Jump to content

thinkagain

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    29

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by thinkagain

    Fall 2013 English Lit Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted · Edited by thinkagain

     I'm in the midst of my own application results shenanigans, but since he doesn't have his own account: My boyfriend just got accepted to Brandeis (which means he's 1a/0w/2r, waiting on 9 more); he finished his M.A. there a couple years ago, so he's over the moon. I'm not sure if anything's set in stone yet, but he wants to know if anyone else has been accepted and would mind getting in touch with him. PM me if that's the case. Talking about him in the third person makes me feel like a boxer's promoter. 

    :) congrats!

    UT-Austin

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Texas people!!!!

     

    If you're waiting to hear back for waitlist stuff, the waitlist emails went out approximately a week after the acceptances last year. I don't know when the rejections went out in relations to acceptances or waitlist because after the UT acceptances went up I drunk myself into a sodden, sad stupor and only returned to TGF when I was waitlisted.

     

    I would say almost half of the incoming class as far as Lit went off in off the waitlist. The UT waitlist is a good waitlist to be on, but don't expect them to tell you anything while you're waiting. I know everything about that goddamn waitlist.

    Thanks for the input, Fiona. Do you have any insider knowledge as to whether all offers have been made? They've been staggering rejections and my hope was that they were also staggering acceptances.

    Program Specific Questions - Fall 2013

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Michigan people: how long are your personal statements and statements of purpose? Somehow I doubt they want two 1,000 word documents out of me, but there doesn't seem to be anything on the website specifying a length. Also, I'm not really sure if I'm doing the personal thing quite right; I don't want to tell them my life story, but I don't want to just write a second SOP either.

    http://www.lsa.umich.edu/english/grad/howtoapply/lang.asp

    I followed these guidelines:

    • Clearly labeled academic & intellectual Statement of Purpose: up to two pages, double spaced, statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and how Michigan's graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives. Disregard the 500 word limit as stated on the application.

      • Clearly labeled biographical Personal Statement: up to two pages, double spaced, statement about how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. This is not an Academic Statement of Purpose, but a discussion of the personal journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree. Disregard the 500 word limit as stated on the application.

    Writing Sample processes!

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    I managed to do it by cutting out a lot of theoretical background and sticking mostly to the textual analysis. Instead of paragraphs on the theoretical paradigms I was invoking, I explained them succinctly in a sentence and then moved to the application. I think this ended up making my paper much stronger. When I went to add back material to make it 20 pages, it really showed me that the textual analysis needs to be the meat of the paper. I guess what I am getting at is that forcing yourself to REALLY cut down a paper can reshape what you find to be the most important elements.

    Seconded. My approach is similar. I cut down a 40 page paper to 13 pages. I think NYU's app is pretty interesting in that it is idea-oriented rather than development-oriented. Sort of like, "If you could describe yourself as a scholar in one word, what would it be?"

    Straight outta college

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    I'm going to cast a vote for the "applying while still in college" side. It's what I did this year, and I'm quite pleased with my results. Of course, there are drawbacks to this—it's possible that you won't get in anywhere without that year of preparation (it's certainly what I was expecting to happen this round, and I feel very lucky), or that you would have done better had you waited to apply.

    Even so, I think the benefits are immense. You get to apply while still in an academic environment, which often means better access to library/archival materials, immersion in scholarly debate while refining your research interests for your SOP, and continued proximity to professors. As a current undergraduate, I saw my advisers frequently enough that they were more than happy to help me revise my materials; many people who take time off find that the intervening years have weakened their relationships with previously enthusiastic professors.

    So, with all that said, here's my advice, shamelessly based on what I chose to do this year: if you are absolutely sure that you want to go to graduate school and don't need time off to refuel, then apply—but, keeping in mind that many people do much better when they apply after having taken time off, don't apply to "safety" schools (by which I mean schools to which you wouldn't be thrilled to go). Be ambitious. If it works out, then you can happily go straight through and never look back. If it doesn't, then you can strengthen your application and reapply to a wider range of schools with a better idea of the process. Either way, you won't find yourself trapped in your last-choice school, wondering what would have happened if you'd only waited.

    Also, to the rest of the still-seniors: hooray for us—we get to live the academic dream AND escape the economic nightmare!

    AGREED.

    Straight outta college

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    hey i'm a senior too. everyone jokes i'm a baby to be starting grad school so soon (newly 21). i too got into fordham's MA :) i'm waiting on 6 more though. did fordham give you any $? i'm not planning on attending.

    Nope not a cent. But I'm prepared to take on debt if it means I can enter into graduate study! I know, call me crazy!

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

  I accept