Stately Plump

This makes me feel like I'm going to throw up.

It will be sweet to get to know you in real life when we're classmates at Harvard

The worst part about implicit rejections is that tiny thread of hope you hang on to, despite all better judgement. Knowing I will be rejected in the coming weeks, I cling to an imaginary belief that, perhaps, my email has yet to be sent; that they will call me, instead of email; that I am on a waiting list and that I will get in off the list. Why can I not let go? Why?

Congrats, Trip! I'm so happy for you. I've had my fingers crossed and I think of you every time a Rutgers post goes up I hope you get in!

Congrats to all who got in! Seriously, I'm so excited that people from gradcafe are going on to such incredible opportunities. You should all be proud of yourselves! You deserve it!

haha! I relate soooo much, especially with your response. I got a text from an unknown number last night. At first I was like, "Omg! They're texting me to let me know I've been accepted!" Then I realized how stupid that was

I emailed the DGS (it was about the Fulbright thing? I've mentioned it before with regards to Maryland...) and he said it would probably be early March before they knew anything. So I've consigned myself to hearing nothing before then, if it makes you feel any better

I've been really pleasantly surprised at how unpretentious this forum is. I told my advisor about this place and how it has been nice to get to know some other people who have similar interests/are going through a similar process. She frowned, then cringed, then warned me about people trying to be intimidating via a shadowy and pretentious internet personality. I think she was thinking of her own days in graduate school, when intellectual "sophistication" and cut-throat attitudes were predominant. I'm sure all of us will encounter the pretentious jerks of PhD programs (including some professors), but I've found the environment on here overwhelmingly positive and refreshing, and I'm excited about meeting a lot of these people as we become the next generation of scholars. I'm especially excited about becoming the next generation of scholars together.

Yeah, we actually read LOTR alongside Beowulf, Gawain and the Green Knight, and Sir Orfeo (maybe a few others... it was a few years ago) but it was fascinating to read the parallels between his work and the medieval classics. He was, after all, first and foremost a medieval scholar! LOTR was more like an afterthought (though, an afterthought into which he put great care and effort).

hanging toenail

I can't remember reading anything from the 18th century, unless you count Mary Wallstonecraft, but that was like, 1796 or something. And I, too, am a LOTR junkie. I had a course called "Medieval Tolkien" (<-- sunglasses to disguise dorky LOTR fanaticism)

I mostly feel like I check the results board entirely too often. Whether that makes me vulnerable and needy (*nods head while typing*) I can't say for sure. (<-- sunglasses to hide needy vulnerability)

Gaaah. I take it you don't have any early modern interests, based on your applications to rhet/comp programs. Not sure if that will help me or not. Here's hoping! Congrats on your acceptances, btw. Both awesome schools with awesome departments. And best of luck with those you haven't heard from yet!

Figured I'd bump this, as I was just wait-listed, and I think a few others were as well Good luck to everyone!

No way! This can't be real...

Would be soo awesome if you got into Yale. I'd be celebrating

Yeah. Really not bankin on those, though, haha.

Amherst vs. Maryland is really, really tough, given my interests. Amherst has some fantastic Renaissance resources (the Renaissance center, the Sidney Journal, English Literary Renaissance Journal, Arthur Kinney) but Maryland has the Folger, plus I know some people there. Amherst is closer to home, which may be good or bad. I'm going to wait at least a little. If I were accepted to Maryland, I would probably take it, but I have to see how things play out. (<-- sunglasses to hide indecision, fear, and fear of indecision, and to try to give off the impression that I know how to play it cool) Good luck to both of you! I hope you hear something soon! I'm pulling for you!

Haha, I can relate when I said I was applying there. I guess I should put that in the glass half full thread: No longer have to explain CUNY's GC to friends/family.

I'm not applying to creative writing programs, but I do love creative writing. I just wanted to send you all some love! <3 <3 <3

I just got officially wait-listed by Sangeeta Ray. Here is the email: "While your application was very competitive you did not make the first round of admission into the PhD program. You are on our wait list but students have till April 15th to let us know. We are hosting an open house on March 14-15 and you are more than welcome to attend. If you decide to choose another school do let us know so we can remove you from our wait list. We would be delighted to offer you admission to our MA program even though we cannot fund our MA students. if this option appeals to you, please let me know." Hope this helps, for anyone still waiting! Good luck to everyone! And if you aren't going, let them know, so they can accept me! (<-- sunglasses to hide fear of "rejected off the waiting list" results board submission)

I love the, "Oh, wow, that's a good school!" comment. What they don't realize is that every single school we're applying to has an acceptance rate of--at the MOST--10%. TEN PERCENT! LITERALLY, BROWN, HARVARD, PRINCETON, YALE, AND COLUMBIA WERE THE ONLY UNDERGRAD SCHOOLS WITH A SIMILAR ACCEPTANCE RATE!!! My point is, to be accepted into a PhD program is similar (actually, often more competive) than being accepted into Harvard, Princeton, Yale, etc. So tell your parents, "I got accepted into _____ PhD program, which is more competitive than Harvard." That should help them understand

You can find them online if you look hard enough I believe (I could be mistaken) they are coming to the U.S. this fall.

I've been in touch with some programs to update the status of my application. I would email them and let them know; I've found many programs very, very considerate and even friendly, at times. If it makes you feel any better, I said in my personal statement that I wanted to work with a professor who (I found out yesterday) is actually only a lecturer. Crossed them off the list. (<-- sunglasses to hide embarrassment/tears)

I love that the "0% Confidence of Acceptence" thread has turned into "let's support each other through this cripplingly difficult time/let's celebrate each other's victories" thread. (Note: not meant as "tough to decipher internet sarcasm"; meant in earnest.) It's so encouraging to see so many supportive people on here. It makes me really excited to get to know you guys professionally, as we develop into the next community of scholars and intellectuals. So, I guess my point is, yay us <3 to all