ArthChauc

You're making huge, sweeping generalizations about a) "liberals" (as if we all believe the same thing and are one unit, which is laughable) and b ) capitalism. Capitalism is a system that creates HUGE dichotomies and is extremely problematic to individuals who are outliers in the system--sure, the extremely rich continue to be extremely rich and comfortable, but the poor are barely scraping by. Since when is capitalism a vehicle for social change? How could it be? If you've been kicked on your ass by a capitalist system, how is it going to help you? There's a reason that *some* liberal democrats push for socialized reform and it's because it has worked in many cases to better serve the people that capitalism shits on. I would love to see an example of "capitalism as a potential vehicle FOR social change" that isn't some business using "social change" as a tactic to elicit more business. Capitalism is intrinsically selfish and self serving.

I'm an MA student at BGSU and I know all about the ACS department! If you have any questions, please let me know!

I wasn't sure if anyone would catch it. I figured they would all just assume I am a weirdo (I am, but still). Cheers, Despejado!

Does the American Culture program happen to be BGSU? Just wondering. I was also told by my thesis advisor/LOR writer, and most amazing prof ever that I should not get worried until February 20th. A colleague and I were discussing that date and couldn't tell if it was a total arbitrary number that she pulled out of her ass to calm me down or it actually held some validity. She also told me to stay off of GradCafe because it would only get me more amped up. It does, but I do love reading this thread and it's better to panic together than panic alone (or to panic at the disco).

Ugh, I'm jealous. I totally screwed up the verbal and I'm 81 and 97.

I'm a sprinter when it comes to writing--I typically need about ten hours, a lot of coffee, and Bon Iver on Spotify and I can churn out a 20 pager pretty easily. After that, it's just editing, polishing, and expanding here and there. I know most people don't work that way though. I just didn't have a writing piece that I both loved and felt represented my interests. I'm a Medievalist and my favorite writing sample is on trauma, 9/11, and a Jonathan Safran Foer book. It didn't mesh well.

I did the same thing--or at least, tried to. Who knows how it comes across. I ended up kicking myself though because I wanted to turn it into a thesis chapter...and then changed the scope of that chapter just a few days ago.

I've heard both ways about that--mostly, the consensus seems to be as follows: really good scores look really good and bad scores look bad. I've heard that anything 80th percentile and up is a "safe" score and that most schools don't have an issue with scores after that point, but I've also read of people in the 70th percentile getting into solid universities.

Hello, I'm a Medievalist AND I "desire to one day get a job as a professor in English". Thank you for delivering to us the general theses of every Chronicle article written in the last two years. You and Rebecca Schuman should probably do lunch. ...anyway... If I wasn't desperately in love with Zinc's oh-so-beautifully upbeat and inspirational portrayal of the wasteland that we call academia (or if it just never comes to fruition for me, which it very well might not) I would like to be in politics--school boards, speech writing, city council--or be a mechanic. I love anything with an engine and watch a lot of F1 and just love cars in general. My fiancé claims I'm the weirdest woman he's ever met. But seriously. All it takes is looking at the new Audi/BMW series...

I watched three hours of Gossip Girl last night to distract me from thesis writing. No. Shame. Blair Waldorf is the greatest.

Hello, fellow Ohioan! I'm from Columbus! Also, I applied to 12 schools and am assuming that at least one if not two are already rejections. It's horrifying. I had the same issue with a professor submitting LOR to like FIVE SCHOOLS. I was shocked, especially since I was emailed a list of all the schools that this professor had "already" submitted to when I saw that there was an issue. I don't know what to think other than to worry. I'm in the same boat with you--all I want is ONE. Also like you, I didn't have a crazy prestigious undergrad and go to a very small masters program (with great, prominent advisors in my field but a pretty unknown reputation at the greater university level). I think we just need to keep our fingers crossed and trust the process.

Did any Nebraska R/C applicants who were accepted enter their acceptance as just "English Ph.D" rather than include R/C on the results page by any chance? There are a few of us lit kids who were wondering if the acceptance was for our program or yours. Best of luck to everyone!

I don't know about the others, but I think it's safe to say with Nebraska that the person who entered theirs was likely a rhet/comp person...at least, that's what I'm telling myself to survive. Based on last year's stats, Nebraska let everyone know within the same 6 day window, so there's at least hope in that if they do it the same way this year, you (and I) will know something soon. I do find it weird that the MA's have heard back/gotten funding before any PhD has heard either way, but who knows. The fact of the matter is nobody has been rejected yet and because of that I'm not going to allow myself to freak out. As far as the other places go, I'm sorry :/ It must be total hell to think that you've crossed five off (potentially) in one weekend, but you're right--fourteen is a fantastic number. I had originally hoped to apply to fourteen but ended up with twelve, which I feel pretty good/okay about. The bottom line is that it's out of our hands and at the very least we all know that we did the best we could. Even though it seems impossible, I think positivity (or at least non-negativity) is the best way to move from here. That said, I'm keeping positive thoughts in mind for all applicants who haven't heard from anyone yet--I hope everyone finds the place that is best for them and who appreciates what they have to offer as scholars, whether that's a seat at the table of academia or another year perfecting their work. From my own vantage point, I know it would be beyond incredible to get into at least one of the schools that I applied to, but I also know that I am up against some of you amazing scholars and that there is nothing wrong with losing spots to people as dedicated and intelligent as you all are (even if it feels like hell). I'd rather know that one of you posters who works their ass off and gives a shit gets a spot at a university that I want--at least that way I would feel justified. Not that I don't want a spot more than humanly possible. Because I do. Or something. Bottom line: good luck to everyone, let us share in your good news, your woes, and your anxiety. This community is one that has made me feel less alone in an extremely isolating process, and for that I am extremely thankful.

I don't think so at all. In the end, they know that just as they did what was best for them in graduate school, you're doing what's best for you--that is, if you aren't talking about some arrogant asshole faculty member who bases his/her merit on whether or not students they know choose to work with someone else over them.

Haha, yay! And no promises about the eyes--I literally just said (aloud, to myself, in an empty room) "Everything I've written is total bullshit". So, you know, there's that. Writing about film sounds like fun right about now. I wrote on the Joker for my last conference paper and it was such a relief from writing about Medieval stuff nonstop.

Ugh, not jealous of that. I'm at my office right now attempting to trudge through Malory and de Troyes. I want to stab things in my eyes. It doesn't help that I can't remember at all the guidance my thesis advisor gave me for writing this chapter...

I've been wondering the same thing--I always have put "English literature" on these things or just "literature" to differentiate, but I'm not sure if everyone does that. UNL is KILLING me right now. It's the only school I'm expecting to hear back about around this time and it's totally taking my attention away from thesis writing that DESPERATELY needs to be done. (Read: it's due exactly one month from today.)

Yikes. Again, best of luck!

I'll try right now with my iPad--if I can remember the password. I'm getting that message, same one I got last night. When you log in with your iPhone, it just says "awaiting departmental decision" then?

I'm not sure about the system they use, but for a lot of systems the "Decision Made" words are actually a link you can click. Is that not the case? Also, if it's not...holy hell, you are a saint for dealing with that stress. I would've immediately called the department. Good luck!

When I was "locked out" yesterday, it was only for about five minutes at a time--not nearly this long. You have me hitting enter over and over again. My fiancé looks disturbed. Yeah, you're right about funded people not being on GradCafe. I was just thinking last night that it should be mandatory for every university to just email everyone as soon as they've sent offers and be like "You're in, you're not, you're waitlisted" and let us all celebrate/wallow in alcohol.

That happened to me off and on all day yesterday. I kept saying (both aloud and to myself), "Quit playing GAMES with my heart". For those of you who didnt apply to UNL, "GAMES" is the acronym for their application check system.

I'm a UNL applicant is well--it's weird to me that the only people who have been notified thus far are people without funding...maybe it was a rough year for funding for them, or maybe those people get the first calls? Ugh, I'm trying to find a rhyme or reason right now for having not heard anything yet. My fiancé's job currently is in Nebraska, and while he has tons of opportunities to transfer, it would've been nice to know that we had the option. I'm sure you all feel this way right now: life=

I just messaged you, Katia_chan. It's a funny story...

That was really helpful! I actually had the opposite in mind (without any evidence to) because I expected them to send rejections and then acceptances. I just had a look at the results page and what you've said seems to make a lot of sense and fit the data. I have a contact at a university's admissions department who said that their Big Ten university is currently sending out acceptances--apparently, 'tis the season for that sort of stuff, but their application was due in late November. I'm just having a lot of anxiety constantly checking up on schools/materials (I'm in an MA program now so it's fun to get to worry about two sets of transcripts)--I had a heart attack today when I realized that my most important recommender forgot to submit to two schools (one that I loved, the other I feel "eh" about) and somehow my graduate university is incapable of getting a letter to another even though I've sent it three times now. So irritating.