Sursie

I haven't nailed down housing yet. Anyone else still looking for roomies or lease-taker-overers?

Congrats, y'all!

hahaha, that was funny.

If it makes you feel any better (I know it sucks being in that position no matter what), it happens every year (and from what I've heard, it happens every year on the job market, too.) Of course, it's understandable that programs would be disappointed to have candidates retract their decisions and it's a situation worth avoiding if possible. But ultimately, the programs will survive with or without you, and it's one of the most important decisions of your professional career. If you've respectfully and tactfully retracted your decision and a DGS or other faculty can't understand that and feel empathetic (not necessarily saying the DGS at that department falls in that category, just generally speaking), what else is there for you to do? Congratulations on getting in at your #1. Celebrate!

Thanks, Ophelia. That's really good info for us incoming and prospectives to know.

Though it sounds like students might have to run up some credit card debt if they don't have the cash on hand...

What she said. And may I add: It's just mind bogglingly awesome.

UT Austin!

Yeah, grrl! Congrats.

I'm going to UT Austin. Yeehaw!

Hey, y'all. I accepted Austin today. Hollaaaaa.

Thanks. I love that quote, too. And I'm glad you mentioned it because it made me realize that it's said "The only think you can do" this entire application season. Wow, I'm a dweeb.

Congrats, Proflorax! I think ya picked the right one, baby Guess that means my rejection letter should be coming any day now... reckon you just can't win em all! Congrats to all the others who've made their final decisions. Woot!

...rent costs like $1200 around campus?

You might also consider asking DGS's or program assistants at the schools you're interested in. I wouldn't want to waste time, energy and money applying to a program if their hands are tied by the Graduate School to a firm GPA minimum. On the other hand, some might claim a minimum GPA requirement that's not as strict as their website implies. All programs' restrictions and requirements from the Grad School are different, so I'd ask someone in the department directly before deciding whether or not to apply.

I've been in touch with a couple profs; one contacted me, the other I emailed. I definitely think that if there's someone you're interested in working with, you should contact her/him. I was able to confirm a couple of specific times for us to meet, and we chatted a bit about my thesis project. As far as other plans for the visit, I'll be arriving in Austin around 9:30am Thursday and leaving late Saturday afternoon. I wanted to give myself some time to explore campus and some of the neighborhoods around it. I've been spoiled at my current institution because I live only a couple blocks from campus. I love it, so I want to see what it'd be like to try to commute on foot/bike/bus in Austin. I would definitely be down to meet up with you or anyone else arriving early on Thursday. PM me and we can exchange digits.

Congrats! You'll love it, because you'd have to be crazy and stupid not to. Go Tar Heels!

Oh, snap! I've gotta send in that paperwork today, too. I started it last week and then forgot to finish it... thanks for the reminder! I'm super excited about the visit. Can't wait to meet profs/grad students/potential cohort, and I hear Austin's awesome. As far as decision-making goes, I won't decide until all offers are in and any campus visits are completed. But congrats on getting to the point where you feel you're close to deciding! Can't wait to meet you and others.

True. All else equal, money is definitely a big factor to consider, perhaps the deciding factor. But--perhaps--future job prospects is an even more important factor. It's difficult to know early on (especially if you've not yet done graduate work), but I think it's crucial to consider the kind of job and the kind of institution you hope to earn tenure at once you go on the market. R1s vs. liberal arts schools are generally pretty distinct in the emphasis of the work their professors do. Of course, if you want an R1 and you have the opportunity to take time off from teaching to research & publish, that's a big plus. Also--and this is just personal experience--I've known a number of folks who have made the decision based on money and have been disappointed in their decision. One person I know even left a PhD-track program after the MA (she was lucky to be awarded the degree--not all programs will do that) because it wasn't the right fit, and she based her decision on the money factor. At any rate, sounds like dazed really has a great option in Pitt's program. I'd just caution anyone against going for the cash over a better-fit program and/or future job prospects. So many factors to consider!!! First world problems!!! Ahhhhh!!!

Except it's not. When I was still in undergrad, I was terrified by the prospect of landing a job for only $30k; as it's turned out, I've spent my 20s making around the amount UT pays its grad students! And believe it or not, I've been very happy. I think I manage because of this sort of thing: I don't buy expensive stuff, I barely save, and true, I've lived with a roomie most of my 20s. But it can be done and it can be done happily. My 2 cent: don't let a few thousand dollars decide your future. Do what's best for you all around, and you'll make it work!

Talk about some post-acceptance stress... http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/02/oscars-2013-jennifer-lawrence-trips-on-her-way-to-collect-best-actress-award/

Good beer from Michigan to be sure. From all over. All I'm sayin is... Asheville NC alone has a dozen odd microbreweries, and fantastic ones at that (thebeatgoeson knows what I'm talkin about!) And that's just one mid-sized town. Even tiny, middle of nowhere towns--Kinston and Morganton NC for example--have perfected the craft. It's like nowhere else.

Chapel Hill is a gloriously progressive town (as are many of the cities in NC) full of hip, delicious restaurants that definitely cater to veggies/vegans. You might want to look into living in Carrboro (which is contiguous with Chapel Hill but more hipster/hippy/funky than fratty). If you end up there, you'll also want to venture to Durham for yummy local veggie friendly options. And deeeeefinitely get up to Asheville for a long weekend sometime if you're living in NC. And do you like microbrews? Because North Carolina has the most best local breweries in nation and quite possibly... the WORLD. And way less expensive than up north! Cheers!

Good luck! They sent out all those rejections last week, right? Maybe that bodes well for those of y'all who haven't heard either way yet... ? Who knows! Admissions processes are so different everywhere and so confounding as it is.