school_of_caliban
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Posts posted by school_of_caliban
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Nyctophile,
Did you hear back from POI at that school? I'm in a similar situation, and I'm hoping I didn't burn that bridge. This POI is really important in my field, on top of being a great individual. I'm hoping these profs are just busy recruiting those on the waitlist.
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I decided to go with UCSB. I was really looking forward to moving to another part of California (SB is too stuffy for me), but it was a matter of fit.
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Haha, I never thought I would see the word "metiche" on grad cafe! Hey, Fiz, congrats on accepting Urbana-Champaign!
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I hesitated to respond but I know that crappy feeling and I just in general have a difficult time keeping my mouth shut, so here goes!
From my stats this season I have no reason to complain, 3 accepts/2 waitlists and from great schools. However, when I got my Stanford rejection I was incredibly disheartened. It wasn't about wanting one more acceptance, it was about my dream school. I'm really lucky to have the options I do but it has been a long time coming. In high school I worked my butt off b/c I desperately wanted to attend college on the east coast. My over protective parents put an end to that idea and instead I worked my way through a no-name state school. During my last two years of undergrad I went through a hell of a lot of emotional/family crap leading to depression and almost getting kicked out of school for failing grades. I also met my ex-husband (which was its own kind of disaster). That turned into almost 10 years of putting my dreams on the back burner for someone who had no direction (and as it turns out, no morals). Once I saw that there was no saving us I went back to school to get my credential so I would have a means of supporting myself. By this point I had almost completely given up on my dreams of a PhD. I thought no way could I be out of school for so long, with such a lackluster undergrad record and still get into a graduate program. Who would want me? What could I possibly have to offer?
I took some time to just review where I was and what I wanted, what I absolutely had to have. Then I came up with a plan to get there. I knew that I couldn't walk straight into a PhD program, my only chance was to get an MA first and to somehow effing rock it. This would be challenging b/c based on my past academic record, the only place I might get into was another no-name state school. I was so embarrassed, I was supposed to be this great brain and here I was 30, trying to finally do what I should have been doing in my 20s. After meeting with the grad advisor (who was not very optimistic) and figuring out a way that I could be admitted despite my low undergrad gpa I applied and got in. Here I am, three years later having met the cohort of my dreams (they really are like family) and some amazing professors who have my best interests at heart.
The point of all of this is to tell you that a setback is just that. It's a temporary pause. YOU decide how to respond. What do you want? What can you absolutely not live without? Look at how many times I messed up and got in my own damn way! The things that held me back weren't even outside things, they were my own stupid decisions. That Stanford rejection felt like death when I got it but after taking a step back I can see my way again. This is all my long-winded way of saying don't give up. Rejections are the freaking worst, let yourself feel that and don't feel guilty about it. Just know that 1. obstacles can turn into blessings, 2. if you want something you can make it happen. I believe in you.
Are you me? Our paths are so incredibly similar (well, except for the ex-husband). For my part, my rejection from Stanford MTL was no surprise. Even though I come from a non-ranking state school, my advisors have very, very strong connections to Stanford, yet I knew it was going to be a long-shot. I'm okay with it, though, because I know I'm in good company.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your story.
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I was accepted into UCSB English. The campus visit is this Friday, so I'm assuming all acceptances have been sent out, but not sure.
Edit: I just wanted to add that it seems (from the email that was sent out about the campus visit) that 10 people were provided offers. Aztecson23, I would email the department. They are incredibly nice and helpful.
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I don't know if telling people to chill is the way to go about anything, really. Doesn't make you look any better... Anyway, not trying to create tension. I've also found this thread incredibly helpful, and am so grateful to SFW for all the questions and nagging so we can get some answers we may not have gotten otherwise. Also, kudos Academicat; you're a great help! Thanks for all of your insight.
I wasn't trying to create tension either, and perhaps I should have kept my comments to myself. I just think the people on this forum provide a great service, and we can encourage and facilitate sharing great advice by being cordial to one another.
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I can totally see how I was rude. My bad. My apology to Jazzy for my rudeness. Jazzy, I am sorry. I tried to explain it, I thought it was fair, but I'll happily concede the rudeness. And I'm still happy and thankful for the follow-up, and I still think it was productive to work through some clarification. In my rude world, this is all good stuff. Go team.
Strong Flat White, I've seen you have to apologize more times than any other person on here. Just chill and realize people are trying to help as much as they can.
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A good friend is on tour with Dr. Dog right now, filming a documentary about them. I'm pretty sure he even played guitar on a song when they were on Austin City Limits.
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When I say out of my area, I mean that my writing sample was a postcolonial analysis of a 20th century work of literature and my area of interest is Modern Film and Cultural Studies. Haha.
Ahh, I see your point. It could also be a matter of disciplinary "fit" too. Perhaps applying to American Studies and Media Studies or other types of interdisciplinary programs would yield different results. I think that while some English departments are open to the idea of Film and Cultural Studies, it seems to me to be at best a secondary focus for many English departments. I could be completely wrong about this, but that is the sense I get.
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Take this with a grain of salt since I was not accepted in to a top 10: I want to interject and say that my writing sample was not necessarily in my area, unless you include my methodology/theoretical lens, or the way that I "read" literature. My writing sample centered around a different time period, genre, and national literature. I would suggest that one err on the side of overlap (at the very least) with one's area of concentration, but I don't think that hurt my chances too much. I would say to go with your strongest sample if it isn't incredibly far off from your area of concentration. Again, I have no insight into how this process works, and this is just the opinion of an anonymous person online.
Note to those folks who may be preparing applications and maybe made the same mistake that I did: ALWAYS submit a writing sample in your area of interest. When I emailed and asked what I could do to become a more competitive applicant in the future, I was specifically told by most schools there wasn’t anything “wrong” with my application or qualifications, but that they couldn’t evaluate my ability to succeed in my area of interest because I submitted a writing sample that wasn’t related to my proposed field of study. -
No flame. Your advice is reasonable and seems well-intentioned. You may be overlooking one thing: the enormous symbolic value and satisfaction of finishing third-level studies for people who don't fit the predominant middle-class Anglo background. I wasn't going to offer actual advice until I read your advice (which, again, makes excellent sense in some cases), but now I will: Fiz, hombre, go to grad school and kick ass. Even if you never get the tenure track job that people have been first-world whining about on here for months, you will certainly be able to use your skills to help others -- maybe by teaching at community college, maybe by writing. How can you know until you try? You're obviously smart and put-together enough to get a fellowship, so now I order you to make the most of it. Read a lot, write a lot, think a lot, make contacts and find a way to give back. No digo más, no vayan a pensar que soy un pesado.
I hit my like quota before the end of the first page. I totally agree with Graditude's advice. Seeing a close friend, a homie from the hood in Houston, Tx get his PhD and become a chingon, seeing my girl from immigrant parents and one of the worst neighboords in Dallas go to Berkeley and seeing her evolve into a badass, those experiences have had a profound effect on me, more than they will ever know. It wasn't even anything they said, but watching them go through the process made it seem like a real possibility for me. I'm the youngest in my generation by at least 5 years and was first to graduate from college in my family, and then I was the first to get my MA. I know that this pushed my sister and cousin to finish, even if it was out of pure embarrasment. Anyway, my point is that by doing this you're bringing a whole group of people along even if you don't realize it. I'm sure that you will go on to be that inspiration even if you don't pursue the TT positions.
Edit: Just wanted to add that I'm pulling for you too. Y gracias por el ánimo!
- purpleperson, ProfLorax, whitinpitt and 1 other
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Fiz, I want to buy you a beer. I feel you, but it's just cold feet. I wanted to say something in the other thread when you mentioned that you feel that you don't deserve your fellowship and/or place in the program. We've worked hard to get here. I, for sure, feel like I shouldn't be here. It would kill my middle and high school teachers to know that that young Chicano punk who always cut up in class, who, while it was clear he was an avid reader, couldn't be bothered to do any of the course work, has been accepted to several graduate programs. I could be happy doing something else, and I was too for several years. However, there was always a nagging doubt in mind, and it was visible to others too, the way that I lit up when I talked about theory and my area of literature. So, I'm going to try it out, and see how it works. That's all I can do cause I'll always regret it if I at least don't try.
- purpleperson and elisewin
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Rejection email from Stanford's Modern Thought and Lit (which I was already expecting) followed, not even 5 minutes later, by a phone call from Santa Cruz. It really is a bumpy ride.
Side note: is it completely insane to attempt to drive from San Diego Wednesday night (after the open house) up to Santa Cruz for Thursday's orientation?
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Sorry to continue to hijack the thread. (Should we start another for Santa Cruz?) Did anyone get an email indicating you've been added to a google group to Santa Cruz Literature 2014 Admissions?
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I'm dying to hear from them too! My partner says I'm being greedy since I already have a couple of acceptances, but it is great program and I would love to at least have them as an option.
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Oh, no, I haven't heard anything about housing yet! I'll try not too freak out too much about that.
As far as campus life goes, UCSB is (location-wise) in my opinion one of the most beautiful campuses, and is teeming with campus life; however, the city itself is pretty boring, apart from the naturey aspects. Every campus is going to have it's perks, but as long as you're happy in your program that is what matters most.
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I was also accepted to UCSD Lit, and it is high on my list. San Diego is an incredibly beautiful town, and it seems like a vibrant city. Also, I concur, it has amazing food. I don't know much about the program outside of what I can find on the website, so can't offer much help. I'm also concerned about the funding package as San Diego can be pretty expensive. Are you going to the campus visit? Feel free to PM me.
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I didn't mean to imply that. I apologize if it came off that way.
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It isn't the number of students that they admit, but rather the caliber of student, that makes them an incredibly competitive program.
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Stanford's Modern Thought and Literature is a phenomenal program, but is highly, highly, highly competitive. They typically only admit 3 students per cycle. I know of students who are top candidates, and have been accepted into top programs, not even make into the final round of cuts. This isn't to discourage anyone from applying, but simply to highlight the work that one should put into their application to MTL.
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Assign a friend's number to School Y and have them text you halfway through the visit to School X. Then you look down at your phone and say, "Aww, School Y just sent me the sweetest text!" and show them the text, which will include emoji of teddy bears, kisses, and hearts.
That'll definintely make them try harder.
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Berkeley started sending rejections today. I am grateful they didn't wait until mid-March as in previous years.
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Anyone apply to CU Boulder - Ethnic Studies? It's a new program, so there's no telling when they will send out acceptance/rejection notices.
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Damn you UCLA for breaking your track record of notifying all rejections on the same day, and thereby giving me false hope! Oh well. Good luck to the rest of you that have yet to hear back!
The Graduate School Ponzi Scheme
in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Posted
It wouldn't be that time of year again if VirtualMessage wasn't posting some bitter post about the job market, trying to scare all the kids away.