Roundup

[LLajax]

Is early March fairly typical for hearing back from programs? A curatorial assistant position opened up recently at the museum where I work part-time, and so I'm worried on how long I can stall on applying to the job.... just in case grad school decisions don't go the way I'd like them to.

Depends on your programs. Best way to check is by going over the the results page and searching your programs. Admittedly, I have spent countless hours doing this for my programs and can tell you about the ones I've looked up/obsessed over:

For the programs that do interviews: Duke and UMich have typically invited people for their open house/interview weekend in the last week of January/first week of February. Columbia's invite for the open house went out on Feb. 11th last year. NB: there's always a person who posts an acceptance who didn't get invited to the interview/open house, so don't worry!

For PhD programs (the MA decisions seem to all go out in March, but then again, I could have overlooked something):

Duke= 1st week of March

UMich= late Feb-mid March (rejects went out first, acceptances and waitlists came out later, in March)

Columbia= 1st week of March

Brown= end of February

UVA= late Feb- March

Yale= accept mid-Feb, reject mid-March

Harvard= mid-March

Clearly applying to grad school isn't helping my obsessive-compulsive tendencies AT ALL. I apologize to all the people who are much calmer than I am (and who are now thinking, "Hey, will you get your OCD stress/neuroticism off my BB!" These are all just culled from the results page, but if you want me to look up your program, I totallly will. If you've heard anything to the contrary, let me know!

[once]

Heh yeah I get the sense that they send these emails to preempt neurotic applicants from frantically calling to make sure their online apps went through

And congrats on the shortlist!

I got a strange one that said that my application had been sent to the department but that I shouldn't assume that my application was complete. Uh, what?

And hang tight, everyone!

[Hegel's Bagels]

Ahhhhhhh!!! I just finished all my applications! Admittedly, waiting to send in that last one on the deadline day, but whatever! I'm finished! Finished! I probably won't be able to sleep until March is over but at least I feel some sense of relief that this part of the process is over. Now if only my thesis would finish itself....

[Guest Amon-Ra]

Me too! Hopkins?

[Hegel's Bagels]

Me too! Hopkins?

Haha yes...thank God for those reminder emails. I thought tomorrow was the 16th!

[tendaysleft]

I got a strange one that said that my application had been sent to the department but that I shouldn't assume that my application was complete. Uh, what?

And hang tight, everyone!

Wow, that's probably the least helpful and most nerve-wracking email you could receive! Maybe it means that even though they've received your online app, it's not also a confirmation that they have your GRE score, transcripts, etc?

I finished my last three (!) apps on Sunday. It just occurred to me that it will have been a month from tomorrow that I sent in my first application. Ah! I hadn't actually thought concretely about a bunch of professors sitting around scrutinizing my crappy essays; the idea of the "adcom" was so abstract to me before!

[Guest mckee002]

I have a question about McGill: Do they have a direct PhD program? Or is it a program in which I have to obtain a masters then reapply for the PhD? Thanks.

[Hegel's Bagels]

I hadn't actually thought concretely about a bunch of professors sitting around scrutinizing my crappy essays

Well, not to make your anxiety worse, but I heard from my adviser that there is hardly any scrutinizing. Most professors just skim through the writing samples...I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing. At least two of my adcomms probably won't notice the word I left out in my final sentence (the absence of which has rendered the sentence completely nonsensical)?

[Guest Amon-Ra]

Well, not to make your anxiety worse, but I heard from my adviser that there is hardly any scrutinizing. Most professors just skim through the writing samples...I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing. At least two of my adcomms probably won't notice the word I left out in my final sentence (the absence of which has rendered the sentence completely nonsensical)?

I messed up an entire sentence in my final paragraph. Are we, by any chance, the same person? Wishing us both luck with JH...

[Hegel's Bagels]

I messed up an entire sentence in my final paragraph. Are we, by any chance, the same person? Wishing us both luck with JH...

Good luck to you as well! What's your field of interest?

[NaturallyAesthetic]

Hello all!

I have applied to 6 programs (3 MAs with the intention of pursuing the doctorate and 3 doctoral programs) and I am incredibly anxious! I am taking a triple major in studio art, art history, and environmental studies, and my research at the graduate level will focus on American architecture and material culture of the 19^th, 20^th, and 21^st Centuries. I am particularly interested in global material disparity and visual homogenization and how the two relate.

Art History, to me at least, is a means of activism. I hope to historicize contemporary design trends in architecture (big box stores) and agriculture (large scale industrialized farming operations) and thus draw attention to the cultural, economic, and environmental damage that is being wrought.

I've finished all my apps and am only now realizing the extent of my ambition. Yale, Harvard, Columbia, University of Chicago, University of Iowa, and University of Minnesota - yikes.

So yes!

Aside from thinking about the intersection of culture and environment, I make art! A lot of it! I am currently working on my senior show, and I've exhibited my work about 15 or so times during my undergraduate career! And music! I make a lot of that, too.

Any other musicians or artists out there? Anyone else applying to the same programs?

Good luck to you all! I look forward to reading of your progress!

[NaturallyAesthetic]

Ahhhhhhh!!! I just finished all my applications! Admittedly, waiting to send in that last one on the deadline day, but whatever! I'm finished! Finished! I probably won't be able to sleep until March is over but at least I feel some sense of relief that this part of the process is over. Now if only my thesis would finish itself....

I feel the SAME WAY! My BA thesis is a contracted combination of two disparate fields, and I'm kind of freaking out about hunting down primary source documents in musty local archives and creating a comprehensive tree catalog and writing about all of it within the next two months.

We'll both get through this, and be the better scholar for it!

[once]

Hello all!

I have applied to 6 programs (3 MAs with the intention of pursuing the doctorate and 3 doctoral programs) and I am incredibly anxious! I am taking a triple major in studio art, art history, and environmental studies, and my research at the graduate level will focus on American architecture and material culture of the 19^th, 20^th, and 21^st Centuries. I am particularly interested in global material disparity and visual homogenization and how the two relate.

Art History, to me at least, is a means of activism. I hope to historicize contemporary design trends in architecture (big box stores) and agriculture (large scale industrialized farming operations) and thus draw attention to the cultural, economic, and environmental damage that is being wrought.

I've finished all my apps and am only now realizing the extent of my ambition. Yale, Harvard, Columbia, University of Chicago, University of Iowa, and University of Minnesota - yikes.

Oh, another modern architecture person- exciting! I'm not applying to any of the schools on your list but I'm applying to the same number (six). Good luck!

[Hicks]

I am an artist also. I've applied to a couple of the same schools that you are. For me, I've never really seen my art and historical studies as different ventures they are two sides of the same coin that inform each other. I'm in a bit different situation though. I've actually been out and teaching in college for five years but I've wanted to move more toward my art historical work which requires I get the PhD. My interests are also unique, though very different that yours. I'm interested in the connection between modern/contemporary art and religion. Try finding a POI with those interests! Not and easy thing.

[NaturallyAesthetic]

THAT'S AWESOME, Hicks! What medium do you work in?! I've been considering doing a dual MA/MFA for studio and art history, but I am a little weary of trying to juggle multiple departments.

[Hicks]

You can check out my website. The thing I liked about Pratt was that the two departments have a good relationship and there are a lot of students who do the joint degree.

[Guest Amon-Ra]

Good luck to you as well! What's your field of interest?

A bit earlier than yours. Oh well, guess we aren't...

(PM me if you'd like more detail.)

[Hegel's Bagels]

So, in my unhealthy and ludicrous desire to foretell the date of my admission responses, I've been combing through the AH archives trying to piece together some sort of timeline. While I have not unlocked some sort of prescient knowledge, I have grown incredibly jealous of the rapport amongst fellow AH gradcafers in the previous years. What is going on 2012????? Where is the comraderie, the angst, and the uninhibitedness as we steadily approach the best or worst news of our lives? I think maybe now that our forum is more populated we're a little bit too nervous to divulge too much information? I guess that's understandable, but I think as long we don't start hating on specific scholars or transmitting entire sections of our theses, a little bit of info wouldn't hurt? Maybe it would help?

That being said, I thought I'd break the ice and let you all know that my top two choices are Penn and Yale. If I were to be accepted to those schools I'd probably wouldn't be able to attend because I'd be dead from the happiness. Every morning when I wake up I feel a huge churning in my stomach because I know I'm just getting closer to Feb, which is when these top programs generally send out their acceptances. I also check my inbox/spam box like it's nobody's business.

So come on all you posters and lurkers....where are you dying to get into? What are your fears (besides the obvious), anxieties, dreams? I'm assuming everybody else is spazzing out everytime someone posts on the results page?

[LLajax]

So, in my unhealthy and ludicrous desire to foretell the date of my admission responses, I've been combing through the AH archives trying to piece together some sort of timeline. While I have not unlocked some sort of prescient knowledge, I have grown incredibly jealous of the rapport amongst fellow AH gradcafers in the previous years. What is going on 2012????? Where is the comraderie, the angst, and the uninhibitedness as we steadily approach the best or worst news of our lives? I think maybe now that our forum is more populated we're a little bit too nervous to divulge too much information? I guess that's understandable, but I think as long we don't start hating on specific scholars or transmitting entire sections of our theses, a little bit of info wouldn't hurt? Maybe it would help?

That being said, I thought I'd break the ice and let you all know that my top two choices are Penn and Yale. If I were to be accepted to those schools I'd probably wouldn't be able to attend because I'd be dead from the happiness. Every morning when I wake up I feel a huge churning in my stomach because I know I'm just getting closer to Feb, which is when these top programs generally send out their acceptances. I also check my inbox/spam box like it's nobody's business.

So come on all you posters and lurkers....where are you dying to get into? What are your fears (besides the obvious), anxieties, dreams? I'm assuming everybody else is spazzing out everytime someone posts on the results page?

Haha, I defected to the lit/english board because I like their comraderie (and they're too nice to throw me out!). In other words, I totally agree Artofdescribing! We can be comrades, even if there are only two of us.

As for me, I'd sell all my non-essential internal organs to get into Brown. Or Duke. But seriously, I would totally lose it if I heard back happy things from them. There would be jubilant shouting and jumping up and down, followed by my brain exploding, then more happy noises and jumping.

Its all I can do to not check the results page every single waking moment of every day. I have to try and hold out ("wait ten minutues....or finish 5 pages of reading...then you can look!"). Wake up in the morning, force myself to read the BBC news headlines, then I can go look at the results page. I have also obsessively tried to construct some sort of timeline (i've got everything mapped out on my phone calendar). I keep checking my imaginary timeline and counting down the days til my perceived doom- it cannot be healthy.

Obviously, my fears and anxieties center around not getting admitted anyplace and having to pick up the shattered pieces of my hopes and dreams (ok, hyperbole, but you know what I mean) and figure out "what am I going to do?!". Dream: get in to any of the shcools I applied to, finish off my undergraduate studies, move to new city, begin life as grad student- yay!

[Hegel's Bagels]

Its all I can do to not check the results page every single waking moment of every day. I have to try and hold out ("wait ten minutues....or finish 5 pages of reading...then you can look!"). Wake up in the morning, force myself to read the BBC news headlines, then I can go look at the results page. I have also obsessively tried to construct some sort of timeline (i've got everything mapped out on my phone calendar). I keep checking my imaginary timeline and counting down the days til my perceived doom

Replace BBC with NPR and that is exactly my life! I downloaded the Firefox add-on Leechblocker and blocked this website between 10 am - 7 pm during the week so I can work on my thesis. Of course, I inevitably end up checking the results page anyway on my Iphone...*shakes fist at self*

And oooo Duke! Bruzelius is wonderful!! :-) You're a medievalist if I remember correctly, yes?

Edited January 23, 2012 by artofdescribing

[Hegel's Bagels]

Also, in keeping with my plea for more of a 'share info and commiserate' atmosphere on this forum, I updated my signature to reflect the schools I'm waiting on, etc. Maybe we could all do the same? I'm surprised fullofpink hasn't suggested it yet! S/he has put forward the idea successfully in the past :-)

[Hicks]

I would love to have the camaraderie here. My situation is a little different and older looking at going back for my PhD. But, that doesn't mean I'm not also obsessive. I just have to balance it with teaching and a family. Also, I'm in a situation where I am both applying to jobs and PhD programs...though my personal choice is PhD my wife would probably prefer a job. It is a crazy time in my life but I am getting more anxious. As for top choices...I'm actually not 100% sure. Yale has been my dream for a while. After that I'm not sure. GTU has actually been on my mind a lot. Really, I'm just trying not to emotionally invest until I start finding out where I get accepted.

[NaturallyAesthetic]

I am also freaking out! However, my freak outs tend to mingle with obsessive compulsiveness. Subsequently, my apartment is really organized, and I've applied to countless jobs (everything ranging from coffee shops to DNR grunt work, as well as a lot of museum jobs) to give myself alternatives if every school I applied to is all "Oh hey, yeah, about your application - you're not quite good enough, sorry."

I too am a BBC/NPR addict! I particularly like the BBC's coverage of American politics.

In terms of top choices, it's really between University of Iowa and Yale.

U of I has strong research happening that coincides with my interests well AND I want to focus on the American Midwest so it makes sense to, you know, stay in the Midwest. The professors I want to work with the most took time to speak with me in detail about their program, which was wonderful!

Because of my background in studio art, the facilities of Iowa are very attractive! The departments have a good relationship and I would love to continue creating and exhibiting. Additionally, my significant other is about two years away from completing a doctoral program at U of Iowa, though I'm trying not to let that influence this process too much - perhaps in vain.

Yale is Yale, obviously, but their material culture program is top notch, and my experience with the faculty has been extremely positive.

So yes! Jitters, sleepless nights, excitement, fear - it's all colliding and coalescing!

[once]

I think maybe now that our forum is more populated we're a little bit too nervous to divulge too much information?

Dead on! I don't think there are that many other applicants with my research interests and although I haven't (and wouldn't) post anything that would reflect negatively on me, I'm still nervous.

As for being nervous about applications.. I think I'm actually less nervous than I was applying to undergrad. I can't think of anything substantial that I could have improved upon (well, except my SOP.. but after five/six/seven revisions I was just DONE) so I'm pretty secure just waiting to see where the chips fall.

If I could give anything to all of you it would be confidence. After lurking around here (and the Comp Lit forum too- they do have a nice community going!) I see a lot of people saying they aren't going to get in anywhere or that xyz should have been better/stronger/higher. But- just my opinion- if you're passionate about something, if you couldn't imagine yourself happy doing anything else, then somehow everything will work itself out. Optimism = the greatest weapon we have at our disposal during this waiting period.

Also, have any of you ever had people ask you what you're going to do with a degree in art history? I get this question all the time and I think I've come up with a pretty badass answer.

[LLajax]

And oooo Duke! Bruzelius is wonderful!! :-) You're a medievalist if I remember correctly, yes?

Yep, a medievalist! I want to work with Bruzelius soooo much- I've heard tons of nice things about her (from real people, besides research-stalking).