damequixote

I'm going to UW Madison! The faculty and graduate students are wonderful, the program has lots of professional development opportunities, and there's just enough structure so that I get a firm grounding in rhet comp and the ability to explore other disciplines and ideas. Very excited!

I think you should go to Maryland. All of your choices are good ones and as a result, I think you need to go where it feels right. The prestige or history of a program matters, sure, but what really matters on the job search (professors have suggested to me) are 1) the quality and breadth of your work and your ability to talk about it, 2) the prestige of those who'll end up writing your recommendation letters when you're looking for TT jobs, and 3) your teaching experience (in that order). Lots of other things matter too, of course, but I don't think the prestige of the program matters (if that's what you're worried about) as much as the prestige of the faculty who will write your letters. Lastly, though, take a look at where students of this program have ended up. If they've ended up at the kinds of places you'd want to end up, go for it.

I'll second (or third or fourth) that teaching a 2:2 of the same course is really nothing to worry about. I taught a 2:2 all throughout my M.A. (my first and second years as a teacher), and I loved it. I might have loved a 1:1 more, but I had no problem doing good work for my classes and doing my own research and writing for my thesis. If you love everything else about the program, I say go for it!

How about this?

Yeah, I've responded to this admittedly lucky brand of stress by making copious amounts of spreadsheets.... I think I've decided on UW Madison, but turning down a Michigan acceptance feels pretty gd scary and wrong. AHHH

^ THIS.

Asleepawake, I think you are my soul mate.

I'd definitely recommend The Norton Book of Composition Studies. I bought literally shelves full of comp/rhet books when I decided to switch from lit to comp/rhet and this book was by far the best at helping me get a sense of both the history of the discipline and where we are now. I then devoured Bedford's Teaching Developmental Writing which gave me a really good sense of my particular subfield. After reading these, I find that I can identify the scholarly currents more recent comp/rhet articles are tapping into. Also, if you're interested in Madison, definitely pick up David Flemming's From Form to Meaning. It's a great read and I think it's going to be discussed at the visit weekend.

Nope! I haven't heard from them either.

Thanks, dmmar!

Hey Sursie. I'm rhet/comp and got a wait list notification from UNC, but I told them to take me off. Good luck!!

Congrats! Do you mind sharing your academic interests?

Yep, it's UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago). I would *love* to know who got that UIC acceptance!

CURSES! Out of upvotes!

Post-acceptance stress is totally where I am right now. I didn't think my application was that competitive (my B.A. and M.A. are from schools that aren't even ranked and I teach at a for-profit college) so I wasn't expecting to have to do much choosing between programs. Talking on the phone to prospective programs' faculty and students and sending out my own rejections is PAINFUL. I do not like to say no and I feel like a terrible person.... and then the choosing! It's ridiculously hard. Don't get me wrong. I'm totally grateful for how lucky I've been so far (though I'm sure many rejections are coming), but I just plain don't know how to choose. Location is similar, tenure-track placement rates are similar, rank is similar.... BLARG! The only difference staring me in the face right now is the difference between a standard English (rhet/comp) program and an interdisciplinary English and Education program.... and each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. AHHH. Okay. I'm done ranting.

Asleepawake! Thanks for supplying me with my new and favorite avatar.

DontHate, this is a brilliant idea. Personally, I was a huge loser (academically, anyway) until I took my first lit class in college. I became a lit loving nerd, got my M.A. and started adjuncting after I decided last-minute not to move my with boyfriend at the time to Whales, where he'd get his PhD. I was determined to go for the Ph.D., took an adjuncting job in the mean time, and fell in love.... with my basic writing students. Now I'm going (somewhere!!!) to get my PhD in rhet comp. So, I hope my tombstone reads that I helped a lot of losers like me make it through college.

I did this when I was rejected from my top choice for an M.A. program. They basically said that it was my writing sample. It was hard to hear, but no one seemed bothered by my asking. I think it's a fine way to learn how to improve your application (if they really offer you constructive criticism, lots of schools will just give you something generic), but you should by no means feel compelled to do this.

Ken, I'm sure I have many, many rejections coming. Don't you worry!

Well it's dually held by both the English and Education departments (rather than based in one and the other as a specialization) so it's not really an education degree with a specialization in rhet/comp, but I see what you're saying.

That's pretty much the impression I had too.

Sursie, Thanks for the excellent advice. I think my new plan will be to check out the CVs of recent graduates and use that to sketch out which trajectory seems more fitting for my career plan (or, I should say, "hopes). Thanks so much. This is my first time really picking a graduate program and I guess I was blanking on some really important factors to consider. THANKS! :)

Oops. Seriously didn't mean to upvote myself!

That's really great advice! You know, I looked at where they ended up and what kind of position it was (becuase that's what the website), but I didn't look at what department they ended up in. Thank you so much!

Hey, what do you guys think of the University of Michigan's joint PhD in English and education program? I have an offer from them and University of Wisconsin/Madison's composition and rhetoric PhD program. I'm leaning toward Michigan, except there's pretty much no mention if this program on the forum archives... Any thoughts? :/