I recant my accusation against PSU, and especially you personally. Quite frankly, I've been not myself lately... nerves getting the better of me.. and I never intended to hurt anyone, so if I did, yet again, sorry. I should be OK once this whole waiting period is finally over.

This is how I did it: "Hi, my name is XXXXXX, and I recently applied for the PhD program in history for the upcoming fall semester, and have a few questions for you" then they'll say something like, "ok" or "what would you like to know?" then.... "I was wondering if the graduate committee has finished reviewing application" and "How may applicants applied this year?" and "How many were for the XXXXXX field?" and "Do you have any idea when notifications will be sent out this year?" ....Hope this is at least a start for you. Good luck, and post whatever you find out.

whoa.... I think things are getting out of hand here... When I said that "they don't matter" what I mean is that if you talk to "them", it has no direct effect, either positive or negetive on your possibility to get in.... Also, I was always respectful to them, and quite polite. yes, I understand that what I said could come off rude and arrogant, but all I was trying to convey is: It is okay to call a dept. to find out some basic information about admission... it "IS" their job.... I meant nothing disrespectful by saying that... Sometimes merely stating a fact can seem perjorative, but that's not what was intended. and yes, I also understand that once into the program, that the person in question does matter to some degree, of course, but again, this is the problem with reading a posting--one can attatch any mood to the writing and not know the original intent....I'll start using the little faces, I suppose that's why they're there. In short: I was nice to them, I only asked them to do what they are paid to do, and they have no bearing over if one will or will not be admitted. My mother is a receptionist, so I would never rude to one anyways Now.... hopefully that's put to bed, and let's continue on with the original concept of this thread.