UT Austin

[HunkyDory]

Question: Does anyone know how many people were admitted to UT-Austin overall (i.e. - how big they want this year's cohort to be) for English? Also, when exactly is the admitted students weekend (don't want to go there to stalk or anything, but want to get an idea of when the waiting list people should start waiting for an E-mail/call)? I have seen something like April 7th, but want to be sure.

They sent an email about the recruitment weekend and CC'd 29 people on it. Assumedly those are all people offered admission, but there very well may be an administrative person from UT in there.

The Visitors days themselves are April 5/6. My guess is SXSW made it happen later than other schools.

Bear in mind though--29 offers of admission doesn't mean they necessarily want a class of 29 students. Many schools make more offers than the number of people they want, expecting maybe a third of them to go somewhere else.

Good luck to you though! UT is my only offer so far, and it looks like I'm going to be attending. But I'm not in even the remotely same field as you, so take comfort in that fact?

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

They sent an email about the recruitment weekend and CC'd 29 people on it. Assumedly those are all people offered admission, but there very well may be an administrative person from UT in there.

The Visitors days themselves are April 5/6. My guess is SXSW made it happen later than other schools.

Bear in mind though--29 offers of admission doesn't mean they necessarily want a class of 29 students. Many schools make more offers than the number of people they want, expecting maybe a third of them to go somewhere else.

Good luck to you though! UT is my only offer so far, and it looks like I'm going to be attending. But I'm not in even the remotely same field as you, so take comfort in that fact?

Thanks for the info, Dokkeynot! Holy smokes though, 29 people... I really hope the waitlist is smaller. GuateAmFeminist--I still believe we have this, but I am terrified Time for stress cooking!

[GuateAmfeminist]

@dokkeynot, thanks for the info and congrats on your acceptance. Hope we meet at UT-Austin *fingers crossed*

[WendyMoira]

They sent an email about the recruitment weekend and CC'd 29 people on it. Assumedly those are all people offered admission, but there very well may be an administrative person from UT in there.

The Visitors days themselves are April 5/6. My guess is SXSW made it happen later than other schools.

Bear in mind though--29 offers of admission doesn't mean they necessarily want a class of 29 students. Many schools make more offers than the number of people they want, expecting maybe a third of them to go somewhere else.

Good luck to you though! UT is my only offer so far, and it looks like I'm going to be attending. But I'm not in even the remotely same field as you, so take comfort in that fact?

I think that email had both English and rhet/comp. I remember hearing something like they made 20 offers, but I can't remember where. I could be entirely incorrect.

[Drit Sokoli]

Hey, I applied to MSc Structural Engineering, Fall 2012:

I am an international applicant. Have not heard anything yet from anyone... Anyone has any info regarding any  programs?

[GuateAmfeminist]

I would look at the board for the people in the sciences or look at the results survey to see if your schools have posted acceptances. This is for Literature/Rhetoric applicants so we don't really know what's going for Engineering applicants.

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

I think that email had both English and rhet/comp. I remember hearing something like they made 20 offers, but I can't remember where. I could be entirely incorrect.

Oh, that makes more sense. Even for a big school, 30 offers for only English PhDs would be insane! Sorry all, stress is turning me into paranoid person.

Drit--most programs have different timelines for getting back to people, so don't sweat yet just because the English and Rhet/Comp people heard back already! Check the results survey, it might help you out.

[KendraA]

Hi everyone, was anyone accepted to UT Austin's Rhet/comp? I'm a hopeful for fall 2013 and was wondering if anyone has any tips on applying! Thanks!

[bdon19]

Hi, friends. I've been a bit MIA from the forums lately, but I wanted to let you know that I just formally turned down my offer from Texas. Maybe one of you will be getting good news soon? I hope so! Texas is an amazing place. If only I could go to three schools at once!

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

Bdon, when I saw this board updated my heart stopped! I hope where ever you go, it's just as awesome as Texas. (Judging from your signature, it will be!)

[WendyMoira]

bdon, have you made a decision? I'm right smack halfway between UT-Austin and Indiana-Bloomington. Can't decide! Hoping the visit this weekend clears things up...

[bdon19]

bdon, have you made a decision? I'm right smack halfway between UT-Austin and Indiana-Bloomington. Can't decide! Hoping the visit this weekend clears things up...

I haven't officially confirmed my decision, but I'm 95% sure at this point I'm going with UNC. IU is fabulous, but I just fell completely in love with UNC. Unfortunately I won't be making it to the visit weekend at UT. The program is amazing, just not for me. And the funding package didn't even come close to comparing with the others, especially UNC. I'd be interested to hear how UT's visit goes, though!

[ComeBackZinc]

bdon, have you made a decision? I'm right smack halfway between UT-Austin and Indiana-Bloomington. Can't decide! Hoping the visit this weekend clears things up...

Both are wonderful schools and great, great departments. However, everyone associated with IU is an ignorant savage, so....

[WendyMoira]

hahaha. ComeBackZinc- I have heard this from not one but two of my recommenders, who both went to Purdue. Then they said to go to IU. On another note, do you know if Purdue is done notifying? Sorry if you've been asked this 424236 times. My SO is waiting to hear from them...

bdon, I know what you mean. At this point, I'm not in love with either school. We'll see if Austin is beguiling enough to make me turn down IU's much better funding... Good luck at UNC. Too bad I won't see you at either of the others. It's my personal goal to go to school with at least one GCer. Kidding. Sort of.

[bdon19]

bdon, I know what you mean. At this point, I'm not in love with either school. We'll see if Austin is beguiling enough to make me turn down IU's much better funding... Good luck at UNC. Too bad I won't see you at either of the others. It's my personal goal to go to school with at least one GCer. Kidding. Sort of.

Have you visited IU? I couldn't make it for the official visit day, but I was able to take a visit a few weeks ago. I did get a really great sense of the program and felt like I would have been really happy there. It just happened that UNC had all that and more to offer.

Side note: at both of my visit weekends I talked with fellow prospective students and current students about the insanity that is the GradCafe. Even if none of the regulars end up together, rest assured that just about everyone has been on here at some point or another.

[WendyMoira]

Yeah, I went for the visiting weekend. It rained the whole time and I was pretty sick...soo...some of my impressions of the actual place were colored by that. Overall, though, campus was stunning, people were really friendly, and I felt like studying there would be really productive. I was iffy about funding. Then I returned home, and they offered a top-up fellowship. So, all in all, a pretty good choice. I'm also focused on Victorianism, which I'd kind of IU's "thing."

But then, Texas hasn't had their say... And I hear great things.

[ComeBackZinc]

hahaha. ComeBackZinc- I have heard this from not one but two of my recommenders, who both went to Purdue. Then they said to go to IU. On another note, do you know if Purdue is done notifying? Sorry if you've been asked this 424236 times. My SO is waiting to hear from them...

No insider info, sorry. I do know that people are still coming to visit, which means that they could turn down their offers and open up funding lines. Considering what happens to unclaimed lines, I imagine this period is as stressful for the department as it is for applicants.

[marlowe]

Yeah, I went for the visiting weekend. It rained the whole time and I was pretty sick...soo...some of my impressions of the actual place were colored by that. Overall, though, campus was stunning, people were really friendly, and I felt like studying there would be really productive. I was iffy about funding. Then I returned home, and they offered a top-up fellowship. So, all in all, a pretty good choice. I'm also focused on Victorianism, which I'd kind of IU's "thing."

But then, Texas hasn't had their say... And I hear great things.

I'll see you this weekend. So many decisions. One of my other offers keeps sending me emails with mad incentives; they must be getting lots of declines.

[WendyMoira]

Marlowe- looking forward to meeting in person. What other school, if you don't mind sharing?

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

I know this is a little premature, but if someone doesn't mind, could you PM me your impressions of the faculty/cohort atmosphere after visiting weekend? I would really appreciate it! Also, I hope you all enjoy the visit, and see a few of those mythical white squirrels!

[GuateAmfeminist]

How was the visit to UT-A, admittees?

[HunkyDory]

I thought the visit was great--only PhD offer so I'm definitely going.

[WendyMoira]

Visit was great. The department seems really collaborative and relaxed. Motivated people that obviously have fun doing what they do. In fact, the department head mentioned "fun" several times. The professors I met with actually really knew my application and had suggestions for how I would fit in with the department, which was reassuring and exciting. I believed their suggestions since they seemed to have put so much thought into them. I'm still on the fence, but leaning toward Texas. At this point, for me, it's not about the schools so much as about what kind of scholar I want to be.

[antecedent]

Visit was great. The department seems really collaborative and relaxed. Motivated people that obviously have fun doing what they do. In fact, the department head mentioned "fun" several times. The professors I met with actually really knew my application and had suggestions for how I would fit in with the department, which was reassuring and exciting. I believed their suggestions since they seemed to have put so much thought into them.

Oh, sorry, I was drooling. *wipes off keyboard*

Seriously, Aeplo, you have three great options. I'll be back hounding these boards in a years time prepping for my second PhD run in hopes of a similar outcome. Congrats again

[ophelia9]

aeplo, I could not agree with you more. UT wasn't even really on my radar until the visit weekend, which changed everything for me. I'd done a couple other visit weekends and, while everyone was perfectly nice and friendly, at UT they seemed to have actually taken the time to familiarize themselves with my application and interests, and they were able to speak about how I, specifically, would have a great time there - not just how some generic student might fit into the department. I've been getting a lot of pressure from my advisors to choose one of my other schools, but I think my mind is pretty much made up for Texas. It's like you said -- I think I really do want to be the kind of scholar UT produces, even if that means giving up some of the prestige (and even maybe some of the placement opportunities). I want to have fun! And to be in a place where people are enjoying themselves! Is that so crazy? And I was also impressed by how UT seems to be so dedicated to equipping its students for successful careers, whatever that career looks like -- like every other humanities grad student out there, I already know that my chances of getting a tenure-track job are extraordinarily slim. It's what I'm aiming for still, but if that doesn't work out for me, I want to know that I have other options and that there is nothing shameful about pursuing them.

Forgive my slightly inebriated ramblings! I'm battling my advisors at the moment over the decision, so I'd love hearing people's impressions of the visit/school.

Edited April 11, 2012 by ophelia9