InHacSpeVivo

I am out of up votes, but I just had to thank you for this post. I was born and raised in Hawaii, but my family background is European/Native American. I've basically had to develop a completely new lexicon over the past 12 years or so, but every once in a while I will say something that throws people completely for a loop. I look white, so everyone just assumes I'm from New England originally. When they find out I'm from Hawaii I get this ridiculous line of questioning that none of my Flipino, Samoan, Japanese, etc friends would ever receive just because, apparently, you can't be from Hawaii and not be Asian. Anyway, I know how you feel in a way, and I was especially happy you shared your experience because I really like hearing about people who grew up surrounded by Jewish culture. I find it fascinating, but I didn't meet anyone who was Jewish until I was 17. I often come across Jewish traditions, etc. in the Boston suburbs that don't really make sense to me, but can rarely find people willing to explain things that are so familiar to them (I guess it's so ingrained there's no way to articulate it to someone with no background in that society). Anyway, thanks!

I found a couple typos on the SOP that got me into my MA program (years ago).

It's so funny because grad school is supposed to be all about adding to a field, but I'm starting to get the feeling that getting is about conforming to existing research. I thought my SOP just out of ug seemed pedestrian, but it seems to have worked better than my latest effort...

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I've done a lot of research over the years and was hoping to dig into things a bit more this summer, but it looks like I'll be working on apps again. The best I'll ever get is my approximations. Most of my friends have much more storied genealogies than I do, so it's nice to come across someone also from a hodgepodge of non-nobles.

AMAZING! Congrats!

Lol, np. I approximated. I have Native American ancestry on both sides of the family tree, so it's easier to say 1/3 than give a percentage (also, I don't have an exact percentage because both sides were poor/uneducated/bad record-keepers and my paternal line is Lumbee, which is a Southern tribe and only black, white, or mixed were options in the census until probably around 20 years ago).

Very good to hear, Katia! Good luck with the rest of your apps!

Well, in that case I will be thinking very happy thoughts for you. Fingers crossed! This post was great for two reasons: First, it is ridiculous that anyone would question you about studying Anglo-Jewish lterature because you're German. I'm 1/3 Native American, and, while I don't study NA lit, most of the work done on NA authors is by white people and, like you said, no one ever seems to question them! It's just my opnion, but I think any study of Anglo-Jewish lit, especially outside of the more mainstream mid-twentieth century research, is really valuable! There's so much talk about the importance of studying under-represented works, but when it comes to actually doing it there's not as much as support as there should be. Also, in the likely event I will be re-applying, it's good to know I will have others with whom discuss the myriad of things wrong with my non-traditional application.

Congrtas, asleepawake! That's amazing! And happy birthday.

So was it a bill????

That is really helpful, thank you (and your husband) sharing! Hopefully there's a ways can avoid discussing my thesis in my SOP, lol.

I already contacted one program that rejected me, and I'm planning to contact a few more in March. I'll let you know if. Get any useful information from it. PS: I don't think I've mentioned this, but I love your avatar.

Thanks, pim! My parents actually moved to Tampa when I was in my MA program, so I am not the hugest fan of the state either, lol (and it's toward the bottom of my bf's lists of places to move). However, their program is phenomenal, and there is a professor there who is basically one of my professional idols. I haven't been to Gainesville in ages, but from what I've seen on HGTV it look like a very cool little college town, lol (and a much better cost of living than Boston). Honestly, it would be at the top of my list if they guaranteed funding. If a miracle happens and I get in, I'll definitely ask for some recommendations. I'm actually completely enamored by Providence and spend a lot of weekends in RI during the summer, so if you end up at Brown I can refer you to some great places!

That sucks, Swagato! It really is a blow when you can see the fit with the progra, but for some reason the program can't. It's so frustrating! That's becoming my plan too (someone even discussed their experience related to this on the Plan B thread, page two). When I applied for my to an American Studies program out of ug I only discussed my more "traditional" scholarly interests (Lost Generation and first person narratives in early 20th century fiction) and I got into an MA/PhD program at a great school. I ended up doing limited work in those areas, though, and my scholarship morphed more into popular culture studies. My program wasn't funded, so I decided to stop after my MA (which took forever because I had to work full time and write my thesis in weekends) and re-apply to PhD programs. Because I had a pop culture thesis, my SOP was about expanding on that work in a PhD program. I thought it would be fine, given that I demonstrated an ability to perform graduate level work and was only applying to schools with POIs whose work was very similar to mine, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm wondering if I shouldn't just retool my first SOP if I have to reapply next year...

Haha, sorry! It's UF. Did you apply there? I hope not because with a Brown acceptance under your belt I doubt I'd be able to compete with you anywhere!

Haha... I'm the same way, no worries! If it makes you feel any better I just turned 30 so I'll probably be 50 before I graduate from a program (assuming someone eventually takes pity on me and lets me in). Hey, thatjewishgirl, at least you know you can survive your 30s even if you have nothing to show for your 20s! I have a (apparently useless) MA, but it doesn't seem to be helping me any...

Congrats, pim!!!!! That's wonderful!!!!! Porridge, I'm by and away no expert on acceptances, but if you're already accepted and in another country I doubt not being able to attend an open house would reflect poorly on you in any way.

Ditto. What's worse is that I really, truly thought I had a healthy combination of top tier programs (which I only kept because they were the best fits I could find in looking at, literally, hundreds of programs) and schools that aren't as highly ranked, but are a really good fit and have good placement records. I know I'm not out of it yet, but (not includingBrown) none of the schools I'm waiting to hear from guarantee funding, so even if I do get in it won't matter if I can't pay for it. Anyway, I know exactly how you feel.

Congrats to all the Brown acceptances! Providence is seriously one of the best cities in the US (I figure Browns awesomeness goes without saying).

Why am I out of up votes?!?! Seriously, cutest couple ever.

I'm out f up votes, but I'm totally feeling you here. I am really happy for everyone because I know how hard we all worked, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't sting a little when I see someone with four or five acceptances get in somewhere I applied only for me to resign myself to receiving the rejection whenever the adcomms get around to it. Again, out of up votes, but I am so glad you said this! I'm really wondering what the magic formula is because clearly it's not exclusively fit (there's no way one person can be a perfect fit for 8-10 programs and others apply to 15-20 places with 0 acceptances, even if GREs and GPA are middle of the road). I really hope I can figure it out if/when I need to reapply.

Amen to that, girl who wears glasses.

Oh, good to know! Thanks so much, mostlytoasty, and, congratulations again!

Thanks, skybythelight! That's good to know in case I have to do this again (a possibility that's looking more and more liely). I've only been in touch with the grad secretary and may or may not have e-mailed her in a moment of panic to confirm that I would be considered for an MA slot if I didn't cut it for PhD (I wasn't sure if they'd do it automatically because I already have an MA, but in American Studies). In any event, that really is amazing news!

Thanks, and congratulations again! Seriously, amazing. Sorry I asked for the info, your notification was buried on the results board (I eventually did a search, saw it, and felt stupid for posting the question). Being that I'm mildly obsessed with this program I'm going to bug you with one more question: when did you submit your app? As in, right around the deadline or a month or two early? Just trying to get a sense of how they're going through things. Again, though, congratulations! I'm super jealous if you can't tell.