Fall 2015 Applicants

[JTE]

Josh, I'll second what ellebe said, turn up tonight and surround yourself with fun friends. Tomorrow, refocus and start the process over. That teaching job sounds amazing and I'm sure you'll be great at it, as well as enjoy the opportunity. Take the lessons you learned this cycle and apply them to the next. Who knows, maybe you'll get all acceptances next time. For now though, turn up and keep your head up.

[JTE]

Chiqui, yes, I am already in Miami (and I got my MA at FIU). We can still get together for a beer though, that is of course if you're down. I work during the week, but if I do end up accepting FIU's offer (and right now it's my only offer so there's a good chance), I'm sure I'll be stopping by campus at some point this spring.

Edited March 6, 2015 by JTE

[JTE]

When will Chapel Hill put us all out of our misery? Anybody have any insight on this? I assume I've been rejected by Florida seeing as they've already sent out acceptances and invitations.

[Josh J.]

Just to clarify, the job is in Oregon, not at UO. Wish it was. I'll be making $1500 a class. Full time, if I could get it, that is $12,000 a year. But right now I only have one class. I'm doing it for the library privileges and the experience.

I'm sorry I'm so down, everyone. I know I shouldn't complain. This is just so frustrating between realizing what I've given up to get this far, and having my undergrad and masters professors all telling me that none of them understand why I didn't get in, even at top schools, let alone the couple of safe schools I applied at.

I'm waitlisted in the Graduate Department of Religion at Vandrrbilt. But they do not expect to take anyone studying American religious history this year... And depending upon how it shakes out, they might not next year, either.

[Gambaosaka1]

Just to clarify, the job is in Oregon, not at UO. Wish it was. I'll be making $1500 a class. Full time, if I could get it, that is $12,000 a year. But right now I only have one class. I'm doing it for the library privileges and the experience.

I'm sorry I'm so down, everyone. I know I shouldn't complain. This is just so frustrating between realizing what I've given up to get this far, and having my undergrad and masters professors all telling me that none of them understand why I didn't get in, even at top schools, let alone the couple of safe schools I applied at.

I'm waitlisted in the Graduate Department of Religion at Vandrrbilt. But they do not expect to take anyone studying American religious history this year... And depending upon how it shakes out, they might not next year, either.

 

Completely understandable to be down! You wouldn't be if you didn't really want this. The teaching gig is still really impressive. Can't think of many better avenues to improve your application for the next cycle than teaching. Many of us have zero experience teaching...well at least I certainly don't and would love to have that opportunity.

 

You're going to kill it next cycle and be 2016's ashiepoo.

[Chiqui74]

Just to clarify, the job is in Oregon, not at UO. Wish it was. I'll be making $1500 a class. Full time, if I could get it, that is $12,000 a year. But right now I only have one class. I'm doing it for the library privileges and the experience.

I'm sorry I'm so down, everyone. I know I shouldn't complain. This is just so frustrating between realizing what I've given up to get this far, and having my undergrad and masters professors all telling me that none of them understand why I didn't get in, even at top schools, let alone the couple of safe schools I applied at.

I'm waitlisted in the Graduate Department of Religion at Vandrrbilt. But they do not expect to take anyone studying American religious history this year... And depending upon how it shakes out, they might not next year, either.

I'm sorry, I disagree.  You have every right to complain and every right to be down.  You do not nee to apologize for this. 

[ellebe]

What Chiqui said. I kept bursting into tears for a week after getting the "no" from Northwestern. The pep talk stuff is just cos you deserve some credit for everything you put into this, not because anyone thinks you should be peppy. It's a sucky day.

[SunshineLolipops]

When will Chapel Hill put us all out of our misery? Anybody have any insight on this? I assume I've been rejected by Florida seeing as they've already sent out acceptances and invitations.

 

Congrats on hitting the waitlist at UVA!  It isn't an acceptance, but it's a sight better than a rejection!

 

I'm guessing that hearing from UNC next week is a long shot (particularly given the amount of snow they've gotten).  I don't expect to hear anything from them until the 23rd at the earliest.  My guess is that all of the outright acceptances have gone out, but there may be a few wait list spots that they send out with the pile o' rejections.

 

Does anyone have any idea about when Penn State might wrap things up?  

 

I'm also guessing that UPenn should be sending out rejections either today or Monday.

Edited March 6, 2015 by JJWS

[ForlornHope]

Well, I'm officially rejected to everything not even given a chance for an MA. I suppose that's it for me, then. I hope others have a much better time of things. I do not think I'll be coming back to the field.

[JTE]

So sorry to hear about your rejections ForlornHope. I wish you luck in whatever you pursue next.

[ashiepoo72]

Just to clarify, the job is in Oregon, not at UO. Wish it was. I'll be making $1500 a class. Full time, if I could get it, that is $12,000 a year. But right now I only have one class. I'm doing it for the library privileges and the experience.

I'm sorry I'm so down, everyone. I know I shouldn't complain. This is just so frustrating between realizing what I've given up to get this far, and having my undergrad and masters professors all telling me that none of them understand why I didn't get in, even at top schools, let alone the couple of safe schools I applied at.

I'm waitlisted in the Graduate Department of Religion at Vandrrbilt. But they do not expect to take anyone studying American religious history this year... And depending upon how it shakes out, they might not next year, either.

This is the space for you to "complain." And I don't view this as complaining at all! You're understandably frustrated, so don't feel like you need to hold back. You're among people who know what you put into this application cycle. After all that hard work, it's totally okay--even healthy!--for you to be upset. I want to third everything ellebe and JTE said--go do something you enjoy, take a break for however long you need, then put together a killer application for next year. And even though we've all never seen one another face to face, know you have friends here who are more than willing to help out--as sounding boards, SOP readers, and even as listeners for you to vent frustration.

[JTE]

What ashiepoo said. Don't let this get you down Josh, and you have every right to vent. We're all pulling for you and will help you as you move forward.

[L13]

I was rejected from UChicago today but offered admission to the MAPSS program with full tuition remission. Unfortunately, that's still too expensive for me as I wouldn't be able to support myself in Chicago.

I also heard back from Cambridge and my application for funding has been rejected. Money makes me sad.

Edited March 6, 2015 by L13

[mvlchicago]

I was rejected from UChicago today but offered admission to the MAPSS program with full tuition remission. Unfortunately, that's still too expensive for me as I wouldn't be able to support myself in Chicago.

I also heard back from Cambridge and my application for funding has been rejected. Money makes me sad.

 

. I have no clue what the workload looks like at MAPSS but there are a ton of employment opportunities on campus and Hyde Park itself isn't so expensive if you're willing to take on roommates. My living expenses any given month were somewhere around $800 with one of the more expensive apartment set-ups. Just a couple thoughts. 

[ashiepoo72]

Well, I officially emailed my remaining programs. Once I hear from them, I'll be able to make some more decisions. This is fun...

[Bellerophon]

I had a similar offer, with Half tuition remission from MAPSS at Chicago. I think I might take it, barring an unexpected offer from UNC.

[Aubstopper]

Hey guys, I haven't posted in awhile, but despite coming off to an amazing start this cycle, a bunch of horrible things happened right around the critical application period that didn't allow me to put as much time as I wanted into my proposal (a death in the family, my father becoming paralyzed, other personal issues). I still haven't heard from two schools yet, but I've decided to take another year off to figure out what sort of department fits my interests best -- a shortcoming of interdisciplinary research is that sometimes you don't know where the hell you actually belong. Luckily, I have some big names at the University of Chicago gunning for me, friends in high places, a good support system, and my mentors have helped me set up a plan to publish my research and set me up with their friends who are doing similar things. One of my biggest regrets was not networking enough and visiting the campuses I applied to, so that's a major thing I'll be doing this time around.  

I'll definitely be taking up some of your guys' offers to look over my stuff this fall. Seriously you guys are awesome. I probably won't be checking this thing as often as in the past so if you guys are creating a FB group or something like that, I will definitely join.

[dr. t]

Based on the information given at the visiting students session I attended two years ago, I would not recommend taking on a job while in the MAPSS program. However, with a full tuition package, you're looking at about $15k for a MA from Chicago, which is really actually quite decent and, IMO, worth it.

[Aubstopper]

The problem with MAPSS is that it's only a year-long program: You start and immediately have to begin your thesis. There is no time to really start up any strong relationships with faculty and before you know it, you're done. This is a common complaint of students I knew who were in MAPSS, MAPH, or CIR and it's something you definitely should keep in mind. 

Chicago is cheap to live comparable to other big cities, but I was on scholarship in a two year program at UofC and I ended up still with a huge chunk of debt. Expenses really add up when you're not working. 

Edited March 6, 2015 by Aubstopper

[ToomuchLes]

Well, I officially emailed my remaining programs. Once I hear from them, I'll be able to make some more decisions. This is fun...

 

If you emailed IU, asking when applicants will be notified, let me know what they said! I realize that MA applicants will be notified only after PhD applicants, but Im sooooo anxious to hear from them! When I emailed the DGS, he said "in a few weeks time" which was 3 weeks ago >.<! 

[ashiepoo72]

I will definitely let you know, if I'm not too busy crying after I get my answer! I kid--I won't even pretend I deserve another acceptance. I'm so excited about the programs I've heard from already. I just feel like I can't commit to any decision without knowing what IU has to say!

[L13]

Thanks for the advice and information about the MAPSS program, guys. I realize only having to worry about living expenses is a privilege in the world of academic master's degrees, but I'm honestly not comfortable asking my parents for close to $20k to take graduate courses in the social sciences for a year. (And they don't really have that kind of money lying around.) And as a college senior, I have no savings on my own.

I think that, barring a funded offer from CEU, which is not entirely unlikely, or Oxford, which is exceedingly unlikely, I'll try to find a job in the short term and start putting together a more serious set of applications for next year.

First, though, I need to finish my damn senior thesis.

[Oliveur]

Cornell decisions are out. I was not accepted, meaning I went a dismal 0 for 8 this cycle. Getting into these programs is tough! Here's to the next cycle.

[ashiepoo72]

Sorry to hear that Oliveur

[JTE]

Sorry Oliveur, that is certainly a bummer. Apply the lessons learned this cycle to next year and knock it out of the park.