I know there is a results page but...

[jprmacdonald]

Anyone heard any news?

I'll volunteer first: I've been waitlisted for funding at U Chicago..due to the current economic crisis.

It's good to be acknowledged to sort-of merit something...and honestly, I really hope this means U-Washington will make me an offer, since that is the program I want to study in the most.

I hope things are going well for everyone who checks this forum; I have no one besides you all to share the ups and downs of this process with.

[veilside]

I've applied to a variety of departments since I am ancient history, so some classics departments and some history departments and this is what I have found out from placing some calls:

UChicago (History): They received 431 applicants for history, 12 in the ancient field. They have made all their decisions and letters will be sent out sometime next week. They said that due to the economy they admitted far fewer than normal applicants and that they even are doing waitlisting this year, they said that they normally do not waitlist.

Harvard (History): Received over 500 applications for history, 20 in the ancient field. Still looking at applications as of Feb. 13th. IUpon a phone call to the graduate director, they are still reviewing applications BUT... rejections have alreadu gone out. Well, the first wave anyways. If you have heard noting from Harvard as of Feb. 17, then you at least made it to round two!! I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Princeton (Classics): They received over 120 applications, and will offer admission to about 8-12. They, as of Feb 13th, have finished their process, and notifications will go out first week of March.

Penn State (History): Jenn Gilbert, the graduate director is very rude there, so no information. And if history repeats itself then people will find out from Penn State as late as April 20th. Unfortunately this is my safety school and I will most likely here from them last.

UNC-Chapel Hill (History): Very friendly staff there by the way. The department received 436 applications, 11 in the field of ancient. They will be able to offer admission to 2, maybe 3 in the field of ancient. Again, as in the case of UChicago, they will be doing waitlisting this year due to the poor economy. They, as of Feb. 13th, are still reviewing applications, and final decisions are not due from the department to the graduate school until March 15. So... this is probably a late notifying school. Expect to hear in the last weeks of March.

UPenn (Classics-PAW): Decisions available online. I was rejected.

[semper_ubi_sub_ubi]

I'll bite. Here's my list:

Stanford -- accepted with full funding (!!!!)

Berkeley -- accepted, wait-listed for funding

Yale -- interview

Princeton -- interview

Michigan -- invited to Prospective's Weekend (which they claim has no bearing on the outcome of the application -- ???)

UCLA -- interview

I'm still waiting to hear from Harvard and Columbia. I think Harvard usually notifies at the end of the month, and I think Columbia may have already notified. I have a friend at Columbia who says the University has instituted a 10% reduction in grad. admissions across the board. Also, apparently the rise in interviews being offered (as opposed to straight-up admits/waitlists/rejects) is unusual, and maybe a sign of things to come.

Yale is completing interviews by Feb. 28, so hopefully they will send out final notifications to everybody shortly afterwards. Princeton will finish around March 4, with notifications following shortly thereafter. For what it's worth, I know UCLA offered visits to 8 people, with the expectation of making 4 funded offers. Yale is interviewing 17 for 9 admits (not sure if those are all funded). That's all I've got.

[dudgeonmaster]

excellent results semper ubi! all i have so far is a rejection from berkeley. apparently i had next to no chance from the very beginning as international students cost considerably more to fund than domestic at UC schools, and funding cuts have made the situation much worse.

[dudgeonmaster]

By the way, semper ubi. Did you call directly to the department chairs? I would like a bit more information myself but don't want to irritate them.

[semper_ubi_sub_ubi]

I haven't made any direct contact with DGSes -- except in the cases of those who have contacted me. My info on Harvard and Columbia comes from secondary sources; otherwise I'm just operating under assumptions (and the experience acquired from applying last year). I reported whatever numbers were listed in emails or disclosed in conversations I've had (via email) with DGSes at various schools. Dates are the same way. Hope this helps!

[veilside]

Semper ubi...

First of all congrats on all the positive news for you!

This is my first time around applying to grad programs, and am unsure about something. You mentioned that you applied to the Classics Dept. at Princeton, as have I (PAW for Ancient History), and were contacted for an interview.... If one has not been contacted, does this mean that they do not stand a chance? Or is an interview more for those that they just want to find out more about since they may not be a good fit, yet are very strong? I mean, obviously if they want to interview you, it is good, but does any grad school not contacting you mean that you going to be told no? Thanks.

[semper_ubi_sub_ubi]

RE: Princeton

"Interview" may be a bit of a misnomer; I think the email pitched it as "the next step in the process," whereas Yale explicitly identified the visit as an interview. If you haven't heard from Princeton yet, I wouldn't count yourself out entirely just yet since there is always the wait-list. If you were not contacted for an interview, however, you are probably not going to receive a straight acceptance at this point (but by no means should you take my word on this -- the whole application process, in spite of enduring it for two years, is still a complete mystery to me). Still, not all programs are doing interviews, and not all programs are done notifying; no news can be excruciating to bear, but until you have a rejection in hand, you are still an active applicant.

So don't lose hope yet! And if you don't like your options this year, I think it is well worth applying again next year (even if it seems unfathomable at this point). I took a big risk last year turning down a fully funded position at a mid-tier Ph.D. program, and I have not regretted that decision for one second. You will only be a stronger candidate next year -- and a more savvy applicant.

Good luck!

[furferox]

I applied to Chicago, Toronto, Brown, UT Austin, Stanford, Michigan, and UCSB for Classics and York University for Ancient History. I haven't heard back from anyone. :?:

[classicallynot]

classical arch

I haven't heard anything from anyone

Though I'm pretty sure I can mark stanford off my list, as I believe they have already notified the acceptances

I applied to Stanford (classics), UPenn (AAMW), Brown (joukowsky), Michigan (IPCAA), Buffalo (classics), and Cincinnati (classics).

I'll take any news at this point I just want something

[semele]

I applied to seven programs: Upenn (Classics), Columbia (Classical Studies), Princeton (Classics), Yale (Classics), NYU (Classics), Harvard (Classics), and the CUNY Graduate Center (Classics).

Haven't heard anything from the first six, but was invited to visit CUNY. I suppose it's doubtful at this point that I'll hear anything good from either Princeton or Yale.

[elizabeth]

Semper_ubi - if you don't mind sharing, when did you hear about Berkeley funding (and which program are you in)? I'm in Classics, and my acceptance email said that my funding offer wouldn't be nailed down until early March. I haven't heard anything since, although I have a friend who's been admitted to Berkeley's Ancient History program and offered funding already. Just wondering whether it's time to start freaking out!

[rwmooses]

Elizabeth,

If you don't mind my asking, what sort of funding package were you offered by Washington University in St. Louis? I was offered full tuition, but told that I'd have to wait until the end of February for word on further funding.

[elizabeth]

I was offered tuition + an "instructional assistantship" for one year - I emailed the graduate director, who said that more funding was "very likely" to be forthcoming (good news for us both!), but they were still working on the details.

[jprmacdonald]

Semper congrats, those are fantastic results either way.

Has anybody heard from U Washington? That's my top choice and I recently discovered that on the website it lists my transcripts as "not yet received..."

A little bit disturbing, especially since it seems Brown already sent out its first round, and I have heard nothing either way from them.

Oh well...good luck!

[elizabeth]

Has anybody heard from U Washington? That's my top choice and I recently discovered that on the website it lists my transcripts as "not yet received..."

It says that for my transcripts too - I don't think it's been updated since December. :/

[semper_ubi_sub_ubi]

Semper_ubi - if you don't mind sharing, when did you hear about Berkeley funding (and which program are you in)? I'm in Classics, and my acceptance email said that my funding offer wouldn't be nailed down until early March. I haven't heard anything since, although I have a friend who's been admitted to Berkeley's Ancient History program and offered funding already. Just wondering whether it's time to start freaking out!

I am still on the wait list for funding at Berkeley. I was told that it was very likely that funding would open up, but that I may have to wait until April to hear about a funding package. I know that California schools are being hit hard by the economic crisis, so I would just sit tight and wait. Remember, no decisions need to be made until April 15.

[jprmacdonald]

Elizabeth - good to hear; I emailed the department and they said its all set, the grad dept didnt update the file or something.

[Inez]

Elizabeth and JP:

I also applied to University of Washington and my transcripts haven't been updated either. Good luck guys! Was the acceptance posting today either of you?

[jprmacdonald]

Not me, congrats to whomever did receive admission...I'm certainly jealous (but also kinda hoping that the mail from Seattle to Boston takes a bit longer than usual)

[Inez]

Anyone hearing any good news? I am dreading March!!

[dudgeonmaster]

i have been offered a place to do a PhD at University College London, and also won the competition for a research scholarship from the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council - full tuition and an amazing stipend for all 3 years!!! i'm so excited! also, i'm already planning a year as a visiting doctoral researcher at the Sorbonne in 2k10. it's all come together! best of luck to all those who haven't heard yet, and congrats to those who have already found a place.