Two Espressos

Look at you kickin' ass. Nice! Now you can decline your UNC acceptance and give one of us poor waitlisters a spot (just kidding... kind of).

My spring break precedes the UNC Open House, so I'll have plenty of time to catch up on some reading. Thanks for the advice!

Mainly looking at their listed research interests on websites and on occasion scouring CVs. I know I should have read some work by these people, but last semester was hellish for me.

I do plan on attending the Open House, so I hope to meet you there! I really want to meet bdon as well.

I've always wanted to read this.

Yikes. I would have loved to have read work by POIs, but I must admit that I've read nothing. Am I screwed? I'm a waitlisted applicant, not an acceptee, so should I be concerned? UNC's an audition for me. I'm so excited for the visit weekend, but I'm terribly scared. I really need to make a solid impression. ETA: I have no idea how UNC does their visit weekend, but if I'm able to sit in on classes, I absolutely am not going to contribute to the in-class discussions (unless specifically asked a question or something, of course). I agree with the above poster's response to this matter.

Other UNC waitlisters: the wait list is unranked. I plan on attending the Open House; look forward to seeing you guys there! UNC might be my only good news this season, but even if it wasn't, I'd very much want to attend. They've got lots of interdisciplinary and scientific/cognitive stuff going on there, which is definitely up my alley. I really hope the wait list materializes for me! Fingers crossed, everyone!

Again, thank you so much for your advice here. I'll certainly PM you if I have any specific questions.

Thanks for the info! Should I make it known to UNC that I'm very fond of their program and would most likely attend if admitted?

I'm pretty sure I'd sound like a babbling, overeager buffoon too. Sleeping on it is eminently sensible advice. Thanks! The email and letter both really emphasized that the waitlist for UNC is dynamic and that students are frequently accepted off it. If I read the info correctly, all of the waitlisted students are invited to the prospective students weekend, and the waitlist is apparently small (smaller than the 8% of applicants accepted this year). So intriguing! I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I would *love* to go to UNC. Fingers crossed for good news, and I'll be sure to let you know what happens! ETA: My reading comprehension skills have seen better days, lol. Apparently the waitlist is unranked. What am I to make of this? Hm...

Thanks, everyone! The email came out of nowhere. I got it less than an hour ago and wasn't expecting it AT ALL. I still can't believe it. Holy shit. Okay so I'm going to ask this here, cause why not? But Chapel Hill invited me to the prospective students weekend this March, and they said they'd cover hotel accommodations (but not airfare. Apparently no one--including accepted students-- is receiving airfare reimbursement this year). How soon is too soon to reply to the graduate admissions director and ask for more info about the waitlist: how large it is, how likely I am to be admitted, etc.? Sorry if I'm rambling/incoherent. I'm just so happy!

After two years of posting on these threads, rejoicing in others' acceptances, commiserating in others' rejections, and constantly questioning whether or not I really could be a scholar, I'm ecstatic to report: I'VE JUST BEEN WAITLISTED AT UNC-CHAPEL HILL!

Damn.

Thanks, I'll try! Why would you be seriously surprised if I don't get in anywhere, though? This. I'm totally cool with my impending UPenn rejection. They got over 600 applications this year, it's an Ivy league school, and I'm not Ivy league material, haha. I am, however, extremely worried about my last program...

Thanks for mentioning this! I saw that the other day and wanted to post about it but forgot. I know these rankings are only generally useful, but I'm curious to see the program shifts (I have a general idea where all the major programs stand in the hierarchy). A professor of mine really talks up NYU as currently having one of (perhaps "the") best English program in the world, so I wonder if they'll move up in the rankings?

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'm just really nervous about this last program (it's not UPenn: I'm already counting that as a rejection, and they haven't even notified!): I think I'm relatively competitive for it and have a decent shot at being accepted, but funding is always an issue. This is kind of my last chance.

Okay, so I know we've talked about this before on these forums, but how concerned should I be about a grammatical mistake on my SOP? I just noticed it today on a SOP for a school from which we haven't yet heard. Basically, I say something like "both for" and then list three things instead of two. I feel stupid; I thought I proofread these things to death! What does everyone think? Did I just fuck my chances at being accepted, or is this just a minor thing?

You've just made my afternoon. Congrats, bfat! Now rems and girl who wears glasses need to receive an acceptance or two! (I'm not holding out for my chances, but oh well!)

Well, I guess it's a good thing in some sense that I won't be attending a graduate program this fall and thereby will not be joining the academic world: you guys won't have to deal with my traditionalism and opposition to pop culture!

Yeah, this is me 100%. And I'm mostly over the fact I'm going to be rejected everywhere! Yeah, I thought I'd be competitive for top-20 programs, partially because my professors urged me to apply to these places and partially because I didn't know what the hell I was doing (even after two years of research... I suck), but apparently I seriously need to reevaluate my credentials. I have failed miserably and stupendously this year.

Yes, this.

Aw, thank you. I really appreciate this post. Basically, despite my typically incorrigible pessimism, I'm having a great day. Cheer up, everyone!

I think a year off would be good for me too, especially if I can spend that year in France! I've been inundated with sincere praise these past two weeks from several professors, and it's really helping me cope with the possibility of being shut out. Even if I don't make it, I'll be okay: there's always next year, and I don't need to attend a top-20 program to be happy.

Congrats, everyone! I would be more downtrodden over the UNC-Chapel Hill acceptances, but I had a wonderful, encouraging conversation with a professor today that put me in better spirits. I'll get through this, even if, as I suspect, I am rejected across the board.