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ishmael

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Posts posted by ishmael

    Valentine's Day Massacre

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Here's what I was told after my epic fail of a 2012 season: the fact that you already have a waitlist means that you're doing something right. You still have a lot of schools to hear from, and even if by some unlucky chance you don't get in, if you're really invested in this you just have to reassess your apps, make some adjustments, and figure out what you need to do to get in next time. I have confidence you'll get in somewhere, but even if you don't, you are NOT unworthy.

     

     

    Thanks, dazedandbemused. It's so absolutely refreshing to hear (or read... haha) actual informed words of encouragement, beyond the standard "You'll get in! You're awesome!" bs. My two closest friends are also applying to grad programs in Communication and Advertising, and they're basically delusional--they think we're all getting in to the same schools, and really are more concerned with moving (far) away from home, moving up in prestige, having something to lord over their peers (we're applying to grad school ,we're better than you, etc) and (supposedly) being able to make vast amounts of money rather than applying because they want to enrich their lives and deeply devote themselves to study. I'm not in it for the (minuscule amount) of money, the title, or the prestige-- I'm applying because I crave knowledge and because I love English literature, not to mention the fact that critical analysis is one of the few things that doesn't make me feel like my soul is being destroyed (a bit much? I'm dramatic). 

    Wow. This is starting to sound like a bad SOP. Haha. In short, thank you for your kind words. 

    Valentine's Day Massacre

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Excuse #1 Valentine's food coma Excuse #2 iPad typing Excuse #3 Weary as all hell I meant "The Bobs" of Office Space fame...statistics show Friday is the best day of the week to fire someone...I need to be put out of my misery, long story short.

     

    Ah yes. Slightly grim. Haha. 

     

    In other news, GradCafe only ups my anxiety. The more I read here, the more I feel unworthy of acceptance... I'M NEVER GETTING IN ANYWHERE. I SUCK AT LIFE, AND WILL BE A BUM. The lack of massacre to-day makes the thought of rejection tomorrow ten times worse. Blah.

     

    So... enough of my anxious rambling. Back to Hobbit analysis. Why do I continue to procrastinateeeeee.

    Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Sure. They should have enough to go around. :)

     

     

    I have high hopes as well. I'm really hoping that fit is what it comes down to. There are three great profs I could work with there, it's close to the Folger, and two of my rec-letter writers are UMD alums too. I'm hoping they somehow remember that they accepted me to their MFA program when I applied to that a few years ago (though I went elsewhere and my concentration changed), and that magically makes them think I'm good enough. 

     

    GOOD LUCK! Maybe, if the stars align, we'll both make it and be friends! Haha.

    Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Is there anyone else left on these boards besides me who is still facing the soul-crushing agony of absolute silence? At this point I am assuming rejections from all but 2 of my programs, and they are both such long-shot pipe-dreams that I should really just admit that I'm out for the season. :(

     

    I've still heard nothing. And... it's way lame. Especially since there've been a few Texas A&M acceptances and a waitlist. :/ And, of course, a few Virginia acceptances, but I never really expected to even make the waitlist there. BUT STILL. It'd be nice to hear ANYTHING.

    Show & Tell

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    I love stories. Ever since I was a child, I loved to listen, read, and tell stories. I didn't realize why until I was in college, and then it hit me. Now, I tell my students why we spend so much time analyzing literature, myths, film, and TV series: because if we want to really know the values of a culture, we look at the stories it tells. When I first realized that, I finally felt validated for my years upon years of analyzing EVERYTHING. And while the rest of the world always vehemently replied with, "it's just a book/movie/TV show/story!" I felt at home in English and Women's Studies departments, places where everyone was devoted to teasing out understanding or meaning or lack of meaning behind stories. 

     

    Forgive the incoherence. It is late. I am sleepy and plagued by a wave of feelings thanks to a stupid YA book actually wasn't stupid at all-- just very very sad. And uplifting. AGH THE FEELINGS. 

    This.

    Show & Tell

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Well. I've always been a huge reader. And I fought my love for literature for years... began undergrad as a theatre major. Finally, after becoming an English minor and with more than a little influence from more than one English prof, I gave in to my true love for lit and criticism. It's really been one of those situations where I denied what I was good at and what I really loved--I think people sometimes run away from their passion, for whatever reason... But two years ago I gave in and double majored... With every lit class I take, I fall deeper in love with lit, criticism, and scholarly writing. I even fought my urge to apply to grad schools until late this summer. I had a prof tell me that, "If anyone should go to grad school, it's you. And even if you just do an MA, you could do worse with two years of your life." 

     

    I just love gleaning meaning from texts. I love scholarly discussion. You could say that I'm in love with the romance of the English Scholar... totally cliche, I know. But I feel truly alive when I delve into the meaning of a text. Plus, I don't think I could devote my life to some corporate job that I don't really believe in. Many people live life as though they have time... I recognize that there isn't time to wait around to find happiness. So, I came to the realization that I really do want to be a scholar of literature, at whatever cost. 

     

    Meh, rereading this, I'm horribly cliche. But whatever. Maybe it's the beer talking... haha.

    Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Agh. There are a few UVa phone calls listed... hoping and praying they make a few more calls to-morrow or Monday... Starting to freak. Texas A&M waitlist has been posted as well, but listed as snail mail. My mailing address is listed as my parents' house (my uni address has been in flux... long story... so all my apps have my parents' address in case I ended up moving...) but they're in NOLA until at least Wednesday. And a few South Carolina acceptances have been listed. I've got nothing but silence on my end. Well, in lieu of responses, I have a pitcher of beer. SIGH. 

     

     

    PS... Congrats to all that have heard back! I hope I'll join the club next week.

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