Veilside1

I was waitlisted at Michigan (IPGRH), and was in contact with a POI there, and still havent heard anything definitive. Pretty lame in my opinion. And in bad taste.

1. Branch out. Definitely make contact with the programs that you really want. One thing that helped out a fellow classmate of mine was going to the APA and networking. Be careful in making contact, however, as you don't want it to be transparent. 2. Do it for free. Save some money and fill out the forms early to receive an application fee waiver. I applied to 14 schools, and I think 12 I them offered the possibility to apply for an application fee waiver. All you need to do, generally, is give them a copy of your FASFA, a general letter from your financial aid dept stating that you are in "financial hardship" (which you are considered to be in if you are an MA student since you more than likely make less than $20,000/year - not including loans). Not all schools require a great deal of information, and applying is free so definitely go for it. Like I said, I applied to 14 schools, which was supposed to cost around $1,200... In the end I dropped $185. 3. Don't aim too high. We all want to go to a top elite program, but we all can't. I applied to too many top tier programs, and then only 2 low-second tier "safeties". I would suggest having a good mix of schools...we all know the guy who applied to only Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Berkeley and was rejected at all four. Don't be that guy. Be realistic. 4. Apply everywhere. Focus your attention on your first choices first, but then be sure to get as many applications out there as possible. It's a tough economy, you're supposed to apply everywhere. Remember, applying to a school that you don't think you would want doesn't mean you have to go there, but it gives you options. Plus, if you apply for an application few waiver it could be free!! A friend of mine actually ended up having 5 choices, and in the end, after visiting them all, turned down 2 really good programs ( Cincinnati and Wisconsin-Madison) for a school that he thought initially was a "safety".

Hanbran, I'll send you a message in a bit.

A former professor of mine was initially doing her PhD at Harvard, then ended up, after two years there, applying to other programs. So she now has an MA in Classics from Harvard and her PhD from Duke. Her reasons were medically related, however, so I'm not sure how this all would work if one simply was unhappy somewhere. I'd suggest not beginning your PhD this year if you're already questioning whether you'd want to stay somewhere, and re-apply next year for those programs which you really want.

Maybe... I'd email Julie Nishimura-Jensen ASAP to see if they're still accepting students. http://www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/postbac/classics/application

Hanbran, It definitely is normal to apply to PhD programs with an MA from a different institution. I would recommend that you apply to a Post-Bac program for the upcoming fall, since it's too late to apply to MA programs. UPenn's program is by far the best out there, and they consistently place students in top programs. I also recommend taking UPenn's intensive Greek 112 and 212 over this summer before beginning their post-bac program, and mention your intent on doing do in your personal statement. From UPenn apply to both PhD programs and terminal MA programs which offer full funding ((WashU/WUSTL, UArizona, UColorado-Boulder, FSU, Tufts) to ensure options for the following fall. Pius, I'm at Arizona now, and can ensure you that each and every year all, yes all, Classics MA students get in to top programs. Out of this year's graduating class we have students going to: Stanford, UNC-Chapel Hill (2, maybe 3 of us), Rutgers, Virginia (with the Thomas Jefferson Fellowship-$30,000/year on top of stipend), UC-Irvine (rejected offers from Cincinnati and Wisconsin-Madison), and at least three of us turned down offers from Michigan. The previous year students went to Yale, Brown, Stanford, and Michigan. As far as helping your odds to get in to Arizona's PhD, definitely. To have faculty at any institution that you're applying to already know you, and perhaps be writing on your behalf is a major advantage. The Classics MA here at Arizona is a fantastic program, and I'm glad that I chose it over the other 3 MA options that I had. Hope this helps.

All of the letters say that at Arizona, I wouldn't read too much in to it. There has never been an unfunded MA student here. Ancient history emphasis, by the way. Sure, feel free to message me any time. :-)

I'm finishing up year two at Arizona now, and can offer some info for you. For at least the last 2-3 years every aspiring high school Latin teacher has secured a teaching position at private prep schools in the area (Scottsdale and Phoenix primarily). And if you end up changing your mind while here and decide to pursue a PhD, I can say that also for the last 2-3 years each and every student from here who applied to PhD programs have all gone to top programs. If you have any particular questions feel free to message me.

I've already been accepted to UNC (History Dept) but am hoping to find out some info for some friends of mine. I know two people who are wait-listed at UNC for Classics, and they really want to go there over their other current options. I was wondering if anyone here has been accepted and feel that they will/will not accept UNC as of yet... or if anyone has any inside info, for that matter. I know that it's not quite April 15, and I don't mean to come off as trying to pressure anyone, I'm just trying to find out if there's any positive info that I can deliver to my friends who are wait-listed in Classics. Thanks.

I just turned down my offer from SUNY-Buffalo, so anyone here who is waitlised, or is not promised any funding, hopefully this helps you out.

Thanks! That's (potentially) great news! My waitlist at Columbia fell through this morning, so here's to hoping for Michigan!!

Cicero, First off, congrats at such an amazing application season!! Where are all your choices, if you don't mind me asking? Not too sure what your particular focus is, but off the top of my head I'd say go for Princeton. It was my top choice (I do imperial Roman history), and they have the trifecta of Roman historians there; Edward Champlin, Harriet Flower, and Brent Shaw. Plus you can take courses at UPenn, Columbia, NYU, CUNY, and Rutgers. I also think that Princeton has one of the best placement records of US programs in Classics.

Thanks all!! NHM, It's via the History Dept. Westcott, UNC is, I feel, my best fit and even I had offers from Michigan and Columbia I think I'd still choose UNC, but I'm going to take everybody's advice and wait a bit before I officially accept UNC.

Thanks all. GRLU, No, I'm ancient history so I applied to a mix of History and Classics Depts. UBuffalo was to Classics, and UNC was to History.

I was just taken off the wait-list at UNC!! So for the rest of you waiting for them keep an eye out for an email soon!