TripWillis

I actually think The Bible is good... I am an agnostic, and I tend to read a lot more stuff about the Bible than I do actual Bible, but there are some decent things in there. I think the topic of women in the Bible is fascinating.

HAHA! Waltham is not so bad... but it's essentially cultureless. I like that Mexican restaurant there, what's it called?

Thankfully (as with English professors) the majority of them won't be able to get jobs. At least the ones that are that flippant about things.

I had heard something before about them having small cohorts. It wouldn't have been a good fit for me anyway -- BU is the place for African-Americanists (well, really Harvard is in that area, but whatevs).

Thanks! I knew there were no guarantees since I know other people who got early acceptances but no funding. The ECF is not bad... the $18,000/yr is a bummer, but since I tutor, I could certainly make up the difference. Plus, I was thinking of moving to Bushwick anyway. This might be sealing it.

I just got an ECF!!! WOO! The suspense was absolutely killing me...

I had trouble writing a convincing Davis SoP. I think I was a good fit there, but splitting the SoP into two 500 word documents (PH and SoP) was just impossible for me. I hated it. I knew they were terrible. I also wish I didn't have to hear back from so many schools (6 more at this point), but I'm also glad I'll have some choices and maybe some leverage. I definitely agree that it is all about fit, not how good you are vs. how prestigious the school is. In fact, I actually think I have a really good shot at Yale Am Studies. Normally, I would think that's crazy, but now that I reread what I sent them, I dunno... could definitely happen.

When I have been accepted, there have been only vague references to why they liked me, usually in this order: a) Your accomplishments (which I assume means my writing skills, conference attendances, and participation on Graduate English Committee) Your focuses are an excellent fit with our faculty depth So there you go. Make sure your writing is top notch and that your interests match with the school's.

Glass half full: If/when you get in, you have to start worrying about how the fuck you're going to live up to being the scholar you sold them in your SoP, which was 105 drafts. Until then, the romance of grad school is still intact!

4 spots???? Damn!

I mean, congrats on Berkeley and Michigan! Both fantastic programs. Funny that you got rejected at UCLA but in at those two... Makes me feel better about my Davis rejection.

800???? I hope she was speaking figuratively. Gosh... now I WANT to go to a school with heavy teaching responsibilities.

Well, they are not uncommon.

Best of luck to you! I didn't apply for Yale English, but I applied to Yale American Studies because... it's just an incredible program. I would be thrilled to get in. Harvard is also supposed to come out tomorrow/Saturday... I shouldn't be nervous because I know I won't get in but... I am. A little.

Congrats!

Oh, okay! I used to live in Boston, but I never made it out to Western Mass. Amherst and Northampton both seem awesome. I'd love living in Amherst!

Do you mean the school or the town?

Likewise. I am in the lolopixie fanclub! (and the spasticlitotes one too!)

Give me your keys, spasticlitotes.

Hey look! It's me getting rejected by Davis!

I finally found a photo of me getting rejected by UC: Davis. Not bad, eh?

So what are you going to do when we both get our acceptances tomorrow? First I'll go to McDonald's and drink a large vanilla shake, and then I'll spread my wings and fly to the third moon of Neptune for a picnic with Zoroaster. That should leave time for me to stop by Whitney Houston's funeral and sing "I Will Always Love You" in tribute.

Notifications for the H-school typically start tomorrow or Saturday, which I suppose means tomorrow or Monday. I have zero expectation of getting in, but it's still entertaining to think about. I'm just ready for next week to be over with, as its when most of my remaining schools notify. This week was a total bust.

Sorry spasticlitotes. I hope you don't think we're taking pleasure in anyone's rejections. Tufts' system of notification is like Battle Royale and I think Silent G and I are just glad to still be in it. Good luck on other apps!

Most common truism in student papers: "America is the greatest country on Earth." BUT, to go further, let me quote a wonderful variation on that truism that made me smile: "America is the greatest country in the universe." Wow. A bold, original thesis if I ever heard one.