Imogene

What are your recs? Preferably, available on Netflix streaming . And yes, I'm leaving this wide open for y'all.

That's a great mindset, Datatape, and I'm right there with you. I feel like I learned so much through this application season, and have even better ideas about not only how to navigate the application process but how to crystallize my research interests. Even though I didn't get a golden ticket this round, the wait list decisions are reassuring that I'm not 100% crazy for trying to do this. I actually feel that it would be more crazy if I *didn't* try again next year. (And that's what friends and my LOR's are telling me, too.) It hurts a little when I think about how long the whole process is and that it could end up being another wasted year, but then I try to focus on the positive things, like all the reading I've been cramming into this "wait" period, and all the great connections in this forum, even.

"It's French, it must be good." Thanks for this, Trip!

I agree that the focus of her criticism seems to be the essential nature of online forums. Look at almost any specialized forum and you'll see misinformation, morons, jerks, and anxiety and/or panic on the one extreme, and support, good advice, humor, and positive networking on the other hand. As functioning human beings, it's up to each of us to sift through to get to the type of info/exp we happen to be searching for. She also seems to remind folks that we are still in a rough economy, one that is causing those just entering the work force or not yet in stable or fully satisfying positions to consider multiple options, none of which is a "sure thing." -- something I don't think anyone has forgotten, actually. So, in the end, her article is nearly useless and non-impactful, except that it does advertise the existence of this particular forum to those who may not know about it yet. So those of you just tuning in - welcome!

Thanks! I just contacted the programs that wait-listed me, as it was easier to respond to communications we'd already exchanged (I'll let you know if I get good feedback!). Right now I'm struggling with how best to contact two other programs that are really top schools, but that I thought I had really good "fits" for -- what do you even put in the subject line of those types of emails? I happen to work in the area of online communications (nonprofit sector), and the topic of subject lines is a perennial issue -- how do you get folks to open the email? I find myself staring at the blank subject line of this email I'm about to send off to the DGS of #1 school in the world and I'm just paralyzed. Anyone have any examples? What has worked?

I think it's time we get the thread going for this, since I've seen lots of mentions of this on various other threads. I want to get in touch with a few programs that didn't accept me, especially two programs that waitlisted me, to find out about whether there were glaring problems, or even just areas to strengthen. The question is: how best to do this? Any advice?

Have any of you on the UConn waitlist heard (or asked) about where on the waitlist you are or any details about how their waitlist works? Other than my email to DGS letting her know I was still interested, and her reply, I haven't had any other communication with them.

Totes. Me too. I feel like I can relate to both the prof in the first, and the kid in the second. I just really love the part about "you realize that wealthy people retire so they can live the kind of life you'd be living, but the difference is that you'll be doing it when you're younger" part.

I just did some scanning of the results board and saw one (1) acceptance off the waitlist for Brandeis that happened last week. There's hope!

Welcome to the UCONN waitlist, Adam! And you never know . . maybe your email/notification went astray like mresene's acceptance!

You guys have probably all seen this, but this is my favorite response to the myriad humanities-grad-school-deterrents out there:

I don't want to repeat what the consensus is here about this, but I did want to add another perspective (that I've been repeating to myself a lot so that I don't get too depressed about *only* getting two waitlists, no accepts): There are people (on this very forum, even!) who were accepted to, like, Harvard, and then rejected by multiple other schools. This just goes to show that a rejection doesn't mean you're "not good enough." ESPECIALLY if you *were* accepted somewhere, it should be reassurance that not only do your transcript and scores meet minimum requirements (because this is all they're for), but that your research proposal and writing sample indicate interests and approach that the faculty can support and, here's the kicker: that there's something there that stood out from the other 300+ applications as an idea and style the faculty really wanted to work with.

@lolo wow, your application does sound amazing, esp with the publication and conferences. Have you asked for feedback from the programs you thought were especially strong fits for you yet? With no accepts and 2 waitlists, I'm thinking that I will be doing this again next year, and I really feel like the element I need to bring into the mix is getting in touch with the programs. I feel like we're operating in the dark (ie *we* think we're a perfect fit and have strong apps, but their criteria for fit includes variables we just don't know about). I was thinking of starting up a new thread to discuss follow-up with rejections specifically . . .

So my official waiting for notifications season has ended, hooray! But, alas, with only 2 waitlists and no acceptances, this crazy stress express ride is a whole lot of 'crazy stress' and not so much the 'express.' Do I really have to hold out a shred of hope for another month or more? I mean, I love the hope part, but if this turns out to be just another pair of non-admits, then it's like in baseball when someone hits a really high fly ball and everyone thinks its going to be a home run . . . Right up until the outfielder catches it for an out. And then the announcer says "yup, that was a really long out."

Got the waitlist email, and this concludes my notifications for the season (sorry that you're still waiting, @transcendental, but congrats on Fordham and St. Louis!). Now, here's to hoping a spot opens up for me at one of my two waitlist schools!

@lolo thank you so much- so generous with info. I'm pulling for you and those final decisions you're still waiting on. @fiona I want to digest your post and reply more later, but I wanted to say that I was *just* thinking that this whole thing seems as ridiculous as the lottery. And, yes, I play that too (come on lucky numbers! Come on magic SOP!).

I think that your argument is valid but futile -- I think that the truth is probably that we and *they* know that the 'fit-ness' aspect of the application is both the most important and most murky part of the selection process. I think you're right that, in the end, the research focus and stated approach and fit in an SOP won't ever actually materialize in practice due to many factors. But I also think that it is the proverbial hoop that you have to jump through to demonstrate that you're capable of identifying and articulating an original idea, demonstrating where it fits in with (and is distinct from) the prevailing scholarship/discourse, and drawing a line between this idea (and your particular approach to it) and the department's faculty and style. It's true that a person could manipulate the details of parts of this equation to exaggerate a fit that may not be so strong, but I think that adcomms know this, and, really, if you can be nimble with your scholarly approach and interests to the degree that you still present valid and intriguing ideas (even if they aren't your priorities), then that still suggests you 'have what it takes to succeed.' So, the short of it is, yes, 'fit' doesn't really hold significance in terms of your long-term research goals, but probably still is an important indicator of scholarly savvy and potential. But, of course, lots of admitted folks don't succeed, and those who get waitlisted and rejected 2-3 times before getting in can go on to have amazing 'success.' Do I wish there were a better process? You bet. Like, why can't I just put my ideas, goals, transcripts, and scores out there and say Hey, here I am; who wants me? Or what if programs put out details of what they're looking for each year (because it seems to change every year based on lots of program variables)? I feel like it's so crazy that we have to do all this guess work and navigate a crapshoot, imagining some crazy wizards behind the curtains of each program deciding our fates. But I know it's the (dumb, infuriating, soul-violent . . .) game we all have to play.

So after a couple of wait lists, and no acceptances, I'm trying to figure out where to go from here. I've been thinking more about 'round two' than the less likely chance that I get admitted to one of my 'wait' programs, and, honestly, I don't even know where to start. - contact departments that rejected me for feedback? - research new programs to apply to (I thought I found good fits this time!)? - write a new writing sample? - re-take GREs (this one is something that I don't think I should waste time on, but maybe I'm wrong)? - ask my LOR profs to help me figure out where I went wrong? I know that I could/should do all these things, but I'm paralyzed by trying to figure out where to focus my energy and time (because it's limited, as I'm not in academia now but rather the 'real world' of 9-5 and lots of responsibilities). I figure there are many others in similar spots, so thought I'd try to get us a thread to share thoughts and advice.

sheesh, your "no soul and no feelings" cred is really gone now, @Readwritenap . Also: amen.

Readwritenap, you are my hero, you souless wonder, for contacting them and sharing back here (which, incidentally, suggests that you do, indeed, have a soul). That is interesting news, and makes sense (I know that some departments do things like this). I'm just surprised they don't use a waitlist format? And, should we extrapolate that no decision yet means we're on a weird version of their wait list? Honestly, an official notice of "you're wait listed" is actually a really postive thing, even if we don't end up getting a spot, because it suggests that we are borderline (it helps me, mentally and spiritually, in the case that I need to make some considerations about applying again to this or other programs in the next round).

argh! the suspense is killing me. by brain knows that it's probably just a matter of the paperwork on their end to change me over to the "reject" column, but my heart is still hanging on the slim chance . . .

Looks like a couple of rejections via email posted on the results board. Have you heard anything, @Isidore or @anxious_aspirant?

Hmm, didn't see anymore Phd acceptances go up on the board today. So was it just the two fellowships that we're aware of? Trying to figure out if should consider this story closed as well . . .

I know, right: here's to hoping there's another batch of acceptances coming AND we're in that batch! My area is Brit Mod > fiction > women's lit You know, not too competitive . I am focusing on a really under represented writer, tho, who shall remain nameless here.

Ok so this is my first time posting to the forum, but I kinda feel like I know you all already as I've been hanging out here for a while (I hate the "lurker" expression). Anyhoo, I can't sit on the sidelines any longer -- totally freaking out! UConn is kinda my last hope this year, as I'm assuming I won't get into Yale. I've got just one wait list to hang my hopes on at this point, so I was really looking to UConn to be my last chance. I really hope those two admits are special early notices and we'll see a wave of more admits tomorrow. Have I used the word 'hope' enough in this post? Let me throw in some more: hope. freaking out. hope?