iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns

It sounds like you could be happy and successful in each program - I don't think there is a "wrong" answer here. What's the old adage, "flip a coin because in that moment you'll know which one you want"?

Oh! That's tricky. It's likely if your friend declined a school they moved down to the next one on the list - I suspect that the schools would be open to putting your friend back on a waitlist but an offer made is an offer made (right?) so they'd have to wait until another person declined. Also - I *do* think you can back out of a commitment - I imagine it would be stressful and perhaps a bit unusual but when all is said and done it's probably better to back-out now rather than be unproductive/unhappy/etc best of luck to your friend, BHR

Congrats to all! I'm already attending but I enjoyed watch from the sidelines this year and giving whatever insights I could through DMs and the like. edit: I've obviously changed my nametag because I'm no longer as big of a fan of television shows as I used to be!

In no particular order Miami of Ohio University of Louisille Eastern Michigan University Ohio University Michigan State University And more but also The Master's Degree Consortium is a good place to check: http://www.mdcwss.com/directory/

I've never had to mention any of my time at a community college - (which is great because my gpa was probably below 2.5). BUT my BA has the transfer credits (without the grades) on it so maybe that accounts for it?

I think I'll be there! I'd really like to see: The writing center + other various writing spaces The graduate student lounge (the official space + any sort of unofficial "we always seem to end up here" spaces) The graduate teaching people offices Some of the MITH stuff (and perhaps places where MITH stuff happens) and whatever sort of access grad-students and undergrads have to technology resources.

Uh, count me as the "pumping the brakes a bit on the money guy". Obviously it's important and for what it's worth, I'm sure when we say "money" or "funding" we mean: the means to live/survive with minimum struggle in that specific location. 23k in LA isn't necessarily better than 17k in Small-town, USA. money is great - but unless you're able to do something useful with the extra cash (pay off loans, save for a house, conference travel) anything beyond living expenses is sorta a "push" for me. But - getting a fellowship and the extra money probably makes you feel like an up-and-coming academic rockstar - and that's totally significant and totally worth something (to me, anyways).

Google scholar might help you track who is citing who and all that jazz. Conferences - obviously, as other people have said. Listening - to other students/researchers/etc. Do eyes light up when the talk about (that particular person at that program) Asking -

But you're not an unworthy runner-up. You're totally worthy (whatever that means) and this much is reflected in the invitation. If you go there or if you go somewhere else, you're all in the same wheelhouse doing similar work. So yeah, take that opportunity to get to know them and let them get to know you.

Hiya! Congrats to all you Composition and Rhetoric and Languaging and Writing kinda person here. I've been quiet lately. But I've got a few acceptances now. I can claim: a Louisville acceptance / a Nebraska acceptance / a Madison waitlist / a UMD waitlist.

I've been a little silent around these parts for the last year or so but I was in a similar boat as you, Katiearchy. My UG program had 4 faculty members. It wasn't a liberal arts school but rather a small university that was billed as a way of serving traditionally underrepresented populations. My program had recently switched their identity a bit (away from English as the mothership) so we (students and faculty) were regularly figuring out exactly who we were. I'd like to say that I got a lot of individual attention (plus all the perks that go with that), to some degree I did; however, the faculty there (who are great people) are working under some pretty demanding workloads. They offered me plenty of support, as a scholar and as a person, but we weren't designing reading lists together or talking about recent scholarship and "the field". I've done well so far. I'm in a funded MA program and I just sent out (what I hope are) competitive PhD applications. If you're craving more deets - PM me.

I vote the both option. Read the academic stuff but toss in short things. I recommend: A.M. Homes "Things You Should Know". https://msgallin9300.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/things-you-should-know1.pdf

I agree with BhR, Empress-Rodent, and Eco-Suessian. I read Comp/Rhet stuff that quotes sociologist, lit theorists, media study, and Csikzentmihalyi - and the Adcoms that I've encountered are more than willing to honestly entertain multiple tracks into the programs

I'd take that list!

Yeah. I can only (naively) speak about the Comp/Rhet side of things but I agree, I've seen a lot of tech/prof writing positions.