coy.ote

Happy to say UMass got me funding, full tuition remission and a 24k stipend!!!! I'm so thrilled 😭

I emailed Williams since I still haven't heard anything from them and all they said is "admission at this point is unlikely." If I'm rejected I don't know why they can't just tell me instead of being vague This process is frustrating... I also haven't heard anything from UMass so I'm assuming they aren't able to get me funding. No word from Tulane or Boulder on the waitlists either. This will probably be my last update on my results as it seems I'll have to attend my least-favorite choice! It's disappointing but I at least received funding there. Thank you to everyone here, having a space to commiserate and ask questions made this cycle a little less painful ❤️

I haven't! Not sure if they're sending out rejections bit by bit, or if we're possibly on the waitlist.

Got waitlisted at CU Boulder--I had to email for them to tell me! If anyone got in and isn't going to attend pleaseee let them know ASAP.

Did you have to email CU Boulder too? I've been considering shooting them an email but wasn't sure if that's appropriate or not >_<

Finally got my rejection from Tufts, was fully expecting it lol. I wish they had sent it sooner. Not gonna lie at this point I'm also expecting rejections from Williams and CU Boulder... I interviewed with Boulder almost a month ago now and haven't heard anything even though they told me they'd send out decisions "soon."

Yea I agree with gomujanggab! Their admissions are on a rolling basis so they might continue to do interviews throughout this month. Looking through the results board, I've seen people get acceptances from Williams as late as April so don't assume you're rejected just yet.

It's definitely A Choice UMass is my #1 pick at this point, so I really hope that funding does make it down to me. (This is the part where I beg anyone who got in with funding to let UMass know if they aren't going ASAP lol) I was also told this was just an experiment, and they'll likely go back to sending out decisions in rounds next year... thank goodness for that, because receiving an unfunded offer when they're known for their funding just felt horrible. Someone here had an interview with Williams, and there was an acceptance from them posted on the results board a while ago. I haven't heard from them either though. Ahh best of luck!!!! I definitely relate to losing hope as time goes on... but some of these programs may send out decisions in rounds, or we could be on the waitlist, so anything could happen! Fingers crossed for you!

Y'all I still haven't heard from half my programs and I'm going insane. Just put me out of misery already lol Not sure if anyone else here was accepted to UMass Amherst without funding, but if there is, or for any lurkers: I was worried that they had budget cuts, since they claim to fund everyone, but apparently this year they sent out all their acceptances at once instead of in rounds like they usually do. I was told I was accepted without funding because they think there's a good chance funding will trickle down as those with funded offers go elsewhere. So essentially we're on a waitlist for funding. I'm not sure if this means people who haven't heard from UMass should expect rejections or waitlists. But hopefully this info helps!

UChicago MAPH and NYU IFA are two other programs that seem to have this reputation, I'm not sure of any others.

People call some unfunded MAs "cash cow" programs because it can seem like the university is taking advantage of their MA students and using the tuition they pay to fund the PhD program instead, while giving MA students little to no support. Using their MA students as "cash cows" essentially. It's a derogatory term and not always accurate (for example I have heard of people having good experiences in Columbia's MA despite that being unfunded) which is why I put it in quotation marks, just couldn't think of another way to describe them lol A little shocked to see a rejection from Boulder out already, I interviewed with them and haven't heard anything since! I hope no news is good news at this point? Congrats on your fully funded acceptances btw!

Wow, congrats on all those acceptances! I know for a fact University of Florida has a great program. I'm also still waiting on Williams, CU Boulder, and Tufts

Unless you can afford an unfunded MA without taking out loans and without any financial strain, it's not worth it at all IMO. In a field like art history where you likely won't be making a lot of money, going into debt for the degree isn't worth it. All my professors who took out loans for their PhDs strongly encouraged me to only go to programs that fully funded me because of this. Also, I'm not sure if this is really true but it's my assumption based on the reputations of "cash cow" programs, it seems like whether a program offers funding to students may be indicative of the resources you'll receive there. A lot of art history MAs that don't fund students focus most of their energy on their PhD students instead, I've heard. So I'd be cautious about generally unfunded programs.

Thanks for the info!! At this point I'm mentally preparing myself for a waitlist at best from Tufts but I'll try to hold onto hope. I know Williams does rolling admissions, so maybe they scatter their interviews too? Typos aren't the end of the world imo, so I'm hoping for the best for you! I've been feeling pretty bad about where I stand because I don't feel great about my chances at Tufts and Williams, so my only hope at this point is CU Boulder... but they haven't gotten back to me yet. That or UMass Amherst gets me funding, but I'm not 100% on if that will happen. They've been very communicative and one of the professors reached out to schedule a Zoom call and said they would love to have me attend, but them liking me doesn't guarantee a TA position. I'm so sorry! 😭 That is insanely frustrating, I don't know what would make the graduate school reject you if the department recommended you??

Did anyone here post the interview for Williams on the results page, or any of the Tufts decisions? Are the Tufts decisions only for the art history program or has anyone heard from art history and museum studies? I applied to both of these schools so seeing results is really hurting my morale lol, I also got waitlisted by Tulane. So far I only have one funded offer and it's from my least favorite choice.