Lise

Sadly enough, the GRE can ruin your chances to get in. I just got rejected from a PhD CompLit program where I took classes and know faculty. I have a great GPA, lots of research experience, good recommendations, a nice writing sample and statement. Since I know a professor on the committee, I asked him what I could improve for future applications. He took a deep sigh and informed me that it was my GRE score that had killed my application. I'm a non-native speaker and got 540 on verbal which is not a good score BUT I always thought "oh well, the rest of my application is competitive, it will not matter". Well, it DOES. He said they had 100 applicants this year, 35 of them (among them myself) were perfectly qualified but they could only admit 4. So what's the only "objective" item from the applications that they can use to compare those 35 good candidates? Right, the GRE. I'm not posting this to make you feel bad but it's just how it goes. I know I'll not get into a PhD program unless I get a higher GRE score. I think this is totally stupid but it's the way it is.

My GRE score is way worse. Actually, I'm fed up by the GRE obsession here in the US. The GRE test says NOTHING about research skills! As a non-native speaker of English, the time I've put in learning endless list of words could be better invested in doing actual research. My English vocabulary has expanded to the extent that American students in the classroom do not understand me. And, if I use my fancy GRE words in papers, professors say that my language is too stiff. So, if my GRE score is what keeps me from being accepted to a PhD, then they can all go **** themselves.

Don't give up yet! I was also surprised by Stony Brook's rejection last year (considered it my 'safe school', haha) but they did send me a nice letter. Did you receive your rejection by internet or mail? A letter might still be on its way.

Ugh, just received an email to check says status that says 'denied'. Really bummed.

http://chronicle.com/article/JamesFrancoFacts/126537/

I'm a fellow Comp Lit PhD applicant but only to UMass this year. I got into a 1-y grad program at Smith College through my UMass application last year and also took a grad course there this Fall. I saw on the results page that somebody got accepted on Friday... Needless to say, this freaks me out since I haven't heard anything and I saw the DGS on Thursday night. Should I send him an email to ask?

I also got this email! I was kinda surprised about it but I'm not going to send in an application. I've been rejected at all of my 6 universities at which I applied for a PhD in CompLit but I recently got accepted to a really nice (interdisciplinary) 1-y graduate program at Smith with funding. I just don't see the point of paying for a MA-degree which doesn't increase your PhD chances dramatically... Isn't this Draper program the NYU cashcow? Also, you would know really late if you're accepted or not, I wouldn't be able to bear so much insecurity. I think it's very strange that the deadline is July 1... You may wanna check the topics here on the University of Chicago's MAPH because I think that it's almost the same as the NYU program?

I'm waiting for news from UMass Amherst, does anyone know more?

Ugh. Rejection in my mailbox. Guess I'm not even a good fit to be a cash-cow....

I also didn't get an email from NYU CompLit... It makes me nervous!

My appl status at CompLit SUNY Stony Brook has changed to 'a decision has been mailed and/or emailed to you'. Since I haven't received an email from them, should I consider this as a rejection??

Heard anything back from her? I should email her too but I'm way too afraid to do so, she prob has bad news for me.

I got an email today! I did post it on the results page, as a few other have done.

My first rejection is a fact, Penn State. Really liked that one though, but I kinda feel relieved because I finally heard something.