fancypants09

Speaking of cold winters, I believe that snowpocalypse in New England may cause delay in schools sending out decisions. I've heard of several schools closing for a snow day tomorrow.

Thanks for kicking off a great thread, hypervodka! I had a question about the interviews that maybe the GC cohorts could help answer. I don't know whether it would be good to contact my LOR writers to inform them about the video interview invite I received from Michigan. The interview does seem rather informal, so I don't know if I want to bother my writers with the information, but I do want to keep them updated on the progress of my applications post-submission. Any thoughts?

Congrats, MM! May I ask whether the email was for the English or Comp Lit?

This!! My comment most likely qualifies as the blind leading the blind, but this is definitely the vibe I got from the national literature departments to which I applied. I believe this describes my situation with Michigan. Unlike a few of the other schools to which I applied, I didn't reach out to the POI prior to submitting my application. Coupled with the fact that one of the current students in the program mentioned that s/he didn't go through the interview prior to acceptance, I think the interview is for the POI and the department to see whether I have the chops (since I'm switching fields) and whether I would be a good fit. I also heard through a very unofficial grapevine that some applicants were rejected from another program to which I applied. Luckily, I haven't received any rejections from them yet, but I haven't received the informal/spot interview invites I know that they extend to some applicants. All of this to say, I think we should remind ourselves not to get too worked up about whether interview invites somehow indicate a step forward/backward towards acceptance. I think if the interviews were a mandatory step towards acceptance, the departments/divisions/schools would have mentioned something to that effect in their application instructions.

Congrats on your interview! Mine is next week as well, and while I haven't looked at my SOP and WS for the school yet, I'm already shuddering in anticipation. Ramus and sillyrabbit---thanks for your insights, very helpful as I begin to wrap my head around the interview and begin to prepare.

Thanks nahis! I ran out of upvotes for the day already...seriously GC, we need more upvotes

Could you specify what department this is for? Applied to Comp Lit and a national lit department there but no word for interviews.

It ain't over until you get an official letter from the university saying it's over, just like an interview while nice doesn't mean you're admitted. Hang in there!!!

Hi and welcome! Thanks so much for your kind words---my interview is with U of M.

I wish I had the acceptance + fellowship! The interview is pre-acceptance. The results board isn't me---not yet, anyways. I haven't uploaded info on there yet---will do soon. I had assumed I wasn't going to hear back from any schools until February and now that I have I've been caught in a whirlwind all morning. I'm still at my parents' where I don't have most of my application materials so I'm trying to come up with a prep list for myself---I'll be taking the interview at my place back in Korea next week. So much to do but very excited!

Video interview invite from Michigan! Non-English national lit department. Have about a week before the interview. Very excited!!!! Hoping that everyone else hears good news soon!

You. Guys. I just received a video interview invite from Michigan! Applied to a national lit department there but will be interviewing with a professor I identified as POI in my statement and a Comp Lit prof. GAHHHHHHHH so excited!!!!

I've been on the wine and all things sweet diet, which unfortunately needs to come to a close because otherwise I will need a new wardrobe.

When I'm at my place I read on my couch lying down. It's perfect---super comfortable and I read until I fall asleep, which is relaxing. I can't quite read in bed. At my parents' place I have a Poang-like chair in my bedroom so I'll read on that. But I do miss my couch and will be taking it with me wherever I end up in the fall.

I've had to answer quite a few questions from family and friends over the holidays on why I want to pursue a PhD at this point and what my intended research is about, which got me thinking on a couple additional questions I want to look into by getting back at some theoretical reading. I think my desire for theory also has to do with the fact that I'm not in school at the moment---I don't have reading assignments for class, etc. I do wish I could get into The Goldfinch though. I wanted to read it so badly when it first came out but I was too busy reading/preparing for my applications, and now that I have time I can't get myself to get into it.

OK, will try to hang in there for a few more weeks... BTW, love the new picture---love Foucault!

I'm still on page 70-something of The Goldfinch which I started a few weeks back. I don't know why but I'm having troubles focusing on reading fiction---I just want to delve into some theory/criticism once I get back to my apartment. That, and/or I'm just not finding The Goldfinch to be the amazing work that it's been praised to be.

Thanks so much for this! I've been good about keeping my anxiety in check over the last few weeks but it just hit me yesterday. If this is how I am now at the end of January I don't even know what I'll be like throughout February. Luckily I won't have to teach until March...

Nothing from the two comp lit departments to which I applied. I was seriously out of shape right after submitting applications all the way up to a few weeks ago---the first week in January. Not sure what did the trick but I'm managing much better now. If we made it this far, we can wait a few more weeks.

So happy to see that people are starting to hear back! As for myself, I've had absolutely no news, nary an interview invite from the national literature departments to which I applied. I've noticed that some people are getting interviews for the programs, but...just going to add more wine and desserts and enjoy my stay in the US until next week and not put too much stock into freaking out, not yet anyways.

Congratulations to all for the good news!

Hi everyone! I've been keeping up with GC though I've mostly been traveling. No news at all from any of the schools to which I've applied. Handling the wait by eating super calorie-laden desserts and wine and promising myself yoga and dieting in Feb. Hope the waiting is going well for all

I applied to doctoral programs outside of my field this semester. I didn't undertake the exact switch you've proposed here, and I'm still awaiting admissions results so I can't say whether what I did was particularly successful, but here are a few points that helped me prepare my applications: - How did you come about your interest in anthropology, and how do you know that it's a field in which you want to pursue a career? I received tons of questions of this sort when I first spoke to potential LOR writers and POIs. I addressed this question in my SOP by giving a short account of how I became interested in the new field. - If you did take any courses in your new field of interest, I would reach out to the profs who taught the courses and ask them about their thoughts on your interests and on who you should contact as potential POIs in which department. If you haven't taken any courses, it may be good to get some under your belt even if you're just auditing them to start. You mentioned the possibility of doing an MA in your new field of interest and I would encourage you to explore that path seriously if you have the time and resources to do so. - If you need to work on a new writing sample, then get started on it right away by reading as much of the recent scholarship in your new field as you can. I spent at least a good year just reading and writing some pretty bad drafts of both a new writing sample and SOP. Like you, I've always considered myself a strong writer, but it took some time getting used to a different mode of thinking and writing. Hope this helps!

100% on research. I do have some teaching experience, but left that for the CV only---I did have much to say on the research I want to engage in, and plus the teaching is in a different discipline. From talking to friends in the field, you undergo rigorous training within the department before you're handed your teaching assignments, so I don't think teaching experience is a make-or-break element.

Congrats hypervodka! Good luck on your interview