angelperak

I got my BA and Master's at the same university, but that didn't seem to hinder my PhD program applications.

Im mega-stressed right now about my visa. I applied for a permanent residency visa in June last year (I am married to a US citizen). All I need right now is an interview date because we've slooooowly made our way through the rest of the process. Im terrified I won't get it in time and that I will lose out on my place in my program (DL to apply for a student visa is June 1, but that would mean throwing away all the work/money that we've put into this residency visa so we REALLY don't want to do that). I just wish the wheels of the immigration process would turn a little bit faster for me!

Im a Kiwi, but grew up in Indonesia. Also lived in Australia for a bit, and have travelled extensively in SE Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, and PNG). My partner and I love to travel and we're hoping to visit Europe and Eastern Africa over the next couple of years. I also need to explore the USA more (only been to CA so far).

I grew up in Asia so my comfortable temperature is 30C...I cant even imagine seeing snow on the ground every winter! I think I will be fine with the weather outside as long as I can keep my apartment cosy and see some sun every now and then.

I had never heard of Memrise before this post. Now I'll be lost in its courses forever! I think I'll start with Chinese and Arabic...thanks for giving me a new obsession

I, too, am anxious about my visa. I've been waiting for my residency visa (partner is a US citizen) since June last year. We're just waiting for an interview to be scheduled now and then we should be free to go to the USA, but I'm worried that there will be an unexpected delay or we will be denied the visa for some unforeseen reason. Worst case scenario, I could go on a student visa but that brings its own problems and I would have to apply for that before the June 1 deadline. So many uncertainties! I can't wait until all the visa stuff is over so I can concentrate on what I CAN control: my studies.

I have a BA in English, and an Master's in creative writing, and will be entering a lit PhD program this Fall. I think what helped my applications most were: 1) a strong writing sample (my Master's thesis had to be partly creative, partly critical so I made sure that the critical portion related to my future research interests and then used that for my applications). 2) Showing how my creative interests tied into my literary interests in my statement of purpose. 3) I also had 2 years of teaching experience, and spent time as a research assistant on two different research projects. If you get strong LORs from your lit teachers and develop a writing sample that relates in some way to the research interests stated in your statement of purpose, then I don't see why you can't apply straight to PhD programs without getting an MA.

I received info about funding in my acceptance letter, but I assume that different departments have different funding protocol.

I was asked where I'm going by a department I turned down, so I told them. They replied and said that's the second time in two years that a student has turned them down for that particular school, so it is helpful for their records.

Hi! I'm not attending the program because English is my mother tongue, so I can't help you much there, but I am an international student who will be attending Northwestern in the Fall and it's nice to know of others who will be attending too

I'm in a different field, so can't comment on those programs, but I made my decision without any visits because I'm overseas and just didn't have the time/ money. It's a risk, but I talked to lots of people who live in each of the places I was considering, and tried to get a general idea from them. In the end, I made my decision based on research fit and funding. The location might turn out to not be perfect, but that's something I can deal with.

No joke: It was 6am and I was on the toilet in Cambodia. My husband said "your phone is vibrating" so I got him to toss it to me (expecting a relative to be on the other end), and that is when I got my first acceptance! I was half-asleep and at the end of the call (after rattling off a whole lot of stuff about funding, etc.) the caller says "Any questions?" I was so stunned and half-asleep that I couldn't say anything but "thank you so much"! The only reason I was up that early was because we were about to travel 6hrs by public bus to another town in Cambodia. Not even endless Khmer karaoke and no leg room could wipe the smile off my face on that trip! I got some other acceptances (all boring stories) but this is the university I've decided to go to, so I'm glad it's the one I was on a Cambodian toilet for

New Zealand! Starting a PhD in English literature.

I completely understand the guilt, which is why I procrastinated for so long before I turned down any offers. It's like breaking up with someone who likes me! And I couldn't attend any of the visiting weekends (I live overseas atm), so it made the decision and the "what ifs" harder. But I think I've made the right decision and now I can just look forward to attending!

Yay, I'm glad I'm not the only one! I think we'll all have to buy big down coats to survive the winters I've been doing lots of reading about the area and it sounds like there is a lot to do. I did my undergrad and Masters at university in a small town in New Zealand, so I'm expecting culture shock but also some really interesting experiences.

I've never smoked, read the Harry Potter books (though I like the movies), read or watched the Twilight series, or dyed my hair (and I don't plan on starting though I've spotted greys). I've been all through Asia and parts of Oceania, but I've only ever been in California in the USA.

Northwestern! Not where I thought I would end up (shocked I got in), but I'm really happy.

No one else heading to Northwestern this Fall?

I'm a transnational/ postcolonialist and I just turned down a funded offer at Iowa too!

I can't find another Northwestern thread in the Meet & Greet forum, so I thought I would start one. I'm 99% sure I will be attending Northwestern in the Fall (PhD in English). Anyone else planning to make NU their academic home for the next 5+ years? I will be completely new to the Chicago area so would love to know I'm not going to be alone!

Thank you! That gives me a much better idea of where to look. Before I felt like I was just floundering around blind.

Thank you, that is very helpful. We might stick to Evanston then. When would you recommend applying for apartments? I'm afraid that they will all be gone by the time we're ready to apply!

My partner and I will be moving from out of state so I can start studying at Northwestern in Fall 2014. We'd prefer not to move until August, but is that leaving it too late to find an apartment? At first we thought we would only look for apartments in Evanston, but this thread is starting to make me consider other places along the Purple line. Out of Andersonville, Edgewater, and other purple line areas, which would you recommend (for those of you familiar with the area)? I've never been to Chicago so I am going in completely blind here. Would Lincoln Park be worth considering as well? I can't drive yet, so I would be completely reliant on public transport and/or my own two feet.

Thanks! I think as long as I can get a well heated apartment (as well as a warm wardrobe) I will be fine. Looking forward to it!

Thanks to you both! Yeah, the weather is one of the only cons about going there. Guess I'll just have to invest in a down coat and some snow boots