michellemmattern

I called UILUC today to ask about my status, since I hadn't received any sort of notification yet. I was told that I was waitlisted (and also, unfortunately, that the DGS did not think they would be admitting from the waitlist this year). Maybe anyone else who has heard no word is also waitlisted?..

Hi there! When I was rejected from Northwestern back in early February, I called the assistant to the DGS (it was still early in the process, and I didn't want to bother the DGS without being advised to do so). I was told that no personal feedback would be given, based on a rule the English Department had made. The assistant made it sound to me that there were simply too many applicants to give each one feedback, and that there were so many different factors that could cause people to be rejected off the bat (GRE scores, I think, in Northwestern's case) that feedback would be difficult to give, even with time permitting. That said, each school probably has a different policy, and calling/e-mailing the assistant to the DGS, or maybe the DGS him-/herself in a month other than March or April, seems like a sound enough idea to me. The worst that could happen is what happened in my case, and the best is that you'd know how to improve in the future. Best of luck! (P.S.: I did not question any other school; I was a little discouraged and didn't make other attempts, hence Northwestern being my only example.)

I haven't heard anything from them either. I guess this is technically still "mid-March".. but I'd have liked to have known by March 15!

Congratulations, SmartCookie! If you received the same e-mail I did from the Graduate School, you probably don't know whether it's the PhD or MA you've been accepted for; but do let us know when you know!

Hi everybody, First, I'd like to thank you so much for your concern. I feel like I've really made friends on here! Two items of good news: my husband is going down to VA next week to meet with a company who has several District Manager positions open and is recruiting heavily in VA. His starting salary would be $70,000+, which would do a lot to help with the debt we have ($105,000 of that $120,000 is his that I just married into; he does not want me to forfeit fulfilling my dream because of his debt). Secondly, my loving grandparents called me today and said they are looking into options that will allow them to pay for my MA. I am spoiled, it's true; but, having been raised by them, they know how much studying English means to me and want me to do it, at all costs. Lastly, the issue of the MA inhibiting my shot of a PhD at UVa: I have heard this, too, and have talked to my professor here who works closely with several UVa faculty members. She believes that I will be able to stay, as long as I prove myself. Of course, this is mere speculation, and I cannot know for sure; UVa's website says doing so is "very difficult." But they did not say impossible. And, regardless, I do think getting an MA first is good for me; with that degree, I could also be on my way to meeting the requirements for my other two potential career choices--teaching high school (I realize I'd need an undergraduate major to teach in a public school, but you can get your masters in your content area and not in education), and being an academic librarian with an English specialization. Overall, I feel that my decision to attend UVa is a good one, especially if my family will prevent it from adding more debt to our pile. I can't believe my good fortune these past two days, and appreciate the concern from all of you who are surely older and wiser than I. At 21, I have lots of time to make mistakes; but with these new developments, these mistakes will be less financially devastating.

Thanks, Yellow #5 & Smart Cookie! No, it's not funded. The website clearly states that the MAs never are, except for chances to earn between $1,000-2,000 working as a research assistant. This is a major problem for my husband and me; we're already $120,000 in debt from our undergraduate educations.. but I accepted nonetheless, and we're entertaining the idea of living apart for a couple years so he can get a good-paying job to help bail us out. UVa is my dream school, #3 for Victorian lit, and I just can't pass it up, especially since I'm only 21 and most PhD programs seem hesitant to accept someone so young. In other words, an MA seems my best shot, even if it does mean I'll have to take out $36,000 in loans to cover the two-year program. Have you heard anything, SmartCookie?

Thank you, Bpr! Peter Baker sent me an e-mail. I don't know if he contacted everyone personally or not--I had written an inquiry about my status on Friday, so he may only have written me to reply to my inquiry.

Hi everybody, I'm just letting you know that I was accepted to UVa's masters program today! I hope everyone else who was waiting on this also receives good news!

SmartCookie, me too. What should we do?

I was discussing the Lit tracks only, not Comp & Rhet--sorry. I talked to two profs on the committee, and the best I can figure is they're taking 2-3 masters AND 2-3 PhD (for Lit), though at least one of the professors made it sound like this would be a dream situation. (I believe the entering class last year for Lit MA was 8 people; so it's not simply 1-2 people fewer.) I would love for these AdCom members to have been incorrect, for all of your sakes, but I doubt it. I know NOTHING of Comp & Rhet. and did not mean to purport that I did.

Hi guys, I'm an undergraduate senior at MU and am close to some of the profs on the admissions committee. I was told that only 2-3 people are getting into the graduate programs; I believe they meant TOTAL, PhD & MA. We're in a terrible situation right now; the graduate school just cut tons of our humanities graduate programs, and all of our scholarships and awards for undergrad were just cut as well..

Wait--irishcoffeee, waitlist notifications for MA or PhD? Or both? And notification that one is ON the waitlist, or accepted from it? And what do you mean, "it's over"?' Over as in, you're in or you're out?

I'm not "old" (Yellow, you don't sound "old" to me either!), which may be why $20,000 sounds fine to me. Maybe when I'm past 21 I'll change my mind. immersion, I thought you were accepted to UVa? Wouldn't this 4-year stipend question apply to you as well?..

After reading what immersion said about Peter Baker being really nice, I called. My application ended up in the MA-exclusively pile and hasn't even been looked at yet. He said he'll look at it, have it considered for both, and I'll know by next week. I was the world's happiest person yesterday when I thought everyone who was still "pending" was getting an MA offer.. now I'm regretting that there aren't more bridges around here. And an unfunded MA (or PhD)? Eh. I mean, my public school in Ohio's in-state tuition is as much as UVa's out-of-state tuition. And I could handle a year or two of vouching for myself with (more) loans. Just let me in.. argh, I am so depressed.

If this is true, I'm going to die of happiness.