lhistoire

The LOR could have hurt if you thought it was a weak one...usually the apps require three though, so if your other two were stronger and from history, then I wouldn't sweat that too much (my third LOR was a non-history prof as well). Not knowing much about you or your experience (or whether you applied coming out of undergrad or from a masters program), another suggestion would be research experience...have you done archival research and did your writing sample demonstrate that? Also, honestly, I think this year's admissions process was pretty much a crap shoot...I applied to 8 schools and had a 50% success rate...I was accepted by a school that I thought I had no chance of getting into and was rejected by some ranked lower. Thus, another suggestion would be to apply to A LOT of schools...sometimes its simply about probability...boost your chances with a longer list of schools. Fit also matters though. After surviving the cycle this year, I'd say that this is the NUMBER 1 factor for admissions...there are going to be a lot of great applicants, but how you sell yourself and convince them that you belong at their school will set you apart.

University of Pennsylvania for early American history...woo!

I am in the EXACT same boat...and I similarly have no idea what to do. Academically, I should go to school 1, but the "feel" of school 2 is calling my name. The problem with me is that I've been planning on attending school 2 for about a month now, I just recently got accepted into school 1 off of the waitlist. Bah. So. Difficult.

basically what I did was to thank the DGS for the information on my status, and then proceeded to express my continuing interest in the school. once that was out of the way, i simply asked whether or not the list was a lengthy one and where on it I was placed...I've had to do that for two schools so far (sooo frustrating), and I've received realistic and helpful responses in return. good luck!

I've been waitlisted at one of my schools and so I asked the DGS how the list worked, etc. From what she told me there (and this may or may not be the same at Columbia), the list is divided by field...for example, I was told that I was at the top of the list for my field, so if enough people decline to attend in my field, I get a spot. If people in another field decline, then the top person waitlisted in that field gets the spot...Hope this helps and good luck!

yup...and not only do you want to vomit, but you then compulsively check your email every 2.4 seconds, as though, by checking it, you will magically make an email appear.

right there with you...though i've had a constant headache for only about a week. I wish I could fall asleep and wake up only at the precise moment when there was news in my inbox...because seriously, still not hearing from UPenn is driving me up a wall. I'm fighting the urge to annoy an unsuspecting graduate secretary there with my queries...

Thanks for the positive vibes...haha...I and everyone else on here probably needs them right about now!

um, so has anyone else not heard from Penn? I've heard nothing and I'm not really sure how I should feel about that.

hey on the bright side, you could have been one of the 10,000 rejections. while I know that that doesn't help much, I think it indicates hope for the rest of your applications...good luck!

congrats to everyone!! so nice to see all the excited posts after Yale Rejection Day. also, anyone hear anything from Indiana recently? I'm getting really nervous after the two acceptances that were posted a few days ago... Congrats again!!

I've been accepted at OSU and my status page still says that my application is under academic review...I'm beginning to realize that these status pages really aren't that useful...I wouldn't worry about it too much

Me too... Also, I must say that this site is amazing...I just joined recently, but it's really nice to know that I'm not the only neurotic headcase in the world right now... :wink:

Congrats on Indiana!!! and the other OSU admit!

Hey! I was the admit from OSU...I suppose I should have listed it as American History...I'm studying early American history. I just got an informal e-mail from a professor. The e-mail said the official letter would be sent "soon." Not sure if that helps...Good luck to everyone!