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guinevere29

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Everything posted by guinevere29

  1. I do know multiple people who have chosen this route (an unfunded MA from a high-ranking school) and successfully gotten into top-tier PhD programs. However, I think this route may be better suited for someone who really thinks they need a boost in their applications due to a low undergrad GPA, didn't have strong recommendations from undergrad professors, or more research opportunities. This doesn't sound like your situation. After getting into both the University of Chicago's MAPH program and Univeristy of Toronto's Medieval Studies MA, I seriously looked into the cost/rewards of going to a top school with no funding, but I was saved at the last minute by getting into a PhD program. If you have a job and a decent shot at getting in the second time around, I would definitely wait and try again for PhD programs.
  2. First off, I'll echo rachelann and queennight in saying that they are absolutely correct on how to do better on the Verbal. Plain and simple, memorize those words. My goal was to break into the 90th percentile and I didn't achieve that the first time, in my estimation, because I was taking a more hollistic approach to studying. Second time, I just took practice tests and memorized vocab and I got into the 90th percentile. Wyatt - I also got a 4.5 the first time I took the Analytical, mostly because I didn't believe that I needed to study examples of how to write an essay. I'd gotten a 12 out of 12 on the ACT writing the first time I took it, so I figured, why wouldn't I get a 6 on the GRE? Well, I ended up retaking it because I was embarrassed by that 4.5 and I ended up getting a 92nd percentile score on the Analytical the second time I took it just by studying how the section is scored and the example essays. I'd recommend taking it again if you can afford it, because I definitely think a 5.0 or a 5.5 is achievably on your second shot. As for the creativity advice given by queennight, I can't really speak to that because I don't think I was very creative on my GRE essays. My strategy was to hit all my points in the most logical format possible, but maybe that's why I didn't make it to a 6.0!
  3. I'm a first year graduate student at IU and I'm moving out of my 1 bedroom apartment next year. I don't think the landlord has found someone for next year yet...just throwing that out b/c I saw someone posted they were having trouble finding a place!
  4. Love the Groundhogs Day reference. I think part of what people are frustrated about here is that while there certainly are naive, rosy-eyed students appying to PhDs in the humanities who definitely should be warned, if they have spend any amount of time on the forums here, they should be well aware of that fact. On the otherhand, it has been really refreshing to hear people defending their choices to pursue PhDs in the humanities when there is so much negativity going around. Once you've considered all the risks and rewards and made the choice to get a PhD in the humanities aware of the dismal job market (as many of the people here clearly have), the lack of respect your decision seems to garner gets depressing. Sure, it's not for everyone but I've decided the PhD is for me. Cheers to supporting each other and keep each other positive.
  5. Hi coffeeandcomics! It looks like you are applying to the Literature program, so my response pertains directly to that. Things vary a bit by department. Right now the situation is that every incoming student should be fully funded with a first year fellowship and a 1-1 teaching load for the remaining years of the contract. I don't know if they updated their website since I applied, but if it's the same thing it's fairly confusing. Because IUB does not offer teaching assistantships to first-year students without MAs, in the past, some students have been offered admittance to the program without being fully funded their first year. So basically, you would have to pay for one year of tution with only partial funding, but then you are allowed to continue on the track of the PhD program with full funding and a TAship after that first year. It's a weird way of doing things - but it's not a reason to not apply because 1. if you do get a first-year fellowship, the deal is sweet and 2. as of this year, they are really cutting down on the size of the incoming class so they can offer them all fellowships. Also, the 1-1 teaching load is a really great offer. My cohort is the first to be offered this for the entire time we will be teaching. The stipend is not huge compared to some other schools, but another thing to take into consideration is that it is a lot cheaper to live in Bloomington than any big city or east/west coast town. My rent next year is only $450 for a room in a three-bedroom house in a cute neighborhood with free parking. I go to Chicago and Indianapolis relatively frequently, and I visited friends in St. Louis last weekend so it's not like I'm starved for big city life. I would say definitely apply if your interests fit with IUB! Like I said, their weird way of funding is not a reason to not apply - unless you really don't see yourself here - because there is the potential to recieve a good funding deal, and if you don't, you always have the option to turn it down or accept it if your only other option is pursuing an unfunded MA.
  6. Hmmm. That is a good question. I haven't heard whether comp. lit is doing anything official that day and I'm not on their email list. If I had to guess, comp. lit's campus visit day would be the same weekend if they have an official one. I would contact someone in your department and if they are not organizing something official, that would be a good weekend to visit either way.
  7. Yep! It's Friday, March 28th and coincides with IU Graduate Conference. PM me if you have any questions about IU, I'm a current student and I attended the campus visit day last year.
  8. Well I'm on here, I guess I'll put my two-cents in on perspectives on success. I'll let everyone else be the judge of to what extent I was successful; I didn't get into any Ivy Leagues, but I also didn't really apply to any of them besides Stanford, and that was at the behest of my advisor. I got into one PhD program that is top-20 for Medieval Lit. The school itself fluxuates around 20-22 in the USNWR for overall English program ranking, but obviously it was more important that it be highly ranked for my field. I got into two top-tier masters programs that were unfunded, and one funded masters program that is from a small state school that doesn't even offer a PhD, but is well-known specifically for its medieval studies resources (that would be Kzoo for all you medievalists). Aspects of my application I wouldn't/couldn't change if I did it all over again: - a 3.97 undergraduate GPA from UIUC in English and minor in Spanish (if said it before on here recently). - 90th percentile GRE verbal and writing scores - an abmismal 57th percental subject test score (what a waste of time and money, am I right?) Things I think could have gotten me into more PhD programs: - Been less specific on my SOP. I didn't realize it at the time, but I think I pidgeoned-holed myself into Anglo-Saxonism when I was still interested in the medieval period more broadly. - Consulted more with my advisors about which schools I applied to. To be honest, I should have looked into this way more than I did. I only applied to 8 schools, and I wish I would have applied to more and picked them more carefully. - Spent even more time on my writing sample/conferences with peers. While a professor eventually came through and really helped me out on this one, I think I could have had a better writing sample if I had sought out more opportunities to revise. Hope this helps!
  9. While I'm not saying the coverletter isn't a factor in applications, I have trouble believing it played a crucial role in getting anyone in anywhere. I've always supplied cover letters for jobs, but the reality is that AdComms have a limited time to sort through hundreds of applicants, so I can't imagine they'd really want anything that they don't explicitly ask for. Worst case scenario, if you don't include something in your SOP that you do include in your cover letter, there's a chance that information will be discarded.
  10. Although when and how acceptances/rejections are sent out varies from school to school, if you are desparate to know, the Results Search on this website is pretty helpful. If multiple people are posting that they were accepts and 24 hours later you still haven't heard, there is a very good chance you are either rejected or wait-listed. If you are waitlisted, don't give up hope or jump to accept another offer just because you feel pressured to. I knew multiple people who got accepted at the beginning of April off the waitlist. I'm going to chime in here with one other piece of advice: once you see that schools have sent out their first round acceptances, it's ok to email the department and inquire about the status of your application. I didn't get some rejections until late March, but when I emailed the schools I was waiting on, they were all responsive and let me know directly whether or not my application was being considered. When I emailed U of Chicago like this, they sent me an email back saying well, we can't admit you to the PhD, but congrats! you have been admitted to our MA program. So, you never know. I don't think the departments will begrudge you for emailing them after they have sent out their acceptances.
  11. I also failed at excercising first semester...I may have gone on a short run once or twice...I watched a lot of Netflicks. But this semester I have actually be much better about it - I've been going to some group excercise classing at the gym which kills the getting involved and working out birds with one stone. In fact, in general I've been sticking to my resolutions a lot better in my second semester of grad school than I did in my first: 1. Make time for pleasure reading/creative writing. I'm in a Lit PhD program, so things can get pretty dry and theory-heavy. My goal is to write at least one page of creative writing a day (which more or less happens) and listen to fun books on audio while I am driving/cooking/cleaning etc. 2. Actually get started working on my end-of-term papers before spring break. This is one I've always had, but have never acheived. I actually spent time getting ahead on research this weekend though so maybe this is the year I overcome procrastination! 3. Get involved in the grad school community. 4. Eat healthy! (Been going well so far, except when I am tempted to eat at restaurants!) 5. Save money. This one has not been going well. I have electric heat and a poorly insulated apartment, and multiple months of sub-zero temperatures have resulted in a $210 electric bill for a one-bedroom. Ouch. I also spent money on fun activities with my SO when he came to visit and am now going on a roadtrip for Mardi Gras sooooo...this one needs work. Luckily my living situation next year should be a lot cheaper.
  12. If you are currently attending a university, I would definitely take advantage of its resources before pursuing expensive (and potentially fruitless) outside help. Even if one or two professors you ask for help don't come through or are too busy, keep trying. My undergraduate thesis advisor recently became the DGS of the college, and I was really looking to her for help, but I suspect she was too busy. I was wary to ask a professor that I just started taking a class with for help on my writing sample and personal statements, but when I did he really came through with giving me the advice I needed. I actually credit his help with me getting into a PhD program. Keep trying to get advice from professors, they are the ones who really know what is going on with admissions. I'll also second everyone who has mentioned exchanging materials with peers. Sometimes reading/critiquing other's writing will get you to notice the strengths and weaknesses of your own. Even if I were out of school for a while, I still don't think I would go to a professional service. I just can't imagine them being able to give any specific advice for English programs beyond the tone and quality of your writing. In this way, maybe an MA program is the way to go because this will allow you to network with different professors that will be invested in your work and your future.
  13. Thanks Algernon! I'm always happy to talk about UIUC. The English department is great.
  14. Congrats on getting accepted to UIUC! I love Professor Trilling. She was my honors thesis advisor for undergrad. If you guys have any question about UIUC or their campus let me know!
  15. They will be sending out acceptances in the next couple of weeks, Indiana is currently doing a bunch of new facutly hires and the department is really busy with that. But they just selected who will be the prospective student coordinator so they are getting ready to send them out soon. They are looking to have about 10 people in the incoming cohort, so I assume this application season was especially difficult but the good news is that everyone who is coming in this year should have a first year fellowship if you don't already have your MA. I'm currently at Indiana-Bloomington in the PhD program I love it here, feel free to PM me if any of you have questions about the program.
  16. Mmorrison - I think the empahsis on language can vary from program to program. Especialy because medieval work covers quite a range of different texts, if you work with later stuff it's not essential that you have Latin, though it help. My program (Indiana) is especially language-heavy and I think my language background was probably what got me into the program, but that wouldn't neccessarily be the case at a school where there aren't a lot of philologists. Also Medievalmadness I forgot to respond I'm not on Larry Swain's panel. I'm with Ben Garceau on the Medieval Monster as a Mirror panel.
  17. Wow a lot to respond to! Im so happy this thread as taken off. Cloudofunknowing - I am taking a class with Karma right now! She is the best. We are working on Object Oriented Ontology theory and the medeival object/sacred relics. The class is incredibly interesting, Karma is doing some really neat work with pilgrim's badges. I will have to check those all this out! I can't apply to teach my own curriculum until I've taught Writing & Composition for a year so I'll have to keep all this in mind. A friend of mine mentioned to me though that the reading load for these classes cannot be too ambitious, so I'd have to think of which Tolkien works I'd want to do...but hopefully there would be a lot of interested students to they wouldn't begrudge having to read the Lord of the Rings, though the whole trilogy might be too much.
  18. This bit is really interesting! I'd like to hear more about what type of research you might do on this. I'm in the PhD program at Indiana U Bloomington. I mostly do Anglo-Saxon/Old English studies and I'm always fascinated by how much OE Tolkien puts in his writing. In my program start out teaching Intro to Composition but we can apply in later years to teach a lit class based on our own research, and I've always thought Tolkien and his medieval sources would make an awesome class that might get undergrads interested in Medieval Lit. Anyone presenting at Kalamazoo or attending? Cause you should definitely check out the 1:30pm sessions on Sat (I'm presenting on Beowulf)
  19. I have been interested in the digital humanities for a while. Last semester I was part of a digital project for MAPS (Medieval Association of Place and Space) in which graduate students wrote Wikipedia-like entries for an online database on Arthurian legend. I also took a class that was completely dedicated to the "digital turn," but the professor was mainly interested in rhetoric rather than literature so any lit students were on their own to apply it to their fields. I ended up doing a video with a voice recording of the poem The Wanderer in the original Old English, so students who are learning to read OE could hear what the poetry sounds like when read aloud. I have to say, I'm still not sure I could come up with a finite definition of the "digital humanities." It seems to encompass a lot of different types of projects and research interests. I think to some extent its popularity as a category distinct from other research methods and presentation media will fade out as more and more people who grew up with computers get jobs as professors. People will of course still be working with digital media and talking about it theoretically, but it will be more semlessly integrated into pedagogy and research. Just my opinion!
  20. Hi there - I had similar qualifications as you do from a Big Ten school and I did not recieve an acceptance until the end of February last year. So don't despair! Did you only apply to three schools? Unfortunately, the truth about this process is that it is extremely subjective so they more schools you apply to, the better chance you have of being a "fit" somewhere.
  21. I really wish we (meaning American soceity) had a more fluid naming process both after marriage and for naming children. Specifically, that people could give equal consideration to taking both last names regardless of gender and ultimately choose to keep one or both last names. For same-sex couples and transgender couples, this is already the case - there is no protocol or pressure to choose one partner's name over the other's. However, for hetereosexual couples, there is still considerable pressure for the woman to change her last name. The thing that really frustrates me is that the name-change issue can create legal issues for the woman should she get divorced or choose to go with a non-traditional name change. However, on a theoretical level, to what extent to we really "own" our original last names? I have my father's last name (no hyphen, no mother's maiden name), so does keeping my last name really represent female sovereignty or does it just come down to choosing one patriarchal name over another? And then, if the relationship is a healthy relationship of equals in which one person doesn't force the other to give up their goals or aspirations due to gender roles, what inherent value does the name have other than a practical means of identification? Everyone has brought up great points in this thread and this issue continues to perplex me. I try not to view it as a choice between femninism and patriarchy, but it's just not that simple!
  22. I am a first year student in a PhD program. I came directly out of undergrad, so I am also on the young end of things age-wise, and at the beginning of the semester I erred on the conservative side and addressed all my emails to professors as "Professor _____," though in responses my professors have generally signed with their first names. It is also fairly typical that graduate students call professors by their first names in my department, especially the older students in the department. What I'm wondering is: current grad students, do you/when did you transition into calling professors by their first names? Can I generally assume it's fine to address them by their first names in the future?
  23. I know how you feel - it doesn't end after the application process either, I've had more than a few important emails not receive a timely reply. Is there a secretary for the department or anyone else you can contact? Although under normal circumstances I wouldn't go to someone else because it is akin to calling that professor out on not being communicative, sometimes when it is imperative that you recieve a response an extra push from a staff member can help resolve the issues.
  24. First, take a deep breath. We all feel inadequate sometimes when we read our own writing (especialy when it counts for something important). Here are a few specific pieces of advice. I'll try to keep it brief since I'm sure you can find more detailed advice elsewhere on this site. Try to think of it as an excercise in which you demonstrate to the admissions committee that you 1) can articulate a specific set of interests that are appropriate for your field 2) are a good fit for the school's program and 3) have the crudentials and experience necessary. I would error on the side of being direct and consice with your writing rather than fluffing up your writing with academic jargon. I also wouldn't waste time beating around the bush with cliches like "I've loved to read since I was a child..." or making claims about how much you enjoy academic work. In the case of the disibility, it's hard to give specific advice without knowing your personal situation. Perhaps this would be something to ask the professors writing your letters of rec. Why did they feel the need to include it? Was it a personal obstacle you overcame? Does it somehow inform your academic work? Does it give you a diverse perspective that would be valuable in your field? In any event, I would keep it brief and positive.
  25. You are right that a lot of schools do weed people out. If you scored 60th percentile or lower on the Verbal GRE, I would be concerned about getting cut. However, I see a lot of posts from people worrying frantically about their 75th percentile scores, or even their 80th percentile scores, and that's not worth your time or effort no matter what the websites say. Now, lower-end GRE scores combined with other sub par elements of your application lowers your chance of getting in. However, if you've studied and done the best you can do on the GRE, I would not go dropping a grand on a GRE prep course to improve your scores or studying an hour a day at the expense of revising your writing sample or improving your personal statements. Or using that money to apply to more schools! I have more anecdotal evidence than statistical (just talking to current graduate students and department staff), but I have always been told straight up that the GRE is the least important element of the application. I think a lot of people on this forum make the assumption that if you are seriously considering applying to PhD programs, you have looked at your GPA and GRE scores and know that they are at least reasonable for getting into these programs, so I think that's where a lot of this advice is coming from. Someone who has a 75th percentile score with a perfect fit in terms of academic interests and a stellar writing sample will certainly get in over someone with a 170 GRE score and a poor fit. AdComs do understand that it is possible to perform poorly on a standardized test and still be a brilliant writer. That's as much as I've been trying to get across.
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