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)

I read an article today about the best and worst graduate degrees. In it, the author argued that it is nearly impossible to get a job outside of academe with a Master's in English (besides teaching high school). What do you guys think? What are some other (real) potential career paths for English MAs and PhDs that fall outside of university parameters? I'd like to compile a list and write a rebuttal.

Arizona State applicants: has your online status updated from "In Review?" Mine hasn't yet, but I'm seeing both acceptances and rejections on the Results Search and am wondering what to think.

Is anyone else going to Baylor's interview/meet and greet this month? Does anyone currently attend Baylor? It'd be nice to see a friendly face out there!

Five of my schools apparently began notifying this weekend....Duke (rejected), Berkeley (implied rejection), Vanderbilt (implied rejection), Nebraska, and ASU. I'm growing increasingly concerned about Nebraska, but I'm confused by Arizona State...one rejection and two acceptances posted in the results as received on the same day, but my application is still "Being Reviewed." My Nebraska app says the same thing. I would hate for five of my schools to be wiped out in one weekend. I'm so glad I applied to fourteen. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers and I'll do the same for you! I'm going mental over here.

I am Siggy Tau, but won't be in Savannah because of a campus interview I've been for the last 4 years, though!

Yikes! Avoid sharp objects in the eyes. I write about film, so at least we won't be competing with one another within concentration we can be friends! Haha

30k is the highest stipend I've heard of, even for people with families. Most grad stipends in the humanities are between $12.5k and $18k.

Haha you and I are in the same boat: my thesis is due February 13th and I can't focus on anything but this.

Congrats to everyone who got in Berkeley. I'm awaiting my rejection and am sad, but I wish you all the best. Questions for the UN-Lincoln candidates out there: if you've been admitted, were you admitted to the Comp-Rhet program or the straight English program? On the Results Search page, two people have posted MA acceptances, two have posted Comp/Rhet, and one has posted straight English. I'm wondering, though, if the latter isn't a comp/rhet acceptances also because, as far as I know, no one from the lit program has been notified.

I have officially never felt worse, even though I figured these rejections were coming. Duke...gone. Implied rejections (based on previous year postings) from Berkeley and Vanderbilt. Here's to hoping I'm not shut out of WUSTL and ASU, as well. It sure wouldn't be fun to have five out of 14 schools wiped off in one day.