Swagato
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Everything posted by Swagato
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So is U. Iowa officially the last remaining major program this year? One person posted a few weeks back that they had been accepted, but I've not seen any further details, and the grad coordinator claims no official word has gone out, positive or negative. I've known her since undergrad days, so I see no reason for her to mislead me on this. (Small benefit of schools in Iowa and similar places == minimal bureaucracy/maximum conviviality.)
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Yeah, that was my impression as well. I -think- that was the case as well in my year (that is, no full scholarship, just a half at best), but I know MAPH has been expanding, so this could be a new initiative. In either case, you are extremely fortunate, and it is a very clear judgment on your potential as a future scholar. I am curious as to whether there were any other fully funded MAPH admits, so if you're able to post some news about that later on, it would be appreciated. Make the best of your time!
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You'll receive contact emails from 1) a faculty member, close to or in your expressed area of interest, 2) some administration person, maybe the dean, 3) one or both of the program directors, 4) maybe a current student, 5) one of the program mentors, 6) probably your preceptor. I'd create a GMail filter for MAPH emails. MAPH uses listservs that are shared with the main university, so you will be kept up to date on job opportunities, informational interviews, campus events, MAPH-specific events, etc. Yes, it can get overwhelming so filter them and you'll be fine. By the way, I'm curious as to whether you know how many MAPHers received full funding. I wasn't aware they even did that.
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University of Iowa
Swagato replied to portlandfioretti's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
pirrip: Were you an admit to English, or to Comp. Lit.? -
Yes, as I said, my grouping is very much dependent on my sub-field interests. Although I'd say that most of the departments in my Tier 1 show continued strong placement and are just generally robust enough to merit serious attention. However, your suggestion about contacting faculty or current students is absolutely essential too.
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Do you have more news? How many are being admitted, whether they've all been contacted, anything else?
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That's a useful article, elbow, but it is only available to subscribers. Would you mind creating an image/PDF of it if you're able to access the full material? I don't think all of us here are subscribers, but I'm sure we'd all like to know the content. Also, thanks for the NYU update. It seems U. Iowa is perhaps the only major program in our field that has yet to make any noise whatsoever. April 15th is looming close, so I've just decided to stop thinking about it and wait for them to do what they will.
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Either throw them something like Rodowick's Reading the Figural or Mulvey's Death 24X a Second and let them see how 'easy' it is, or have them explain why quantum physicists don't have to justify themselves but we, apparently, do. Sorry for the bluntness, but that brand of ignorance just rubs me the wrong way.
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Hrm, 9 is some serious admitted cohort. A far cry from Brown's 4 or Chicago's (presumed) 3-4. So far, USC and Northwestern seem to have the largest admitted cohort out of the top-tier private university programs in our field. The more usual number seems to hover around 3-5.
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Odd silence lately. Who are we waiting on? NYU? Northwestern recently sent out their rejects, but what about the post-interview admits? Any other places left? I'm waiting on Iowa, who I was told ought to release some news either this week or the next.
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Typically the assigned advisor is just someone you meet once or twice early in the first quarter. They will likely be in your field. They can be excellent resources to structuring your first quarter.
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Preceptors are current advanced PhD students who lead small discussion groups on a very regular basis through first quarter, and by appointment subsequently. They are your first level of contact. Frequent questions about logistical issues, or even relatively smaller research/graduate issues go to your preceptor. They will structure your MAPH career. Advisors are faculty members who serve as your thesis director. In the first quarter, you're assigned one, but you are expected to research faculty and departments and, in coordination with your preceptor, approach and decide on your final thesis director (advisor). Of course, your advisor and preceptor ultimately become anchoring points in your post-MAPH expectations, should you choose to pursue doctoral studies.
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2011 MAPH graduate here, Cinema and Media Studies. The shortest truth of MAPH is that it is what you make of it. My cohort was about 110, from the usual 900+ applicants across the entire Div. of Humanities. It was an incredible experience, and frankly, the notions of faculty ignoring MA students are silly. Again, it is what you make of it, and I was hell-bent on making use of my year there to get what I needed. What did I need? Well, I came from an unknown undergrad with a "meh" record with no hope of getting into a top PhD in my program. At Chicago I could fix all of that to a great extent. So I did everything possible. I met many times with some of the top people in both CMS and English, took PhD seminars when possible, attended every relevant event, networked with faculty and current students...my firm impression is that if you demonstrate your sincerity and drive, faculty will be as open to you as to PhD people. They certainly were to me. Did MAPH help me? Absolutely. I may not get in anywhere this year, but that is entirely because there are (based on feedback I've received thus far) a few things 'off' about my SOP. However a fellow MAPHer in English has gotten into NYU and Johns Hopkins. Another got into UChicago's Philosophy. Last year someone got into several top English places and is now at Duke. In my field, UIowa (one of the legendary departments) has many MAPHers. MAPH primarily targets professionals who want to dabble into academia, and people like me who need an extra edge to get into the top PhD programs. Without MAPH, I seriously doubt I could have developed the writing sample I have, or just even gotten the inside view of what, really, PhD work at a top institution is all about--expectations, culture, everything. I still have the full support of my faculty, and am working with them to fix the lapses in my application, and I'm more than confident that I can recover from what looks to be an unusual wipeout this year.
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I received Harvard's postal letter today, and Yale Comp Lit/FS's email notification earlier in the morning. P.S. Aubergine, you have a PM from me which requests a response! (: 'Grats on Brown, again.
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Yale's FS committee and the associated department meet at different times, so results come out at different times. I have been checking via the application platform fairly regularly, but so far there is no update for Comp. Lit. + FS. There is, however, one odd result posted on March 8th, apparently. A waitlist for Comp Lit+FS, via website. My impression was that Yale's already done with their initial interviews, and that's as far as I know.
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University of Iowa
Swagato replied to portlandfioretti's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Hi, I just wanted to return to this thread with an update. This may or may not apply to English. I spoke with Jenny Ritchie in the Dept. of Cinema and Comp. Lit. She indicated that they were late this year, and that deliberations are still ongoing. News ought to trickle out within a week or two. Hope this helps! -
I was able to speak to one of the department staff in CCL. According to her, deliberations are still ongoing, but decisions are expected within a week or two at most. They are indeed experiencing a delay compared to past results.
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Hi alh, Did you receive your decision by postal mail, or online? In any case, I can vouch very strongly for the MAPH especially in Cinema and Media Studies. Like you, I was redirected to MAPH from the CMS PhD (this was in 2009-10 when I applied directly out of undergraduate with a very unimpressive background). MAPH really helped me develop a solid foundation for graduate work, and was very helpful in shaping my future goals. Although this year looks like a possible bust for me in terms of admissions, I credit MAPH with helping me craft a far stronger application than I could ever have done alone. Feel free to ask any questions you might have about it. It's a tough decision because of the funding, but if you can pull it off, it is absolutely worth it.
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University of Iowa
Swagato replied to portlandfioretti's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Hi, I'm wondering if anyone here has applied to Iowa's Comp Lit program and has any news to offer about it. I'm an applicant to the Film Studies program, which is housed within the same department (CCL), and have not heard anything at all. It is quite late, judging by prior years, so any information would be hugely helpful. -
Well hey there, we have many overlaps (Harvard, Yale, Brown, Berkeley). I have not heard anything from Emily either, but we have had one admit posted for FVS. I am assuming that that was the sole admit from GradCafe, allowing the possibility for non-GC admits. Would not be surprised at all if they've only offered admissions to 1-2 people. Going by past patterns, Harvard tends to call or email their admits on a single day. Given that the sole Harvard FVS admit was quite some days ago, I've tentatively written that off my list. Yale (nyfilmfest can clarify here, perhaps) is doing interviews this year, and I have not heard anything for Comp. Lit. + Film. nyfilmfest had mentioned that an acquaintance of his had gone for a Yale interview, Film+Slavic. I'm assuming Yale's done with their interviews too, but like you, I'm ready to party if in fact they're still doing their stuff. For what it's worth, I haven't had a response from Dudley Andrew (I'd sent a polite inquiry around Feb 20-23). Congratulations on your Berkeley admit! You're the second that I know of on this forum.
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Any word on Iowa? Usually they have notified people by this date, but this year I have absolutely no inkling. Has anyone heard anything?
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As far as I know, Yale's Film Studies + (other department) interviews occurred quite some time ago. I'm under the impression their admissions are already done and have written it off my list, pending some weird upset.
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Someone posted on the previous page about an upcoming interview with the program.
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Nobody has heard from Iowa that I know of. It is still within the window for their notifications. You make the third Iowa applicant on this forum that I'm aware of, and there are likely a few others. I'm sure we'll hear something very soon, likely this week.
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This would honestly be a question for your academic advisor(s). I'm unsure why you elected to apply to terminal MA programs, since many of them are not funded. Emory is an exception. I don't think you're expected to have a razor-sharp and radical research focus for the MA, but I'll be frank: in the current admissions climate, clarity is likely going to be a valuable benefit. Overall, I would seek out your advisor(s) and have a heart-to-heart. NYU is a great place, and faculty are generally responsive to genuine inquiries and discussions. Just be sure to map out your questions before you go in.
