Mattie Roh

Okay, so super long delay here, but I finally read A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall and I loved it. Even though (or maybe because?) I know nothing about water polo I found it fascinating. It's the kind of book that makes you want to befriend the author. So thank you, again, for the suggestion!

I think the same thing sometimes but then I realize how much Coca-Cola and coffee I consume so to each his own, I guess. I just don't like stuff that messes with my head.

Not to be inflammatory, but this is an interesting article regarding MFAs: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/03/mfa-creative-writing/462483/ Some interesting stats regarding writing by MFAs vs non-MFAs (take it with a grain of salt, of course).

Just took my name off the wait list at Minnesota (first in my subfield, 18th/19th century). I think I just died a little inside, but I had to pull the trigger sometime. Everything happens for a reason. Will be attending UConn in the fall. Hope this opens the way for someone else!

I'm 18th/19th century. They've indicated that it's been a weird year for them and the wait list. Fingers crossed that we hear something soon!

I'm waitlisted at Minnesota too. No movement so far this year and it's brutal. What's your area?

I've been accepted to University of Connecticut and wait listed at Minnesota (18th/19th Century subfield; I'm told I'm high up). On the surface Minnesota seems a better fit for to me so I'm inclined to accept their offer if it comes through. Visiting UConn at the end of this month and going to an open house for Minnesota on March 10/11. (Though I haven't seen many UConn/Minnesota applicants on here this cycle so maybe this info isn't of use to many!)

There's a great thread on visiting here:

For what it's worth, I've applied three rounds with my MA and have just gotten into a place this year (and wait listed at another, woo-hoo!). 166V/149Q/5.5AW and 600 in the subject. So respectable, but nothing amazing (and dismal in the quantitative, haha). I didn't study for the subject test, really -- I just looked over all of the materials from my graduate classes to refresh my memory and I thought that was sufficient. What I really feel made the difference this time around was that I spent the summer reading a lot of theory. I had meant to work up a new writing sample but I got distracted and ended up reading stuff I never had a chance to before and just following my interests in a roundabout way. I was worried that I was being unfocused ("I can't believe I've never read Judith Butler! I'm going to read some Judith Butler!") but at some point I realized that everything was linking together. In the end I had a much more solid idea of my research project and an easier time articulating my interests. So I guess my advice would be: spend a summer reading some theory that really interests you, regardless of whether or not it seems to be directly connected with what you hope to study.

I would totally go. I'm wait listed at a place right now and am thinking of asking if I can attend visiting weekend because I don't want to have to make the decision blind if I get accepted.

I'm totally onboard with writing that has a more natural style. That being said, I do love the jargon of my field as well! I even keep a list of phrases I like to incorporate in my own work someday.

I swear to God the people who write for Community followed me during my community college years. That show is so dead-on it's creepy! I even had an Asian teacher who taught Spanish!

I hate how application season happens to fall during a really quiet time at work for me. I find myself on gradcafe all damned day constantly hitting 'refresh' because I'm so bored. Why aren't you people entertaining me more? Edit: That came out snarkier than I intended. Obviously I'm joking. Is it 5 o'clock yet?

Bump! Let's see what we get this year!

Ugh. I know this is not entirely true, but I feel the same way at times. Nothing says 'You don't belong here' like none of your schools showing up on the search section in ApplyYourself. I, too, didn't have the opportunity to take internships as an undergrad because I was working my way through school and was bizarrely afraid that I would be replaced at my job at Friendly's if I left for a time (the things that go through a young college student's mind! haha). And the graduate program where I got my master's didn't offer student teaching or any kind of professional development I could partake of (again, I was working and school was an hour away from home). Bah. My only consolation is that maybe the caliber of my work shines a little brighter against my humble background.