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rainy_day

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  1. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from dancewmoonlight in whats a wannabe English graduate student supposed to do?   
    If you look through these boards, lots of people don't get in the first time around. With the average PhD acceptance rate somewhere around 10% (probably lower than that when we limit to funding) it's not unlikely or surprising that some people with lots of potential didn't make it in. Try not to take it personally. Talk to your mentors, maybe contact the schools you were rejected from, and identify the weaknesses of your application. Then fix those and reapply if this is what you want to be doing.
  2. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from FlyingSun in If I knew then what I know now...   
    Everyone's advice here is really great. I'll add:

    1. Give. Yourself. Time.

    With that time:
    2. Really research programs and faculty fit. Read their work! Three sentences of a website bio are not enough for you to know if this is a good fit or to write a thoroughly personalized SOP.

    3. Draft an SOP early enough to have your LORs look at it. Revise. Have it reviewed again. Etc.

    4. Triple check that envelope before you send it off. It's embarassing when School A calls you because they have School B's application. (Theoretically speaking, of course.)
  3. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from JessicaLange in Writing a SOP conclusion is so darn hard   
    Ah, kdilks, it never even occurred to me that the SoP might not be the end-all-be all.. Personally, I'm English, so the SoP needs to be a work of art. I get the impression this is true for most humanities folks.
  4. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from likearollinstone in Stupid Question   
    Reading the deatils of other people's application can drive you mad! Just keep working and revising your best piece of work, and try to trust in yourself.

    I think that if a student *has* been in graduate school, the expectations might be higher for that individual (I've read as much regarding GRE schools), so I think that schools factor in grad/undergrad experience when they look at an applicant.

    Either way, though I think one of the most important things about this application process is trying not to stress about the things you can't control.
  5. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from SLPH2b in Wait listing is NOT the end!   
    I met with a prof today for some advice on the strategy of being waitlisted, and he suggested the following:

    A huge number of the cohort at my current school (a well-respected PhD program) comes in of the waitlist each year. So there is reason to be hopeful! At the same time, people who have been accepted often take their time making a decision (understandably). This means you might not hear until very close to the April 15th deadline, and when this happens, things move very fast. Be prepared to wait. And then for it to be a little crazy.

    If you have been accepted to another school, or are on another waitlist, let them know, as this can sometimes move things along more quickly. What often happens is that the "first tier" of waitlisters have other offers & have accepted those offers by the time the waitlisting school gets to them. As a result, knowing you have other offers might light a fire, largely in order to prevent this from happening.

    Relatedly, if the waitlist school is your first choice--tell them that! In the mad dash leading up to April 15th, admitting someone who you know will likely accept becomes increasingly more attractive.

    Also, after you first hear you are on a waitlist, give it about 2 weeks before following up on your status & how quickly the list is moving along (beyond your initial response/questions/etc), but feel free to follow up. It let's them know you are still interested.

    Some questions my prof suggested asking the DGS: What is the teaching (assistantship) and mentorship like? What kind of professionalization is available, beyond coursework? What are the steps leading up to/preparing for the dissertation? Also, try to get a sense of new work of faculty and what (new) courses will be offered while you are there.

    Also, it can be helpful to ask to be put in contact with current PhD students. Some questions he suggested asking students: How interested is faculty in dissertation projects? Do students feel their work has been constrained or encouraged?
  6. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from Mistral in What kind of job can I get with an MA in English...?   
    My comment is a tangental, but I really like this point, Lyonness, and want to expand on it.

    I'll add that, while we may think our ideas are so advanced and elite we can't possibly share them with "the masses," that is deeply flawed and problematic thinking. My brother and father both work as commercial fisherman, and neither has a college degree. I regularly tell them about my research projects, and they find it really interesting. And my work is all about theory. I spent a long time discussing Foucault with each of them, and they loved it. My brother has since gone around and told other people about Foucault's notions of discourse & power. He's also provided me with some interesting ideas and valuable feedback.

    I tell you all of this because a) I have an awesome family and b ) I think we should constantly look outward with our work. The perception that our work is insular produces that very reality.
  7. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from malika in Boston & Cambridge, MA   
    There is some stuff going on-- decent restaurants, grocery shops, a second run movie theater. But it's mostly a quiet suburban town. It would be really hard to live in Waltham without a car. There is not any public transportation around Waltham, and everything is pretty spread out. If you live in Boston (or more accurately, Somerville or Cambridge) you definitely don't need a car. If you're looking into living in the city and commuting (which about 60% of grad students do) check out these neighborhoods: Inman square, union square, porter square, teele square, Davis square. PM me if you have any questions!
  8. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from Historiogaffe in Two degrees? Am I crazy?   
    I know someone who did a PhD and MLS concurrently. The PhD program knew about the MLS degree, but he did it at a different school. Considering the state of the job market right now, it's really not a terrible idea. My program actually had an info session for PhD students on earning an MLS, because it might be helpful in the job search.

    I definitely would give yourself the first year or two to just focus on your PhD program, to get a sense of the expectations and work load. I would also suggest you look for an inexpensive option, because Library degrees really are not as name-conscious as PhD programs. My friend who did both really regretted the $$ he invested to go to a top program, because he realized he could have gone to a lower ranked program for less $$ and the same benefits. Also, here are a number of reputable online programs (which are based in a brick-and-mortar school, so we're not talking UPheonix here) that could really help you with the time-management side of things.

    On one level, it's a crazy things to do, but then isn't he PhD program in and of itself a little nutty? Be careful that you don't bight off more than you can chew with coursework or finances.
  9. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from Historiogaffe in What book should I have my ESL students read next semester?   
    If you contact publisher's reps for your area at various publishing companies (Heinle, Pearson, McGraw Hill, Bedford St Martin's, etc.) they will listen to your needs and send you desk copies that you can choose from. Bonus: free books! Also, these books usually have instructor support materials.
  10. Upvote
    rainy_day reacted to TripWillis in Wait listing is NOT the end!   
    Whether you decide to hang it up or go for a third try (which I would fully support!), know that we're all bummed that you didn't make it. Take a little time to mourn so you can clear your head. You were waitlisted this year, so it's obvious your stuff has merit -- I think you could do it.
  11. Upvote
    rainy_day reacted to Safferz in Quite sick of critical pedagogy and every seminar turning to racist chatter, anyone else?   
    I think you'll have to tell us more about the discussions taking place in your classes and why you find them problematic. But your last question leads me to believe you're not really interested in engaging with critical pedagogy at all, and fail to see how the act of writing itself is tied to questions of power and privilege.
  12. Upvote
    rainy_day reacted to Swagato in welcome to the peep show   
    I don't wish to bash the author of the article, mostly because the errors of her thinking are so many and so clear that not much needs to be said here. I do regret, however, that her blanket statements equating graduate school with some kind of deferral of reality simply reinforces an already-existing ideology that sees us (and graduate careers, etc.) as exactly that. In this era of far-right assault upon education and the generally anti-intellectual rhetoric we hear, I'm disappointed that Slate chose to give credibility to such ill-informed junk.

    That's all.
  13. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from practical cat in Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants   
    I am officially a member of this thread, now. Next time I plan to get into ALL THE SCHOOLS.
  14. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from pinkrobot in Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants   
    I am officially a member of this thread, now. Next time I plan to get into ALL THE SCHOOLS.
  15. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from Fiona Thunderpaws in Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants   
    I am officially a member of this thread, now. Next time I plan to get into ALL THE SCHOOLS.
  16. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from TripWillis in Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants   
    I am officially a member of this thread, now. Next time I plan to get into ALL THE SCHOOLS.
  17. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from Two Espressos in Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants   
    I am officially a member of this thread, now. Next time I plan to get into ALL THE SCHOOLS.
  18. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from antecedent in Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants   
    I am officially a member of this thread, now. Next time I plan to get into ALL THE SCHOOLS.
  19. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from lyonessrampant in Wait listing is NOT the end!   
    Thanks, lyonness! Maybe we'll be classmates, yet!

    Also, I'd really encourage anyone who didn't make it in this year to write to their respective schools, especially where they were waitlisted, and ask for some feedback. The feedback I have received has been extremely helpful and actually very uplifting.
  20. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from JeremiahParadise in Wait listing is NOT the end!   
    Well, it's official, I'll be back here next year. 2013 we will get into all the schools.
  21. Upvote
    rainy_day reacted to Fiona Thunderpaws in Wait listing is NOT the end!   
    I GOT INTO UTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  22. Upvote
    rainy_day reacted to antecedent in Wait listing is NOT the end!   
    Aaaaaah Thunderpaws!!!!! That's great to hear! I so hope you get it - I'd feel vindicated in some way YOU'RE SO CLOSE! Aaaah!

    *crosses all possibly crossable appendages* Sending you all my luck! I sure don't need it this weekend
  23. Upvote
    rainy_day reacted to Fiona Thunderpaws in Wait listing is NOT the end!   
    Heard back from my DGS.

    I'm at the top of the list in my field.

    I'm exhilarated and terrified.
  24. Upvote
    rainy_day reacted to chapter1 in Wait listing is NOT the end!   
    I just got accepted off the wait list at UCLA. It was my only admittance this year, but was also my first choice. I feel like crying with happiness that this process is finally over! There IS hope. Hang in there, folks.
  25. Upvote
    rainy_day got a reaction from JeremiahParadise in Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants   
    I'll second this. I scored incredibly high on the GRE, and i've yet to be accepted to a program. I wish I could go back and spend the time on my writing sample.

    Studying for the GRE is easy; you just follow what a book tells you to do. Write a statement of purpose and and editing a writing sample is much, much scarier and much harder to do, so studying for the GRE becomes, I think, a distraction that we convince ourselves is "productive." It's not, spend the time on your SOP and WS.
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