impending

After applying for Fall 2012 with just a BA, I learned that some schools actually prefer applicants who don't have an MA first. I know this is true of Penn State, which usually accepts around 3 funded "MA students" who are really expected to stay through the PhD, then only one maaaybe two PhD students who already have MAs. UT Austin accepts and funds students directly to the PhD program both with and without MAs, but I have less of an idea whether they actually prefer BA-only applicants. From what I understand this may actually be a growing trend, but I'm not sure what other programs have this mentality. But don't rule out PhD programs just because you assume you can't compete--do some digging first!

Awesome! My process was agonizing too, but I look forward to meeting you this fall!

Just finalized possibly one of the hardest decisions I've ever faced, and accepted my offer at Purdue for rhetoric and composition.

It tore me up to do it, because I had a fantastic time at recruitment and I could really see myself there, but I just declined Penn State. I hope this means some late good news for a Penn State rhet/comp waitlister!

That's one of my major concerns for my own decision right now as well. I was advised to ask POIs how many dissertation committees they're currently serving on to get a sense of how much individual attention to really expect. And definitely ask some current students about their experiences with mentoring and the size of the program, as well as how they've fared financially on the stipend and extra opportunities for funding. And personally I'd see if I could set up phone calls with grad students rather than emailing. It seems like it might be easier to get some straight less-than-glowing opinions via an actual conversation.

I'm excited too! I just hope I can still get into the classes I want this late. No idea about orientation. I know TA training lasts about a week, so I'd imagine orientation is about two weeks before the semester starts? (Ahem...any of you lurking Penn Staters out there care to show yourselves and share? Yes, you, Leland and Emily...)

Yes, I'm (probably...visiting a last school this weekend to be sure) going for the MA, and as of now planning to stay through the PhD, as most do. How about you?

Congrats! I look forward to probably maybe meeting you in the fall!

Cross off Arizona State, they stopped funding MAs several years back (though the website still says you can apply for a TAship, MA applicants never actually get them). Also the TA stipend someone gave for Penn State on the last page is high, I think the standard is now $16,000, not $20,000 (unless I'm just getting the short end of the stick..).

Declined ASU PhD in rhet/comp, with funding offer. I know they admitted several people without funding, so I hope this makes a difference for someone!

A few hours ago I got a sort of, almost acceptance email? I guess they're just waiting for funding to become available for me, which is "very likely," eek! Can anyone (and by anyone I mean primarily ComeBackZinc, haha--or anyone accepted!) tell me what the "Purdue Reunion Party" is? The email says he hopes to see me Wednesday, and his grad student assistant will be following up with info, but um, if I'm hopping on a plane tomorrow, it'd be good to know that now! And I don't want to email back like a frantic crazy person.

The acceptance by phone on Tuesday was me. I thought I was in the same position as those who got the quasi-waitlist email, but my email was a response specifically to my inquiry, so I could have just as easily been in some other amorphous category. Who knows. Unfortunately I don't think anything is "safe" to assume about this process!

Just FYI, the Penn State visit weekend is March 30, if that helps those on the pseudo-waitlist gauge a timeline of when they might hear at all. Although I'm currently questioning whether those pseudo-waitlist emails really meant waitlist. I thought I had been waitlisted (though my email was different--I had specifically asked my status because of an early decision deadline elsewhere, and got a reply that seemed similar to others'), but my phone call with the DGS didn't really confirm that--it seemed like there might have been some other funding hold up. So I'm wondering if that's the case for others who got ambiguous "We want you, but" emails as well.

Thanks, I'm ecstatic! I keep catching myself grinning, my coworkers probably think I've lost it.

And let him/her know about your MA program deadline! I communicated with my schools about my early deadline for ASU, and I just received an offer from Penn State accommodating that deadline.