bhr

I did, but I'll likely be skipping this year since we are hosting HASTAC here the same week and I'm hoping to present for that too. I put in for RNF at CCCCs, and am hoping to get to Tampa.

All seriousness, my PS was titled (for all but one program which specified Last Name Personal Statement) "I Was Evil For a While, But I'm Much Better Now" I did have one person at a different program mention how much they enjoyed the title.

I like those mid-size conferences where you get a respectable CV line, and, more importantly, get a change to network with people in your field. It's also worth noting that many people use conference presentations to prepare work they plan to publish. FWIW, and I'm a lowly first year MA, I'm applying to EVERYTHING I can possibly attend. I've got work I can present, or can develop some half-done ideas, and it's best to see where I can get in/get funding. Also, as an aside, I've met a handful of people on this board through some mid-size national conferenes.

What conference? I put in for Cs, HASTAC and CW this week.

Worth noting that Assistant and Associate Profs are more likely to be publishing/researching in the field than full Profs at some schools. The culture puts all that publish or perish stress on TT profs as they progress, so they are likely better acquainted with the current research.

If PW/Pub is where your focus is, than I would also look at GW's publishing program, the MA in Digital Media Pub at NYU, and the MA at WVU. If you want a broader focus, than I would look at some Rhet and Writing program (including the DRPW MA at Michigan State (my current home)). This will get shit here, but I would avoid a general English program if possible.

At the time I lived in Frederick I was working in telecom (b2b sales) and living on the other side of town, so where I was won't help. That said, the base itself is near Hood College (a small liberal arts school) and surrounded by apartments for students and military personnel. Willow Ridge is close to the base and nice. I would avoid the complexes right on rt 40, though they may be better for busses/shopping. Going north gets rural (and cheaper) very quickly, but I'm not sure about transportation. Honestly, there are probably resources either on-base or at NCI that can help with a relocation

Ok. I lived in Frederick a few years ago, and worked there more recently (if your job is with NCI or out at Ft. Detrick, I know the area even better). The good news: you can survive on 60k gross in the area. It's cheaper than Baltimore or Washington, being about 30-40 minutes from both, so finding a nice apartment near work for <1k is possible (though you will need to pay more if you want to be in the "right" part of town or have any real perks (I paid $1200 or so for a 1br in a semi-new luxury complex.) You can save money by going north or west, but that adds a longer commute (and you get into areas that are very white and right wing, which poses its own challenge). The bad news: you will likely need a car. There is public transport, but it's incredibly limited (this is a suburb, so there isn't a real downtown area where you can live and work). Maryland taxes are incredibly high, so that will eat a chunk of your salary. Traffic is awful. Cultural opportunities are limited without going into the cities. The great news: There is a very strong research economy in the area, so your next job hunt can keep you local. You can get into DC easily enough (or to Rockville and the Red Line). One of the best breweries (Flying Dog) and restaurants (Volt) in the country are in Frederick. You are 40 minutes from two major cities, and can do an easy day trip to NYC or Philly as well.

Let me give a rousing endorsement of #2, volunteering for free admission. I just did it for a conference at my home campus (outside my field), which brings me to four total. Yes, you may miss some talks/workshops due to scheduling, but you also get an "official" status that makes it easier to approach the luminaries, get access to how a conference works, and gives you a chance to talk to everyone. Plus (and this is something I'm banking on), if your home institution hosts something you can argue to be put on the organizing committee due to your experience.

I've said this more than once on here, but it looks like you missed it. The reason it rubbed them the wrong way that you didn't include an explanation of your GPA is that they need an explanation for why it is so low (and that explanation needs to include at least a guarantee/plan for why it won't happen again). For me, I had to explain why my most recent two semesters (three before entry, but just two at time of app) was more indicative of the student I could be than the previous 115 or so credits I had sub 2.0. I had a built in excuse/reason why it would be different (10 years in industry in between), proof that I was a different student (4.0 since returning) and a specific plan on how I could continue that success at grad school. You apparently just told progams to trust that your record wasn't accurate, and that's a huge problem. The difference between the rest of GC and the people on this thread is that they are trying to get into programs based on their academic records, we had to get in despite ours

A piece of advice, unsolicited, for anyone applying to programs (particularly at the MA level, but PhD's as well). Ask about the assistantships. Not just the funding available, but what you are doing in them, how much authority you have over your syllabus, ect. It isn't even something that occured to me to ask, but after a month in, and talking to friends that went elsewhere, I realize just how amazing my assistanship is. I have nearly complete autonomy over my own class, outside of some core project types, and even they can be replaced if I can justify it. Every member of my MA cohort (minus one part-timer) has an assistantship teaching or in the writing center, and the ones in the writing center have similar freedom to create workshops and programs. Speaking to people in the field, and at other schools, I'm discovering how rare that opportunity is, and how much better I will be situated either on the CC job market or when applying for PhD programs. Again, I'm not bragging (well, a little), so much as giving a bit of my own experience. I never would have thought to ask questions like that when going through the process, I just asked if funding was available, but it's something I'm very glad to have found.

I may as well hang out in here this year. I'm between seasons (1st year MA atm, 2016 PhD class hopefully), so I've got a year to just observe and be helpful.

It's usually considered poor form to promote your own blog here

I'm TAing for the first time, and I'm not giving any written feedback before assessment. I'm forcing them to rely on peer feedback during the writing process, and the only real feedback from me will come during final assessments (though I'm allowing them to revise after that)

I was a few years older than my TT undergrad advisor, so it was weird for me. I also had to (and still have) sometimes act a little "aw shucks" about the program to combat a perception of cockiness that comes from age/confidence (especially because I'm in two combo grad/undergrad classes this semester with kids young enough to be mine (16-18 year difference).

Don't dismiss compositionalists. Embrace the opportunity to take a theory class in business or technical writing. Teach as wide a variety of courses as your program allows. The reality of the situation, for Lit/English PhDs, is that your jobs are being underwritten by the FYC program at a lot of schools (including a lot of adjuncts and TAs teaching 25-30 student sections so that you can offer a 400 level course in Jane Eyre that appeals only to Lit majors). The current model isn't sustainable longterm, and any cuts made to make more adjuncts into fixed-term faculty (inevitable in my opinion), will come at the expense of lit TT lines. The broader your background, the greater your appeal to a potential employer.

at my advisor's recommendation I am only taking six credits (MA), while teaching a four credit class. My program is only 30 credits, however, so most people do 6/6/9/9 (or 6/6/3/9/6 if they get a summer TAship or internship). That last semester is a thesis if you are doing that option.

Did you send a follow up letter or email after your interview? How did they reply? I think it would be considered bad form to just say "did I get the job/did you hire someone," but you can ask a question like "what is the timeline for bringing someone on" or "am I still being considered for the position."

Just discovered that I haven't been on the TA email list, which explains why I am so clueless.

I was specifically told by one school, and hinted at by another, that my LoR's were a major factor (since I had incredibly low GPA results and mediocre samples (that was time based, my best stuff came after app season.)) The way it was put to me was that the letter needs to match up with what they see in your CV, your SOP and your transcript. The professor needs to make it clear that they thing you are up to what you are promising the committee.

I'm here... Moving into the new apartment, explored the city a bit, even hit the local bar/produce stand. I haven't actually unpacked anything except for my bedding, however, as the whole thing just seems daunting.

Are you me? I loaded up my truck last night, and am hitting the road this morning. I want to get in, get (somewhat) unpacked, and be ready to go for training on Monday morning. I've already mapped the thrift shops and the produce stand near my new apartment, so I can pick up any extra items I may need/want to fill the space, and have some fresh food to eat (cause cooking may be a few days away.)

Having attended a small campus of a major state university system for my BS, I think that sort of campus is what I want long-term. Yes, the funds for doing "fun stuff" (conferences, research assistants) are lower, but I think there are advantages. I want to teach (so far), so a 4/4 load isn't something I would want to avoid. The connection with advisees is better than at a major university. Unlike many students at SLACs (especially the pricier ones), students at smaller state schools are there because they don't have family to fall back on, and I want to be there to support them. The biggest thing for me, in my particular field, is finding a program where people actually like each other, and where rhet-comp/tech comm isn't the ugly stepchild of the English department. I'm coming from a program where the staff legitimately gets along (like, 4-8 of them have lunch in the union every day), and the department head is an advocate for her people (and is invested in getting them all fast-track tenure). I know these things are rare, especially in big programs, but I'm going to want something like that.

When I looked at programs I reached out to current and recent students to get their impressions of the program, and specifically asked about things like funding and fit. Some questions I asked: 1. Can you live on the standard stipend? 2. If not, is there work available outside of the stipend in the department or writing center? 3. Is that work frowned up? How about outside work? (I was told that most schools do not want you to adjunct elsewhere until you are abd) 4. What's the environment for student involvement? (Do we get committee assignments, hiring panels? How often? Do our votes/voices count?) 5. Is there traveling funding? 6. Any rumors about Prof X leaving/retiring soon? (Students often hear these things, and it's a huge deal if you are going for one or two specific POIs) 7. What's the social environment like? (I've heard of programs where the grad students are pitted against each other until it becomes toxic) 8. What's the job search support like? 9. What's the publication support like? 10. What's the conference presentation support like? (This was big. I got my foot in the door to presenting by being on panels with my advisor as an UG. Now I'm applying with experience) 11. Is there a departmental trivia team or fantasy football league (not a deciding factor, but I asked because it tells me something about the group) 12. How receptive is the department to a specific demographic (in my case, older, non-traditional student, but you should ask for yourself. Some programs accept blind, but bias shows up once you are there. Does the program prefer 22 year old BAs? 30 year old MAs?)

You are going to retake the GRE? Unless your essay score is poor (like, <3) I can't see how that would benefit you. 323 combined, with a perfect verbal, is going to be good enough for any program you would consider (afaik). No one is going to be looking at your quant score.