bluecheese

I got a 6 on the writing when I applied to MFA programs (I took the test over 5 years ago so I had to re-take it), this time I received a 4.5 on the writing... I still got in a bunch of places. When I took it last time I was much more used to churning out 3 page (5-6) paragraph analytical papers for history courses -- that's not something I don't do anymore. Anyway, the essays were particularly silly... one of mine was basically "define the difference between experience and imagination." 5 paragraphs: go! It's annoying and expensive... but it probably isn't going to go away.

This. I usually suck at these tests -- but I crammed my ass off (for just four days, but for like 12 hours a day) and I managed to pull an okay score (I didn't take the subject test). The subject test does seem totally doable though - you don't need THAT high of a score, just one that his high enough.

Heh. Yeah, scream away. ... So glad to be chillin' in Brown land. (which sounds scatological, honestly)

I really think you'll be fine applying after reading this -- you're on top of what is cool! Thumbs up! (I say this having quoted Peggy Phalen in my application essay, and having mentioned a good third of the other people in my SOP. >.O I think you should apply to as many programs as you can afford that have faculty that you want to work with (honestly, 15-20 isn't too many despite what some people say... it will give you options both in terms of faculty, funding and location once the dust settles). Also, be sure to take the subject test!

Personally, I tend to think that UPenn is a bit too "properly" avant-garde -- and U of Chicago has some faculty that are a bit more dynamic (and interesting) in that sense (and I suspect a lot more accesible). But, UPenn is just becoming such a center for poetry-stuff. I think its a good place for any kind of research related to the field. Hard choice. Also, the rumors about U of Chicago would worry me. That said, had I been accepted to U of Chicago I would have seriously considered it (for geographical reasons).

That's actually a hard choice -- depends on who you want to work with. I would tend towards Penn: Penn Sound, Jacket2, Kelly Writer's House, etc. (also, you'll have more access to contemporary writers working in that area - most of them are coastal). That said, I would want to know how engaged some of those big name poetics faculty at U Penn are with graduate students - I suspect they're busy with other stuff? Who knows.

I've heard bad things about U of Chicago (pointlessly competitive, it's a grind, etc. ...from faculty at my own institution)--unless there were faculty members I HAD to work with there (or I wanted to be there for geographic reasons), I'd pick U Penn. That said, faculty and so on does matter a lot.

Ditto. Although I think this is a product of already having solid acceptances -- if I didn't I'd probably be worried about places like Penn State and Iowa (as well as waitlists).

There are programs that put a heavy emphasis on gender and women's studies and some that don't (find the ones that have great faculty in your area) -- University of Michigan even offers a dual degree. You might want to consider applying to top Gender and Women's Studies and American Studies programs too. It you get into a top program and do interesting research you'll be in a good position to get a job (even if you're in an interdisciplinary field). I do think that film can be read as literature -- so there is definitely room for that in English departments (honestly, a literary reading of a film will often quite different from the technical or rhetorical readings that one finds in communications departments and so on). If you can backup your application with a solid writing sample and focused SOP there is no reason that you can't get into a top program. Go for it! Also, if you're that worried -- apply to a few funded MA programs (preferably at major research institutions) as backups. Apply realistically (schools that fall within the range of your test scores, GPA, etc.), and widely. If you don't have the scores, etc. you might want to go for an MA first in order to boost them. If you do -- go for it!

Congratssss!!!! I sent you a PM also.

You should stand naked in front of your cat. Also, yes.

<3 Mina Loy -- that book looks great.

ha ha. Congrats!

Congrats!!!

AWESOME!!!! (I'm still going to Brown... it's a better fit for me... so I'll take myself off the waitlist -- but I'm so happy for you Bfat... I hope you get in!!!)

O. Just wait listed at Ann Arbor.

Ah! Sorry, I think my terseness (laziness in terms of typing) got misread as having a certain tone. I was referring to the blatantly insulting posts by the person yesterday (pomoisdead) -- not to anyone today. I was just trying to explain why the thread shifted the way it did. I definitely wasn't trying to rub anything in anyone's face. Sorry about that, but the borderline-trolling that was occurring yesterday is why the thread shifted gears. I didn't mean to re-stir anything. Sorry about any confusion! I hope everyone gets in!!!!!

I have at least twice as many rejections as you (fyi). Anyway, I'm tired of people who didn't apply to that many places being angry at (and condescending toward) people who did. (sorry!--I was quickly trying to explain why the thread got off gear... there was someone basically trolling in it yesterday... I didn't mean for this post to have any sort of tone... best of luck to everyone!). Also! You got into Penn State! So all is well!

We're definitely all impostors -- that's the only thing I feel sure of. To complicate things a little, faculty will often have conflicting opinions about which way you should take your work -- there is the problem of who to take advice from.... but, yeah, being open to advice is important.

Yeah, I was planning on doing that -- but I ended up with a killer package anyway. It's good advice though.

MAJOR CONGRATS!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!

Brown students can take courses at other campuses in the area (getting into the said classes may or may not be easy, depending on how famous the person is--but yeah, cross enrollment is possible/part of the deal). I think this is also the case for schools in New York... although I'm not fully sure about the details there (NYU, Columbia, CUNY, etc.)

This is silly: I don't like arguing with the hopelessly cantankerous.

Hardcore. I'm going to read things that catch my fancy (poetry, novels, some new materialism and affect theory stuff), and then worry about moving. That said, I'm still in school so I'm going to need to decompress for a week or two after I finish my thesis, etc. (O, I'm not applying in Rhet/Comp sorry). Heh.