Dr. Old Bill

Perhaps a touch off-topic, but at UMD's open house yesterday, it was made very clear that they are thirsty for more rhet/comp folks, and are actively trying to build that section of the department. I had a couple of people try to coax me in that direction, in fact, based on my interest in writing and pedagogy etc. I'm sure that ProfLorax can tell you more details on that front if you're interested, but despite the fact that I've heard of a recent slowdown elsewhere in comp/rhet, that's definitely not the case at Maryland.

Oh, it was fantastic! Met a couple of GCers early on -- I felt kind of dumb because both came up to me and said "Wyatt's Torch?" and I probably had a blank look on my face for a moment trying to process how they knew me...before I realized I've PMed with both of them and they knew my first name...which was on my name badge. Anyhow, for me, events started at 9:00, as I met with Dr. Leigh Ryan about potentially working in the Writing Center. She actually wrote the book (literally) on tutoring in a Writing Center. After that, I had a few one-on-ones with professors, and they were all fantastic...legitimately interested in my research goals, extremely amiable etc. Professor Donawerth even gave me a copy of A Winter's Tale. After that, there was an hour-long luncheon which was great for socializing. I chatted more with Ramus and Hunterjumper, but it was a true mingle-fest. There were many current grad students there (I'd guess at least twenty-five), and they were all outgoing, striking up conversations, giving out their email addresses, and just being generally kind, enthusiastic, and helpful. Funnily enough, I got into a long conversation with a couple of them, and happened to mention Grad Cafe and ProfLorax's excellent advice etc. They had no idea she moonlights here, so...ProfLorax, I apologize for blowing your cover! One interesting nugget is that the DGS, Ralph Bauer, was very involved in socializing...but not in an oppressive or obsequious kind of way. He would sometimes just quietly stand to the side of a group and listen to a conversation, occasionally chiming in with a quip or two...but I get a very strong sense that he is an extremely genuine human being, which makes me very happy. He legitimately cares about his students and the programs -- M.A. as well as Ph.D. There were some panels with professors, but even more enlightening was a panel with eight or so current grad students, with no professors / administrators in the room. Basically an hour of "real talk." Cost of living issues (Greater D.C. is notoriously expensive for housing), general funding crises at the state level in Maryland, juggling GAships / TAships with coursework etc. were all discussed at length. The main takeaway, however, is that ALL of the students on the panel are very happy at UMD. There was no reason for them to be cagey about this in such a context, and one of the grad students basically summed it up by saying how academic rigor is a given in any graduate program, but UMD is different in that the people they bring in -- professors and grad students alike -- all tend to be genial. And I really got that sense beyond mere words (because anyone can say that, and in a way, a day for admitted students is all about that, but it feels legitimate here). There was another panel on funding options for M.A. students which was quite helpful. I also learned that receiving a TAship / GAship automatically qualifies the bulk of your tuition as "in-state" which is particularly great for anyone getting a 1/2 TAship 1/2 GAship etc. that only covers part of tuition. Personally, it broadens the housing area options for my wife and I -- we're not tethered to living in the Maryland side of the Greater D.C. area, so we may look at Alexandria again, or Arlington etc. (still a bit of a hike for me, but I'm used to a much longer commute regardless). There was then a campus tour that I opted out of -- I planned on using the time to fire off a few emails, though discovered there was no visitor wifi, so wound up just reading the graduate handbook and exploring the English building (Tawes Hall) myself. I should point out that the building is big and beautiful. Much larger than what I'm used to, and I'm really quite impressed by it. It's a smoke-free campus, which is probably a good thing overall, though I can't deny that as I was looking out at the courtyard on the third floor, I was thinking "wow, it would be lovely to have a cigar out here on a nice summer day" before my eyes spotted the large "No Smoking" sign. The day ended with another casual social mixer with wine, cheese, and snacks. I was there for a couple of hours. Actually, I think I was the last admitted M.A. to leave. The DGS was again very much involved in general socializing, and we chatted quite a bit. I felt particularly bad for one young woman there who is waitlisted. The DGS, a current Ph.D. student and I chatted with her for about an hour, and her enthusiasm for her research and her general personality were fabulous. Such an engaging individual, and UMD is her only grad school option at this point. My heart goes out to her, and I hope she manages to get in off the waitlist... So while I may be a bit biased, since I already committed to UMD a few weeks ago, my takeaway of the program is extremely positive. One thing I didn't touch on above is that there are MANY teaching opportunities for Ph.D. and M.A. students alike -- even Lecturer positions. Teaching is very much at the heart of the UMD experience, and I couldn't be happier about that. It does, of course, mean that the program isn't for everyone. I know there are many out there who (understandably) see teaching as just a necessary evil involved in the course of graduate research, but for anyone like me who is looking forward to the instructional portion (not to mention the experience to list on my C.V. etc.), I don't think I've come across any major programs more dedicated to that side of things. Apologies if this post is a bit exhaustive, but it was a long and enjoyable day. Again, since I've already committed to the place, I might be a bit biased. I think Ramus still has another option on the table, so he might be able to give a more objective view if he's so inclined. But yes...for me, at least, I was happy before, but that happiness was definitely justified and cemented with yesterday's events. I'm just sorry you couldn't be there, ProfLorax!

For me, the end goal of all of this has been to teach at college level. I enjoy research, writing, academic challenges, and long walks on the beach, but ultimately I look most forward to teaching the discipline to undergraduates. The primary (but by no means the only) reason I am going down this path is to give me the best opportunity to do that at the highest level. Having said that, I'm utterly open to other possibilities post-Ph.D., whether that is consulting, working for a non-profit arts organization, working for a publishing house, a library...there are SO many alt-ac options out there for English majors! I would probably adjunct for a course or two per year while doing whatever alternate-plan-A it is I wind up working at, but having an ideal is rarely a bad thing, so long as you are able to see past it. Case in point: had you asked me a mere two months ago if I would consider a Master's program, my response would have ranged from a "probably not" to a flat out "no." Guess what? Tomorrow I'm going to the open house of the M.A. program that accepted me, and I'm downright excited about it. I would almost go so far as to say "thrilled." Adaptation to change is a core component of our natures, and being able to roll with the changes (apologies to REO Speedwagon) is a valuable life skill in any industry. I don't think anyone here is saying anything to the contrary, but it is worth restating that there are MANY valid reasons to pursuing graduate English, even if the ultimate dream of snagging a TT job at an R1 proves too elusive. The fast food analogy is positively inapt. We're all critical thinkers here. We should know better than to dive for the low-hanging fruit of the "bottom barrel" scenario. It's a wide world out there, and people with our particular sets of skills that we have acquired over a very long career (apologies to Liam Neeson) can make the most of the abundant alt-ac opportunities.

I will likely be working. If that winds up being part-time, then my plan is to start Rosetta Stone's Level 1 Italian course. I know there are likely better resources out there for learning Italian for translation purposes, but since I have a copy of the Rosetta Stone software on hand, I figure it can't hurt as a primer. I will also be moving this summer. Hopefully around the beginning of July, but possibly for August 1st. I've always disliked moving, but I'm actually rather looking forward to it this time around... Getting back into civilization will be a godsend!

Spot-on as usual, Unraed. It would require a gross level of ignorance and/or naivete to be unaware of the sheer difficulty of getting a TT job in academia, or the relative difficulty of getting a job in academia at all. It is the ideal for many, but the bottom line is that getting an M.A. or a Ph.D. in English doesn't pigeonhole you into one career possibility. There are many, many possibilities for alternate career paths with an M.A. or Ph.D. in hand -- some of which are listed in Emily.Rose's link. That's why I always get a tiny bit snarky when I see threads like these. In theory, we're all smart people here. I suspect that most of us have at least a partial understanding of how difficult this path is. Telling us how difficult it is is tantamount to putting grotesque pictures of diseased lungs on cigarette packages.

Definitely the first I've heard of it...

And you thought 1Q84's response was rude?

I agree with this. Wholeheartedly. The one caveat I would add, however, is that it requires a level of openness about one's own strengths and limitations, and an acknowledgment that it is an even tougher battle than it is for those who have no diagnosed mental disabilities. The academic gates are not closed, but the measures required to get through them are invariably going to be more difficult -- not insurmountably so, but it does have to be acknowledged. As it pertains to this situation, it's hard to say. I don't know Youngcharlie at all, or her situation beyond what she has expressed via several threads here. I'm more concerned over her "hatred" for NYU and how she "despises" professors there and "hates" her roommates and the "pretentious" city. They may just be words on an Internet forum, with no serious weight, but if they are reflective of true opinions, then it is hard to wholeheartedly endorse her pursuit of another M.A. and eventually a Ph.D. I suppose that is the danger of an Internet forum though. Posting styles etc. can vary quite a bit, and it's possible that Youngcharlie is just letting off steam. I'm not sure her rampant downvoting over seemingly well-intended advice is doing her any favors though...

Speaking frankly here, and I know I'm just some guy commenting on the Internet, but... -I'm completely at a loss as to why you would want to get another M.A. in English. One should be enough, unless there is a VERY compelling reason otherwise. -Hating a program and despising professors is not a good sign. While I can't say whether or not NYU's English department is "typical," it is nevertheless academia...and if you had a really bad experience, then it might be a reflection on you and whether academia is the best fit for you in general. You say you hated your pretentious roommates and hated the city as well? That's...a lot of hate. -The GRE can be stressful, to be sure, but if it is bringing on dangerous fits of anxiety, including hospitalization, it's hard for me to imagine what the stress of a high school (or college) classroom could do. Again, I don't know you at all, but these are signs you need to take seriously. -Your posts are tinged with talk of "trauma," "stress," "hatred" for various aspects of the process. At some point does this add up to something other than "try again"? Again, just some frank thoughts. In a high school classroom, you'll be encountering up to thirty or so teenagers...most of whom are only there because they have to be. It will be stressful. A Ph.D. program will be five years of academic rigor, including stress-inducing comps and dissertation deadlines etc. It's a lot of anxiety. Much more, comparatively, than the GRE.

She knows and she knows and she knows... Bah. I'm feeling all nostalgic now. Actually Siamese Dream introduced me to the mellotron (used most prominently on "Spaceboy"), which became one of my favorite instruments. I eventually got heavy into progressive rock in the late '90s, which is largely saturated with mellotron passages. I was doing a recording session back in 2003, and it turned out that the studio actually had a mellotron in storage. I downright insisted that they bring it out so that I could use it on a track or two (frankly I just wanted a chance to play the damn thing), but they categorically refused, saying it was impossible to keep in tune, and was basically junk. I reluctantly let it go. Eventually I found a quality VST instrument version of a mellotron (basically samples) a few years ago that I was able to use on a couple of tracks, but it's really not the same. Appppppp: I didn't know Iha wrote "Soma." In fact, I was under the impression that Billy wrote and played pretty much everything on the album other than drums...but those alt-rock accounts were often quite exaggerated. ETA: I should mention, in case you don't know, that the mellotron was an instrument created in the '60s that basically featured keyboard keys attached to tape loops of strings, flutes, chorales etc. It was intended to be an early "sampler" but turned out to have a unique sound all its own. The company has actually started making them again in recent years (much higher quality, from what I gather), but the vintage ones went out of production some time in the 70s. You can't hear an early song by say, Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Moody Blues, Gentle Giant etc. without hearing a mellotron in full drone...

I think I might have called "Soma" my "favorite song of all time" in 1995 or 1996. Saw SP in concert in 1997...it was delayed because of the whole situation with Jimmy and the death of Jonathan Melvoin. Still, Matt Walker was a pretty excellent replacement drummer for that tour... I remember Billy used a mic stand to smash one of the stage lights, which immediately burst into flame. Sophomoric? Sure...but it was entertaining and hilarious. Yeah, I'm not ashamed to admit that I still put on '90s SP from time to time. Some tracks from Gish hold up well too -- "I Am One," "Rhinoceros," "Crush" etc. It's really too bad they've (well, he's) become a bit of a mockery of themselves these days. Machina was a travesty, and their subsequent work has just been self-serving, with occasional glimmers of "good."

Oh, seriously, Pisces Iscariot was fabulous. I think "Obscured" is the best track on the album too, though "Pissant," "Hello Kitty Kat," "Girl Named Sandoz," and "Starla" are all pretty fabulous too. Some of the b-sides from Mellon Collie were great as well -- "Ugly," "Marquis in Spades," "The Aeroplane Flies High" (with Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt!)... Yeah. I miss the mid-90s sometimes.

According to Dante, the gates of Hell are capped by the maxim: "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here." In that same vein, I suppose the gates to a Ph.D. program are topped by a giant sign that says "Who the eff knows!?" I guess all of you are right. It's just important not to devalue the significance of the GRE scores too much. Ultimately all aspects should be at their strongest, which seems obvious on the surface, but is worth repeating over and over regardless.

Yes, yes, and yes. In no way am I blaming Grad Cafe at all for my lack of overall success in this Ph.D. application season, but I think I let the "GRE doesn't matter much" sentiment affect me too much...perhaps even subconsciously. Sure, a 162 verbal isn't a bad score. Some might call it a good score. But in a highly competitive situation, where anywhere from 1% to 5% (and rarely more) of all applicants get accepted, anything less than stellar can hurt you...and a 162 verbal is definitely less than stellar. Like it or not, having a quantitative figure or three for comparison purposes has got to be appealing to even the most egalitarian of adcomms. It says something definitive...something that can't easily be explained away. In other words, in the span of about two and a half months, I've definitely come to believe that getting a damn good GRE score is important. No, not the most important, but certainly important! This is a bit of a soapbox issue, I know, but I often try to think about future GC members in coming application cycles when I post...and they should know that trying to hit 165 or so on the verbal is very much worthwhile, even if it takes another attempt and another $200 to do so. Edited to add: cross-posted with CarolineKS.

Me too! They were my favorite of the 90s bands, really. I just listened to Siamese Dream a few weeks ago, and routinely play their first four albums (yep, even Pisces Iscariot). They kind of lost me with Adore and beyond, however, though some of the post-Mellon Collie and pre-Adore soundtrack work was pretty great too ("Eye" from the Lost Highway soundtrack in particular).

I think that's a delightful idea!

On this date every year, I make a point of listening to this song. Still a cool video, too. Can't believe it came out 21 years ago.

I actually am, though my wife might boycott it over the lack of Dave Grohl interview footage. I was never a big Nirvana fan -- I was maybe one or two years too young to be heavily into them -- but I've always had a healthy appreciation for their contributions to rock music. And "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has been around for nearly 24 years, and it still never gets old...

I'll probably take the GRE lit test again next April, so that if I wind up having a mediocre score once again, I can retake it in October 2016. The prospect of taking it two more times is aggravating, to say the least, but one thing I've learned from this application cycle is that it does matter. Not as much as other components, I'm sure, but more than I had previously believed. As for the regular GRE, I might take it again in a couple of months, and keep doing so until I have a verbal of at least 165. No more excuses.

"Programme."

Frankly the UW-Madison offer scares me, Katla. I'm sure you've already read up on Scott Walker's shenanigans in Wisconsin, but in bygone years, UW-Madison has guaranteed five years. The fact that they can't guarantee any more than that now speaks to the legitimate financial concerns there. Having said all of that, it's a fabulous program, so the risk:reward ratio is going to be your biggest concern here. Obviously, as Mikers says, you take the Rutgers offer if you get off the waitlist, given that they're an equally great program for English. But if not, then it will be a tough call between the three birds in hand at Madison vs. the four birds in hand at UW. Sorry that this decision is going to come down to money.

This has been a major groove of mine lately. It's on the punk / screamo side of things, but reminds me a bit of early Nirvana.

Just chiming in with a slightly different perspective... I'm older and married, and will be starting a M.A. program in the fall, after completing my B.A. in May. I recognize that I am uncommonly old to just be finishing an undergraduate degree, but so it goes. In any event, my wife is a fairly successful professional in the non-profit arts sector, and we have a great relationship etc., but she doesn't talk much about her work, nor does she ask me about my studies. I'll often start to talk about a paper I've been writing, or a particularly enjoyable course etc., but the specifics don't really interest her too much beyond the fact that she knows that I am enjoying what I am doing. More importantly, however, she is 100% supportive of my future goals, just as I have been of hers...and that's really the key. It doesn't bother me much that she doesn't take an active interest in my studies, because I definitively know that she encourages me, supports me, and "has my back," so to speak. In other words, in all the ways that truly matter, she's there for me. My advice is to examine whether or not your partner can fulfill that same role. Before I went down the path I'm on, I had a few menial (but decent-paying) jobs that I had ZERO desire to talk about with anyone, let alone my wife. Likewise, some people just see work as a necessary part of life, and no more worthy of comment than the eight hours spent sleeping. (I, for one, could care less about hearing about a dream someone had...) Ultimately, even though a large part of your life may be tied up in your academic work, remember that your partner is likely with you for broader reasons, and so long as he reciprocates in the "support and encouragement" aspect of things, you might be just fine.

My wife and I have been binging this today. Delightful.

It will be a long while before I'll ever be considered a fitness enthusiast, but I did spontaneously buy a (reasonably cheap) treadmill last week. I hurt my knee last summer, and it still gives me issues when I try to use our stationary bike, so I'm hoping that a treadmill will help in that regard.