callmelilyb

Can people who are willing to help me decipher a vague voicemail/email from a DGS PM me please? I am trying to figure out if it's a possible interview, or? Thanks!

Oh my gosh greekdaph...thank you! I love that this list encompasses lots of those unquantifiable aspects of being in a program. I have heard more than once that visiting is a must. People all seem to say the same thing: that they knew "right away" whether or not the program is what they were looking for. Okay, I'm going to go chew over this awesome list!

Hello All, Now that we have started to gather acceptances (and also to the rest of you who surely have acceptances on the way!), I wanted to gather some advice on what sorts of questions you ask of programs in order to help you in the decision-making process. I have looked through the "Decisions" thread (about the first 7 pages) and did gather some good "general" information on this topic, but am wondering if there is any Humanities or English/Literature specific information I should consider. Things I've gathered so far are: Funding vs. cost of living Availability of summer funding and dissertation grants (if not included included in basic funding package) Job placements for recent graduates Completion rate of students and average time to complete degree Ability to design and teach own courses Professional development opportunities (co-authoring, workshops, etc.) Size of incoming class Number of professors working in my subfield and how closely we are matched Location/weather, could I be happy living there for 5+ years? If anyone could add to, expand, or comment on what I've got here I'd appreciate it! I have a phone call scheduled with a DGS for early next week to "discuss the program, answer any questions I may have and hook me up with faculty and students" and I want to make sure I ask the appropriate questions. Also, do you think it's appropriate to ask about a visit if it isn't mentioned by the DGS? How do you word such queries? I'm perfectly content with paying for it myself if that's what it requires but you know...

Accepted at Vanderbilt, my interests are ethnic literatures, immigration history/policy, and immigrant narratives...this obviously bleeds into postcolonial lit/theory, diaspora studies, critical race theory, etc. Wow, people have some really interesting subfields! I feel so boring.

Oh...totally how I feel about damn near every school I applied to.

Gosh, I know it's almost bittersweet to post acceptances on here. I'm a weird early acceptance for Vandy and feel like I've caused people unnecessary anguish.

I suppose I could be a "TOP" applicant...though hard for me to believe. I did of course get five years of funding (I believe all admits to the program do), and they are nominating me for the Provost's Graduate Fellowship....or actually she said I was nominated by the admissions committee and asked if I was interested in being considered for it...it's one of those "diversity applicants" things. I of course, said "Yes please!" -- who wouldn't want to be considered for an extra $10k a year? Anyhow, perhaps because they wanted to ask me about the additional fellowship consideration, I got an early email? Who knows? Now I'm going to be anxious until I get my hard copy materials in the mail! Maybe this is all just a dream and I'm about to wake up when I hit "Add reply..."

Oh, and I should also mention that her email did say that they would be sending hard copy letters out "early next week." So -- if you are concerned that you might have deleted an email or something at least you know they plan to send those out pretty soon.

I'm the one who posted the Vanderbilt admit...I got an email from the DGS last night around 5pm PST. I too, think it sort of strange that nobody else has posted....it's making me worry that I've hallucinated an entire email exchange with the DGS, lol! I obviously don't have any more information about how or when they notify applicants...I do know that MY email from the DGS went to my spam folder (No kidding!), so do be careful to check there. She did mention that they received "well over 500 applications" this cycle, which seems like an awful lot to me. At any rate, I'm sure more people will be hearing soon!

I also applied there. Got the email saying that they would contact me in mid-January if any of my application materials were missing, didn't get an email in mid-January, assumed that meant that none of my application materials were missing. Also assuming I'll be rejected. Hey, maybe we can throw a "We were all rejected from Cornell" party?

To those of you despairing, please keep hope! It is so early in the process! To those reapplying (or thinking about it)...there are so many people who get into amazing programs in their second, third (or fourth!) round of applications. This forum, many professors, and friends are all a testament to the various paths that one can take to follow this dream.

It seems to me that when someone is “fishing for a compliment” that tends to mean they really need one. I suppose I try to err on the side of being supportive and empathetic. Besides, many of us are looking for reassurance at this stage in the game, so if someone reaches out for some, why not extend it? While I do think what you’ve said in your last post regarding admissions is accurate, since when did comments like “But not accepted? Ouch” and “Whoopee. So has everyone else” constitute useful criticism? If you think that minnares is radically mistaken about what counts in the admissions process, I think there were more effective (not to mention kind) ways of informing him/her so. At any rate, I like to think of gradcafe as a community…one that I can turn to for both useful information and support/reassurance from others. We're all going through the same stressful process, let's be supportive.

TWO PEOPLE? Sheesh.

Gosh, I've always found the community on gradcafe to be more or less supportive and encouraging. I hope that doesn't change.

I'm just curious.....what do you guys think about the popularity of poetry/poetics? It seems to be one of the subfields that I hear about less frequently. But I'm wondering if it's a common secondary field for many folks or something?

This is a good point.

I think around 15-ish is sane. I applied to 11, but that was mostly due to economics and I would have thrown a couple more out there if I'd had the extra cash. I think that when you get in the range of 20 or so it might be time to re-evaluate where and why you're applying....it just seems to me that it would be hard to find 20 programs that are really that great of a match for one's interests, but honestly if there ARE say, 20 programs that are a great match for your interests and you can afford it, then I see no reason why you shouldn't apply to that many places. I think the numbers concern is more applicable to applicants who simply blanket apply to the top 20, 25 or so programs without any real thought behind it or for those of us who are limited financially.

Wait Galway Kinnell Wait, for now. Distrust everything, if you have to. But trust the hours. Haven't they carried you everywhere, up to now? Personal events will become interesting again. Hair will become interesting. Pain will become interesting. Buds that open out of season will become lovely again. Second-hand gloves will become lovely again, their memories are what give them the need for other hands. And the desolation of lovers is the same: that enormous emptiness carved out of such tiny beings as we are asks to be filled; the need for the new love is faithfulness to the old. Wait. Don't go too early. You're tired. But everyone's tired. But no one is tired enough. Only wait a while and listen. Music of hair, Music of pain, music of looms weaving all our loves again. Be there to hear it, it will be the only time, most of all to hear, the flute of your whole existence, rehearsed by the sorrows, play itself into total exhaustion. Waiting John Burroughs Serene, I fold my hands and wait, Nor care for wind, nor tide, nor sea; I rave no more 'gainst time or fate, For, lo! my own shall come to me. I stay my haste, I make delays, For what avails this eager pace? I stand amid the eternal ways, And what is mine shall know my face. Asleep, awake, by night or day, The friends I seek are seeking me; No wind can drive my bark astray, Nor change the tide of destiny. What matter if I stand alone? I wait with joy the coming years; My heart shall reap where it hath sown, And garner up its fruit of tears. The waters know their own and draw The brook that springs in yonder height; So flows the good with equal law Unto the soul of pure delight. The stars come nightly to the sky; The tidal wave unto the sea; Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high, Can keep my own away from me.

It is a great little town! The program probably wasn't the greatest fit for me, but I applied anyways because I would just LOVE to live there for 5+ years (and my parents went there and basically made me apply). From Sac I make it into SF a couple of times a year...usually for something specific and I generally drive to Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek and then take the light rail (BART) into the city so that I don't have to worry about parking which really sucks in the city ("the city" being SF, obviously). Really, Davis is in a great location: within an hour or so from big city San Fran, about 45 minutes from wine country in Sonoma/Napa, and about two hours from Tahoe. There are tons of great outdoor activities in the surrounding area...what specifically were you thinking? Davis itself is pretty....lots of cute little cottagey houses, lots of trees, and cute little funky neighborhoods, art and good restaurants to choose from for the size of the town. The campus is really big and spread out with an arboretum and waterway on the edge of campus and lots of big green grassy areas. It was originally an ag school so you can imagine the influence on the campus layout, the cows are right by the football stadium! :] Not sure what part of the country you're coming from, but it's good ol' central valley California weather. Summers are hot and dry in the 90's-100's in July and August. It will get into the 100's regularly in August! Winters are pretty mild, in the 50's -- sporadic rain and sporadic sunny days. It gets warm here by mid-March and stays warm until the end of September, maybe even October depending on what you consider warm. If you end up deciding on Davis down the line, let me know and I can give you some great restaurant recommendations and other neat info. I'm happily jealous of you!

Davis is definitely bicycle/walking friendly! In fact, the city is known for having more bikes than cars and I would even go so far as to say that there is some resentment towards those who do drive around town, lol. Everything is fairly accessible on bike from the city center and to and from campus, I own a car now, but if I moved into Davis I'd probably sell it. They have the most amazing farmer's market every Weds evening and Saturday morning, seriously I've never been to a farmer's market this amazing anywhere, not Portland or Santa Cruz or anywhere. The BEST local fruits, veggies, breads, baked goods, meat, fish, etc. Ugh, I'm getting hungry just thinking about wlaking through the market... It's definitely small-town/college town as far as atmosphere, but the Mondavi center does bring in some good musical acts and lectures thorughout the year and Sac and SF are really quite close if you are hankering for the city. Some people refer to it as "The People's Republic of Davis" -- they've done a lot of work to keep local bookstores and such in business and have worked hard to keep out places like WalMart, etc. As far as money goes I'd say you can expect to pay between $500-600/month to rent a room, more if you wanted a master bedroom. Outside of rent, however I think Davis is pretty cheap as far as food and other expenses. Rent is higher in Davis than in surrounding communities (like Sac or Roseville) so you could always live outside the city (20-30 minute commute). But Davis is so fun, I'd rather live there and penny pinch! If you have any other questions, let me know! Oh, and congratulations on the acceptance.

I didn't get into Davis, but I live there (well Sac) now, so if either of you want some city-specific info regarding bookstores, restaurants or whatever, let me know....

Thank you. I needed to hear that.

I'm happy for you, because you sound so happy! :] Between the Northwestern and Davis acceptances showing up on the results board, I've begun to die a little inside.

Totally agree.