maximillianalvarez

Hey Heather, I'm one of people who was accepted into UCLA's CompLit program. I didn't have any kind of interview, just got a surprising e mail a little over a week ago. I didn't have an interview for Umichigan either (the other program I've been accepted into), but they did require a foreign language writing sample along with my English writing sample for the application. My advice would be to e mail the department coordinator (Michelle Anderson has been my main contact) and ask a) if you can be updated on the status of your application and, ask if you are eligible to be put on a waiting list in case you are not accepted. You've just gotta be persistent. I'm waiting to hear back from UCLA about a fellowship for which I was nominated. If I don't get that fellowship, I probably won't accept UCLA's offer. But, to be fair, there's a big chance I'll end up accepting Michigan's offer anyway, as their program is slightly better for what I want to do. So, there will most likely be at least one open spot for someone on a waiting list. I hope you get in! Best, Max

Ditto. I haven't heard anything yet, so I can guess what's coming. LAME!

Hey... refresh? Congrats on Umich! Where does it rank on your list of hopefuls? When I started applying, Michigan was around 3rd on my list, but it's been steadily climbing since. The thesis I proposed to the Department, in a nutshell, is a study of the political/cultural/artistic interactions and influences between Russia, Mexico, and the U.S. in the 20th-century. I really think I got in because there are (according to the department chair) a number of professors in Slavic, Romance, and English Lang/Lit who took a personal interest in the project. BUT... I'll take what I can get. I've only ever heard great things about Michigan. The program would be stellar for me as the university has really strong English and Romance Lang/Lit Departments, and an amazingly strong Slavic Department. I just had a phone conversation with the department chair yesterday, actually, and I had also spoken with Benjamin Paloff in December. Both conversations have pushed Michigan near the top of my list; not only because they informed me of many great benefits of Michigan's program, but also because they've made a lot of effort to make me feel welcome/wanted, which, as we all know, is just about the best thing to feel after so many months of misery. I'm still waiting to hear back from Uchicago (where I did my undergrad), Northwestern, NYU (I'm pretty sure they've given out all their acceptances already), UPenn, Stanford, and UW-Madison. I've also got an offer from UCLA but, at the moment, my scales are tipping more on Michigan's side. I think Michigan has a better program. From what I've gathered, Complit students do very well at Michigan; they're well-received by a lot of other departments, they're fully funded, there are plenty of opportunities to study abroad (with funding!)... but I'm sure you've heard about all that by now. I do know a couple people who went to Michigan for undergrad, and they absolutely loved it. I also have a friend who's doing a masters there and she seems to be having a great time. Ann Arbor is supposedly one of the best college towns in the States. Having gone to a stupidly nerdy and wimpy school for undergrad, I'm totally excited to be involved in the sports and bar culture up in Michigan. Does that help? I think I'd pass on Michigan's offer if I got into UPenn or Stanford... possibly NYU.

I tried the ol' "just checking to make sure all my materials were received and whatnot" approach, and got stonewalled. This was all they said: "We hope to be in touch within the next week with our decisions." I've all but given up on Stanford, but that's mainly due to the fact that one of my MORONIC recommenders wouldn't submit his recommendation on-line, then mailed his recommendation to the wrong address, then took until late January to get his second letter to the Department. Good luck to all of you who chose your recommenders more wisely. Haven't heard anything from UPenn or NYU. It looks like NYU's acceptances have all gone out (from what I can see on the forum). Lame. Accepted By: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) Rejected By:University of California - Berkeley Brown University Awaiting Notifications From: [*]University of Chicago [*]Northwestern University [*]University of Pennsylvania [*]New York University (NYU) [*]Stanford University [*]University of Wisconsin - Madison