dazedandbemused

I'm heading to Boston College to do my MA in English and I'll definitely be needing a roommate (or roommates) this fall. After looking at the rent and utilities in the area, I'm beginning to seriously doubt my ability to live alone

I feel you on this. Sometimes I come on here and read about people doing things I've bever even been exposed to, like disability studies, and I lose hope. I'm into queer theory, and where I come from, that's some avant garde shit. Which is why I'm going to spend the next two years of my masters reading EVERYTHING. Unfortunately, the retail price of everything is extremely high, so I'm not sure how I'm going to make this work. Hopefully I make it out of the other end

I was thinking totally in terms of literature PhDs; probably should have mentioned that

If we're talking fiction writing here, I can't think of a single reason why you would do a PhD. Critical writing, on the other hand, is probably why we're all here.

I did this, too. I carried it around with me and freaked out over the littlest details, but it definitely got me to properly consider whether I really wanted to apply to some schools and I ended up editing it significantly. I'm sure the same will be happening for the fall 2014 cycle when I start my quest to the PhD again. In fact, I've already started a tentative list even though I've got at least a year and a half of a master's degree between me and then. Obsessions!

I would LOVE to go to this just for fun. Does everyone get an equal grab at the swag? Coming from a completely unranked Midwestern school, I know nothing about these conferences.

Haha, that's what I get for typing too fast.

I'm with Phil Sparrow on this one; I don't know if that email is going to get you the best response. But user_name, I like you're idea. I think my application fee earned me, at the very least, a rejection letter! Also, on paper and addressed to me, not "Dear Applicant".

Alas, I have already given Carnegie Mellon my no I just couldn't stomach the idea of doing a one year MA and then having to apply again in 5-6 months. Too much. I'm almost positive I'll be going to Boston College at this point, but I'm definitely keeping this Pittsburgh thing as an option. I do love good old PA.

I'm in the same boat as you. I called them and they told me that the application was looked at, but they absolutely refused to give me any info either through phone or email. So yeah, I'm calling it a rejection.

Sigh. I've decided to go to BC, but I didn't get offered the funding. Hopefully someone will give theirs up and it will trickle down to me.

I'd love to hear some strategies, too. Turns out I'm also not going to be getting off of a PhD waitlist But I'm not giving up hope. This is my first app cycle and I don't even have an MA yet, so I've definitely got room to improve. The DGS at my waitlist school was really nice, but the email telling me I wasn't getting accepted was strangely clinical and impersonal, especially compared to all previous communications. I don't know how to respond with an inquiry about strengthening my app next time around. Any suggestions?

No, it's not something you have to pay for. It's a fellowship and comes with tuition remission and stipend. I've got other options, but they're unpaid, so I wouldn't mind the chance to take classes without the costs.

Yeah, I thought it was random too. I mean, why that bridge specifically? Weird.

Yay! I'm so excited for you I've been thinking happy thoughts in your direction the last few days.

So, I applied to Pittsburgh and got rejected, but they advised me to apply to the above mentioned program. It's not a degree program, it's post-BA, but it comes with a stipend and you get to take classes with the grad students in the department. They said it's to increase your chance of getting into a PhD, plus it's an initiative to increase diversity. Have any of you guys either heard of or participated in it? I didn't even know these kinds of programs existed!

Who did you email for your status? I just really want to know!

Yeah, this waiting is turning me into a crazy person, and I didn't even have a hope of getting off of a waitlist until Thursday. I had basically resigned myself to unfunded MA work, and now I just might get in to a PhD! I can't even imagine if I'd been waiting to hear from these people for a month or more! You guys have got serious fortitude. I don't think I'm going to get any sleep for the next few days. Luckily, the DGS said I should know for sure by Wednesday

Yeah, I was just going to ask you if you'd heard anything back yet. Do you know when final decisions are coming out? Fingers crossed for you! UT-Austin, right?

Nobody else out there? Just me? OK... *walks back to lonely corner*

I'm just curious if anyone out there is going to Buffalo. I just found out that I'm sooo close to getting off of the waitlist for the PhD, but I'm probably going to go for the MA if that doesn't work out. Anyone else attending?

No I didn't. Like I said, I made my decision based entirely on automatic aversion. I mean, I sat on it for about a month, but I don't know that I ever seriously considered going there. Not really a technique I would recommend, but there it is

It's funny you say that about Maryland; that was my impression, too. I didn't accept their offer because I frankly was offended by their mode of offering it. I applied for the PhD and got accepted to the MA but it was basically a "you can come here, I guess" kind of acceptance. Maybe making life decisions based off of gut reactions isn't the best, but there you go. Plus the letter was completely riddled with spelling errors!

I agree; I feel like I'm totally off-putting to my friends at this point. It's like I can't think or talk about anything else!

If anyone's still interested, I was just told that everyone should be hearing by the end of this week. I'm of course assuming that they mean us poor rejected people, but there could still be hope.