2021 Application Thread

[QuarantineQuail]

15 minutes ago, scarletwitch said:

Best of luck with getting off the waitlist for Harvard! You should be very proud for getting that far. So I guess it is safe to assume they’ve notified the 6 applications they’ve accepted? Was a long shot anyway. I think Yale for sure will be next week and Princeton either next week or the following week! V nervous!

That's probably a safe bet. I put in a Harvard app, too. But I've not heard anything either way yet.

[werdnerd]

3 minutes ago, scarletwitch said:

Congrats! Cornell looks like a great school and Ithaca is beautiful. I applied for Government there actually due to a good fit with some POIs in the dept. I’m so nervous about decisions these next few weeks and am not feeling overly optimistic at this point despite having positive responses back from professors when I emailed them back in August. I’m hoping that at least one US school pulls through!

Thanks! And congrats on your acceptances to Edinburgh and Cambridge so far! I'm sure you'll shake out okay in the end. I only applied to three programs this year (given the oddities of the cycle and the moment in which we find ourselves) and I've been living in that dubious/not-at-all-optimistic place since submission. My sense is that February will be the magic month for most programs. But fingers crossed everyone finds out soon! As a CA native, I can confirm that the UCs are fantastic institutions. Wishing you luck!

[beorn1968]

I just had a Notre Dame history rejection yesterday, but that was expected. First year back in a very long time in the phd application process and for covid issues could not submit GREs. Guess they would not budge on the issue. I was applying to American studies at Harvard, had a great chat with  POI in October.  When they cancelled the 2021 admissions cycle I rapidly shifted gears to applying  to Harvard history. Bracing myself. My final  history app is Northwestern. Has anybody heard anything? I'm also applying in religious studies at Yale and UVA. Have had some good email contact. What a year. Admissions are an Olympic blood sport this cycle.  Always remember that whatever the results, it has nothing to do with our abilities or what we are capable of. Good luck and solidarity everyone!

Edited January 30, 2021 by beorn1968

[coffeehum]

3 hours ago, beorn1968 said:

I just had a Notre Dame history rejection yesterday, but that was expected. First year back in a very long time in the phd application process and for covid issues could not submit GREs. Guess they would not budge on the issue. I was applying to American studies at Harvard, had a great chat with  POI in October.  When they cancelled the 2021 admissions cycle I rapidly shifted gears to applying  to Harvard history. Bracing myself. My final  history app is Northwestern. Has anybody heard anything? I'm also applying in religious studies at Yale and UVA. Have had some good email contact. What a year. Admissions are an Olympic blood sport this cycle.  Always remember that whatever the results, it has nothing to do with our abilities or what we are capable of. Good luck and solidarity everyone!

Sorry about the rejection, wishing you all the best with the rest of your apps! I heard Northwestern will be taking far fewer students than normal--maybe half the cohort size as usual. I don't think results will be out for a few more weeks, unfortunately.

[cheshire]

6 hours ago, flowersandcoffee said:

Hi! That was me with the waitlist. I realised the email wasn’t from an administrator but rather the DGS. The email said that only 6 people were offered a spot and congratulated me on the waitlist spot...not sure how I feel about it. I’ve also applied to Oxbridge. I have a spot at Cambridge but yet to hear about funding. I have a feeling Yale Princeton and Harvard will release results next week...

Congratulations on waitlist. It's indeed a remarkable journey considering they are taking in only 6 people. I haven't heard anything from anyone since I applied. I had a chat with my POI way back, before the admission cycle. At this point I am fairly certain Harvard is off the table for me.

 

Good luck to everyone!

[Dayzz]

8 hours ago, werdnerd said:

Thanks! And congrats on your acceptances to Edinburgh and Cambridge so far! I'm sure you'll shake out okay in the end. I only applied to three programs this year (given the oddities of the cycle and the moment in which we find ourselves) and I've been living in that dubious/not-at-all-optimistic place since submission. My sense is that February will be the magic month for most programs. But fingers crossed everyone finds out soon! As a CA native, I can confirm that the UCs are fantastic institutions. Wishing you luck!

CA native and ONLY applied to schools in CA so I wouldn't leave! 

 

 

[Dayzz]

2nd rejection tonight and from USC's American Studies program. My remaining programs are all now in history so whichever school rejects me next will actually hurt... 2nd time around applying (first time was in 2014) and was determined in applying last year before COVID happened. Figured I should push through and try again next year if needed. Good luck, everyone!!!!

 

[Maguire]

12 hours ago, werdnerd said:

Thanks! And congrats on your acceptances to Edinburgh and Cambridge so far! I'm sure you'll shake out okay in the end. I only applied to three programs this year (given the oddities of the cycle and the moment in which we find ourselves) and I've been living in that dubious/not-at-all-optimistic place since submission. My sense is that February will be the magic month for most programs. But fingers crossed everyone finds out soon! As a CA native, I can confirm that the UCs are fantastic institutions. Wishing you luck!

Thanks! Yeah, I'm definitely hoping to be able to go back to the US as both me and my mom are very keen to repatriate after living in the UK for most of the last 20 years (minus 2 years abroad in Asia). I think you are right about February being the 'magic month' - I think even starting next week quite a few of the places I've applied to will start getting back. Based on past results and confirmations from others that acceptances will be going out this week I think most likely we'll hear back from - Yale, Vanderbilt, Emory, Duke, Berkeley, UIUC, and potentially Wisconsin-Madison, Chicago & Princeton. 

Edited January 30, 2021 by scarletwitch

[Mathology]

7 hours ago, coffeehum said:

Sorry about the rejection, wishing you all the best with the rest of your apps! I heard Northwestern will be taking far fewer students than normal--maybe half the cohort size as usual. I don't think results will be out for a few more weeks, unfortunately.

Concerning Northwestern, I emailed my POI few days ago, and he stated that decisions will be out in a week (next week).

[Maguire]

Just a quick question for anyone who has communicated with their POIs the last few weeks - did they contact you or did you send them an email? I'm assuming it is the former. I'd like to communicate with one POI who I've kept in touch with just to check in but I also don't want to send them an email if that is not the proper etiquette at this delicate time. 

[Boarskin]

Does anyone have news from the University of Washington?

Edited January 30, 2021 by Boarskin

[LtotheOG]

3 hours ago, scarletwitch said:

Just a quick question for anyone who has communicated with their POIs the last few weeks - did they contact you or did you send them an email? I'm assuming it is the former. I'd like to communicate with one POI who I've kept in touch with just to check in but I also don't want to send them an email if that is not the proper etiquette at this delicate time. 

I have been speaking to my POIs on and off throughout Jan, and cannot imagine this being a problem. It is a delicate time true, but I do not surmise our reaching out would make a difference one way or the other.

in fact, i can think of one reason to do so: consistency. I can also think of a reason not to: impatience. So I’d probably ask myself, do I want a potential show of consistency more than hate being a potential nuisance? 

so while I do not think it is consequential, whether or not we make contact is entirely up to us!

Hope this helps, and all my best!

[LtotheOG]

I have also posted this elsewhere:

Can a single negative LOR (amongst 3 or 4) ruin your chances for good?

Pls excuse the long story.

I was already pursuing a phd in History at nyu from 2019. A year later (during the height of the pandemic in NY), my department and my advisor declared me unfit with the discipline of History, and recommended that I withdrew. I have historically been a student of Literature (in Eng), having completed both my bachelor’s and my master’s in it.

I subsequently redirected my energy and resources towards securing a PhD position in Lit. Unfortunately for me, all the places I applied to this cycle kinda demanded that I supplied them with at least one LOR from the last school I attended. And it turned out that nobody but my former advisor eventually decided to help me with the recommendation. (Initially she was reluctant, but she proved quite prompt at the end). 

However, I have good reason not to trust her given our history, and now I’ve had my first rejection from a program I thought was a good fit. 

I would really appreciate any thoughts you cared to share on this. Thank you!

[Maguire]

7 minutes ago, LtotheOG said:

I have been speaking to my POIs on and off throughout Jan, and cannot imagine this being a problem. It is a delicate time true, but I do not surmise our reaching out would make a difference one way or the other.

in fact, i can think of one reason to do so: consistency. I can also think of a reason not to: impatience. So I’d probably ask myself, do I want a potential show of consistency more than hate being a potential nuisance? 

so while I do not think it is consequential, whether or not we make contact is entirely up to us!

Hope this helps, and all my best!

Thanks - this is useful. I reckon since I expect to hear back from the program re admissions decisions this week, I'll give it a wait and hope that they reach out. I guess if haven't heard anything by later in the week I may send them an email but I reckon the decisions are going out early next week based on previous results and intel from another applicant.  

Sorry to hear about your recommendations issue - I hope all works out alright in the end. I haven't read any of my recommendation letters but know that the professors are hoping for my success for several reasons so am guessing they have wrote good letters. 

Also - love your icon picture!  

Edited January 30, 2021 by scarletwitch

[LtotheOG]

8 minutes ago, scarletwitch said:

Thanks - this is useful. I reckon since I expect to hear back from the program re admissions decisions this week, I'll give it a wait and hope that they reach out. I guess if haven't heard anything by later in the week I may send them an email but I reckon the decisions are going out early next week based on previous results and intel from another applicant.  

Sorry to hear about your recommendations issue - I hope all works out alright in the end. I haven't read any of my recommendation letters but know that the professors are hoping for my success for several reasons so am guessing they have wrote good letters. 

Also - love your icon picture!  

Thank you, @scarletwitch! I love my picture too! Haha

Yes, I too would probably wait this week especially if I had not spoken earlier this month.

I am certain things will work out in your favour! Keep the faith!

Edited January 30, 2021 by LtotheOG

[Thucydides34]

Re: Harvard – On the one hand, I feel like someone would have posted in the results forum by now if the accepted students were notified, so maybe the acceptances have not gone out yet, or at least not all of them (if it falls to one's POI to reach out before official notifications). On the other hand, it seems unlikely that waitlisted people would be notified by the DGS but not the accepted students. Guess we'll find out soon either way. 

 

[LtotheOG]

28 minutes ago, Thucydides34 said:

Re: Harvard – On the one hand, I feel like someone would have posted in the results forum by now if the accepted students were notified, so maybe the acceptances have not gone out yet, or at least not all of them (if it falls to one's POI to reach out before official notifications). On the other hand, it seems unlikely that waitlisted people would be notified by the DGS but not the accepted students. Guess we'll find out soon either way. 

 

I can say from what I know, POIs often reach out with acceptances in advance. (Did so in my case)

Formal acceptances follow. And people would usually post “Accepted” on Results often after being informed by their respective POIs first. 

Good luck!

[Maguire]

Just checked the survey and see results from Northwestern and Vanderbilt - very nervous now! Anyone claiming the Vanderbilt admit? (Also this is making me wonder if I should contact my POI there for clarity or just wait it out?) 

[LtotheOG]

6 minutes ago, scarletwitch said:

Just checked the survey and see results from Northwestern and Vanderbilt - very nervous now! Anyone claiming the Vanderbilt admit? (Also this is making me wonder if I should contact my POI there for clarity or just wait it out?) 

Results on a Sat? Wow! (Do if you must!) ?

[beorn1968]

38 minutes ago, scarletwitch said:

Just checked the survey and see results from Northwestern and Vanderbilt - very nervous now! Anyone claiming the Vanderbilt admit? (Also this is making me wonder if I should contact my POI there for clarity or just wait it out?) 

Yeah  got a  Northwestern rejection, it  hurt. really wanted to work with the POI there. he is a legend. feeling much more doomed now then 10 minutes ago lol. along with LtotheOG I'm wondering if my previous phd traumatic  experience, 13 years ago, is haunting me. wonder if there is any way i can find out. congrats to any acceptances and solidarity

[TagRendar]

I legit just signed up for the forums based on the last reply after lurking for a little while.

I, too, just got a dreaded rejection from Northwestern and it stings like mad.  I'm going to be reaching out on Monday to see if I can get any insight into the reasons for the rejection, but I suspect that I already know the answers: smaller incoming cohort and no exact fit with professors currently available to mentor Ph.D students.

That makes two rejections for me (I was the one that reached out to Loyola Chicago and found out that they were only taking two Ph.D students this year) with two still pending (UIC and U Chicago).  Crossing fingers but trying to steel myself for the possibility of having to do this all again next year when this non-traditional student is a year older.

[Maguire]

1 hour ago, LtotheOG said:

Results on a Sat? Wow! (Do if you must!) ?

I know, it seems so strange! by the looks of it, northwestern is dumping all of their decisions today. I feel kind of bummed about not applying for history there but for ages I thought they were not going ahead with applications this cycle due to communication with POIs who suggested it may not be. I think I'm just going to leave it with contacting my Vanderbilt prof since it is the weekend after all (even if it isn't to northwestern!) and hope for the best with decisions this week! my anxiety is through the roof now ?

[LtotheOG]

1 minute ago, scarletwitch said:

I know, it seems so strange! by the looks of it, northwestern is dumping all of their decisions today. I feel kind of bummed about not applying for history there but for ages I thought they were not going ahead with applications this cycle due to communication with POIs who suggested it may not be. I think I'm just going to leave it with contacting my Vanderbilt prof since it is the weekend after all (even if it isn't to northwestern!) and hope for the best with decisions this week! my anxiety is through the roof now ?

Reaching out should help!

[LtotheOG]

32 minutes ago, beorn1968 said:

Yeah  got a  Northwestern rejection, it  hurt. really wanted to work with the POI there. he is a legend. feeling much more doomed now then 10 minutes ago lol. along with LtotheOG I'm wondering if my previous phd traumatic  experience, 13 years ago, is haunting me. wonder if there is any way i can find out. congrats to any acceptances and solidarity

I am sorry, @beorn1968! (Benjamin is god, btw)

but I know it’ll be fine.

And all my best on the pending!

[TagRendar]

2 minutes ago, scarletwitch said:

I know, it seems so strange! by the looks of it, northwestern is dumping all of their decisions today. I feel kind of bummed about not applying for history there but for ages I thought they were not going ahead with applications this cycle due to communication with POIs who suggested it may not be. I think I'm just going to leave it with contacting my Vanderbilt prof since it is the weekend after all (even if it isn't to northwestern!) and hope for the best with decisions this week! my anxiety is through the roof now ?

I will say, 100% getting a response (even if it's not really anything of substance beyond learning when I might expect a response and that their cohort is going to be around what it's been in past cycles) from another program that I'd applied to helped to take the sting out of the Northwestern rejection.  A lot of professors themselves just weren't taking graduate students this cycle based on the guidance on the department website, so that might have been the source of what your POIs said in the first place.

Definitely with you on the anxiety factor. I'm older than most traditional potential PhD candidates and I'm switching my research interests from what they were when I was getting my MA (which had some trauma attached to it in the first place, as my thesis advisor died literally in the middle of my project--too deep into research to change gears but not 100% done, either), in part because I've matured as a researcher and scholar since then.  I'm worried that will be a point of difficulty but my professors have assured me that I've explained that in my SoP so it should be okay.