Zissoupy

I am not sure what it entails other than Valentine's Day tea and a meet-and-greet. I guess it goes until 12PM on Saturday. We will get more info a little bit later on. I know they only bring 15 applicants I got my invite a few weeks ago and they wanted to confirm ASAP because they have alternates on the list that they'll bring if we say no. So it's not a for-sure acceptance, but it sounds like they only bring the front runners. I'm excited to meet you! What's your emphasis??

Thanks!

Any other fields everyone can see our degrees working in? I'm looking for concrete examples of jobs that we'd be trained for should it all hit the fan. A couple of people on this post have given great ideas; I would like to hear more. When battling the anti- academia crowd, the more specific you can be the better. Sorry for any typos. I'm on my phone.

I was more referring to, "So consider getting out now." Again, it's a moot point. And yes, it's a very sad situation, which is why I would like to refute the idea put forth that our degrees our worthless should worse come to worse.

I'm well aware of the market. Again, I think the assumption you're making is that people don't know what they are walking into. If they don't, shame on them and their advisors. I'm not sure it's the job of fellow graduate students to continually remind their peers of the situation. If you'd like to, go ahead. Maybe be more mindful of tone and disposition, but go ahead.

FYI I have no intention of ever leaving academia. I wouldn't be here if I did. After my MA, over two dozen conference presentations, four scholarly publications, and four years of teaching, I have a pretty clear picture in my mind that this is where I belong. The desire to defend the strengths of English MA and PhD programs outside of academia doesn't make you less passionate about what you do. Try to remember that next time you jump to conclusions.

My New Year's Resolution is "be more like Blair Waldorf."

I support this reasoning because I also was granted an ASU account.

Very true. I have written in my notes about ASU that they "notify randomly between Jan 31st and March 30th." Haha

Hey Graditude...I just noticed the part of your post where you said ASU didn't send out application acknowledgement emails. I was just looking back through my materials and it appears that they DID. I received an email with a login to "My ASU" when I submitted my application. If you didn't, you might want to check in

Yeah, I think most of us are in the same boat: fairly unknown Bachelors program with little prestige, small MA, and big dreams. I don't think any of us would be applying if we didn't think we could hack it at the most prestigious schools, but know that the likelihood of getting into schools--no matter how much ass we kick--is small. Remember: everyone on these boards is likely the Blair Waldorf of their school. (If you don't get the reference, do yourself a favor and watch Gossip Girl.)

Best of luck to you, as well! I've never lived in Phoenix, but have lived in very similar climates and my company does some freelance writing for a few companies in Phoenix, so I fly down there fairly often. I think I could handle 5+ years in that area. It sounds like you could, as well!

It is, indeed, R and G are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Brownie points to you!

PS There are two acceptances and two rejections posted. Odd.

Hmm...I'm a literature applicant and haven't heard anything. But you're right--their previous years' notifications are all over the place. "Consistency is all I ask!" (Guess the absurdist novella and win brownie points)