Nordicllama

That's a great idea. I think I'm also going to call the schools that rejected me and ask if they have Prince Albert in a can or if their refrigerators are running.

I believe for most programs yes. Some, such as UNC-CH said "by mid march," but I am definitely going to making some inquiries by next week. Still waiting on 6 schools. Preposterous.

Sooooooooooo what is the deal with Ohio State? I'm seeing people post rejections. A couple of grads at my school said that OSU just never notified them of anything and to this day their application status probably says "In Review." But I've seen people on the big board posting rejections via website. So if I haven't heard, am I in some weird not-quite-rejected limbo? Thoughts?

Which school has more comfortable chairs in its library(ies)?

Crazed, I definitely think a tactful email thanking them for accepting but informing them that you do seem to be qualified under their requisites. It may not get you the PhD, but it might improve your odds of making that potential funding become a reality.

How on earth will grandmothers everywhere be able to get socks and carepackages to starving college grandchildren with cold feet!?

I get asked if my fiance is okay with me applying to a history program and whether she's going to go with me. I tend to think it's people thinking that it's dumb to try to get married before your established. As if I'm gonna wait 8 more years to start my life with the woman I love. Ridiculous.

Hogwarts!? Really!? Gee, Oseirus, you're the best! I've been practicing my Quidditch.

Oh, and does anyone want to claim the Boston University acceptance?

Would you mind just transferring that acceptance over my way?

I know what you mean. Step one: crack the bubbly. Step two: Hit the pub for a huge greasy burger and Young's Double Chocolate Stout.

Anyone ever here this? "Oh you're a history major? So what do you people do? Just sit around and memorize facts all day?"

That's still 3-4 not rejections! I'm pulling for ya!

So technically this week is the first week of March. At least I'm going to declare it the first week of March. So, um, would the remaining 9 silent schools please stand up?

It could still be "after shock" from the recession. Technically if there is a quarter of growth, no matter how insignificant, then the recession is considered over. Even the economic growth we have had hasn't been enough to really bring us back to 2007 from 2009. The DJI is about twice what it was in 2009 (up to about 1300 from 6600) but that is still a full 1000 points below what it hit in 2007. Also, it could take a few years for that economic growth to translate back into increased state revenue and education budget hikes.

Well perhaps the numbers haven't quite shot up as high as departments claim, but I would certainly be inclined to believe they have increased a good bit. But equally damaging is that the number of available spots have been drastically reduced. We've heard that IU is taking only 10, Minn Twin only 14, UVA I have on good authority took only 17 down from 24.

This post is beyond amazing. Truer words hath not been spoken.

Man, OSU only taking 15? I thought their class sizes were way bigger than that. What a year to apply, eh?

I really don't know. Perhaps they are trying to keep as many people on the line as possible in case their top selections go elsewhere? I have yet to hear from them either. If the Ivy Leagues take an average of 20 each, that's the top 160 applicants taken right away. Then Stanford, Duke, UNC, N. Western, Virginia and the like probably take another 100, possibly some of the top 160 themselves. So maybe Columbia realizes they might have to dip out of their top 200 eventually and are just not quite willing to drop the ax?

I've still got 10 cold, blank stares. It's not over until the final letter comes. Chin up! There's still lots of time. My adviser was very surprised by how early everything is happening this year and the DGS here thought the schools were only notifying their very top choices in hopes of landing them before the Harvards and Yales could steal them away.

Has anyone else not yet heard from Ohio State? I checked the Graduate School Admission's "check status" tab but it just says "in review."

Too bad there isn't a "like" button on these forums.

Thayer was a prominent writer who went to Harvard in the early 1900s. Don't know about Baxendales. I assume they must both have large endowments at Harvard since there are buildings named after them.

Is it normal for schools to release decisions this slowly and painfully? It was my understanding, initially, that they sent out their outright rejections first and then culled it down to a few applicants who would be accepted or waitlisted. I was not expecting this seemingly random process and lengthy silences after initial acceptances. I am not a fan of cloak and dagger.

I too would like to know about the Columbia rejection and W&M acceptance.