asleepawake

I see the same. This must be become we already completed the application. There are only a few subjects left in that list - maybe they are the PhD programs with deadlines that haven't passed yet? I wouldn't take it to mean anything...

I disagree. Let's say you have a very strong application (applicant . Let's say you are in the top 15% or so of applicants at Top 10 programs, of course with variation for the fit of the university. But in terms of academic history and writing/research ability, you're better than at least 85% of the other applicants. These programs still take 2 to 5%. Let's say you apply to 6 programs. Your odds of getting into each of these programs may be higher than the 85% of folk with lesser skills that yours, but they are still only about 13% to 33% (judging from the made-up numbers I gave earlier) for each school. It gives you a decent chance of an acceptance or two, but it leaves a lot of room for chance to hurt you. Fit plays a big part here, but no mater what, if you apply only to some of these incredibly competitive programs, you are likely to be rejected given the sheer number of other applicants even if all parts of your application are strong. Now, I'm going to play liberally with your definition of a "shitty application." Let's say that at a Top 10 school, your/Application A's application would be in the bottom 50% of applications. You can't get into any of them other than by fluke, but you have a decent background and writing sample. Now, let's say you only apply to 2 or so of these schools and 15-18 other schools across the board in terms of competitiveness. This means you may now be applying to some schools that accept closer to a quarter or a third of applicants, along with many schools that take 5 to 15 percent. Your unimpressive application to Chicago may be a very impressive application to a lower tier school. Suddenly your position in the pile of applications changes. The application pool is different, and you may now be in the top 10-20% at some schools. Now you have acceptances, maybe even fellowship offers or extra funding. This person is more likely to walk away with acceptances simply by the odds of the game. Even a truly shitty applicant may be able to weasel into one or two schools when a faculty member identifies their particular strengths that may go unnoticed elsewhere. The best strategy for being accepted is to apply to a large combination of reach schools, schools you have a decent chance at, and safer bets. The oft-quoted line that "there are no safety schools in the humanities!!" is a myth. There may be no safeties in the sense that there are not guarantees, but there are schools you are much more likely to get into, no matter what your application looks like. You may still be rejected from them, of course. But your odds are better at a school with 50 applicants than one with 500 applicants, unless the cohort size is similarly 1/10th the size. This is just math, you guys! I am playing like Applicant A for a number of reasons. My background isn't spotless, and I have not attended top schools. I feel that I could be happy in a lot of programs, and I didn't apply anywhere that wasn't at least a good fit, though some were stronger fits than others. Tl;dr version: There are so many factors at play that applying widely - if you can afford it and devote the time needed to each application - can only be a benefit. Also: It is a lie that you need to attend a top 20 or so program to get a tenure track job. A lot of lower-ranked programs have higher job placement rates than tip top and medium tier programs. A school I just got into and may very well attend, West Virginia, isn't super highly ranked but has a tenure-track placement rate of 72%, and they say this on their FAQ: I imagine these placements are different kinds of jobs than you might apply for coming out Harvard. Preparing students realistically for the job market is important, but that job market does exist, even as it shrinks. When you talk about "getting a job," you might mean "getting a job at a particular sort of institution." Taking a look at the school's ACTUAL job placement statistics, rather than their imagined reputation, shows a lot of disconnect between the two. Of course top programs can serve you well, but not automatically or by virtue of reputation.

SAME. We'll get this done!

Yuck! Sorry to hear! This process is awful...

I watched The Room after this same conversation happened 3 yeas ago when I was applying to MFAs. If you don't know it... it will change your life. You're my favorite customer.

Don't post anything you wouldn't be okay with everyone in your program reading, and it's not really an issue. If you really want to stay anonymous, just don't include any details. Anyway, I've posted my results pretty quickly so far (within 15 minutes), since I've been at the computer both times.

Now we understand each other.

I'm not sure I understand you either.

Dark Matter answered literally all of your questions with general information that not everybody knows. This thread isn't just for you, it's for the entire internet!

Dark Matter is a faculty member at a top program and has provided a ton of helpful advice on this forum over the past few months. Check his/her posting history before you pick a fight over nothing. I found the post useful. If you didn't, ignore it. Nobody here has inside info along the lines of "The University of X is sending you an acceptance tomorrow," and if they do, they aren't sharing it...

Yeah, my thesis is about Disgrace. It's depressing, to say the least...

And the week after will probably be even more intense

YAY! Congrats! (but 9q384uqjduifmsd I want to join you please)

We3?

It's officially the weekend. English departments everywhere are locking their offices. Let's all just listen to Bob Marley for 60 hours.

Sounds good! I'm thrilled we have this decided. I will call Buffalo and let them know. I'll have to find someone else to talk about dogs with, though.

I grew up in Cleveland so all the FOOTBALL FANS with decent grades went to Ohio State. I've heard some horror stories that make me worry I would die in a riot if I went there, anyway

Just check it! Pull that band-aid off! I hope there is good news for you and sebastiansteddy. Official News From Sour-GrapesLand: Too much football in Columbus, anyway!

Right in place of "in review." It just changed within the last hour or so since I last checked. There is an old "Ohio State" thread from last year and it seems like it took a few days/weeks for everyone to get a final decision... I wouldn't give up yet! Good luck! I've already recovered because I have an acceptance and a million more applications out there. It's okay.

My Ohio State rejection is official on the website. They're sneaky and it just says "DECISION." I had to click "show more information on status." Then it says "Your application for admission was not approved. You will receive further information on the decision by mail." LOL. I think I understand. I do not need more information to explain.

Congrats! Waiting on my rejection for English ...

Is Rochester too far of a commute for you? I applied to both Buffalo and Rochester. Aren't they only about 60 minutes apart? I wish you tons and tons of luck! 1 egg and 1 basket must be scary. Let's both (all+) get into Buffalo! I'm interested in ecocriticism, though mostly animal studies.

I just googled myself for the first time in a while, and my first picture is somebody's mug shot in the same state I live in. Wonderful! She has really great hair, though, so it's fine. I have a common enough name that I doubt anyone will think I am any of them, though. For a VERY long time, I had an old myspace page with my real name and a picture of Kate Moss snorting cocaine in my "heroes" section. Things that are funny at 17 are not funny forever! Luckily, I was able to take a new picture of myself, send it to myspace, and get back into the account. It is FINALLY done!

Unless it was a really big conference (or even if it is), this will probably go unnoticed!