Fall 2014 applicants??

[Kamisha]

I wonder if Oregon is done reporting?

[shortstack51]

Someone already got accepted off the CUNY wait list

[pdh12]

I got an acceptance today from CUNY Binghamton for Comp Lit. I applied to the Phd and they put me in Master's. Know anything about the program or the department there??

[purpleperson]

Thanks :-)  It is only the first year stipend, because they have the first-years tutor only. After that it moves closer to a "typical" TA stipend. They do fund all their PhD students. The two fellowships they offered in conjunction with the stipend basically put their total package at the level that seems fairly common. However, they also lack funds for contributing to campus visits. She said that they could put me up with grad students, offer transportation, and cover meals... but not the flight. This is probably a deal-breaker for me, because flights are about $500 from my city, and their offer is the lowest I've received, so as long as I feel good about at least one of the other departments after visiting them, I can't imagine needing to drop another $500+ to get a feel for one more school (not to mention that I have a family, so it's important for me to spend a few hours cruising around on my own, looking at some pre-selected neighborhoods). One of my mentors did her PhD at Oregon, so I am waiting to run it by her before I decline, but I think I probably will, sooner rather than later, turn it down. My boys will be sad, since their best friends moved to Portland a couple of years ago. ;-)

 

I'm sure Oregon is doing the best it can by its Ph.D. students, stipend-wise.  I don't condemn the department or the school, just the concept of a low stipend!  That said, if I got in, I would consider going even with the low first-year pay.  I have other means of income, though, so it might be more do-able for me than most others. 

 

Anyway, sounds like you have lots of options!  I don't see any reason for you to visit Oregon, though, if they're pretty low on your list compared to other schools.

 

As far as schools paying for visits, I'd be happy if they could handle something -- like either my airfare, or put me up with a grad student so I don't have to pay hotel.  If they could do one or the other, I'd (probably) spring for whichever one they can't provide.  I'd try to, anyway.

 

Anyway, congrats again on Oregon (and to everyone else who got in there).  I actually applied to Oregon as well and haven't heard anything, so I'm assuming rejection (though I'm aware that one can still be surprised up until mid-March or so, depending on how a school's first offers and accepts/declines play out).  I feel pretty safe saying there's a 70% chance that I'm rejected, though. 

 

The good thing, though, is that I wasn't vying for Oregon.  It was/is in my bottom three out of thirteen. 

[Nyctophile]

I got in! I checked my spam box for the hell of it and the e-mail was in there!!

*kermit yay*!!!!

[AutzenDuck]

I went to Oregon for my undergrad =)

 

 

That is completely understandable. Oregon is my only acceptance, so far, which means I'm much more inclined to love it

 

[Katia_chan]

Just got accepted into UConn. What the heck spam folder!

 

Okay, it was always one of my fantasies that if I checked my spam folder, there would be an awesome acceptance in there.  But I never thought that actually happened.  Yall are living the dream--it's like finding a thousand dollars in a pants pocket.

[Kamisha]

How do I possibly stop myself from refreshing the results page over and over and over again? 

 

You can start by reading the single most entertaining (and saddening) thread to ever hit GradCafe: 

 

I see that a couple of you already discovered it. Let me tell you--you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get angry, you’ll feel your self esteem jump.

 

Just really, trust me. 

[desertrose]

Going through an implied break-up, and the implied rejection from Michigan is just breaking my heart even more. Is there a threshold for pain? If so, I have crossed it. I had such high hopes for both the relationship and Michigan. 

[Kamisha]

Going through an implied break-up, and the implied rejection from Michigan is just breaking my heart even more. Is there a threshold for pain? If so, I have crossed it. I had such high hopes for both the relationship and Michigan. 

 

Sending positive vibes your way

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

Going through an implied break-up, and the implied rejection from Michigan is just breaking my heart even more. Is there a threshold for pain? If so, I have crossed it. I had such high hopes for both the relationship and Michigan. 

 

You must be my twin somehow--I'm going through the exact same thing. Though, my relationship wasn't really serious, I think it's over. And, Michigan, oh Michigan, how you break my heart. 

[MedievalMadness]

You can start by reading the single most entertaining (and saddening) thread to ever hit GradCafe:

I see that a couple of you already discovered it. Let me tell you--you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get angry, you’ll feel your self esteem jump.

Just really, trust me.

What's so entertaining about this thread?

[Kamisha]

What's so entertaining about this thread?

 

It’s like watching a bad movie from the 1950s. It’s actually more like a train wreck; it’s painful, but you can’t look way. And it just goes on and on.

Edited February 20, 2014 by Kamisha

[gk210]

I flew up to Santa Cruz last night to visit my alma mater, visit my old professors/thank my old LOR writers. He told me very kindly, "Listen, I know this is tough but I'll just give it to you straight--you probably didn't get into the program. I'm sorry." I already figured that was going to happen. I went down to the UCSC Graduate Department and they told me since they started focusing a lot more on the Creative Writing PhD program, they were starting to take funding out of the Literature department to create spots for the PhD program. Pretty much I hear they were only focusing and accepting PhD students this year, and not really doling out MA spots. 

 

It sucks but I mean what can you do, right?

 

For those applying to the UCSC PhD program, they're starting to send out their offers this week. Just a heads up. And if you're applying for a Masters and you got in, congrats, because I hear they literally didn't have spots this year to offer. They are handing out offers to 15 applicants, btw. 

[MedievalMadness]

It’s like watching a bad movie from the 1950s.

Ah. I've been in a relationship for fourteen years, four of which have been married years...so I really can't relate to this. I find the whole notion in that thread to be a little backwards, but I feel largely out of touch with 'dating' and being single, so I try to not pass judgement. I take it you find it all very backwards too?

[Kamisha]

Ah. I've been in a relationship for fourteen years, four of which have been married years...so I really can't relate to this. I find the whole notion in that thread to be a little backwards, but I feel largely out of touch with 'dating' and being single, so I try to not pass judgement. I take it you find it all very backwards too?

 

I do find it backwards in a lot of ways (though I also understand the OP’s concerns). It’s more just the presentation of everyone’s argument that’s entertaining. 

[Kamisha]

I flew up to Santa Cruz last night to visit my alma mater, visit my old professors/thank my old LOR writers. He told me very kindly, "Listen, I know this is tough but I'll just give it to you straight--you probably didn't get into the program. I'm sorry." I already figured that was going to happen. I went down to the UCSC Graduate Department and they told me since they started focusing a lot more on the Creative Writing PhD program, they were starting to take funding out of the Literature department to create spots for the PhD program. Pretty much I hear they were only focusing and accepting PhD students this year, and not really doling out MA spots. 

 

It sucks but I mean what can you do, right?

 

For those applying to the UCSC PhD program, they're starting to send out their offers this week. Just a heads up. And if you're applying for a Masters and you got in, congrats, because I hear they literally didn't have spots this year to offer. They are handing out offers to 15 applicants, btw. 

 

I’m sorry Here’s to hoping you get accepted somewhere wonderful if you haven’t already. 

[gk210]

I’m sorry Here’s to hoping you get accepted somewhere wonderful if you haven’t already. 

Haha, thanks. But weirdly enough I don't feel that bothered. I feel like I should be more bummed but maybe just seeing old friends while I'm up here is helping me forget about how bad I should feel. Actually if anything I feel really relieved, you know? I don't know if that's weird. 

 

On the bright side, SJSU has been bugging me to apply for GA and TA positions. The grad program director has been contacting me and emailing me asking me if I've applied for it, because according to my records they think I'm a competitive applicant, and want me to apply for those positions. I sort of told them, "Hey what the heck, I haven't even been accepted yet," but they kept telling me to apply for it anyway.

 

I told my professor all of this today and he tells me that I should take that as a positive sign. His wife works in that grad department, so he tells me he's very familiar with the graduate application process at CSU's. He says the program wouldn't be doing that if they don't think the applicant has a chance to get in. He told me to not give up, and that there will be a silver lining. I don't want to count chickens before they're hatched, but I'm looking at their funding and they pay their TA/GA's quite handsomely. Sounds a lot better than a completely unfunded MA program if you ask me, which is what would happen if I were to attend UCSC. I mean I still don't know, and won't know if I got in until April/May (what SJSU told me) so we'll see what happens. It won't hurt to keep hoping I suppose.

 

I guess I'm just meaning to say, things will all work out in our favor at the end and shit's just meant to happen.

[shortstack51]

That thread is just ridiculous all around. The OP's discussion got more and more crazy, with her mentioning more and more outlandish things she would tell her therapist. There were theories that she was a troll. It was pretty entertaining, but also sad. It reminded me of the girls I went to undergrad with at a small catholic school. It shocked them that I (as a woman) would dare keep an occupation after having a child.

[MedievalMadness]

That thread is just ridiculous all around. The OP's discussion got more and more crazy, with her mentioning more and more outlandish things she would tell her therapist. There were theories that she was a troll. It was pretty entertaining, but also sad. It reminded me of the girls I went to undergrad with at a small catholic school. It shocked them that I (as a woman) would dare keep an occupation after having a child.

Oh, damn! I clearly did not read far enough through the thread!

[enchantedforest]

I flew up to Santa Cruz last night to visit my alma mater, visit my old professors/thank my old LOR writers. He told me very kindly, "Listen, I know this is tough but I'll just give it to you straight--you probably didn't get into the program. I'm sorry." I already figured that was going to happen. I went down to the UCSC Graduate Department and they told me since they started focusing a lot more on the Creative Writing PhD program, they were starting to take funding out of the Literature department to create spots for the PhD program. Pretty much I hear they were only focusing and accepting PhD students this year, and not really doling out MA spots. 

 

It sucks but I mean what can you do, right?

 

For those applying to the UCSC PhD program, they're starting to send out their offers this week. Just a heads up. And if you're applying for a Masters and you got in, congrats, because I hear they literally didn't have spots this year to offer. They are handing out offers to 15 applicants, btw. 

 

15 applicants! Does that include the PhD in Creative Writing? 

 

Thanks! And sorry about that, that does suck. 

[Strong Flat White]

If you liked reading that thread for entertainment value, I've been a big fan of this one: 

 

Our good friends in philosophy had one dfindley to contend with.  It's just...kind of awesome. Happy reading.

[andromache]

As someone who wants to focus on gender and feminist studies in contemporary culture and media, I feel like I could write an entire thesis on all the problems with nearly everyone in that marriage thread.

[Kamisha]

If you liked reading that thread for entertainment value, I've been a big fan of this one: 

 

Our good friends in philosophy had one dfindley to contend with.  It's just...kind of awesome. Happy reading.

 

Holy moly....I think we should set this dude up with the girl from the find a husband post. Can you imagine that relationship??

[Horb]

What thread is this? Dear god...