Optimistic

I've heard it can take as long as the middle of the summer to find out depending on the number on the wait list, the size of the program, and the amount of funding they have available. It really sucks, but I guess that's just the way it is. If you're really interested in the school, you could try contacting them to find out your position on the waitlist, maybe some reasons why you've been waitlisted, or at least to get a general idea of when you may have a definite answer. Good luck!

I know this is an old thread, but is anyone going to UConn starting Fall 2007?

So if it's April 23 and you still haven't heard anything, that's probably not a good sign. I wonder how much that even happens. I've already accepted somewhere, but there were 2 schools that I never heard anything from. I'm just really shocked that they wouldn't even bother to send me a piece of paper telling me anything, especially after those $70 application fees. My opinion of those schools has now significantly lowered.

What are people's opinions on this scenario? I found out I got accepted at a school that will offer me a tuition waiver, teaching assistantship, and an $18K stipend for both years of the Master's program. At my other options, I was looking at going between $40,000-$50,000 in debt within two years. The only thing is, the school that offered me funding is still in the rankings and is a pretty decent school, but is not ranked as highly or with as good of a reputation as the other two schools. Since I won't be writing a dissertation there, having faculty that match my interests is not quite as vital as if I were going for a PhD, but I think there are enough faculty who share my interests to make it worthwhile. My big concern is, by going to a school with a mid-level reuptation for a Master's, will that hurt my chances of getting into a top 20 PhD program later? Even if I work very hard and really stand out in the program? Does reputation matter that much in these circumstances? I really want to do what is best for a future in academics, but at the same time, it is hard to turn down $18,000 for -$50,000.

Well at least they'll make nice paperweights!

Well, if you go to Ohio, get ready for 80 degree weather one day and then 20 degree weather with snow on the ground the next. Literally. In April.

All of my letters, acceptances, waitlists, and rejections, have come in a small envelope, usually a single sheet of paper. So much for that myth!

Yeah, the whole application process seems to be full of flaws and pretty much sucks. I had a couple of schools lose some of my application materials too. Just for my own venting benefit, I'm still waiting to hear from Boston University, Northeastern University, and the University of South Carolina. I can't say that any of those schools are my top choice at this point, unless they give me money. That seems kind of doubtful at this stage in the game, but I suppose there's always a chance! Regardless, I'd really like to hear something from them, even if it is bad news! 2 1/2-3 months is definitely long enough to decide whether or not you want to let someone in your program, I don't think they have an excuse anymore. :wink:

Even though everyone warns against going in debt, especially in humanities programs, if it's what you really want to do, then do it. I am in a similar situation because I didn't get any funding from either program that accepted me. One of them only gives funding to about 10 students and the other doesn't fund MA students at all. Still, all I want to do is go to graduate school and after all the hard work I put into the applications then the stress from waiting, I can't imagine not going at all next year. I'll probably be taking about that much out in loans (plus $27,000 from undergrad) for an MA in English, a pretty worthless degree, but I can't imagine anything else I'd rather do. So if your options are either taking out loans or not going to grad school at all, which seems like the worse scenario to you?

Are you applying to MA or PhD programs? If its an MA program, I think its pretty normal to not get funding, but if its a PhD, then that does seem odd. Good luck, I hope everything works out for you!

I would say take them over if you definitely think you can do better. However, if you do worse, it may look bad to admissions committees and your scores are already really high. Even though the GRE people say you usually don't significantly increase your scores by taking the GRE again, from personal experience, I can say they are wrong. The first time I took the GRE, I was a nervous wreck and completely bombed it. I took the test again four months later and increased by verbal score by 180 points, quantitative by 50, and analytical writing by .5. So, if you think you can do better, take it again. But, I agree with daseinplushie that your scores are already high, so maybe you could focus on other things, plus the test is so expensive!

I know this is kind of random, but what foreign language is the best for an English major to study? How do you determine what you should study? Does it differ according to your area of interest, or does it really not matter much? I don't have much experience with foreign languages, but I have to study one for grad school and I don't know what the best would be.

Yes, waitlists are frustrating. Especially the letters that say "the admissions committee reviewed your application favorably and you are a strong, qualified candidate" but then they don't give you any reason why they didn't just accept you.

Thanks! I've been thinking about it a lot and you (and my advisor) are right. It would be dumb to pay more ($12,000 + housing costs more to be exact) to go to a lower ranked school just to live in an overpriced city. I suppose I can always visit...Boston is about 1 1/2 away from Amherst...at least that's what I keep telling myself! Good luck to you! I hope you get off the waitlist!

I agree, snail mail is frustrating. I received a rejection letter from U Illinois-Chicago dated March 15, and it didn't arrive in the mail until today! Luckily, I had already seen my status online, so it was no shock. Still, I don't understand why they insist on prolonging our agony. Maybe its because letters are personal enough to be polite, but distant, while emails are much more personal? I think I would just rather know my status than have to deal with the "polite" "we received more qualified applicants than we expected" response. It's like a band-aid...the sooner you pull it off and get it over with, the less it stings.

Everyone here seems eager to give advice, and I need as much help as I can get. I've been accepted to the MA program in English at both Boston College and UMass Amherst and I don't know which one to choose. Does anyone know anything about these schools or the quality of their programs from experience or hearsay? I want to apply to a PhD program eventually, so I really want to go to a school/program that can help me get into a really good PhD program later on. Also, I'm interested in Victorian literature, especially the Victorian novel, and feminist/gender theories if that helps. Here are my pros and cons: BC: Pros: At least 3 professors I'm interested in, smaller program, living in Boston means I don't need a car, I really want to live in a city, I love the campus architecture (ok, probably not the most important reason to go), no funding this year, but 60-70% chance of getting a TA position the 2nd year, more classes I'm interested in taking, possibility of later entering PhD program here, they host a graduate student conference every year Cons: Ridiculously expensive tuition, housing in the Boston area is also ridiculously expensive, program not ranked as high as UMass, so I'm afraid it may not look as good for prospective PhD programs UMass: Pros: Also interesting faculty that I would like to work with, higher ranked (does this mean better reputation?), I've heard Amherst is a lovely place, much less expensive tuition and living expenses, larger faculty Cons: I'd probably have to buy a car to get around comfortably, which may counter the fact that tuition is lower, no chance of getting funding the second year either, which means no teaching experience (although 2 years tuition at UMass=1 year at BC), more grad students=less person attention (maybe), college is away from the city, the letter I got says that it is very rare for students in the terminal MA program to enter the PhD program here What should be the most important factor when choosing a graduate program? The most important things to me are that I can work with great professors, be able to research in my area of interest, and build up my experience for PhD applications. Both schools seem like they could provide this, so I'm really torn! I was hoping maybe someone had personal experience with these schools, or could at least provide insight into how to make the best decision. I plan on talking to my professors, but I'm really indecisive, so I want to gather as many opinions as I can. Unfortunately, it isn't possible for me to visit these schools, especially not before April 15, so I feel like I kind of have to make a blind decision. I would very much appreciate whatever advice people are willing to give!

This is probably a dumb, obvious question, but who should you email for information? The Director of the Graduate School, the Director of Graduate Studies in your department, or the department Secretary?

I was actually wondering the same thing. The only reason I'm waiting to hear from my remaining schools is to see if they will give me money. If not, I don't think I really want to go to any of them. Hmm...hopefully they're just a little slow and its really good news.

March 26 and I still haven't heard from 4 schools - half of those I applied to! I got accepted to two schools I really like, but with no money, so I really want to know if I'll get any money from the other four before I decide. Everyday my sole existence revolves around checking my email every hour and the high point of my day is walking to my mailbox to see if there is any news. At this point, I don't care if every one of those four schools rejects me, I really just want some sign that they've looked at my application, if only just to throw it in the trash! I'm terrified of not hearing anything even into April, then 3-4 weeks of my life will have been spent in agony waiting for responses! Most of my friends applying to grad school have already heard back from all of their schools. I just keep blaming it on the fact that I'm applying to English programs, so they probably have lots of applicants. Oh well, I suppose they have to let me know at some point, although sooner would be much preferred over later!

I know what everyone means about this whole waiting thing. I thought for sure when I came back from spring break my mailbox would be overflowing with letters from graduate schools, but it turned out there were none. I go back and forth between saying that I don't care anymore to having this whole grad school thing be all I can think about. I've already been accepted at 2 schools and waitlisted at a 3rd, but am still waiting to hear back from 4 more, hopefully with money. I just want this whole process to be over with so I can figure out what I'm doing next year. On top of that, I'm finishing my last year as an undergrad and my senior honors thesis is due in 2 weeks. I don't think I've felt so anxious/stressed out/nervous/excited/miserable/ecstatic all at the same time before in my life! Good luck to everyone else still waiting! Hopefully this next week will bring some good news, although Sunday will be hard to sit through since there's no mail!