History 2010

[Sparky]

everyone take a big deep breath and smile! it's only feb 5! we are all going to end up at the place we're meant to be!

...In a van down by the river...

[Nytusse]

I had a dream last night that I got into Yale and went to an accepted students weekend there, where everybody was like "OMG, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE GOT INTO YALE!!" Then I woke up and, as you imagine, was pretty pissed off to realize that it wasn't real. I really need to get out more!

I dreamed about Yale last night too, because I was 100% certain that the first acceptance was going to come today. And it did, and no email for me yet. Maybe that first person was just a very early notification; it could be that next week is the big Yale week.

[Nytusse]

...In a van down by the river...

That sounds kind of nice right now. I think that was my plan B if I got no acceptances.

[Kai210]

I have my answer.

Edited February 5, 2010 by Kai210

[JerryLandis]

Yeah, I'd be surprised if a whole lot more Yale notifications went out today. My money's on next week. But why the hell do they do that? Why notify one person at a time, and why not reject us already if we're already in the reject pile? I don't get it!

[LifeIsGood]

Oh jesus, there's another one.

[Nytusse]

Oh jesus, there's another one.

And this is universally depressing...it seems like most of us have applied to Yale.

[BCHistory]

I got that email too, and I pretty much convinced myself that meant something good, until I realized that NONE of those extra funds even applied to me!

I second that. Not a single fellowship was applicable.

[cooperstreet]

What field are the people who heard from UCLA in?

[utsusemi]

What field are the people who heard from UCLA in?

East Asia here.

[JerryLandis]

Well, I don't mean to ruin everyone's day here, but I just looked at the results section for last year, concerning Yale. It seems last year they sent out acceptances on the 6th (a Friday), 2 of which are posted on this site. Then on the 9th (a Monday) they sent out a slew of rejections. So, since we've already had our 2 Friday acceptances posted, I won't be at all surprised if I receive notification on Monday that I've been rejected. Stupid interfering weekend!

[Goober]

...In a van down by the river...

Hahahahaha...this apropos SNL quote by Sparky gave me my first gradcafe laugh..Thanks Sparky..I needed that (although the people around me in the library just gave me some weird looks)..I'm definitely feeling more of your vibe than hopkinsgirl's optimistic one...all this waiting and obsessive checking of email, and then the results page, and then my phone, on repeat, over and over again, has me feeling almost as crazy as Chris Farley looked during some of those skits...

[cooperstreet]

East Asia here.

Ok. I'm Middle East and haven't heard anything yet, so I guess that's a relief. I wonder if the other person is East Asian also.

[africanhistoryphd]

I second cooperstreet's interest in the other UCLAers field of study.

Also: many congrats to you both! Hooray for sunny LA!

Ok. I'm Middle East and haven't heard anything yet, so I guess that's a relief. I wonder if the other person is East Asian also.

Edited February 5, 2010 by africanhistoryphd

[utsusemi]

Ok. I'm Middle East and haven't heard anything yet, so I guess that's a relief. I wonder if the other person is East Asian also.

Their deadline for FLAS applications is the 16th. I'm guessing that might be the main reason I heard from them unofficially this early--that they wanted to give enough time to get that in. So, yeah, may not have any bearing on other fields, or even necessarily other applicants in the same field.

[happy_elephant]

Their deadline for FLAS applications is the 16th. I'm guessing that might be the main reason I heard from them unofficially this early--that they wanted to give enough time to get that in. So, yeah, may not have any bearing on other fields, or even necessarily other applicants in the same field.

I'm the other person who heard from UCLA, and I'm also in East Asian. I'm also currently in East Asia, which account for the delayed reply. My guess about the FLAS was the same - giving a week or so to get it in. Of course, the deadline just HAS to be the day after my birthday...guess that party will have to be postponed!

[RockEater]

Woof. Us UW rejects just got swept today. Oh well, at least I knew this one was coming.

[figurefive]

Looks like Wisconsin went ahead and changed their website statuses this morning for its American history applicants. I was one of the unlucky ones.

I guess I might as well throw in the towel now. Wisconsin had made it onto my list because one of my advisors told me that I was aiming too high, that I needed have some safeties, and he considered Wisconsin to be a relatively safety. And I guess, because I thought of it as such, I never put too much effort into it -- I didn't email any POIs, even though there was one prof who would have been a good fit in my field.

I know this rejection was probably a reflection of my own dismal effort and that this is all about fit, etc. But I can't help but think that, if I didn't get into Wisconsin, there's virtually no chance anywhere else. And now I'm preparing for that to become a reality. I was going to spend today working on a fellowship application from my alma mater, but maybe I should save my time for something else.

[deuterides]

Looks like Wisconsin went ahead and changed their website statuses this morning for its American history applicants. I was one of the unlucky ones.

I guess I might as well throw in the towel now. Wisconsin had made it onto my list because one of my advisors told me that I was aiming too high, that I needed have some safeties, and he considered Wisconsin to be a relatively safety. And I guess, because I thought of it as such, I never put too much effort into it -- I didn't email any POIs, even though there was one prof who would have been a good fit in my field.

I know this rejection was probably a reflection of my own dismal effort and that this is all about fit, etc. But I can't help but think that, if I didn't get into Wisconsin, there's virtually no chance anywhere else. And now I'm preparing for that to become a reality. I was going to spend today working on a fellowship application from my alma mater, but maybe I should save my time for something else.

I don't know if its good to think this way, especially on the idea of safety schools- I don't think any exist per se. Besides, Wisconsin is a very good, selective program, no shame in not getting in, its right up there with everywhere else you applied.

[JustChill]

I would hardly call Madison a safety. I personally know a very bright guy who got his BA from Cornell and an MPhill from Oxford, but was rejected from Madison History department. It's an isolated example, of course, but worth mentioning.

The reason I mention this is that there is no shame in being rejected by Madison, so don't worry about the rest of your apps. You'll be fine.

Edited February 6, 2010 by rockchalk

[figurefive]

Thanks for the perspective and the consolation, deuterides and rockchalk. That was an unsportsmanlike and sour-grapes post full of first-rejection angst and insecurity. A hearty congratulations to everyone who's so far heard from Madison and best of luck on the rest of your applications, too.

[tourist]

I'm interested in the UNC acceptance from today. What field are you in, what are your stats? I'd appreciate the input. Thanks!

[deuterides]

Thanks for the perspective and the consolation, deuterides and rockchalk. That was an unsportsmanlike and sour-grapes post full of first-rejection angst and insecurity. A hearty congratulations to everyone who's so far heard from Madison and best of luck on the rest of your applications, too.

Don't worry about it. Its easy to lose perspective, especially if realize that all of us are probably the "big fish in a little pond" in our respective undergraduate departments and are used to having our egos (I know mine is anyway) pumped up by the respective advisers and letter writers we work with. I'm sure you'll get in somewhere great, if the people around you thought you could get in to those schools, then you probably can, you just need to get into the respective pegs that committees are trying to fit.

[TMP]

Don't worry about it. Its easy to lose perspective, especially if realize that all of us are probably the "big fish in a little pond" in our respective undergraduate departments and are used to having our egos (I know mine is anyway) pumped up by the respective advisers and letter writers we work with. I'm sure you'll get in somewhere great, if the people around you thought you could get in to those schools, then you probably can, you just need to get into the respective pegs that committees are trying to fit.

That is one of the problems.

The other problem is that there's no "safety" because departments want to be sure that they can get a high yield and we don't know if we're too competitive for a certain department. Although I am a bit scared that I might be too competitive for Emory, this "lack of response" puts me in a precarious position - if not this school, if I'm deemed too competitive and would think of it as a "safety" okay, then, what if the more competitive departments say no to me? I would've been glad to attend Emory just as I would've been glad to attend any other schools I applied to.

But nobody knows how competitive they were until after all the results and get answers from their primary faculty contact. When I applied in the first round, I was told that I wasn't, with my *lack* of languages and weak writing sample, I wasn't really that competitive. Now this round... with more language training and a very strong writing sample, we'll just have to see.

Ah well. Only a few more weeks to go.

[Caligula]

To be quite frank, I don't think anyone is "too competitve" for any top 50 program, especially if you only have a B.A. I would never label myself "too competive" for any History Ph.D. program and I will be very grateful for every/any acceptance I recieve.