thatjewishgirl

Not to rub salt into anyone's wounds - I cried for days when my partner was accepted somewhere and I was rejected, which happened more than once, so I understand how awful rejection feels - but I do want to say that I signed my contract today. I am really excited to start in the fall. Now to find housing... Having never left Oklahoma, I already find this prospect daunting.

I'm sorry to hear this, too! I agree with what has already been said - this process is so random.

Hi Ely! What do you study? I'm in Baton Rouge now and visiting school tomorrow.

Posted. I think it would be mad to turn down a double acceptance, so my S/O and I abandoned all other options!

Okay, I know next to nothing about MFA rankings! Just curious.

I am certainly no expert in this process, but you should go with the school that wants you, I think. I know people from a pretty low ranked school here in Oklahoma who have all managed to secure tenure-track jobs before their program is up. It isn't impossible.

Datatape, so glad you called. I saw that waitlist post and immediately thought "I hope that's not him!" since I know you were waitlisted last year. Good luck! And "mr. thatjewishgirl" says "I'm completely comfortable going by that moniker." Also - did I read your post correctly? They had 110 PhD applicants and over 300 MFA?! Wow. I'm surprised at how few PhD applicants and how many MFA.

Thanks, bluecheese! English Lit, too. It sounds hard given how big Minneapolis is, but I don't know for a fact.

Thanks for your help! I contacted everyone we talked about, and two got back to me already and we set up meeting times. I am really excited about this program. I did my BA at a lower-ranked state university and my MA at a non-doctoral granting institution, so LSU is a significant step up for me. My department chair and two of my letter writers (one is my teaching supervisor and one was my thesis advisor) are excited for me. The more I research the program and talk to people about it, the more I think LSU will be a perfect fit for me.

LOL - how many are on the waistlist?! I'm on it, too. I also find their funding confusing... I am under the impression that you get 17,000 for the first year, but it fluxuates after that, which disturbs me.

Yes, for sure, you don't want to be that person who goes over on time! I always present a 7 page paper for 15 minutes and stay within the time limit each time. I average a page per two minutes with a little time left to spare.

Ken, congrats on your first conference presentation! Now I wish I was going to RMMLA this year to give some support to a fellow grad cafer! I was horrified when only 5-ish people attended both my panels (Romanticism, I was surprised so few people were interested). I'm sure you'll be great, although I do remember being really nervous at my first conference five years ago. And Yes. My husband and I were in the first rounds of acceptances at Louisiana State. We are beyond thrilled and plan to accept the offer. I've also been accepted to Georgia State and waitlisted at Univ. of Minnesota, and my husband was also accepted to Univ. of Nebraska and Michigan State. By Louisiana do you mean LSU or a different school? Did you like Tulsa? What did you do while you were there? I live in OKC. I will miss this place.

I agree with everyone else on here that you should tell them. I know how you feel, a little - I have only been accepted to two programs so far and waitlisted at two others, so I was worried they would be disappointed. I still work with my letter writers, so I immediately told two of the most supportive ones as well as our department chair, and I could tell they are genuinely excited for me and really proud. We're only an MA granting institution, so I think they are genuinely impressed with my acceptances/decision. One of my other letter writers - who was on my thesis committee and with whom I took a few classes who has never given me even a tiny iota of praise - totally made a face, like "ew, I can't believe you are going there" and told me to wait to hear back from the places that waitlisted me. I'm definitely getting my letter writers gifts, except for maybe the sour faced one.

I'm excited for you! Sounds interesting. Normally RMMLA is within a reasonable distance from Oklahoma - last year it was in Boulder, CO - but I couldn't justify it since I had to pay to go to the Midwest Victorian Studies Association conference in Cleveland next month. You'll love it!

Yay! I'm sure you'll meet us then. We've been compiling a list of questions for people... but I guess I should ask - I've looked at a few names already, but I'm wondering what professors in 19th-century British lit to contact to meet with when we're there. Any names for me?

Love RMMLA! I've been three years in a row - I chaired some panels last year. They are so much fun. I did not apply to go this year since I didn't know what my PhD situation would be. What panel are you on?

Yeah, the posts from this week were me and my S/O. We were both accepted. But I gathered from talking to people on here that they usually extend an offer to a few people first, and more later. She said they let further acceptances know by the 15th!

I'm reviving this thread in anticipation of my fellow LSU admits receiving acceptances next week! Anyone else on here apply to LSU? Anyone been to Baton Rouge before? I'll be going during the week of March 18th and am pretty unsure what to expect from the state/city.

I know that Oklahoma is not anyone's idea of glamorous, but I want to throw this out there: Oklahoma State University is a wonderful school. University of Central Oklahoma does not have the ranking of OSU or OU, but I went there and made the most if it. They give you literally thousands of dollars per year for conferences and everyone gets a TAship with tuition paid. Same at Oklahoma State, minus paying for conferences. OSU's MA package (PhD package for that matter) is great and everywhere in Oklahoma is super affordable. While I certainly would not suggest OSU for PhD, I would for MA. Anyone who got shut out this year should think about applying - living in OK for two years would be absolutely bearable, and OSU is really strong in certain areas, film, MFA, Native Studies, Irish studies all spring to mind, and OSU has one of the top Milton scholars in the world and is the home of the Milton Quarterly. The guy whose assistantship involves editing the Quarterly has had it for forever, so surely he'll graduate eventually! AT UCO everyone teaches 2/2, and you can do that at OSU too, but they have more options for fulfilling the remainder of your assistantship. And I would like to repeat that at both of these schools almost everyone is accepted and funded. So if you would rather not pursue an unfunded MA, apply to some Oklahoma schools for next year. OSU takes out of state and Okies alike, so I think chances are good for anyone on here.

I'm sure I will have a million questions, so I will PM you if I think of any!

Thank you!! I'm a Victorianist with a minor specialization in Judaism and Jewish literature and he applied in British 18th century Caribbean lit. I probably should have said we both have English MAs.

I know, I am still absolutely shocked!

Haha, I know! I can't believe it! We did not expect this at all, and for weeks now have been trying to coordinate living apart, and now we don't have to! And the funding package is amazing...

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BOTH JUST ACCEPTED TO LSU WITH FULL FUNDING!!! I am BEYOND happy!!! We didn't think we would get in anywhere together!!!!!

What's going on with UNC-Greensboro? I got that email about having to wait another month to hear back, but it looks like others have been rejected outright?