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m_pru

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About m_pru

  • Birthday November 26

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    mspruske

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Female
  • Location
    TX
  • Application Season
    2013 Fall
  • Program
    English Ph.D (Medieval Lit)

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  1. I definitely think that with SMU being so young, that they are using it as an opportunity to be cutting edge. They also seem to have more money than god to throw at building the program, too. But, besides the tech and the travel funding, they're doing a lot structurally. For teaching prep, they actually do observations and feedback, just like you would do in a secondary school setting. Frankly, that should be done at all levels. How often in college have you had a brilliant prof that was an awful instructor? Being brilliant and a an authority doesn't mean you can communicate effectively (soapbox). I just saw that we have the opportunity to stay on for one year as a visiting professor/adjunct our seventh year (or after we've defended our dissertation)--not does that give us usable experience for our job search, it gives us an environment that we can conduct a job search in without worrying about our loan payments. Sure it's a competitive posting, but that's a lot more than other schools offer. I don't know. If I had known at first that they were only 6 years old, I probably wouldn't have applied (I found out at interview weekend), but ultimately, in this specific instance, youth doesn't matter--it's a very student driven program, very focused on building a legacy and reputation. And more money than the law school. ;-)
  2. I agree! I got a waitlist right on the heels of a string of rejections; it really helped my state of mind. Good luck, and I wish you the best!
  3. Haha! I think the problem is this marroon bias that's followed me around since my undergrad! There are so many people, that for them, UT was their top choice, and they're on the waitlist--it was my 9 of 10. It just doesn't seem fair to take it if I have an offer from a school that I ranked higher. And I legitimately can't miss class that week. So... I do appreciate your tenacity--we, I'm assuming, medievalists have to stick together!
  4. Yeah, I was surprised by both the offer and my reaction to the school on my visit. I'm starting to feel really calm about it, so I think it might be The One. And I love your profile pic, by the way!
  5. How did Chicago phrase it...it was something to the effect of: while we are not currently extending you an offer, we are keeping you in mind in case an opening develops. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions. It was an awkward email. I was tempted to call and make sure that meant I was waitlisted. Now, I think I might need to!! Eek!!
  6. At my visits to schools for interviews there was a mixture of styles. For example, at my most recent visit, some went went quirky formal (slacks, vest, bowtie, killer glasses, no jacket), others went hpipster, and others went more traditional. One guy and one girl each went traditional suiting (the girl was seriously wobbling in her heels by the end of the day), then there was the guy in full on tweed sportscoat, turtleneck, and slacks! I personally did business separates with a cushioned wedge loafer for all the hiking. For the dinner party that night, I just switched the loafers for a pair of heels. The day before, at more casual activities, I wore a pair of dark trouser jeans with heels and a sweater set. At the visit to the school I'd already gotten in, people were much more casual. There were a lot of t-shirts with blazers and jeans. At that point, it's up to the school to sell you, so eh. I basically wore khakis and blouses with loafers...somewhere between business casual and pampered soccer mom. Ultimately, you need to be you, and your feet need to be comfy. But you also need to be aware of the culture you are going to be visiting. I made sure only flashes of tattoos were showing, if any. I am not ashamed of them, and I love them, but I also wanted the committee completely focused on me and my personality. Final advice, dress to your personality! Good luck!
  7. Do you have a reader for the class? I know for Old English, we basically had three terrible, dry grammar books, which had been photocopied from the 1800s. I haven't taken a Middle English class yet, but I've taken a Chaucer/Middle English lit class. I used a Tolkien's Middle English Reader and the Chaucer Metapages from Harvard. They have links to teach yourself Middle English. I know this late, but maybe it will still help. Be warned, German is only a part of our linguistic heritage! For help with the Roman and The Pearl, your best bet is going to go to that section of the library and just scan the shelves. It is much faster than trying to get the right keywords. Also, even though they were being snarky, the suggestion to speak with your prof is a good one. Msg me if you need more help--I have been making a bibliography/card catalog of this stuff, which I hope to digitize one day, but it's in my office.
  8. Honestly, one of my mentors suggested it; it would have never occurred to me otherwise. They have one of the premier feminist Medievalists in the country on staff, so after I saw that, it made sense to apply. But SMU wasn't my top pick until I went there last week. They have graduated most of one cohort, who have all been placed in tenure-track jobs, and for me, their focus on professional development and pedagogy was, after a chance to work with Bonnie Wheeler, what decided me. I'm doing my thesis on professional development and mentorship in graduate schools, so it really resonated. Plus, they were one of the few schools that didn't recoil in horror when I mentioned having a two year old, which I was very upfront about. Ultimately, for me at least, their youth is a strength. It is allowing them to put in systems of tracking and support immediately from the beginning. Some/most of the older programs never did that...I assume because they never realized they'd become so large. As a result, they struggle to place their candidates after graduation. I concede that it wouldn't be for everyone, though. :-)
  9. For any waitlisted Medievalists: I have decided to reject my offer tomorrow. I hope it goes to someone who really wants to be at UT! I know it's a wonderful program, but it was love at first sight when I visited SMU last week (which was a surprise), so just this once, I'm going to indulge myself and go with a gut reaction (I'm one of those type A, list makers). Good luck to you all!
  10. So, I'm on the waitlist at Chicago and Emory, and I assume Maryland--I feel like I should have been rejected by now, if I wasn't. Then I've been accepted into UT and SMU. As a Medievalist, I don't think Emory is going to happen, so I have decided to remove myself from the list tomorrow. I've also decided to reject UT (yay waitlisters for Austin!!)...I'm scared to withdraw from Chicago though. My funding package from SMU was incredibly generous, and I have cousin in town that might be able to help watch my toddler vs. whole new territory in Chicago. But Chicago is Chicago! Does anyone know if their waitlist is ranked? I feel guilty stressing over this when I know others have less options. :-(
  11. I will have a Masters in Education...I found dipping outside of the discipline helped my odds at teaching-focused universities, but not so much at the big research schools. I think it depends on the culture. Some professors really want that young, malleable mind. Others don't.
  12. So, I've been accepted to UT as well, but can't make the recruitment weekend because I have to give a massive presentation during class Friday...how dangerous is that? I'm still waiting to hear from my #1 (just finished up a recruitment/interview weekend there), and one other school that I had ranked about the same as UT. And then I'm on a couple of waitlists. At this point, if I don't get into my #1, I was just going to accept UT's offer. Should I try and Skype with the director or some of the faculty in my specialization? Did any of the current students learn something earth-shattering at their recruitment weekend? Waiting for all these responses is more distracting than filling out all those applications last semester! I can't wait for this process to be over! :-)
  13. I just got an email inviting me up to visit the first weekend of March...it was a "you're a finalist" thing, not a "you've been accepted!" thing. Considering it came two days after Ohio State rejected me, I will take it! :-D In Texas, I applied to UT and Rice; I haven't heard from either yet.
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