Safferz

Not a problem! May I ask where you've applied? Seems we have some things in common in terms of research interests, so I'm guessing we applied to a lot of the same schools. Glad to see another Africanist on the boards

I'm a night owl, so you'll usually find me working 12-5am and checking in here from time to time Weekends are a bit of a relief from the waiting anxiety though, but I can't help thinking it's almost Monday again! Singwaya, my GREs were not that great either (and so far doesn't seem to have hurt me at all with one top school expressing their interest). It really doesn't matter all that much, especially when everything else in your application is stellar. I think it's really the statement of purpose, writing sample and letters of recommendation that make your file.

What's your subfield, wikichic?

It's almost Sunday... which means it's almost Monday...

I've seen over 20 users at certain points in the day last week! It's fascinating how the traffic on this website really spikes in February, when just a month ago we had a pretty dead forum.

Sorry to hear that too. I didn't know you guys in the US get mail on Saturdays!

As it should! I think exchanging emails can be helpful to determine whether a professor is taking on new students, but it has little bearing on actual admissions decisions. I got a Yale interview without any prior communication with the professor (he ignored my email in September ).

Thanks for the info! I'd imagine most schools that notify around the 10th are also at a similar stage, just finalizing their acceptances.

I think over the next week or so we'll see the top students hear about their acceptances before mid-February mass notifications. There's a lot of competition between schools for these candidates, and I would not be surprised to see programs start making moves to try to secure students that will likely have multiple offers to consider.

Thanks everyone. And congrats on the Emory interview, superfluousflo -- wanting to talk about your application is a great sign! Interesting topic! I also do east Africa (the Horn more specifically), with a focus on gender and anticolonial nationalisms.

Looks like there are three of us now! Oseirus and I are both Africanists

Congrats!!

Congrats teachgrad, wonderful news!!

Thanks everyone, my interview was short and sweet! It was a really pleasant conversation, we spoke about my research and some of the theoretical questions I've been thinking through, as well as my plans for future projects. Told me about a new hire this year that is a bit closer to my research interests (thematically, at least), and let me know about the African Studies and Women's Studies community at Yale. He also said that this is pretty early in the process, as I suspected -- applications are with the Africa subcommittee right now, and then move up through different levels before some super committee makes the final decision. In his email this morning he said they're on a strict schedule and only gave me a two day frame for the call, so perhaps this means that the subfields have to move applications on at the end of this week or sometime soon. These 'interviews' only signal interest from the subfield committees at this stage, so nothing is set in stone until the real decisions are made.

Thanks everyone I got an email from my POI this morning, and he asked when I'm available today or tomorrow. So 2 pm it is! I'll let you guys know how it goes and if I find out any useful information about the process that I can share with all of you.

I just got a Yale interview you guys! Please do NOT give up hope just yet, the applications are under review and it's too soon to count yourselves out. Speaking to the professor in a few hours, wish me luck!

I still think it's too early to count yourself out, for all the reasons crater mentioned and more!

Congrats crater21! I'm sure you did great.

Hopefully! Wish I could say the same. My last hit was Professor [my *very* distinct name] a few days ago

Thanks! I seem to waver between excitement and dread, but it's a strange feeling to confront the reality that decisions *will* come out soon (in two weeks for most of my schools, it seems). Ack. Speaking of NG, check out the book 'Reading National Geographic.' I haven't been able to look at the magazine the same way since.

I just had the awful realization that next week is February

It's pretty great right now, but I think the GradCafe can get pretty gruesome once offers start rolling in. I watched it unfold last year. When you're on your own the wait is still tough, but you're in the dark and have no idea what's going on with the programs until you receive a decision. But being on a forum like this and seeing others get admitted into programs you applied to will make your heart sink. Even if you are ultimately admitted, just seeing the top students get their offers early in the game will be hard to watch. I think some of the reactions to the Yale interviews give you a sense of what's to come -- some of us may very well receive interviews soon, but just hearing about the early interviewees has resulted in some of you giving up all hope!

Congrats virmundi! I think those of you who think it's over for Yale are insane btw

Don't count yourselves out just yet, folks! I think this is just the beginning of a process, and knowing that Yale's adcomm is meeting tomorrow I think it's pretty clear that it isn't over. For all we know this shortlist could be for the specific POI, could be a subfield shortlist, the shortlist could have several gradations and they've only reached out to the top candidates at this point... who knows! Just sit tight and wait, they have a process to complete and they will get to you. Good luck

Congrats owls, and thanks for sharing the info! Like goldielocks, I'm also a bit unclear about what this means for the rest of us -- is it fair to assume that all shortlisted applicants have already been contacted? Is the role of the adcomm then to whittle down the interviewed applicants to a final list for offers?