Bayo

Yeah, I have been accepted, but with no word yet on funding, I am far from out of the woods. And I certainly don't sleep any better at night. I did not have departmental contact beforehand, but, to be completely honest, I seem to have followed a very different path from a lot of the applicants on these boards. While I gave an overview of the overarching themes of my intended project in my SoP, and the period is implicit, much of my focus will be on one author in particular. This author is relatively well known (to Latin Americanists at least), but critically he has been largely ignored, or at least outshone by the likes of Garcia Marquez, Vargas Llosa, et al. This has proved a double-edged sword for me. On the one hand, I think that I have a very original idea, but on the other, my chances of listing at least one POI per application was in some cases very difficult. Two of the most prolific critics of this writer's corpus are tenured at colleges (as in almost strictly undergraduate institutions). I applied to UCSB because a professor there in an affiliated department has written at least a couple of articles on this author, and while I mentioned his work as an inspiration, I spent an equal amount of time in my SoP detailing the institutional factors that drew me to UCSB. While I'm assuming I've been rejected at 3 of my remaining 4 schools, I went all out for the one that hasn't notified yet. I barely mentioned any departmental names in my SoP. One of my rec writers (an alumna of this school) told me that she thought it was perfectly fine. Instead, I focused almost entirely on institutional factors, namely that their library houses two extensive collections containing almost all the extant manuscripts, recordings, diaries, and personal correspondences of my author. If I'm rejected there, then it would seem that UCSB has proved the exception to the rule.

My favorite part of reading this forum (as bleak as it can be at times) is when you realize that someone out there shares your fears/excitements/annoyances/etc. as they relate to this hellish process to a T. My mother always tries to comfort me when it looks like I might be heading into another breakdown. Typical line (said with absolute calm and no indication whatsoever that she understands either the gravity of my emotions or the statistical odds): "Aw, you know you'll get in somewhere." Which, I appreciate that I have a parent that is still trying to build up my self-confidence with me on the verge of turning 25 this week, but, in this case, it kind of just makes me want to punch a wall.

Heather, I got one of the "you're being considered for fellowships" emails from Susan Derwin at UCSB, but I haven't heard back from the program yet. That was about two weeks ago, I guess.

Bless you for posting this. I really, really want to reread what I wrote to my top choice program for the same sort of emotional reinforcement, but I have this unshakeable fear that I'll either: 1) hate it now, or 2) spot typos.

Glad (well, not glad, but relieved) to know that others are experiencing this problem. I work until 7:00, and by the time I get home at night the last things I want to think about are these applications. But then I lie in bed at night and think, "OMG a couple of these apps are due on Dec. 15. That's only four weeks away!", etc. etc. - and then I can't sleep either.

Just checked my scores. V: 167 (98%). It's good, but, like bdon, my estimate was 750-800. Q: 145 (32%). LOL. Estimate 410-510, so, again, it was lower. And yeah, I guessed my way through most of it. AW: 4.5 (72%). Whatev. I wish I had been reading this forum more closely before taking the test, as I would have followed the general maxim for scoring higher on the analytical writing. But I'm already over it. My sample should be indicative of my abilities.

Plus, if you're really concerned, you could always explain the situation briefly in your SoP.

I sent three emails back in August. Two responded by the next day. The third hadn't wrote me back after a week, so I sent it right back to her again. She wrote me back within a couple of hours that time: "Sorry, but I have been EXTREMELY busy" (that's right - all caps). So she did see the original email, just didn't reply. Anyway, I apologized for disturbing her, she assured me it was no problem, it would be her pleasure, etc. etc. So don't get too perturbed by silence; they're busy people. Also, if you're like me and naturally diffident, you equate a lack of a response with a no. But sometimes you have to be persistent. However, I do have one who agreed instantly but who isn't sending the damned things in now, and that has me nervous. I was hoping he would write it over fall break, but I guess not. And now I'm remembering that he was horrible about handing back papers in a reasonable amount of time. I just keep reminding myself that there's plenty of time. Ack. This whole process is so inhumane.

Not totally germane, but I'm reminded that I took my undergrad course in theory with a Buffalo PhD. He was one of the best I had. Awesome choice and nice targeting for fit.

Hey, Timshel (I'm in NC also, BTW). Thanks for the heads up, but I'm actually applying to programs in Comp. Lit., so luckily I'm spared the hell of the subject test.

Hello, people. I've been a lurker around these parts for a while. I've decided to join the discussion as we approach deadlines and things become more stressful. I took the revised GRE two days ago. According to my range: 750-800 (V), 480-580 (Q - lol). I am SO thankful I don't have to take some pointless subject test. Now I'm obsessing over Every. Single. Word. of my SOP and writing sample. I graduated in May and was thinking it would be nice and relaxing to take a year off, but this might be more nerve-racking than classes!