Stately Plump

Gusta Pizza?

omg. +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1

I saw: "Who else is working on their thesis?" I lol'd.

Early modern/Renaissance.

Of the 1.9% of unemployed people holding a doctoral degree: 97% have a PhD in the humanities (Philosophy, English, History, Languages...) 2% have a doctorate degree in some other field the other 1% is independently wealth and chooses not to work jk, just trying to brighten the thread up a bit

The open house is indeed the 23rd. I won't be able to make it then, so I emailed them to see if they could work something else out, so I'm going on the 8th instead. I'm sad that I won't get to meet other potential future classmates, though Would you go to BU over CUNY? And if so, any reasons in particular?

I was accepted to the MA/PhD program, and as of now, I think I'm leaning towards attending. I would be with you in the MA, as they require you to complete the MA before moving on, so I would potentially be in class with you I too am pretty excited about their course offerings. I'm going to visit March 8th, so hopefully I'll have a better sense of the department after that.

hahahahahaha! +1

Pretty sure Villanova is March 1. I was planning on applying there, if I hadn't been accepted anywhere. Some MA programs are a bit more flexible on their dates, because they don't get as many applicants. I emailed one school, who said their deadline was January 15, and they said that they would accept applications until May 1. They said they have the deadline because if students know they have until May 1, they won't submit anything until May 1 (lol). So they try to encourage people to submit early. If you are left with no other options, you can always email some programs and see if they will still consider your application.

"...Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and razor lay crossed."

I did the same, and had a similar experience. The prof I mentioned emailed me after I was accepted, telling me she was excited to work with me. So, +1

I think the "you should have many opportunities" line was in all the letters.

The schools I haven't heard from that have sent out acceptances or wait-list emails I've considered rejections. That isn't necessarily the case; technically, if you haven't heard yet, all it means is that you haven't heard yet. Until you hear something for sure, you really can't make any assumptions. I haven't contacted the DGS from any of the programs I'm "waiting" on. If you really need to know, perhaps you can get in touch. Otherwise, I would just let it play out. I know that Columbia accepted a bunch of people, then rejected a bunch others, and I didn't hear anything. About a week later, I got the rejection (this happened to a lot of people, for some reason). It's really tough to say why they don't notify everyone at the same time. I suppose we should get used to the system not working smoothy, if we are planning a career in academia . Good luck with the rest of your schools!

I've talked to some professors at the schools I was accepted/wait-listed an they all mentioned my writing sample. I got an email from one professor and she was like, "I read your writing sample and I thought it was really great." I don't say this to brag, but to point out that schools really are reading these things; I think we have a tendency to focus on "fit" of SoP, GRE scores, grades, undergrad/MA institution, but your writing sample is the best way for departments to get an idea of the type of student they're getting. If you went to an unknown institution and someone else went to Yale, your writing sample will prove to adcomms that you are just as good as the student from Yale. My advisor was upfront with me; she said the lack of name from my undergrad might be a drawback, which is why I should focus on the writing sample most. I revised my senior capstone paper (a bit shorter than a senior thesis), which initially took me 4 months to write. I probably spent another 3 months editing and revising, sometimes cutting whole sections and sometimes completely rewriting others. I was very, very blessed to have professors who were willing to read and reread it, but ultimately, I think it's what got me in. Again, I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging . I'm just hoping to offer some advice on things we can do to make our applications stronger. Good luck to anyone still waiting! +++ vibes

What you said didn't make any sense, so I figured it might have been in a Ulysses reference... Sorry, dorky literature jokes.

Haha, I was just kidding. Internet sarcasm .

Is this a Ulysses reference?

This isn't necessarily true. Keep in mind that every school is literally getting hundreds of applicants, and dozens and dozens of them are overly qualified to attend. Most schools probably end up with about 30-40 students they really want to take, but they only have room for 10-15ish. What they do, at that point, is throw all the applications down a stair case, and whichever ones land face up, they take.* *Not a true story, but probably close.

Hugs to everyone! I'm pulling for you guys! I hope everyone gets in! +++ energy to all

I got my BA from a small, catholic school that is barely a step above community college (I shouldn't say that; I've had a great experience, and everyone has been very, very helpful). But my point is that it is not a well known school at all. Also, none of the professors who wrote me letters are "big name" at all; two went to Maryland and one is an untenured philosophy professor who got his degree at Temple. But I know they were all really, really solid recs, because all of these professors have told me to my face that I belong in graduate school. I just read what I just wrote, and I sound like a pretentious asshole I don't mean to come off that way, I was just hoping to offer a glimmer of hope by saying that my university was unknown and my professors were unknown. Both of these sentences are very true. I agree (<--- sunglasses for true-statement solidarity)

Thanks, haha. Good luck with your choices! You've got some awesome options

Well, you definitely falsely got my hopes up, even though I know at this point it's probably over It's a weird feeling, knowing you didn't get in but still clinging to that last glimmer of hope. "Maybe they're sending mine tomorrow morning..." Congrats again to everyone who got in!

+1

The translation exams aren't that serious. Check it: http://english.fas.harvard.edu/programs/graduate/current-graduate-students/samples-grad-students There are some examples of past German exams. Don't be worried about that stuff. We got this (<--- sunglasses to display sense of community while hoping can remember enough Italian to pass exam)