University of Pennsylvania PhD Application

[queennight]

I've read some pretty terrible things about their application and how the school doesn't even bother to send a rejection letter to students that they don't accept (or even allow any follow-up). I am very interested in the program, but am hesitant on even bothering to apply given their terrible stereotype (at least in previous threads on this forum).

 

For anybody applying/previously applied/attending the program at Pennsylvania, any comments on the process? I'm worried that obviously the application process hints at the quality of the future support given by the department, and would not want to consider a program without a support system in place.

 

(Also, if I spend the money on applying, I want the freaking ability to frame a $200 rejection letter while eating ice cream, throwing a temper tantrum, punching some walls and sobbing into my Netflix account - 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' style and all.)

[Dr. Old Bill]

Hmm...just checking, but are you sure you're not hearing that about Penn State? I hadn't heard anything like that about U of Penn, but Penn State had a fiasco about that last year. (Look up Penn State English in the Results Search to see what I mean).

 

Ice cream and Netflix accounts are cheap enough to make it worthwhile either way, I think.

[lyonessrampant]

Penn State definitely has that reputation and seems to have problems with SUPER late notification, no rejections, and movement after April 15th.  U of Penn doesn't have that problem (or at least hasn't in the several years I've been around this forum).  That said, there are awesome people at Penn State.  I would imagine that one's experience once accepted and in the program is not similar to the app process, but I can't speak to that for sure.

[mikers86]

I've known applicants (and even professors from back in the day) who never got rejection notices from UPenn. This isn't to say you shouldn't apply.

[Dr. Old Bill]

UPenn is a great program for your field, too. I considered them for awhile, as they have a strong poetics faculty, but it's mostly geared toward the theory side of things, and more recent in terms of periods than what I prefer. But since you're all about theory and 19th and 20th century poetics, it's probably a great fit for you. And Philly's a hockey town to boot.

[queennight]

Ooh - thanks so much for the feedback, I must have gotten confused along the way and mixed up the schools. It's a relief to know that it was a different school that the problems were mainly at (although mikers, I'll be taking your message into consideration!).