bw_grad

I didn't get the fellowship; however, I feel good about my work. I am an undergrad from a marginalized background (POC, woman, LGBT, low-income, first gen), so I feel so happy to have submitted an application. I received scores of excellent for my research plan and was told that I had solid experience and the ability to do the proposed work, which feels really good. 
I wish everyone who did not receive the fellowship peace and those that did congratulations! 
 

with yesterday's columbia acceptance, my cycle is finally over! still have a decision to make, but i really want to thank y'all for the info, camaraderie and sometimes commiseration in this forum. literally don't think i could have made it through without a place to vent and empathize with others; the app process can be so isolating! anyway, thank you, and i am so sorry for being corny lol

with yesterday's columbia acceptance, my cycle is finally over! still have a decision to make, but i really want to thank y'all for the info, camaraderie and sometimes commiseration in this forum. literally don't think i could have made it through without a place to vent and empathize with others; the app process can be so isolating! anyway, thank you, and i am so sorry for being corny lol

with yesterday's columbia acceptance, my cycle is finally over! still have a decision to make, but i really want to thank y'all for the info, camaraderie and sometimes commiseration in this forum. literally don't think i could have made it through without a place to vent and empathize with others; the app process can be so isolating! anyway, thank you, and i am so sorry for being corny lol

Best of luck everyone! This cycle isn't technically over for me yet, but since yesterday's Columbia acceptance (my dream school for ages now!), I think I have made my decision!!!

I am a current PhD student at Columbia University. Here's the email we just received:

"The doctoral admissions committee met today to make final decisions, our intention being to assemble a class of eleven new students, plus two students who deferred enrollment last year. The students we've admitted work across all fields and include a number with strongly interdisciplinary projects. Several new admits also share an interest in sharing and conducting research beyond the academy. It's also a significantly diverse group in demographic terms: more than half of those we've admitted are people of color. Our admissions list is now with GSAS for processing and approval. Offer letters will be sent by email late today or early Monday morning. Once our admits have been officially notified by GSAS, I'll circulate a list of names that includes contact information. At that point, you may also be contacted by your faculty mentors with requests to reach out to prospective students. Before then, please do not contact anyone, even informally and even if you've been in touch already, until I confirm that they've been officially admitted by GSAS."

Good luck to anyone here who applied!
EDIT: Sorry, I should have specified. This is for the English & Comp Lit Department.

with yesterday's columbia acceptance, my cycle is finally over! still have a decision to make, but i really want to thank y'all for the info, camaraderie and sometimes commiseration in this forum. literally don't think i could have made it through without a place to vent and empathize with others; the app process can be so isolating! anyway, thank you, and i am so sorry for being corny lol

with yesterday's columbia acceptance, my cycle is finally over! still have a decision to make, but i really want to thank y'all for the info, camaraderie and sometimes commiseration in this forum. literally don't think i could have made it through without a place to vent and empathize with others; the app process can be so isolating! anyway, thank you, and i am so sorry for being corny lol

thank you! i'm waiting with hope for other decisions, and when all of them roll in, i will consider:
Environment—I'm currently completing a Master's in a small coastal town in Scotland. It's beautiful and historic but way too insular and not diverse at all. I went to school in a major city and I want (some) of that energy back. It doesn't have to be NYC or LA but when I return to the US, I want a larger city feel with more diverse demographics.  Cost of Living and Housing—I'm first-gen, low-income and have spent all my life stressed out and financially insecure. I want to be able to undertake this six-year degree without the worry of finances over my head. I know PhD stipends aren't the best, but I at least want a fighting chance at economic security—and subsidized housing helps, too. Fit—What courses do they offer? Does the program encourage an interdisciplinary approach to literary studies? What do past dissertation topics look like? What does a program's placements look like? Who can I work with? What specific opportunities are available for students studying gender, race, etc? Community—How do current students feel? When I eventually talk to POIs, do we mesh? What's our energy like? considering all of that now, currently brown trumps cornell (providence vs ithaca, 44k stipend vs 39k, more advisors to work with, better-aligned classes and diss topics, centers for study, etc), but we'll see how the rest of the month plays out!

You are such a rockstar, congrats!! I'm excited to see where you ultimately choose--you're going to do GREAT things! ?❤️

Received my first acceptance this weekend! Northwestern's PhD program in African American Studies.

thank you! i'm waiting with hope for other decisions, and when all of them roll in, i will consider:
Environment—I'm currently completing a Master's in a small coastal town in Scotland. It's beautiful and historic but way too insular and not diverse at all. I went to school in a major city and I want (some) of that energy back. It doesn't have to be NYC or LA but when I return to the US, I want a larger city feel with more diverse demographics.  Cost of Living and Housing—I'm first-gen, low-income and have spent all my life stressed out and financially insecure. I want to be able to undertake this six-year degree without the worry of finances over my head. I know PhD stipends aren't the best, but I at least want a fighting chance at economic security—and subsidized housing helps, too. Fit—What courses do they offer? Does the program encourage an interdisciplinary approach to literary studies? What do past dissertation topics look like? What does a program's placements look like? Who can I work with? What specific opportunities are available for students studying gender, race, etc? Community—How do current students feel? When I eventually talk to POIs, do we mesh? What's our energy like? considering all of that now, currently brown trumps cornell (providence vs ithaca, 44k stipend vs 39k, more advisors to work with, better-aligned classes and diss topics, centers for study, etc), but we'll see how the rest of the month plays out!