Matthew3957
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Posts posted by Matthew3957
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If the people you want to work with are at top-tier schools I would just make sure your writing sample speaks to their work. Also in your SOP make sure you have clear goals.
Don't worry so much about the gap in time, I do not think it is looked at as a huge deal. A lot of people I know have taken long breaks and now it seems to even be suggested to make sure academia is what you want to do.
For the MA, I would recommend finding a good funded MA in the US that you can make good connections at so you have strong letters. "Name" does not matter much from what I understand for MA, but how good the letters you get from it does.
Hopefully that helps! Also make sure you have a set domain within the field you are aiming for and do a lot of research into which schools would best serve you there.
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I am officially joining the UC train again. Going to UCSC
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2 hours ago, Bopie5 said:
Okay, I heard back from the grad program coordinator at Davis! He was very friendly and helpful, and even gave me a few direct quotes from the Adcomm. Ultimately, there wasn’t much to work on—he said that my app was highly rated by all 3 profs, the comments were almost entirely positive, and that they thought my WS was “very competently written” and “strong,” but not as interesting as some other applicants, and that they think I would probably benefit from getting my MA. The transparency and clarity of his email makes me feel better about the denial letter, and encourages me that the Adcomm had positive feelings about my app as a whole! Might look to get this kind of feedback from other schools.
Who was the correct person to email? I emailed Alberta for feedback and it was nice to hear something direct about my application. I know I am going to UCSC at this point, but it's hard to pass up a chance to hear why I was rejected somewhere. Am I a masochist?
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I'll throw my 2 cents in too. Go to Duquesne. I did a free but no stipend MA in Berlin, it was great. But I'm exhausted, being able to not work would have been a dream. Prestige doesn't really matter for MA. Just the work and that is going on to be better if you focus on it.
Also, as someone who knows about English/lit/comp grad rankings but not a lot about school rankings for undergraduate I can honestly say I had never even heard of Wake Forest until the scandal broke over the last week. Maybe this is also being from the opposite coast. Maybe this is just my ignorance. Just saying that prestige is so relative. I have like fifteen anecdotes about the illusions of relative prestige. If you want a few I'm happy to share.
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@hgtvdeathdrive Whoops sorry wrote that at 3am when I was up coughing. Yea that is what it means. From what I was told, yes it seems like they will be following up on those.
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@Bopie5 "We are waiting for the program director to approve all admission decisions in our application system which will then transmit an official letter from Graduate Studies. I just found out she will start doing so today. " - from Davis
The person also let me know didn't get in but honestly so much better to have a clean rejection at this stage.
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@swarthmawr @effietheant I have followed suit and emailed the three I am still waiting on. I am with you and would just love any response so I can start planning the move.
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17 hours ago, swarthmawr said:
I felt that way about Irvine and just emailed them— I ended up being on a waitlist. Some schools have “hidden” waitlists so it might be worth reaching out to see if decisions have been released yet at this point.
I guess I should do this with the ones I am waiting on... Having a response would be great.
I am with you @effietheant I do start to have some annoyance that they cannot just let me know I am waitlisted or rejected outright.
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Make sure you want to commit. Also maybe look into programs that specifically have creative components or an emphasis in writing (there are a few, UCSC for one).
On the Ivy note, sure it's definitely possible, everything is about fit and having the basic grades, letters, SoP, and writing sample there isn't anything specifically that excludes you. I would say though, that in my searching, none of the Ivy schools are good fits for ecocrit people. Maybe finding a Conrad or McCarty person though that will then allow you to do ecocrit work on those authors is the best way to pitch yourself and find good people to work with.
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Yea I am wondering the same thing about Davis. However, my guess is like Santa Cruz they have an invisible waitlist. I kinda wish they could cut them off though and send out the absolute rejections. Same with UIUC! Same with UBC, apparently they've sent out acceptances, but no one on gradcafe noted one and now they're holding out the rejections.
Either way I cannot accept the UCSC offer in my portal yet so I guess I have to wait either way.
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I just want to raise the chorus's volume with me loud voice, I would suggest you do not go. The "prestige" is what makes people consider them, but it's also exposes how much of a lie they are in general. What makes a school prestigious? Will you have access to any of that? Is accessing it within a year even possible? Is it worth a lifetime of debt?
My story is that when I first applied to graduate school I got these same offers from Columbia and NYU who have similar cash cow programs. I think it is telling that these all tend to be at private schools with big names, in first class cities (yea I classed them), and they seem to be on broad topics that cover huge areas to admit a lot of applicants.
If you really want to an MA to transition to a new field do that. Like people said there are funded ones. Belgium and Germany also offer MAs with no tuition and low cost of living. Getting shut out is not the end and please do not feed into the system that these programs foster.
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10 minutes ago, kendalldinniene said:
YESSSS, SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!
You too! Spirit show PR!
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I finally had the call with UCSC and am so happy to say I've been accepted!!
I should have known with the email saying they wanted to talk, but with how the season has gone I had so much doubt. I am ecstatic!
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Hi all. Tomorrow I'm talking with a PoI who says he has good news on my app. Is there anything I should be prepared for on the call or I should definitely bring up? I've seen the campus visit Q&A but not sure of the etiquette here. I have a good idea of how I'll handle it all already, but some advice would be awesome.
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5 minutes ago, breemartini said:
Is anyone else still waiting on UC Davis, NYU, or Brown PhD? Still haven't heard a thing from any of these programs ?
Same with Davis for me. Like @santraash mentioned I get the impression that's kinda how they do waitlists/rejections but I would say it means most likely a rejection as they've sent out acceptances.
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So... I am still waiting on the UCSC call. I told the POI that they can call anytime before 230pm PT this week. I figured since I got the email and responded early Tuesday I might hear back that day or the next. I was thinking if I don't hear from them today I should follow-up tomorrow, but I also realize "this week" could be Friday or Sunday. I have an international number so that might be part of the issue. I guess I should just be patient, but I figured following up might be best. Thoughts?
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I received a second rejection from Victoria this morning. Seems odd that they have two? I am guessing one is automatic. It also came with this great tautology:
"Your application for admission to the University of Victoria has been carefully considered. We regret to inform you that your application has been refused for the following reason:
The Department of English has reviewed your file and cannot offer you admission."
Enjoy!
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11 hours ago, dilby said:
In at Yale. My one admit of the season. I'm speechless.
Saw this on the results board and had to come congratulate you directly! So happy for you.
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Rejection from U Victoria came through....
but I also got email from UCSC saying they had some good news for a phone call... could it be really good news?
- mandelbulb, rr732, havemybloodchild and 2 others
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@ekat97 I did the NA studies program at the FU. I haven't had a good season but that's definitely on me. The paper system at German universities make it all but gaurenteed you'll have good samples for submitting. If you want my experiences feel free to PM I've had quite a few ppl interested. Also don't sleep on Belgium. Germany is getting the press but Belgium is just as cheap - I'd recommend checking out LU Leuven - though perhaps it's better for sciences than humanities.
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Whichever of you posted this for your UPenn rejection:
"We received many excellent applications this year. Like, soooo many. Aw man, you should've seen 'em! WHEW! . . . Uh, yeah. Sorry about YOUR app, by the way."
100% my admissions season...
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2 minutes ago, hgtvdeathdrive said:
it looks like in years past rejections went out before acceptances several days in advance? but it's also wild inconsistent. i'm losing my mind at work right now! there is truly no reason for me to get my hopes up but u g h
Yea meanwhile its time to sleep because I work in the morning in Berlin... I imagine I will wake up to the news either way? I'll be hoping against the odds for us both.
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48 minutes ago, hgtvdeathdrive said:
yeah are rejections coming in waves or something? not that i have high hopes since i'm 2a/5r/2i/2p rn
Yea I feel I am deluded for hoping given how this season has gone... but it's all that's left afterall.
2019 Applicants
in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Posted
@kendalldinniene Like @jadeisokay I read a good chunk before I had to move and return it to the library. I dug it though because I had always wanted to write a book that is essentially just quotations, which I felt it was doing. I didn't finish it though before leaving so can't say it compelled me.
On reading for fun: Anyone read Normal People? I know it's like the IT book of the literary world with a bunch of boomers saying how Sally Rooney is the first great millennial author which seems dismissive of a lot of great young authors, but I was fucking blown away because it was so simple. It felt true and I mean that in the most naive and genuine way possible. Also just finished the second novel in Elena Ferrante's Neopolitan series and am now desperately looking for a used copy of the third in every bookshop in London, it's bound to appear. I found the 4th book today, but felt weird to grab that since I move in a week and don't have the third!
I am desperately trying to finish my MA thesis, but am losing energy. I have the 18000 words but they aren't the right ones yet.
I also got my TA assignment the other day: Politics of Fashion in Fall and Lit 1 in Spring. I am so excited but also nervous. I haven't got to register for classes yet, but my first quarter is just a teaching colloquium and an introduction class unless I am mistaken.