Fall 2015 Applicants

[Josh J.]

Sorry mate ! How did the Baylor interview go though? I am pretty sure I had a dream after a drunken last night where Baylor was mentioned somewhere. Assuming that is a sign from the alcohol gods that you nailed it.

The interview went really well. I have a good feeling about it, but we'll see. They are only taking two people total, and they interviewed five. They also have an internal candidate.

I feel a lot better about the program now that I am here. They are bumping their stipends up by $2k next year, adding health insurance to the funding package, and so far they've never had an admit that didn't get a university fellowship with extra $.

Edited February 28, 2015 by Josh J.

[Gambaosaka1]

The interview went really well. I have a good feeling about it, but we'll see. They are only taking two people total, and they interviewed five. They also have an internal candidate.

I feel a lot better about the program now that I am here. They are bumping their stipends up by $2k next year, adding health insurance to the funding package, and so far they've never had an admit that didn't get a university fellowship with extra $.

 

That's great! Sounds like a great program, I think you're in. Update us as soon as you know (which might be when-ish?).

 

Although Vanderbilt would also be great.

Edited February 28, 2015 by Gambaosaka1

[ashiepoo72]

So glad the interview went well for you, Josh! Hoping you get positive news soon!

[HistoryMystery]

Yeah, I'm assuming I'm rejected from all the ones I haven't heard back from yet but was wondering when they finally get around to confirming that. Or does Cornell admin assume the 1% not knowing is part of the fun of applying?

 

From the results page I guess most rejections/waitlist emails go out next week.

 

It's not over till it's over. Remember that the amount of prospective grad students who use gradcafe is probably a small percentage. I see on the results page that there have been several acceptances and rejections sent out by Cornell over the past week. You could easily double those numbers based on how many Cornell applicants don't use this site. Thus if you haven't been rejected yet, that's probably a sign to at least hold onto some hope.

 

For all you know you might just have a slow POI who hasn't had the time to notify you. Based on reading all the stories on the Waiting It Out forum, there's several folks who have been accepted when it looked like schools had already accepted everyone, so until you get a definitive response, hold your head up high. You've already gotten into two great programs so Cornell is definitely in your stratosphere.

Edited February 28, 2015 by HistoryMystery

[jayray11]

Where on the status page? Mine just says application submitted. Not under review or anything. Is it the same portal you used to apply?

 

Under GSAS Application it lists Application Status (Submitted), Your Recommenders and their status, and then I have a new line that says "Decision Status: Available beginning 2/23/2015" with a link below that says Your application decision is now available online. It takes you to the letter.

[czesc]

Hey guys - I'm always sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but downvoting it is not a way to incentivize people in programs already to keep you informed either way. 

[Gambaosaka1]

Hey guys - I'm always sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but downvoting it is not a way to incentivize people in programs already to keep you informed either way. 

 

If you were referring to me: sorry, I thought I upvoted you! Didn't mean to sound annoyed with you at all...apologies if it came off that way.

[Oliveur]

For what it's worth, my POI at Cornell informs me that all decisions will be made available by mid-March. Though obviously if you were to be admitted you would probably know sooner than that.

[Josh J.]

That's great! Sounds like a great program, I think you're in. Update us as soon as you know (which might be when-ish?).

 

Although Vanderbilt would also be great.

 

 

So glad the interview went well for you, Josh! Hoping you get positive news soon!

 

Thanks!  I am hopeful that I will receive a slot, but I am trying not to get my hopes up too much. I should know by next Friday about whether or not I receive an offer or am waitlisted.  Should also know about funding on Friday as well.

[HistoryMystery]

For what it's worth, my POI at Cornell informs me that all decisions will be made available by mid-March. Though obviously if you were to be admitted you would probably know sooner than that.

 

Thanks for the info. What sub-field is your POI associated with?

[ToomuchLes]

Completely off-topic

 

What do you call a book composed of entirely primary sources? Years back, I bought a book with copied reproductions of speeches, letters and journal entries made by Lajos Kossuth, a Hungarian-revolutionist that came to the US in 1850. I guess an equivalent to this "book" would be "Our Word is our Weapon" by Subcommandate Marcos, which has most of his speeches, and writings compiled into a single book.

 

Heres the amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Our-Word-Weapon-Selected-Writings/dp/158322663X

 

 

EDIT: The difference between Marcos' "book" and the one I have about Kossuth is that Marcos' book was published. The Kossuth "book" was never published, and has no cover (its entirely black). I dont know if my description is helpful X.X

Edited March 1, 2015 by LeventeL

[Gambaosaka1]

It's not over till it's over. Remember that the amount of prospective grad students who use gradcafe is probably a small percentage. I see on the results page that there have been several acceptances and rejections sent out by Cornell over the past week. You could easily double those numbers based on how many Cornell applicants don't use this site. Thus if you haven't been rejected yet, that's probably a sign to at least hold onto some hope.

 

For all you know you might just have a slow POI who hasn't had the time to notify you. Based on reading all the stories on the Waiting It Out forum, there's several folks who have been accepted when it looked like schools had already accepted everyone, so until you get a definitive response, hold your head up high. You've already gotten into two great programs so Cornell is definitely in your stratosphere.

 

Thanks!

[Gambaosaka1]

Thanks!  I am hopeful that I will receive a slot, but I am trying not to get my hopes up too much. I should know by next Friday about whether or not I receive an offer or am waitlisted.  Should also know about funding on Friday as well.

 

It's great they tell you when you'll know. Fingers crossed!

[dr. t]

So I was just googling aimlessly and found this. Hitler, that perky little scamp.

 

[Gambaosaka1]

So I was just googling aimlessly and found this. Hitler, that perky little scamp.

 

 

That's beautiful...

[L13]

So I was just googling aimlessly and found this. Hitler, that perky little scamp.

 

 

lol can we please try to come up with blurbs of similar vacuity for other subfields of history?

 

Transnational History

 

Stateless human innovations like commerce, slavery, and the Internet have changed the course of world history. Special interests like gender or race can complement their study. Click to learn more about the best places to study transnational history.

[IvanBezdomnii]

So my POI at Penn wrote today and said they're not taking students in the Russ/Sov sub-field this year. Incredibly frustrating. What a waste of time and money. They had taken students the past 7 years and all but ensured me that would not change this year. Seems like Russ/Sov paid the price for over-enrollment in other concentrations last year. Hardly seems fair. Very very frustrating.

[Wullbluomen]

What do you call a book composed of entirely primary sources? Years back, I bought a book with copied reproductions of speeches, letters and journal entries made by Lajos Kossuth, a Hungarian-revolutionist that came to the US in 1850. I guess an equivalent to this "book" would be "Our Word is our Weapon" by Subcommandate Marcos, which has most of his speeches, and writings compiled into a single book.

 

Are you asking for reference purposes, or just out of curiosity? I would just call it an unauthorized unofficial compilation, but I'm interested in who compiled it and when!

 

So my POI at Penn wrote today and said they're not taking students in the Russ/Sov sub-field this year. Incredibly frustrating. What a waste of time and money. They had taken students the past 7 years and all but ensured me that would not change this year. Seems like Russ/Sov paid the price for over-enrollment in other concentrations last year. Hardly seems fair. Very very frustrating.

 

That sounds awful -- and I'm shocked, too, since nobody ever suggested that to me during the application and interview process. Since I study Russia from an East Asian/North Pacific perspective, I applied for the Trans-Regional subfield, which is why I suppose I was lucky enough to get waitlisted (which I'm accepting as a kind rejection). It was incredibly inconsiderate of the department not to warn the applicants beforehand, and I'm really sorry that you were told so long after the fact.

Edited March 1, 2015 by Wullbluomen

[IvanBezdomnii]

Are you asking for reference purposes, or just out of curiosity? I would just call it an unauthorized unofficial compilation, but I'm interested in who compiled it and when!

 

 

That sounds awful -- and I'm shocked, too, since nobody ever suggested that to me during the application and interview process. Since I study Russia from an East Asian/North Pacific perspective, I applied for the Trans-Regional subfield, which is why I suppose I was lucky enough to get waitlisted (which I'm accepting as a kind rejection). It was incredibly inconsiderate of the department not to warn the applicants beforehand, and I'm really sorry that you were told so long after the fact.

 

Thanks for the commiserations. I don't blame my POIs, since I am sure they were operating under the assumption that they would be able to take students (why go through the bother of interviewing me otherwise?). Nonetheless, very frustrating although I don't take it personally. 

 

On a sidenote, your field of interest sounds fascinating. The far east is a big lacuna is Russian/Soviet studies. I had played around with the idea of studying the short-lived Far East Republic during the Civil War, but ended up writing my MA ona completely unrelated topic. I wish you best of luck in your research, it is sorely needed.

[dr. t]

So my POI at Penn wrote today and said they're not taking students in the Russ/Sov sub-field this year. Incredibly frustrating. What a waste of time and money. They had taken students the past 7 years and all but ensured me that would not change this year. Seems like Russ/Sov paid the price for over-enrollment in other concentrations last year. Hardly seems fair. Very very frustrating.

 

Eeh, these things shake out in the faculty negotiations every year. I am sure when you first talked to your POI, they had every intention of making an offer in the subfield, but others won out at the Council of Doom. I don't know how it works at Penn, but here, the faculty in each sub-field select a handful of candidates to forward on to a small committee which makes the final decision. My POI (and supervisor) here encouraged me to apply, but the department ended up not making an offer to a medievalist after the dust settled. 

[Wullbluomen]

Thanks for the commiserations. I don't blame my POIs, since I am sure they were operating under the assumption that they would be able to take students (why go through the bother of interviewing me otherwise?). Nonetheless, very frustrating although I don't take it personally. 

 

On a sidenote, your field of interest sounds fascinating. The far east is a big lacuna is Russian/Soviet studies. I had played around with the idea of studying the short-lived Far East Republic during the Civil War, but ended up writing my MA ona completely unrelated topic. I wish you best of luck in your research, it is sorely needed.

 

I know it wouldn't be the individual professors' fault, but I got heated over the sitatuation due to keenly feeling the application fee burn this past fall. I hope you get better news soon.

 

And thank you for your well wishes -- it's gratifying to hear that from a fellow Russianist!

Edited March 1, 2015 by Wullbluomen

[IvanBezdomnii]

Eeh, these things shake out in the faculty negotiations every year. I am sure when you first talked to your POI, they had every intention of making an offer in the subfield, but others won out at the Council of Doom. I don't know how it works at Penn, but here, the faculty in each sub-field select a handful of candidates to forward on to a small committee which makes the final decision. My POI (and supervisor) here encouraged me to apply, but the department ended up not making an offer to a medievalist after the dust settled. 

 

 

I know it wouldn't be the individual professors' fault, but I got heated over the sitatuation due to keenly feeling the application fee burn this past fall. I hope you get better news soon.

 

And thank you for your well wishes -- it's gratifying to hear that from a fellow Russianist!

 

I'll admit that my initial reaction was pretty heated. I think I forwarded the letter to my current adviser with the addendum "bull shit." Be nice if the council of doom could make these decisions before soliciting applications though. Or at least give a refund to people.

[L13]

I'll admit that my initial reaction was pretty heated. I think I forwarded the letter to my current adviser with the addendum "bull shit." Be nice if the council of doom could make these decisions before soliciting applications though. Or at least give a refund to people.

I'm sure that decisions of this nature depend, at least partly, on the perceived quality of the applicant pool in each subfield, so it would be impossible to make them without considering all the shortlisted applications first, or at least getting feedback and recommendations from faculty members in each subfield.

 

And I'd only consider asking for a fee refund if I suspected my application hadn't been processed or reviewed in full despite meeting the submission deadline. That is to say, if you had reason to suspect UPenn simply decided to throw out all the Russian history applications without reading them this year, sure, I think you'd have a good case. But, as I said, I imagine it was more complex than that.

 

Which is not to say that I don't understand your frustration! It does feel unfair to fall prey to the caprice of departmental intake decisions and I fully sympathize with you.

Edited March 1, 2015 by L13

[IvanBezdomnii]

I'm sure that decisions of this nature depend, at least partly, on the perceived quality of the applicant pool in each subfield, so it would be impossible to make them without considering all the shortlisted applications first, or at least getting feedback and recommendations from faculty members in each subfield.

 

And I'd only consider asking for a fee refund if I suspected my application hadn't been processed or reviewed in full despite meeting the submission deadline. That is to say, if you had reason to suspect UPenn simply decided to throw out all the Russian history applications without reading them this year, sure, I think you'd have a good case. But, as I said, I imagine it was more complex than that.

 

Which is not to say that I don't understand your frustration! It does feel unfair to fall prey to the caprice of departmental intake decisions and I fully sympathize with you.

 

On a personal note, my prospective advisor at Harvard did warn me that the department only admitted one or two medievalists per year, and sometimes none (which is what happened this year, according to telkanuru). I think it was very decent of him to point out the arbitrary and competitive nature of the selection process before I submitted my application. However, it feels arrogant to 'blame' my (assumed) rejection on the vagaries of grad school admissions. I'm sure that if my application had been stronger, I would have stood a better chance of admission.

Obviously, I'm not seriously considering asking for a refund. My post should be read as my purely emotional reaction and nothing beyond that.

[L13]

Yeah, and as I said, I think you're entitled to that! (And my rambling digression above is not meant to be a criticism of your feelings or anything, just my own way of thinking about this kind of situation.)

 

That being said, I'm sure some departments do actually skim over applications and misplace files and stuff, which is why I spelled out the refund scenario. It makes me angry to think about because processing fees are exorbitant and to suspect they didn't even buy you a cursory look must be soul-destroying.