Last minute waitlist miracles, anyone?

[PhdWannabee]

And a question: since the program has strung me along this far, do you all think I can ask for a consolation prize? Like a coupon to cover my application fee next year? Wouldn't that be a hoot?

[swissmiss]

Congrats to those of you bumped up off watilists. Regrets to those who have not. There's always next year, and a waitlist is a heartening thing. Think of it like those old computer certificates you used to get for being "the most versatile fullback" in soccer in first grade. It may not be a trophy, but you're on the right path. I am still unable to join either the jubiliation group or the disappointed group, which seems really weird. Maybe the next day or so? The longer it goes, the more likely they chickened out and sent a form rejection letter.

Best of luck to those still floating in the breeze .

PhD Wannabe, I feel your pain.... I just want this to be over already so I can make a decision or know where I'm gonna be next year!

[StrangeLight]

Thanks. I e-mailed two NYU professors last night and one of them told the DGS. The DGS e-mailed me this morning telling me that everyone had responded and they're not taking anyone off the waitlist. But he did offer me the MA... My thought was, "DGS, read my CV." I don't need two MAs in same subject! (Also this department is notorious for not taking their own MA students which is why I did NOT apply there for the MA when I knew it was my ultimate goal to get a PhD there).

Closing my books and then going on a long vacation from the academia! But as others have said I will be back given these contacts with NYU and Indiana allowing me to keep my faith in the admissions process.

tickle, i'm really sorry to hear that you didn't get off the waitlist. you definitely deserve to be in a PhD program. i'm sure you've thought this many times, but you're really a square peg/round hole sort of student. as much as the cutting edge departments like to say they love transnational work, when they're building their cohorts, they still lump people as americanists, europeanists, africanists, asianists, and latin americanists. if i recall correctly, i think you applied to most programs as technically a US historian, even though you're working on the US, latin america, and europe.

it reminds me of a friend of mine (currently in an MA program) that got shut out of PhD admissions a year ago. she studies asian migration to the US, applied as a US historian to work with the specialists that study asian migration (they were classified as US historians as well). she applied to 1 school out of 10 as an asianist and got the strongest response from them. i tend to believe that, had she applied everywhere as an asianist, an offer would've come through. US history and western european history are really saturated fields, and regardless of your profile, if they can find a reason to cut an applicant, such as "well, this isn't really US history proper," then they will. migration and transnational history seem to get a stronger reception in world, altantic, african diaspora, and caribbean history. outside of those fields, the embrace of the transnational really seems to vary with individual scholars.

i hope you have better luck in the next round.

[peppermint.beatnik]

Congrats to those of you bumped up off watilists. Regrets to those who have not. There's always next year, and a waitlist is a heartening thing. Think of it like those old computer certificates you used to get for being "the most versatile fullback" in soccer in first grade. It may not be a trophy, but you're on the right path. I am still unable to join either the jubiliation group or the disappointed group, which seems really weird. Maybe the next day or so? The longer it goes, the more likely they chickened out and sent a form rejection letter.

Best of luck to those still floating in the breeze .

I'm in this position too-still waiting.

[Jillybean]

Hey Everyone,

Saw this thread and felt the need to add that Yes, miracles DO happen! At the beginning of this week, I got a phone call offering me admission to a program- my #1 choice, (w/tuition remission and funding) which rejected me in march... Apparently, they got additional funding and decided to make me an offer....

Ironically, I had already drafted an email accepting another offer, and was planning to review it and send it that evening! Talk about timing! lol

So, sometimes life really does throw you a curve ball.... best of luck to all!

[VampireLincoln]

Sorry to hear that things did not work out with Chicago. Are you attending Wisconsin?

No, Wisconsin didn't offer any funding (not even any tuition remission!). I will be exploring other possibilities over the next year...I may reapply in the fall, but it's not really looking that way now. I think if I can find a job that I don't totally loathe, I'll be OK not doing grad school right now. Maybe later in life.

[mindfulgrad]

This one is too crazy not to mention.

While in the town of my back-up choice school. ( I was preparing to visit and sign the papers the next day). I get an email from the DGS at my first choice school offering me full tuition, fellowship and fees off the waitlist. Immediately after the sun rose and the seas parted.

[Jae B.]

This one is too crazy not to mention.

While in the town of my back-up choice school. ( I was preparing to visit and sign the papers the next day). I get an email from the DGS at my first choice school offering me full tuition, fellowship and fees off the waitlist. Immediately after the sun rose and the seas parted.

I love this story and the way you wrote it. Too awesome.