Spritely

I didn't even think about visiting as as a determining factor. I guess several people are planning trips to programs where they were accepted, but it hadn't really crossed my mind (so far I have been able to distinguish between programs based on other factors). For what it's worth: I got my Master's from U Texas and loved it there. I don't know how they're doing budget-wise but it seemed as though they always had plenty of money and funding was never a problem. The graduate cohort was large so there was plenty of room to find your niche, the professors I worked with were great, and what an amazing city. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your decision.

I thought this issue might be worthy of a new thread. I applaud hadunc for trying to bring some resolution to the wait list game. I am relatively inexperienced with wait lists and am also curious what kind of a chance I have of getting in off of one of my lists. It seems like most people who got in somewhere also have at least one other offer and will therefore be letting one or more spaces open up for wait listed applicants. Has anyone had positive or negative experiences with wait lists in past applications? In my personal experience, I have had two friends get in off of wait lists in the last two years, but maybe this year will be a little tighter with the budget crunch. I know this is all speculation, but I'm trying to find some hope for these two programs, which I prefer over the two "safety" programs I have been admitted to. Perhaps the most relevant question: for those of you who have been accepted to multiple schools, what are you waiting on to make your decision and decline other offers? Do you intend to wait until the April 15 deadline just because you can, or are you simply waiting to receive notification from all schools to which you have applied? I am planning to keep two options on the table until I finally accept somewhere, just in case something goes wrong with one of the offers (for instance, if they decide that they want a decision right away or don't have the funding they initially suggested). If I receive any more offers, I will decline at one of the schools so that I only have two active offers, and so on until I have heard from all my schools and wait lists. Then again, one or two programs are so great that if I get in, I may go ahead and accept the offer and decline all others. Unfortunately, from what I have heard I expect the wait list situation to not be resolved until early or mid April. Best of luck to you other wait listers in the meantime!

A dear friend of mine was accepted off the Binghamton wait list last year on April 15. I think he only heard he was wait listed in late March or early April (it was the last school he heard from). It looks like someone posted a notification from their master's program on April 2 last year, which sounds about right. Unfortunately, I think you won't hear from them until the end of the month or the begining of April. Then again, two schools that rejected me in late March last year got back to me in early March this year, so who knows? Good luck!

Haven't heard a thing from UNL. Checked my online status on GAMES about 10 times throughout the day, but no changes. In the results, someone did post an e-mail rejection, so I hope we'll be hearing something soon. Good luck to you!

Never mind, I now have the resources to answer my own questions. Dear Spritely. I just checked my.asu.edu and noticed that my status was updated today, showing that I was not admitted to the program. Hopefully this helps, and good luck to everyone else. Love, Spritely xoxo

I got my Washington rejection (via e-mail) at the same day and hour as several people who posted results on this site. I think they reject in batches of e-mail from the Graduate Dean. Unfortunately, I can't speak to acceptance notifications. But at least you are still in the running at this point. Don't take it as being admitted, but it's nice to know you aren't rejected. That stings. Trust me.

While I'm all for reapplying, reapplying to the same programs is a mixed bag. I was rejected this year from a school I got into (and did not go to because of funding) last year. On the other hand, I am waitlisted this year at a school that I was outright rejected from last year, and was told the cohort is much smaller and in another year I would have been accepted rather than waitlisted. I chalk this up to a much improved application. I think a lot of it has to do with how much you change and improve your apps in the second round. My writing samples and statement of purpose are much stronger this year. I was also able to focus my research plan much more, which is undeniably helpful. Still, sometimes you are just not what a program is looking for--the elusive "fit"--and I think it's a waste of time to apply to all the same programs a second time around. The University of Washington has now rejected me three times, first for a master's (2003) and twice for a PhD (2008 and 2009)--and I currently work for them! But, the program is just not as good of a fit as far as research expertise and university resources (for instance, I am not studying literature and culture of Asian and Indian Americans). Maybe pick one or two top schools that you want to try to send a better application to next year. You might try to find a different emphasis or different faculty to mention in your personal statement, as whatever you said this year did not seem to do the trick. For the rest: mix it up. Research new schools you never even thought to apply to. See where people on this forum applied and consider some of those schools that you didn't consider this year. And let yourself apply to one or two lower tier or unranked programs. In the end, wouldn't you rather have a graduate degree in a few years rather than a few years of rejections from the best schools in the country? I wish I had applied to more schools of diverse levels last year; then I wouldn't be going through the process again this year. On the other hand, my application and my plan for graduate study is much stronger this year, so maybe there is some reason behind the madness of the application process. In any case, good luck! There is nothing wrong with having to reapply, and I think you'll probably be more successful next time around.

Congrats! Maryland is also a great school with a lot of strong humanities programs. I almost applied there (Rhetoric) but didn't think I would get in. Best of luck with your decision. Which way are you leaning, or are you waiting on other schools?

I just called Carnegie Mellon's Englsh Dept. and was told notifications will go out next week. I need to remember to start asking how they will go out--now I will be waiting all week for a call or e-mail, probably only to get a postal notification a full week later. Good luck to all.

QUESTION (after Swenson http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16366) SUNY my best my next my longest what will I drink when you reject me Where will I read How will I teach What will I write Where can I go without Lincoln all funded and cold How will I know in Arizona is hope or tequila when Carnegie my good bright dream is dead How will it be to lie in the sky without WUSTL and Chicago wait lists to eye With school for shift how will I hide?

It has been a couple weeks since others heard, so it's more than appropriate to call. I try to avoid e-mailing the departments because they only get back to me 50%. If you call the main department graduate number and get through to a person, you usually get an answer in a minute or two. I think a lot of us are counting on something to happen with our wait lists this year, so I hope you're on it and you get in. Good luck!

What kinds of schools are you applying to? I'm beginning to resemble a broken record, but not everyone will get into top 20 or even top 50 schools. Some highly accomplished and well qualified applicants on this site were rejected from a full range of top 50 schools. Maybe unranked or at least third tier schools would give you a better chance and still get you on your way to a PhD and your ultimate research/teaching goals.

Similarly, all of my mailed documents (letters of recommendation etc.) do not show up on GAMES, but I was told they were processed and complete. I suspect I will be talking with you quite a bit on Monday. :wink:

From what I can tell, the first Arizona State acceptance was posted earlier this afternoon. This person received a phone call from a professor. I saw on my.asu.edu that 1) my status is still "in review" (I suspect they're slow to update hundreds of profiles) and 2) their spring break is NEXT WEEK. So, that gives us Friday and, if we're lucky, the weekend, for potential news on our status. I doubt I got in, but I'd like to know for sure. Anyone with more juicy details on acceptance or rejection from ASU please let us know so we know what to expect or look for. I'm very curious if they are in the process of updating our status online or if they are more worried about calling or sending out postal rejections.

Some of the faculty at U Texas might be a good match, but I am thinking in the Ethnic/Third World area rather than other emphases with which I am less familiar. I suspect that some of my trouble with applications is that my writing samples are more a close reading of the text than a theoretical investigation or dialogue with critics in the field. But, as with everything else, this is just a hunch that is not grounded in feedback from the Departments (since I never receive said feedback).

You would likely use the same recommendations that you used to get into the first program. If you were only staying at a school one year, you would be applying to schools the same fall that you start the new program in order to be admitted the following spring. You wouldn't even have time to develop a relationship with a new advisor given that the applications would be do the same time the program was starting. I'm not necessarily advocating this, but if you have one school you are not 100% sure about but is by all accounts a good choice, and that is really your only viable option, maybe you should take the offer to give the program a shot, but also prepare to to other schools in the fall. If you get through one year that turns out to have been miserable from a very bad fit, you might be given some other options in the spring. This is a huge hassle and burns bridges when you would rather be building them, but it might not be bad to have the option. As I said, I have known people who did this in extremely bad PhD situations, and were ultimately quite happy with the decision and where they ended up instead. People do drop out of graduate programs, and some transfer as well.

Thanks for all of your thoughtful comments. I guess academia is so competitive, and the people on this forum so well qualified and accomplished, that I do sometimes wonder if I am crazy to "settle" for lower tier schools. I have read posts from people on here who got into their safety schools but are holding off to apply next year in hopes of a dream program. Maybe my goal is just a little lower and more realistic, as I know that I won't be getting into any Ivy League programs or even top 20 programs in English--it's just too competitive and my application, while very strong in some areas, does not hold up as whole to some of the most qualified applicants. Given my goals of teaching at a smaller arts college or community college, I think a PhD program from an unranked school will do, and I think a lot of it has to do with what you make of the experience and how productive you are while there. I will continue to consider the points you have made as I decide between the two choices. Each has strengths, but I am already leaning towards one of the programs. Thanks again for indulging me and I wish each of you the best of luck as things are finalized in the coming weeks.

I completely feel for you. After my master's I thought I would have a reasonably good chance of being hired at least adjunct to teach English at a community college or arts school. I live in a relatively large metropolitan city with a lot of local colleges and universities, and several junior faculty and adjunct positions are posted throughout the year. I quickly realized that I was not very competitive for these positions without a PhD, or without some major publications and a few more years of teaching experience. But how am I supposed to get teaching experience and a few more publications when I'm working full time in an office? I have stuck it out for three years at my current job (not the worst job in the world, but not the most producitve or fulfilling), and I have fully dedicated myself to going back for my PhD. I learned my lesson last year when I got into a fairly well respected school but did not have funding, and was therefore forced to stay at my job, growing even more frustrated with my situation. Although it was another year without being back in school, it improved my focus for the applications. Despite how it may seem on here or from personal experiences, I think a lot of people do not go back to school the first year they apply. Some wait for better offers the next year, and those of us who weren't really given viable offers in the first round redouble our efforts and apply again the next year. The quote above is exactly what I did: I went from 8 applications last year to 14 this year. I researched a broad range of schools and applied to several lower tier schools. It's worthwile applying to one or two Ivies, especially if you are highly qualified and think you stand a great chance. But when most schools are accepting between 3-7% of applicants, not even everyone who is highly qualified will have a sliver of a chance at the Ivies. I can't speak to anyone else's career aspirations or even their PhD program preference, but I really agree with the posts that urge people to consider applying to a range of schools, from one or two Ivies (give yourself a chance, at least--stranger things have happened) to top 25 public universities, to some lower tier schools. Some applicants would never go to lower tier schools that don't match their ideal plan for graduate research and future job prospects. On the other hand, I know that I would be happy teaching at a small arts college or, to start, a community college, and so accepting a funded offer to go back for my PhD at a lower tier school is completely acceptable if those are the only offers I get this year (we'll see what my remaining five schools and two waitlists have to say in the coming weeks). While my GPA is excellent and I have a Master's from a top 20 school, my test scores are not anywhere near as impressive as the other posters, and my letters of support are from faculty who are not as well known nationally. I have presented at a conference but do not have any reseach publications. I know that I realistically stand no chance of getting into an Ivy PhD program, and as you can see, I tried to be very realistic and pragmatic about my list of schools this year. Even if I am rejected from my remaining schools, I have two acceptable offers to choose from, which will get me out of the office and back on the path to a PhD and teaching. Another apology for a long post, but it seems like everyone on here either applied to and was accepted at top tier schools, or applied to and was rejected by top tier schools. I see very few posters who are applying to lower tier schools where they would be much more likely to be admitted should the top tier schools deny them admission.

Displacement: You can only tell by talking to them, but especially with the lack of funding and how uncertain things are year to year, I would say they are generally going to be hesitant to let you defer. Boston U has an interesting system where those admitted can defer the review of their application to a second year for free, but you are not guaranteed to be readmitted (I, in fact, was not readmitted the second time around). In any case, at least you have a noble reason for deferring, so it's worth making your case to the Departments. Lyoness: I would absolutely take the award and put off school for a year. It will probably help you get into more programs the next time you apply and it's a singular achievement and an experience you don't want to pass up. Congrats!

Even if it is almost certainly a rejection, if it's your top choice, you should hold out until that rejection is your possession. But you can narrow down your other schools to a top choice in the meantime. That will give you something active and productive to do.

This doesn't seem right. If you called and they didn't tell you this, then how would "multiple people" somehow be privy to that information? Seems like they would just tell you as much if there was no waitlist and they had already accepted who they were going to. I wouldn't give up yet. BUT I do agree that it makes sense to narrow down your current list and notify those programs you are not going to choose. That will only leave your top current choice and Brown to choose from. Those programs and people on their waitlists will be appreciative to know sooner rather than later.

I actually waited to reapply twice. After my Master's I applied directly to MFA programs and got into my top choices, Emerson and Columbia. Neither offered much financial aid, so I would have been stuck in expensive cost-of-living cities without funding and with a huge ($30-40k/year) tuition hole. Taking three years off before my next applications helped me focus on what I wanted to do for and with a Ph.D. I applied to eight schools last year, got into one that I was excited about, but again no funding. I could not afford to live in Boston with $40k/year tuition and no funding, so I put it off for one more year. This year I applied to almost twice as many schools and also a broader range of schools. I'm relieved to have gotten into two of them with funding, but they were not necessarily the top of my list. That being said, at this point, I'm not willing to wait around till next year and try again, and I think I can make the most of one of these programs. I also disagree that "you have nothing to lose by waiting a year." The economy and the competitive nature of the programs will probably not improve by next year, and in fact it may become more competitive. I was rejected this year from the same school that accepted me last year. Also look at the number of people on this discussion forum who have so far gotten into none of their schools, were rejected by their "safety" schools, or ultimately just ended up with fewer options than they expected to have. So, you potentially risk not getting into any schools, or not getting into even as good of a program as the University of Maryland. This probably won't happen, especially if you can somehow increase your Q score, but that is a lot of work to do in the next year just to go through the same process with uncertain results. It does sound like you have some major reservations about the program though, so if it isn't a fit then that is the final deciding factor. Otherwise, if I were in your situation, I would be thrilled to be going to Maryland (almost applied there, myself!). This also brings up a taboo topic: What about going to a program for a year and then deciding to transfer to another program? You would burn some bridges, but I have known a few people who have done it, including one of my undergrad philosophy professors and a colleague of mine from grad school, both with their PhDs. That way you would at least give one program a chance and perhaps love it, but also potentially open up some doors to other schools the following year if it wasn't working out at the current institution.

For what it's worth: I have come across similar pressure before but it seemed to depend on the source of the funding. I have seen fellowships and scholarships from the graduate school that were tied to a March deadline to accept or decline, whereas admission itself and TAships usually have till 4/15.

I'm amazed to see the number of people on this forum who have several offers from top tier and even Ivy League schools. Congrats to you! I applied last year and was not admitted anywhere with funding, so I purposefully applied to a broader range and larger number of programs this year to improve my odds of getting in. Granted, I'm still waiting to hear from 5 schools and 2 waitlisted schools, but so far I have only been accepted into two of my "safety" schools, which is to say that they are lower tier and do not have the reputations of schools that many of you seem to be choosing between. This presents a different kind of difficult decision for me. Is anyone in a similar situation or do you have thoughts on choosing between safety schools? I'm happy to be admitted to two programs with funding and nicely matched faculty, but how to choose between them if the remaining schools and waitlists do not work out? I would say that declining both and reapplying next year is not an option for me. I'm very eager to return to school and do not want to repeat the application process for a third year. And who knows whether I would even be admitted anywhere next year? Thanks, and good luck with your remaining schools and decisions.

Hallelujah! Although, if decisions are made this week, who knows when and how notification will go out... In any case, I'm very much looking forward to this one. Thanks for the udpate!