barricades

Just checked the UCLA website and there was an offer of admission! No contact from the department itself yet.

Well, I'd say it's like dressing up when visiting schools and everything. You can never overdress (up to a certain point, of course), but underdressing is bound to cause you more trouble if you are dealing with someone nitpicky. Professors who don't care will just tell you so, and while that might be slightly awkward, it is a lot less awkward than having someone demanding respect for their title.

I always call them by their title until it's perfectly clear that it's OK not to. How do I realize it's OK? Either they will flat out tell me or it will naturally come to that point through personal interaction. I wouldn't rely on how people sign their emails. Some people initial it, others don't even sign it.

Hm. If that's the reason then it would also explain why I didn't get an invite. I see that southern hemisphere folks aren't invited to the party. haha.

No clue. Pretty weird, and I had just about given up hope. Like I said, maybe it's a departmental thing? Although it wouldn't make much sense, since the program I applied is itself heavily geared toward the history department.

So, regarding the prospective students visit. I talked with someone from NYU who congratulated me on being admitted! (S)He said that I should be getting an email soon with all the details, hopefully by the end of the week, but not to panic if it doesn't arrive by Friday because things are clogged up at the graduate admissions side. I wasn't invited to the prospective student weekend, so apparently that has nothing to do with your chances. But, then again, maybe it's because I applied for the Dual PhD in History and French Studies. Who knows? Keep your hopes up!

So, I followed through on the message and talked with someone from NYU, who congratulated me on being admitted! (S)He said that I should be getting an email soon with all the details, hopefully by the end of the week, but not to panic if it doesn't arrive by Friday because things are clogged up at the graduate admissions side. Oh, and I wasn't invited to the prospective student weekend, so apparently that has nothing to do with your chances. But, then again, maybe it's because I applied for the Dual PhD in History and French Studies. Who knows?

Just checked my messages from my phone in the US. Had one from NYU on Friday with a positive tone and some nice key phrases "eager to talk with you," "feel free to call on the weekend," etc. Now I have to anxiously wait until tomorrow.

This is one of those questions where there's absolutely no easy answer. First, you have to discuss it with him, but even more importantly, you have to discuss it with yourself. Perhaps personal anecdotes might help (or not), but I went through something similar. I was in a relationship with someone for 3 years during college. Then, the time came that I was to graduate and she still had her senior year. What to do? I never really knew, I didn't want to stay another year at my college town, since I felt like I was ready to move on, but at the same time I wanted to be with her. Then, of course, a lot of other things factored in. We both wanted to go to grad school, and, as most people in this board probably know, the two-body problem just gets worse and worse as you move on with your academic life. We decided to try the long distance thing, at least until she graduated. I took an internship in NYC (I decided to take a year break between my undergrad and grad) and she stayed back in the midwest. We reasoned that if things worked out then it was a sign that the relationship was truly something special and, perhaps just as important, stable. Well, things didn't work out and we went our separate ways. Now, I considered staying at the college town with her for another year, but at the end of the day I just couldn't do it. First, she herself expressed thoughts that she didn't want to hold me back. I also didn't want to make her feel guilty or resentful. I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your SO, but I think that in college you can have really intense relationships that grow and foster real fast without giving much thought to the future. You see the person everyday, sleep at each other's house all the time, etc, etc. At least that was the case with me, and that can kind of hide real the "real world" issues you have to deal with. Also, I'm an uprooted person. I don't have anything I've considered a "real home" for almost 6 years. And while I miss that, I'm also terrified of growing roots and have that "holding me back." The way I think is that I'm still in my mid-twenties. A lot can happen and a lot will happen. People will come and go. Relationships will strengthen (regardless of distance) or wither. But now is the time to do what you want (and perhaps have) to do. My mom always says that if it's meant to be it's meant to be. I don't believe in that, but I do think that if the relationship is worth it, people can work out the distance. Not sure if any of this applies to your situation, but maybe it does to someone else.

What's your field, Bukharan?

I have heard that it has actually improved quite a bit in the past years. Before there was never ending competition for funding between graduate students, but the department seems to have sorted that out, and everyone I've talked to has said that there nothing bad about the culture, except maybe the rigor of the curriculum, which shouldn't be a bad thing.

I also thought about doing that, but I've received an extremely kind email from a PA saying that he/she and others were very impressed by my application and strongly recommended that I be admitted. But the very limited number of spots made things complicated. He/she said that I should stay in touch if I remain interested after hearing from other schools, but that students tend to get admitted from the wait list late in the season and that it's hard to say if it would be before or after April 15. Of course, I'd be awesomely thrilled to go to Chicago, it was my top choice, but it would be extremely difficult to risk my other admissions... UGH.

Congrats!

Wait listed by Chicago. Disappointed, since I've heard great things about the department and had an adviser who strongly encouraged me to apply. He even hand wrote my rec letter, saying it would show my value. Lol

Just got rejected from Berkeley. Not surprised, since it was not a great fit. Actually somewhat relieved, since it has always been my dream graduate school and since it getting in might have caused me to let go of more sensible offers.

Just received an email with a rejection from Berkeley.

I am seriously tempted to just email Columbia and ask if they have my decision yet. Except I feel like that would be super annoying.

Seems like it. I got waitlisted. I assume they've decided their admits and are now informing everyone else of their status.

I have just been wait-listed by Yale. E-mail directing me to a letter on the application site. Thay wrote that "In general, we hope to know shortly after April 15 whether it will be possible to admit additional students to the Department." So I guess I'll be writing an email saying they can remove me from the waitlist. Good luck to all!

Nope. Europeanist! But I would like to look at urban, literary and intellectual exchanges between France and Brazil.

Absolutely. But I'll take a mixed day over the waiting any time. Hell, I'd even take a couple of rejections with one acceptance if it would mean less silent days. And thank you everyone for all the congrats and good luck! Time is passing slowly, but I have a feeling that most of us (hopefully everyone) will be freaking out about deciding where to go a couple of months from now!

Just received an email with an admissions offer from Princeton!

Nascido e criado em BH. haha

NFW. Me too. haha. Are you in BH now?

Just out of curiosity, are you Brazilian by chance?