Fall 2025 Applicants

[Dontjumponthesword]

30 minutes ago, voxanonyma said:

Congratulations @Sisinnes! I was also invited to interview with them next week! I was surprised as I would have thought they'd send out the requests along with the ones for Classics. Very happy, and I hope you do great!

On another note, has anyone heard anything at all from Stanford or Chicago?

Nothing here still from Stanford or Chicago. I’ve been talking to some friends who also applied there and they haven’t heard anything either. Does anyone know when North Carolina usually sends out invited for interviews? 

[Spartan679]

5 hours ago, voxanonyma said:

Congratulations @Sisinnes! I was also invited to interview with them next week! I was surprised as I would have thought they'd send out the requests along with the ones for Classics. Very happy, and I hope you do great!

On another note, has anyone heard anything at all from Stanford or Chicago?

I know someone who interviewed at Chicago a few weeks ago. As for Stanford, I haven’t heard anything, but results for the Knight-Hennessy scholars come out tomorrow, so I expect interviews/decisions for Classics to follow suit shortly after since the application for KHS is shared with the program you are applying to.

I applied to 8 schools and 9 programs, including a few history programs, and have not heard back from any about an interview. It’s hard not to take the silence as a rejection and, at this point, I’ve already started looking for jobs for next year. On the bright side, at least I haven’t been formally rejected from anywhere yet.

[Unmoved Orpheus]

27 minutes ago, Spartan679 said:

I know someone who interviewed at Chicago a few weeks ago. As for Stanford, I haven’t heard anything, but results for the Knight-Hennessy scholars come out tomorrow, so I expect interviews/decisions for Classics to follow suit shortly after since the application for KHS is shared with the program you are applying to.

I applied to 8 schools and 9 programs, including a few history programs, and have not heard back from any about an interview. It’s hard not to take the silence as a rejection and, at this point, I’ve already started looking for jobs for next year. On the bright side, at least I haven’t been formally rejected from anywhere yet.

Thank you for the information! I deeply feel for you, and cannot help but looking for jobs as well. 

By the way, I was wondering if anyone has heard back from UNC? Thanks!

[Silsmh]

10 hours ago, Unmoved Orpheus said:

Thank you for the information! I deeply feel for you, and cannot help but looking for jobs as well. 

By the way, I was wondering if anyone has heard back from UNC? Thanks!

Hi there, I haven't heard from UNC yet! I'm also waiting to hear from UVA, Uni of Washington, and Wisconsin. 

[alexandradelaurentiis]

@Sisinnes what program did you apply for at Columbia may I ask? 

[voxanonyma]

20 hours ago, Spartan679 said:

I know someone who interviewed at Chicago a few weeks ago. As for Stanford, I haven’t heard anything, but results for the Knight-Hennessy scholars come out tomorrow, so I expect interviews/decisions for Classics to follow suit shortly after since the application for KHS is shared with the program you are applying to.

I applied to 8 schools and 9 programs, including a few history programs, and have not heard back from any about an interview. It’s hard not to take the silence as a rejection and, at this point, I’ve already started looking for jobs for next year. On the bright side, at least I haven’t been formally rejected from anywhere yet.

Thank you for the info on Stanford. And I'm so sorry you haven't heard anything back. While I feel there's still time to see if things change, I also agree with your proactive decision about looking for jobs. That's what I had to do three years ago. I'm not trying to spin it as a positive, but you can bounce back and be stronger in the next season - if that is something you are considering. At the same time, I understand the decision not to as well: I started this whole cycle off saying it would be my last, and I still mean that, but I also personally know people who were out for a decade teaching or doing something else but managed to successfully come back. Either way, I empathize with you and @Unmoved Orpheus greatly and know how difficult it is (at least generally: I am not trying to equate my experience to your own).

[Sisinnes]

On 1/29/2025 at 11:29 AM, alexandradelaurentiis said:

@Sisinnes what program did you apply for at Columbia may I ask? 

I applied for the interdepartmental Classical Studies program

[Imphoteppie]

On 2/1/2025 at 4:44 AM, Sisinnes said:

I applied for the interdepartmental Classical Studies program

Hey! How did your interview go? Who was in your panel? What kind of questions did they ask? 

[Dontjumponthesword]

On 1/28/2025 at 4:35 PM, voxanonyma said:

Congratulations @Sisinnes! I was also invited to interview with them next week! I was surprised as I would have thought they'd send out the requests along with the ones for Classics. Very happy, and I hope you do great!

On another note, has anyone heard anything at all from Stanford or Chicago?

I haven’t heard anything from Stanford, but I wasn’t accepted for Chicago, but was instead referred and recommended to their MA program this year. So I guess that’s a win! 

[Unmoved Orpheus]

On 1/29/2025 at 6:57 PM, voxanonyma said:

Thank you for the info on Stanford. And I'm so sorry you haven't heard anything back. While I feel there's still time to see if things change, I also agree with your proactive decision about looking for jobs. That's what I had to do three years ago. I'm not trying to spin it as a positive, but you can bounce back and be stronger in the next season - if that is something you are considering. At the same time, I understand the decision not to as well: I started this whole cycle off saying it would be my last, and I still mean that, but I also personally know people who were out for a decade teaching or doing something else but managed to successfully come back. Either way, I empathize with you and @Unmoved Orpheus greatly and know how difficult it is (at least generally: I am not trying to equate my experience to your own).

Thank you for this incredibly kind message! May I seek some suggestions on how to strengthen the application material during gap months, eg., what sort of jobs/activities would be helpful for future applications? Thank you!

[voxanonyma]

On 1/28/2025 at 10:54 PM, Unmoved Orpheus said:

Thank you for the information! I deeply feel for you, and cannot help but looking for jobs as well. 

By the way, I was wondering if anyone has heard back from UNC? Thanks!

I did hear from UNC earlier this week. Waitlisted, was not interviewed. I withdrew from consideration by them, as I was admitted to Cornell and don't feel I would accept at UNC over them for several reasons. I hope you and @Silsmh heard good news!

@Unmoved Orpheus I have a few thoughts.

Sometimes admissions committee members will give you feedback on your application if you ask what you could do to improve for future cycles. I for instance was told two or three years ago by one reviewer that he 'didn't get much' out of my original writing sample (in a totally different field so it made sense; I had no Classics paper of any length to provide), which told me I'd need to put together a more relevant paper. So you could solicit feedback respectfully and use that advice to guide future applications, though consider too that in many cases they will not provide such feedback (for whatever reason).

If you are in the US, many people work jobs teaching Latin (more rarely Greek) in local secondary schools while waiting to reapply, as it keeps them involved in relevant work and more teaching experience is always a helpful factor (though I myself have not taught). Sometimes you can get a temporary/part-time position at a local college as an instructor if you're lucky by sending out CVs, but that is much rarer in my experience. Depending on where you live, I've also known people to volunteer or work at local museums or archives as guides, materials/historical researchers, etc. as well.

Staying connected in the field with your past recommenders and working in some capacity that relates to it helps, but you could also work in an unrelated area, as I did for a year, while drafting a new writing sample, getting feedback from a prior mentor or another qualified person on it, and trying to read a few more Latin/Greek texts to add to a works read list (which I personally recommend always including as an additional application material, even if they don't request it, as it gives them a sense of where you're at with the languages: just a bulleted summary of everything you've read in the original along with the sections if not the whole work).

Keep in mind too that it's also not necessarily a matter of your application not being strong enough or you not being qualified; it may be more that the work the faculty are experts in/pursuing/excited about didn't match with what you wish to work on, which obviously varies from place to place; I have been told by an advisor in the past that his program (a very prestigious American institution) frequently will reject people who are totally qualified if their research interests don't align at least peripherally with any faculty member, as they feel it's irresponsible to admit someone whom they know they can't advise. So e.g., if you want to work on Pindar, but their only literature scholar focuses on silver age Latin, it may not be the best fit. For this I'd recommend not only checking faculty pages (which can be horribly outdated) but their CVs, as their publications can tell you a lot more about whether someone has had past experience with a topic, as even if they aren't presently focusing on it, that doesn't preclude them being interested in it any further.

Those are some initial thoughts I had but I'm happy to give more specific advice here or via PM.

Edited February 10 by voxanonyma
grammar

[Spartan679]

FYI Stanford decisions have been posted

[doingmybest123]

Does anyone have any advice for coping with the constant rejections? It's getting pretty hard.

[plethora]

5 hours ago, doingmybest123 said:

Does anyone have any advice for coping with the constant rejections? It's getting pretty hard.

I would echo the forward-looking advice by voxanonyma and just add that it's a tough numbers game. A prof at a top program (Harvard/Yale/Princeton) told me that this year they got 150 applications for 4 spots. And I doubt they will need to go deep into their waitlist, if at all. Assume that the majority of those applications satisfy the basic requirements in languages and other preparation; assume that the majority of those have glowing recommendations, great stats, etc. I truly think it comes down to program fit and some intangibles, as well as the brutal fact that there are simply not enough spots for the number of qualified applicants. I know all the generic rejection letters say this (and I've gotten my share of them), and it can be painful to hear and to accept, but it is sadly the truth. In any given year, the top programs could fill their cohorts several times over with qualified applicants.

The good news is that there absolutely are strategies to improve one's application and to apply to programs with a good fit, as noted by other posters.

I'm mostly a lurker but wanted to post to hopefully help with the coping and looking to the future!

[MatildaMedievalist]

6 hours ago, doingmybest123 said:

Does anyone have any advice for coping with the constant rejections? It's getting pretty hard.

For one, rejections are never the end. It's cliche, but they really are redirections. Whether they redirect you to reapply with new research interests in a year, or they redirect you onto a career path you can't imagine right now. I thought my world ended when I was rejected everywhere in 2022. Now, I've shifted subfields and love the program I'm in. (Therapy and antidepressants definitely also helped, tbh...)

For two, as others have said, it really is not a reflection on your work, and it's certainly not a reflection on you. There are just so many qualified people out there, and there is so much luck involved. Unfortunately, Fortuna is real. You're competing against someone whose advisor helped push your POI's car when they ran out of gas at the SCS. You're competing against someone who's been studying Greek since elementary school. You're competing against someone who, by chance, got to present a paper in front of an Ivy League DGS in January. There is too much outside your control to ever consider this a reflection on your application. 

More importantly, we, as human beings, are so much more than our research, so don't ever think a rejection from a school is a rejection of you as a person. You are good. You are smart. You are valuable. All these things mean a lot more than being good at the weird-ass genre that is a SOP.

I sincerely hope this helps. I will also say, anyone on here should feel free to PM me if they end up needing to reapply (which I hope you don't). I don't promise I know how to get you into a program, but I promise I'll help you any way I can, because I've been there, and I wish someone had helped me. 

And if you ever feel too bad, channel the audacity of your favorite ancient author. Like, honestly, the Romans kept fighting after Cannae, which is one of the more insane decisions in the history of the universe. You can keep going after this  

[clodiametelli]

17 hours ago, doingmybest123 said:

Does anyone have any advice for coping with the constant rejections? It's getting pretty hard.

I hear you, and am struggling with anticipated rejections right now (I know they are coming) and the anxiety that I will come up empty handed this go round. And right now, the thought of doing it again feels horrible, and I'm not sure I have it in me at the moment. But if we find ourselves in that position, that doesn't mean the end of pursuing this path. My plan right now is to give myself some grace and time to grieve/process feelings, then regroup and figure out next steps. 

Definitely keep reminding yourself that none of this has to do with you or your abilities. The odds are incredibly stacked against us. There are very few slots open, and many incredibly talented candidates. I am sure that you are awesome and your work is fantastic. Rejections don't change that fact. It just means the random stars didn't align this time. I can't offer much more than these words and positive energy into the universe right now, but I genuinely wish you all the best through this and am more than willing to listen if you ever need to vent. To anyone here, just PM if you want to talk. 

[canyoudigit]

Only school I've heard back from so far is Arizona.  Applied for their Anthropology program (Mediterranean Archaeology) but they don't have funding for any archaeology positions.  I've instead been asked if I would be willing to join their MA program which is in the Classics department.  It is pretty well funded and includes tuition remissions.  Struggling with the future decision since I do already have a masters.  But I also know that if I don't get into a PhD program, this will be my only opportunity to stay in the field.🫠

[voxanonyma]

I heard from Yale's DGS today with an unofficial offer! I am so overjoyed and completely stunned. I've been celebrating with my family all day since I got the news this morning. I am so grateful. I know people say that, but I truly mean it. I've been up late at night and thinking every morning in the past weeks about how incredible this would be, to have this opportunity, and I am just overwhelmed that it has actually happened. I've cried a lot of tears in this past month, but they are finally happy ones. The absolute best luck to all of you still waiting to hear!

[clodiametelli]

21 hours ago, canyoudigit said:

Only school I've heard back from so far is Arizona.  Applied for their Anthropology program (Mediterranean Archaeology) but they don't have funding for any archaeology positions.  I've instead been asked if I would be willing to join their MA program which is in the Classics department.  It is pretty well funded and includes tuition remissions.  Struggling with the future decision since I do already have a masters.  But I also know that if I don't get into a PhD program, this will be my only opportunity to stay in the field.🫠

Which programs are you still waiting to hear back from? I know that I won't hear any potential acceptances until March, and the waiting has been rough so far. I'm hoping you wind up having options to choose from and get to make the decision that feels best for you. 

[Unmoved Orpheus]

12 hours ago, voxanonyma said:

I heard from Yale's DGS today with an unofficial offer! I am so overjoyed and completely stunned. I've been celebrating with my family all day since I got the news this morning. I am so grateful. I know people say that, but I truly mean it. I've been up late at night and thinking every morning in the past weeks about how incredible this would be, to have this opportunity, and I am just overwhelmed that it has actually happened. I've cried a lot of tears in this past month, but they are finally happy ones. The absolute best luck to all of you still waiting to hear!

Congratulations!!! I am so proud of you! 

[alexandradelaurentiis]

On 2/14/2025 at 1:48 AM, voxanonyma said:

I heard from Yale's DGS today with an unofficial offer! I am so overjoyed and completely stunned. I've been celebrating with my family all day since I got the news this morning. I am so grateful. I know people say that, but I truly mean it. I've been up late at night and thinking every morning in the past weeks about how incredible this would be, to have this opportunity, and I am just overwhelmed that it has actually happened. I've cried a lot of tears in this past month, but they are finally happy ones. The absolute best luck to all of you still waiting to hear!

Congrats! Are you thinking of accepting or are you deciding between some other offers too?

[voxanonyma]

On 2/15/2025 at 11:15 AM, alexandradelaurentiis said:

Congrats! Are you thinking of accepting or are you deciding between some other offers too?

I will almost certainly accept at Yale if Harvard does not offer me a position off of their waitlist, which obviously depends on a lot of factors and takes time unfortunately. I am visiting them next month, and I am hoping that at least one of their admits will prefer to accept at another institution, as they are my top choice, followed by Yale and then Michigan (also waitlisted) based on the work I want to do. But I won't complain if they don't given the opportunity I now have.

[Caeciliusestpater]

Is there anyone else who still has not heard anything from Yale (big congrats to those who got in btw!!!)? I didn't get an interview or anything, so I am not expecting any sort of good news. Will the rest of us likely get our notices over the next few days? Sometimes, I wish schools would let us know all at once... Would love to know if there are others in the same boat as me though!

[clodiametelli]

8 hours ago, Caeciliusestpater said:

Is there anyone else who still has not heard anything from Yale (big congrats to those who got in btw!!!)? I didn't get an interview or anything, so I am not expecting any sort of good news. Will the rest of us likely get our notices over the next few days? Sometimes, I wish schools would let us know all at once... Would love to know if there are others in the same boat as me though!

I did get my Yale rejection, but I'm in the same boat with Columbia I think. No interview, but no rejection even though it looks like they did send some out yesterday. I don't expect any outcome other than rejection, and I am not sure why they are not sending them all at once. 

[alexandradelaurentiis]

On 2/19/2025 at 11:14 AM, clodiametelli said:

I did get my Yale rejection, but I'm in the same boat with Columbia I think. No interview, but no rejection even though it looks like they did send some out yesterday. I don't expect any outcome other than rejection, and I am not sure why they are not sending them all at once. 

I'm in the same exact position with Columbia