TeaOverCoffee

I'd definitely have to say "Renaissance Literature and the Environment." I'm not even specializing in the Renaissance, but my professor is an astounding eco-critic and who doesn't love Shakespeare?

Thanks, you guys! I think the root of anxiety is often intensified by family members and friends. Although they have your best interests at heart and they want to show they care, asking about whether you've been accepted to one program or another forces you to excessively think about grad school and how adcoms attend to business. So thank you for reassuring my sanity.

So do we think Ohio State is done sending acceptances? Has anyone been rejected from OSU this round yet? What do we think a pending status means? I just get the impression that they've already accepted all the people they want (all just speculation, of course), so does pending mean waitlisted or they just haven't updated your profile to inform you that you've been rejected? More important, have any people applying for the Victorian literature program been accepted to Ohio State? Sorry this sounds so obsessive. You know, when there is that one school that you want to attend the most, you fail to exert proper control over your anxiety.

My last semester of undergrad begins Wednesday. It's bittersweet to be honest. I'm excited about nearly all of my classes, except the history I've put off until my last semester. I'm particularly pumped about my gothic literature class and art, of course--my two passions. If I'm accepted to grad school, I intend to audit an art class.

This is my TOP school. Fingers crossed, you guys!

I'm fairly confident the Urbana acceptance is from the guy I told you guys about earlier in December. I think he's just now posting it. But if not, congrats to whoever it may be!

I've submitted my last application, and I just feel like I'm forgetting to do something or my transcripts won't arrive on time. You would think there would be this cloud of relief, but I'm still so anxious.

He actually hasn't graduated yet with his BA, which is why I was so shocked because I thought you had to have a MA before you could apply to their PhD program. I'm incredibly excited for him, but it gives me a bit of anxiety to know that UIUC is sending out anything so early, especially since the deadline was ten days ago. He attended an event at the university over this semester for graduate school recruitment, so perhaps that was a plus? I'm not sure. You never know with these processes what could give you an advantage over another applicant. I didn't realize how anxious this entire process would make me. I have four shows on my Prime watchlist, so perhaps that will keep me occupied until January.

You guys won't believe this, but U of Illinois has already sent out a few acceptances. My friend just was accepted to their 19th-Century British Literature PhD program today. Thank you, Illinois, for the anxiety attacks already.

Yeah, I definitely think it's because of finals and grad apps. Once this semester ends and everyone gets caught up on sending their applications and supplemental materials, I think there will be a lot more activity on the threads. Honestly, I want to avoid grad cafe once mid-Jan rolls around, though. Hearing of rejections and acceptances when I have heard nothing may drive me insane. I even created a separate gmail account for all of my graduate school apps so it's not sent to my phone directly from my university email account. I don't think I can handle the constant anticipation each time I receive an email from online stores or Merriam-Webster.

Well, my application materials appear as incomplete, so doesn't that mean my application is incomplete? I could be completely wrong, and you could perhaps take a huge weight off my shoulders.

So, I submitted everything for my Ohio State application, and my last recommender submitted everything the night before the deadline, but my status still remains as incomplete. The committee begins to looking at applications in t-minus eight hours...... Step up your game, OSU Grad School. It's not longer pending; it's complete. AHHHHH. Other than having a mild panic attack over my incomplete status, I'm going to bury my head in the four papers I have due this, including the three finals for which I have to prepare. Good luck, you guys, on applications and for those of you who still have finals! May the odds be ever in your favor.

That moment when you realize that you actually aren't a good fit with a university after you've already FedEx'd your transcript for $30 there. Good-bye, Penn State.

I'm applying for my first two tomorrow. Absolutely terrified to say the least.

So for the resume for graduate school purposes, if you have no professional experience in a job that you desire after graduate school (teaching, for example), should you mention it in the resume? I work at an English Department as an office worker and a hotel. However, neither of those will be beneficial towards my career aspirations. Should I even mention them then?

So we do just send the first three years of undergrad, right? Because a majority of my applications are due in the beginning of December, so there is no way for me to send my transcripts unless it's after the deadline. Should I just send my first three years, then send my first semester of my senior year once I receive my grades?

I'm applying there, too, but for literature. The only thing I know about the university is from their website.

I'm just going to be honest. I haven't studied for it yet. I'm going to begin this weekend hardcore. I'm a little terrified, but the majority of the schools I've spoken to don't care much about the test. I've heard it's just a formality from some of the schools. That's not to say that I'm not going to study for it. But I'm honestly just not going to fret too much. All the best to you guys!

I sent all of my recommenders my list, and then of course changed it. They're perfectly fine with it. I've started all of my applications! One of my professors wanted to send the recommendations already, so I had to start every single one in order to do it. It's definitely time consuming, so I've already started. It would be such a headache to do it all at once.

My list changes every week, too; no worries. I think I've actually finalized my list, though - for sure this time. I initially only chose programs that were prestigious as long as they had a variety of Victorian literature faculty. However, with my abysmal GRE score, which I hope to improve the next time, I had to be much more realistic with my application process. Some of these are still a bit of a far fetch, but I'll never know unless I try. I have exceptional recommendation letters, I'm developing a unique writing sample, my undergraduate GPA is above average, and I expect my SOP to please the committee once I complete that. After reading a few forums, though, nothing's guaranteed. So fingers crossed we're all accepted somewhere! I'd happily attend any of the schools on my list. Brandeis, Boston U, Indiana - Bloomington, Miami U, Ohio State, Ohio U, Penn State, Purdue, Temple, Tufts, UConn, U of Illinois, U of New Hampshire, U of Pittsburgh Unfortunately, I won't complete any of my applications until late November, though because I will not have a complete writing sample until then. For those applying to several schools, what do you put on the application when it asks what other universities are you applying to? Why does it even ask this? Surely you don't put every school, right?

I'd certainly love to join this party. I have a SOP in the making, but I'm sure it needs quite a bit of revision. My writing sample won't be complete until late November, though, since it's my senior thesis.

I called UPenn earlier this year and asked about the works cited page, and they want you to include it. So I'm assuming all schools are like that.