NowMoreSerious

I can't seem to find it, but a few years ago somebody got rejected from an ivy and under the comments said (paraphrasing), "And we can assure you, that not only are the people we did accept more intelligent, but also better looking" 

I can't seem to find it, but a few years ago somebody got rejected from an ivy and under the comments said (paraphrasing), "And we can assure you, that not only are the people we did accept more intelligent, but also better looking" 

My top schools where I want to apply to are Oxford and the Sorbonne. But my safety's Harvard.

I can't seem to find it, but a few years ago somebody got rejected from an ivy and under the comments said (paraphrasing), "And we can assure you, that not only are the people we did accept more intelligent, but also better looking" 

I can't seem to find it, but a few years ago somebody got rejected from an ivy and under the comments said (paraphrasing), "And we can assure you, that not only are the people we did accept more intelligent, but also better looking" 

I can't seem to find it, but a few years ago somebody got rejected from an ivy and under the comments said (paraphrasing), "And we can assure you, that not only are the people we did accept more intelligent, but also better looking" 

I'm sorry  to hear this season did not go how you planned.  I will say though, that it is rarely a case of research interests being too specific, and I would caution you against that approach if you try next year. 
I know you might not be in the mood to answer this question, but what were your interests? If you don't want to announce it publicly pm me. 
 

Good luck to you

I haven't seen anybody claim a UCLA acceptance, but if you are one, feel free to message me with any questions about the program. I'll be 100% candid and answer any questions that might help you make the best decision possible. 
I'm in the second stage of the program, specializing in American Literature.  As a 4th year, I know the program inside and out. 

I haven't seen anybody claim a UCLA acceptance, but if you are one, feel free to message me with any questions about the program. I'll be 100% candid and answer any questions that might help you make the best decision possible. 
I'm in the second stage of the program, specializing in American Literature.  As a 4th year, I know the program inside and out. 

Response to the bolded: I don't think GPA is enough information for me to make that inference, personally. All it says is that the student did not do well in a particular set of classes in a particular school, during a certain period.  For instance, is the GPA weighed down by lower grades in the first few years?  Is even the major GPA weighed down by courses outside of the students passion?  Now I know somebody might say that even if that's the case, success in graduate school requires an overall ability toward academic excellence in general.  Maybe, but there's just so much more to the story than GPA.  Ph.D. is a different, since one can direct and focus their work on what they want to, for the most part.  
I know people who had fairly poor undergrad GPAs. EVEN IN the major, who are now incredible scholars in graduate school.  
Personally, I would consider GRE and GPA equally lukewarm indicators, with maybe GRE being a slightly better indicator because GRE is somewhat like a test that you have to crack, and the ability to crack the GRE and form a study plan which will maximize your score might actually be a transferable skill to the sometimes breakneck pace of graduate school.  
For example, the same sort of "shortcuts" I used to score high on the GRE...that same muscle, has served me well when being able to make the most out of my time and energy as a grad student.  
All that is to say, though, that the question of how important any of these things are doesn't answer the question of whether a particular school has a cut-off.  
I've said it many times on here, but it really is a very mysterious process that decides who gets in to particular schools. It often seems illogical and counterintuitive. 

Response to the bolded: I don't think GPA is enough information for me to make that inference, personally. All it says is that the student did not do well in a particular set of classes in a particular school, during a certain period.  For instance, is the GPA weighed down by lower grades in the first few years?  Is even the major GPA weighed down by courses outside of the students passion?  Now I know somebody might say that even if that's the case, success in graduate school requires an overall ability toward academic excellence in general.  Maybe, but there's just so much more to the story than GPA.  Ph.D. is a different, since one can direct and focus their work on what they want to, for the most part.  
I know people who had fairly poor undergrad GPAs. EVEN IN the major, who are now incredible scholars in graduate school.  
Personally, I would consider GRE and GPA equally lukewarm indicators, with maybe GRE being a slightly better indicator because GRE is somewhat like a test that you have to crack, and the ability to crack the GRE and form a study plan which will maximize your score might actually be a transferable skill to the sometimes breakneck pace of graduate school.  
For example, the same sort of "shortcuts" I used to score high on the GRE...that same muscle, has served me well when being able to make the most out of my time and energy as a grad student.  
All that is to say, though, that the question of how important any of these things are doesn't answer the question of whether a particular school has a cut-off.  
I've said it many times on here, but it really is a very mysterious process that decides who gets in to particular schools. It often seems illogical and counterintuitive. 

I can't seem to find it, but a few years ago somebody got rejected from an ivy and under the comments said (paraphrasing), "And we can assure you, that not only are the people we did accept more intelligent, but also better looking" 

I wanted to add a few things that I've posted on here before, but that I haven't seen said lately. 
When looking at placement, look deeper.  In other words, make sure that the school places students from a variety of fields and through a variety of dissertations and professors.  
It might be, for example, that your program is really really strong in Medieval, (maybe having some prominent professors in that area), and that they place a lot of Medieval students in tenure track jobs. 
But if you are in American Literature, where does that put you? Look also at the specific professors you want to work with, and if students with them in their dissertation committees have a good placement record. 
This being said, it might be that the university has an infusion of new professors in a specific field/area, so you can't really judge placement.  If this is the case, and you are planning on working with these professors, do make sure you ask them about their mentorship/advisement style.  Ask them what they look for when they plan to be on a committee, etc.  Ask them how they handle professionalization.  (Or as I call it, the P word) 

RE: interdisciplinary opportunities 
Much of this depends on your program.  Specifically, do they allow you to take coursework outside of the department? Do they allow people from other departments to be on committees? Do they have strong programs in a wide variety of departments related to your interdisciplinary interests? Are there reading groups that cross departmental boundaries? Are some professors cross listed?  These things usually point towards interdisciplinary opportunity.  Some English programs are very insular.  In fact they are known for being insular.  Other programs are pretty open. For instance my program at UCLA is strong in Literature and the Sciences, even.  
 

I wanted to add a few things that I've posted on here before, but that I haven't seen said lately. 
When looking at placement, look deeper.  In other words, make sure that the school places students from a variety of fields and through a variety of dissertations and professors.  
It might be, for example, that your program is really really strong in Medieval, (maybe having some prominent professors in that area), and that they place a lot of Medieval students in tenure track jobs. 
But if you are in American Literature, where does that put you? Look also at the specific professors you want to work with, and if students with them in their dissertation committees have a good placement record. 
This being said, it might be that the university has an infusion of new professors in a specific field/area, so you can't really judge placement.  If this is the case, and you are planning on working with these professors, do make sure you ask them about their mentorship/advisement style.  Ask them what they look for when they plan to be on a committee, etc.  Ask them how they handle professionalization.  (Or as I call it, the P word) 

For this period, you are in a position of power.  And you can and should take all the time you need to make your decision.  
You also have to take into account funding here.  Most all grad programs have some type of extra sweetener money meant to entice people into accepting, even beyond fellowships. 
Which brings me to fellowships.  Lets say you got accepted to schools A and B.  Most schools have some kind of nice fellowship which offers you at least 1 non-TA year if not more, like some kind of Chancellor's fellowship.  It might happen that you aren't the recipient of it...YET.  
So follow me here.  Lets say school A is your first choice and you are pretty sure you want to go there.  They might have already offered that chancellor's fellowship to somebody.  But that student might end up going to Harvard or Yale, as it often happens.  When that student declines the offer, which will likely happen in April, the school might then offer you that Chancellor's fellowship to get you to accept.  So even if you believe you will go somewhere, you can only gain from waiting.  
Ok, now scenario 2, you WERE offered that Chancellor's fellowship. This means you are like their mega first choice. Hell, even more reason to wait. They might find an extra 2k-5k for you in the form of summer funding, or even just in addition to your first year fellowship.
The moral of the story is, (not to repeat myself, but) you have everything to gain from waiting, especially if the schools are comparable in rank or prestige.  in your case so far, you want to make Duke or Santa Cruz tremble a bit.  
I know it might sometimes be difficult for us English majors to have this mindset.  And if you are anything like me, you are probably just excited at the prospect of graduate school and are maybe just happy to have been accepted, but believe me, turn the screws on these schools right now.  
That being said, there's nothing wrong with expressing excitement and interest in their programs in your emails to them.  I'm in no way saying you should give any of the schools the impression you don't want to be there.  Be friendly and excited in emails, but don't tip your hand to them.  
 

I second this! Last year I chose the program that offered me the least $$ (UCLA) over other, lower-ranked programs. Not just because of its ranking-- on my visit with faculty, I fell in love with the department and its resources/opportunities-- but it was certainly a factor. I thought that I, too, would be living on ramen forever, but it's actually been super-liveable. Produce here seems to be a bit cheaper, so groceries don't run me as much; I got a roommate and an apartment that, though my half was equivalent to what I was paying for a one-bedroom back in Philly, is still manageable on my budget; and I'm still able to go out on the nights that I'm not swamped with work, plus save a tiny bit each month. Most of my cohort was actually able to find one-bedroom apartments in the West Side that would be pretty dang cheap split two ways (I'm talking $500-$700 a person, which in LA speak is cheap), so moving with a significant other would definitely help.
@NowMoreSerious is right-- within a matter of months you'll find out the cheaper neighborhoods and find the dive bars and restaurants that make it possible to both work and have fun. Money was my number one fear about coming to LA, but I'm happy to say that it's been much more doable than I thought it would be. Let the visits make the decision for you! And feel free to reach out with any other questions. Good luck!

Kura!  Hello!  
(But yeah in a case like Rutgers and UCLA they are essentially ranked the same, so the decision is much easier.)  
But @pbnwhey I think when you are talking about that big a gap, I strongly urge you to choose UCLA, and I swear this is not my own bias here. I would say the same thing if it was any comparable school such as Virginia, Rutgers, and Ann Arbor. 
I know many people who have gone through Grad school across the country. There are people who hate the city they live in, or can barely afford it, but love their program.  There are also people who love the city and are comfortable in it, but hate their program. In almost every case, it is the latter who have the most regret, and more often than not, quit or leave early. 
The thing about expensive places such as Los Angeles, Chicago, etc, is that once you get to know the city, you will learn where it is possible to move to to be able to afford to live. 
So the first year will be difficult, because of the adjustment and you not knowing where to move, but it will improve, and you will be in not just a good, but an outstanding world-ranked program in your field. 
You will not be living on ramen noodles for 6 years.  Maybe for 1 year.  And the fact that you have a significant other already tells me that if they can find work, it should be doable. 
 

For this period, you are in a position of power.  And you can and should take all the time you need to make your decision.  
You also have to take into account funding here.  Most all grad programs have some type of extra sweetener money meant to entice people into accepting, even beyond fellowships. 
Which brings me to fellowships.  Lets say you got accepted to schools A and B.  Most schools have some kind of nice fellowship which offers you at least 1 non-TA year if not more, like some kind of Chancellor's fellowship.  It might happen that you aren't the recipient of it...YET.  
So follow me here.  Lets say school A is your first choice and you are pretty sure you want to go there.  They might have already offered that chancellor's fellowship to somebody.  But that student might end up going to Harvard or Yale, as it often happens.  When that student declines the offer, which will likely happen in April, the school might then offer you that Chancellor's fellowship to get you to accept.  So even if you believe you will go somewhere, you can only gain from waiting.  
Ok, now scenario 2, you WERE offered that Chancellor's fellowship. This means you are like their mega first choice. Hell, even more reason to wait. They might find an extra 2k-5k for you in the form of summer funding, or even just in addition to your first year fellowship.
The moral of the story is, (not to repeat myself, but) you have everything to gain from waiting, especially if the schools are comparable in rank or prestige.  in your case so far, you want to make Duke or Santa Cruz tremble a bit.  
I know it might sometimes be difficult for us English majors to have this mindset.  And if you are anything like me, you are probably just excited at the prospect of graduate school and are maybe just happy to have been accepted, but believe me, turn the screws on these schools right now.  
That being said, there's nothing wrong with expressing excitement and interest in their programs in your emails to them.  I'm in no way saying you should give any of the schools the impression you don't want to be there.  Be friendly and excited in emails, but don't tip your hand to them.  
 

Kura!  Hello!  
(But yeah in a case like Rutgers and UCLA they are essentially ranked the same, so the decision is much easier.)  
But @pbnwhey I think when you are talking about that big a gap, I strongly urge you to choose UCLA, and I swear this is not my own bias here. I would say the same thing if it was any comparable school such as Virginia, Rutgers, and Ann Arbor. 
I know many people who have gone through Grad school across the country. There are people who hate the city they live in, or can barely afford it, but love their program.  There are also people who love the city and are comfortable in it, but hate their program. In almost every case, it is the latter who have the most regret, and more often than not, quit or leave early. 
The thing about expensive places such as Los Angeles, Chicago, etc, is that once you get to know the city, you will learn where it is possible to move to to be able to afford to live. 
So the first year will be difficult, because of the adjustment and you not knowing where to move, but it will improve, and you will be in not just a good, but an outstanding world-ranked program in your field. 
You will not be living on ramen noodles for 6 years.  Maybe for 1 year.  And the fact that you have a significant other already tells me that if they can find work, it should be doable. 
 

Kura!  Hello!  
(But yeah in a case like Rutgers and UCLA they are essentially ranked the same, so the decision is much easier.)  
But @pbnwhey I think when you are talking about that big a gap, I strongly urge you to choose UCLA, and I swear this is not my own bias here. I would say the same thing if it was any comparable school such as Virginia, Rutgers, and Ann Arbor. 
I know many people who have gone through Grad school across the country. There are people who hate the city they live in, or can barely afford it, but love their program.  There are also people who love the city and are comfortable in it, but hate their program. In almost every case, it is the latter who have the most regret, and more often than not, quit or leave early. 
The thing about expensive places such as Los Angeles, Chicago, etc, is that once you get to know the city, you will learn where it is possible to move to to be able to afford to live. 
So the first year will be difficult, because of the adjustment and you not knowing where to move, but it will improve, and you will be in not just a good, but an outstanding world-ranked program in your field. 
You will not be living on ramen noodles for 6 years.  Maybe for 1 year.  And the fact that you have a significant other already tells me that if they can find work, it should be doable. 
 

Kura!  Hello!  
(But yeah in a case like Rutgers and UCLA they are essentially ranked the same, so the decision is much easier.)  
But @pbnwhey I think when you are talking about that big a gap, I strongly urge you to choose UCLA, and I swear this is not my own bias here. I would say the same thing if it was any comparable school such as Virginia, Rutgers, and Ann Arbor. 
I know many people who have gone through Grad school across the country. There are people who hate the city they live in, or can barely afford it, but love their program.  There are also people who love the city and are comfortable in it, but hate their program. In almost every case, it is the latter who have the most regret, and more often than not, quit or leave early. 
The thing about expensive places such as Los Angeles, Chicago, etc, is that once you get to know the city, you will learn where it is possible to move to to be able to afford to live. 
So the first year will be difficult, because of the adjustment and you not knowing where to move, but it will improve, and you will be in not just a good, but an outstanding world-ranked program in your field. 
You will not be living on ramen noodles for 6 years.  Maybe for 1 year.  And the fact that you have a significant other already tells me that if they can find work, it should be doable. 
 

For this period, you are in a position of power.  And you can and should take all the time you need to make your decision.  
You also have to take into account funding here.  Most all grad programs have some type of extra sweetener money meant to entice people into accepting, even beyond fellowships. 
Which brings me to fellowships.  Lets say you got accepted to schools A and B.  Most schools have some kind of nice fellowship which offers you at least 1 non-TA year if not more, like some kind of Chancellor's fellowship.  It might happen that you aren't the recipient of it...YET.  
So follow me here.  Lets say school A is your first choice and you are pretty sure you want to go there.  They might have already offered that chancellor's fellowship to somebody.  But that student might end up going to Harvard or Yale, as it often happens.  When that student declines the offer, which will likely happen in April, the school might then offer you that Chancellor's fellowship to get you to accept.  So even if you believe you will go somewhere, you can only gain from waiting.  
Ok, now scenario 2, you WERE offered that Chancellor's fellowship. This means you are like their mega first choice. Hell, even more reason to wait. They might find an extra 2k-5k for you in the form of summer funding, or even just in addition to your first year fellowship.
The moral of the story is, (not to repeat myself, but) you have everything to gain from waiting, especially if the schools are comparable in rank or prestige.  in your case so far, you want to make Duke or Santa Cruz tremble a bit.  
I know it might sometimes be difficult for us English majors to have this mindset.  And if you are anything like me, you are probably just excited at the prospect of graduate school and are maybe just happy to have been accepted, but believe me, turn the screws on these schools right now.  
That being said, there's nothing wrong with expressing excitement and interest in their programs in your emails to them.  I'm in no way saying you should give any of the schools the impression you don't want to be there.  Be friendly and excited in emails, but don't tip your hand to them.  
 

Hi all! Congratulations on all the great news on this thread! I haven't been very involved on GradCafe this year, but I found the boards incredibly helpful last year as I went through the stress of application season. If anyone has any questions about UCLA, medieval lit, or anything else, please feel free to reach out. Good luck to everyone still waiting!