FreeLindsey

Hello all... It's been a while so I thought I'd give an update. Toronto wants to admit me but they're still waiting on funding info. But I decided that of all possible options, UPenn was the best fit for me, so I accepted their offer. I am incredibly happy and excited What about all of you?? What's the news??

Also, not a bloody word from Toronto and it's nearly April. Ughhhhh.

Verisa, they sent an email. Anyone familiar with Princeton's procedures? As far as I know, I'm still on the waitlist, but they're bringing me in for a visit this weekend. I've heard a rumor that they do interviews at these visits...

Nos from Harvard and NYU... Still waiting to hear from Toronto.

Still not a breath of news...

Verisa, yes I visited Rutgers. I have to say I was not impressed. There were some logistical glitches (my appointments were late or never showed up at all, they put me up with a grad student after telling me I would be in a hotel, etc.), but ultimately it did not seem like a very serious program. I talked to a grad student who had just transferred there. He was the youngest in the program at 27 years old, which was odd to me, just having turned 22. He said most of the students there did not have academic aspirations but were just killing time, essentially. Big red flag. The faculty were very nice and seemed very competent, but I was concerned that there weren't really any requirements for the program (like a literature survey course, z.B.). It just wasn't right for me. But then again, this was directly after my visit to Penn, which really blew me away. Also, I was speaking to the chair at Penn on Monday, and she said that she knew that the committees at NYU and Harvard hadn't met yet. But another prof in their department told me that one of their undergrads had already been rejected from Harvard. I haven't heard a thing, which is weird, because I know I didn't make their shortlist (didn't get an interview). I guess we'll have to wait and see...

Just got rejected from Brown today :/ Nothing from NYU yet.

I was just made an offer from Rutgers! Visiting next week

Ah, I know a prof in the German department at Minnesota (came to a conference at my uni... on Epictetus, funnily enough) and he was an awesome guy. I thought about applying there but decided that I really didn't want to live in Minnesota... I'm seriously getting impatient, but I'm really looking forward to my visit to UPenn in a few days. They just sent me the itinerary and it looks like I get to meet just about everyone.

Thanks, I hope you're right! He did a good job of selling it... Any news on your end?

Well that was odd... the interview went very well (we talked for almost 45 minutes) and he said that they were "extremely, extremely interested" but really didn't give me a time table in terms of finding out whether or not I'd be accepted. He seemed to be trying very hard to sell me on Rutgers, but I don't know, it was very strange.

I spent much of the summer taking language courses at Speak + Write. I felt the teaching left something to be desired, but perhaps that was just my class. If nothing else, the immersion (four hours, five days a week) will do wonders. Marburg as a city is great if you're trying not to speak English too much. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about S+W/Marburg!

Harvard does do interviews and I didn't get one. But I have an interview with Rutgers tomorrow (well, er, later today I guess)!

Uromastyx, I was in Marburg for the summer. Took classes at Speak + Write Institut. Did quite a bit of traveling apart from that, too. For those wondering about funding, Penn State offers about $17,000 plus $3000 summer support. UPenn offered me $24,000 plus $4000 summer support. I feel like those are pretty good indicators of range, from my understanding. So, anyone familiar with wait list protocol? I have no idea when I'll find out if a spot has opened up for me at Princeton, and I am very interested. They're having me visit on March 29th for their conference, which will be mad awkward if I don't get offered a spot. But I'm really hoping to know before then... Meh. Angst. Anyone heard from NYU, Toronto, Rutgers, Brown, or Harvard?

And don't give up hope for Brown yet-- in an exchange with the graduate coordinator, he said "We have not conducted Skype interviews in the past, but might start doing so this year if our applicant pool warrants it." That doesn't necessarily mean that you're out if you didn't get one. Maybe they just wanted to check on my German