bgt28

Niet

Lol I'm always looking for a friend...I guess I'm in the same field of thought as omensetter...although I could be "fully" funded, what if there are parts I can't afford/ parents won't pay for? I'm working a job to save money, but so many horror stories...so I thought I'd put it out there...you made me LOL though ha

Cornell Comp Lit: "proficiency in two foreign languages" English Amharic and......Working on it. AKA I'm fucked.

*Comp Lit

Honestly, Ramón Saldívar. He's AMAZING. I read a paper by him on the transnational imaginary and it's informed all of my senior year papers, my thesis, and the text I'm revising now which I so desperately want to publish in Social Text. And, as you mentioned, the interdisciplinarity of MTL is soooo attractive, and I've gotten really positive feedback from their PM, which is so comforting, since it indicates a warm departmental solidarity/commitment. I'm torn, honestly. My dream is to move to NYC with my best friends, for which being admitted to Columbia is basically my number one choice: also, the fact that Mamadou Diouf is there, which honestly, yes. He's EXACTLY the kind of transnational African thinker I've been missing; also the fact that he'd probably kick my ass into gear on the question of the French language lol. I've been slacking with my European languages lately, and hope that when I'm back in the US I'll take an intensive French/German tutorial to get back into it, since, you know, Comp LI

The Three Musketeers, anyone? lol

Can we discuss: a] how you're an amazing candidate with an amazing writing sample (I'm totally obsessed with Archive/Museum Studies) b]Stanford: Right there with you! 3 admits/4 years isn't a cute ratio. c]How do you feel about Stanford, and MTL specifically? Let us commiserate and hope we both get in! xx

LOL same!!!

PS: OMG David Eng is at Penn. WHAT IF I GET IN???? Argh lol xoxoxo

Anytime/always! Dedicated servant to knowledge/building kinship/friendship! I'm very glad that this thread exists, so so glad to meet more of the tribe Warner does have blind spots, to be sure, but I feel like non-whiteness is a specter they all avoid. It's strange, and devastating, since narrative is crucial to the development of national security, identity, and filial affection among countrymen and countrywomen. Especially cross-racial narrative. So crucial. I suspect there exists the notion that to elide questions of race makes for a more "complex" and "focused" analysis on sexuality and its attendant politics; however, this is to fall into the trap, which Baldwin so beautifully lays out for us, of white innocence. It is never really advertent; and none of this is of course accusatory. But it is meant as a call to arms, a call to love and listening. I really suggest reading The Fire Next Time by Baldwin, if you haven't already, 1Q84. It's not "queer" per se, but it is by Baldwin, who I consider a black queer prophet (not the most original thing to say, but that doesn't make it any less true). xx Katla, I'm on it. I'm so excited. Thank you so much! I'm extremely interested in the racialization of intimacy. xx

S.A.M.E. Wake up with a rested look and nice fat envelopes lol

Thanks so much for your response! I'm pretty much thinking the same thing about an MA at this point...I wouldn't mind doing it if it is funded, but I'm also set on going directly from undergrad to PhD...I haven't really compiled statistics on the trends for direct admits, but here's to hoping!

I totally would, except I'm not really certain there are faculty there with whom I'd fit well; in fact, I think there is only one, and the fit is better described as an approximation, which is simply not good enough atm...I just feel shitty since it's a good school, the people are great, and I started an application, for which I'm now receiving several tantalizing emails :/

Hi guys...so i had this blowout with my parents about paying for grad school, and wanted to ask if anybody is familiar with the grant/fellowship process? I know some schools provide full support, but others seem to say it's to our benefit to apply for external awards. I've been poring through databases, but it seems as though for a lot of the fields under "Humanities" candidates are nominated at the discretion of the department/university? I'm sorry if this question seems dumb, but, you know, breaking the bank...again. xx

I'm super curious about applying here, but it would be difficult for the following reasons: a) I'd have to go for a Masters in Liberal Studies, which is the closest thing there is to my interests. No PhD tracks whatsoever for me. What is with the financial aid horror stories? Thoughts/comments? I'd love to hear them! xx

So so so true and important. People forget a lot of things about how hard life can be in the community, and seem to be very good at making myths out of the past. Homographesis (Edelman), No Future (Edelman, although OMG he needs to tone it the fuck down), Homonationalism (Puar), Queer Art of Failure (Halberstam), Cruising Utopia/Disidentifications (Muñoz) Everything by Sedgwick (I still don't know how to feel about 'How to Bring Your Kids Up Gay")

LOL I JUST saw it...an English acceptance...shit just got real.

YEEESSSSSS lol I almost shit myself when I saw his name in my inbox and had to go smoke a cigarette to convince myself it wasn't an anxiety mirage

MAJOR UPDATE: All schools have now received his letter. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Thank you so much. I can rest knowing I've done all I can...also, a lot of the schools' responses seem to be very understanding/in no hurry regarding LORs, and at least I have four schools with three already submitted LORs and four schools with only two (thanks to drownsoda's reassuring post, I feel [or hope] that it will be sufficient for them to develop an interest in me as a candidate from two letters; hopefully if things don't work out they'll tell me they need a third letter immediately and if he still hasn't responded, well, then we know what I'll have to do). xx

absolutely! I've (however reluctantly lol) emailed all of the programs, and now I'll give it a week tops before stressing over a replacement prof. I love him dearly and want him to write the letters for me, and genuinely hope he's well, because I haven't heard from him since I emailed him on Dec. 31st, and that's not like him.

Alright, so all schools have been made aware of the situation, and half of them have responded favorably/with next steps, and I'm waiting on an initial response from the rest...I've had numerous conversations about this over the past few days/weeks (I'm so sorry/thank you so much drownsoda), and while I am incensed that I broke down and emailed departments about the situation, I am glad that I will sleep a little better moving forward in the waiting game. Columbia specifically notes, as does NYU, that I can either continue to email my referee (as I have already done), or should consider another professor (as Wyatt's Torch mentioned above): I am EXTREMELY hesitant to do this, since this particular referee is my absolute best writer: I took 5 classes with him, two of which were independent readings between him and I; he is also my thesis adviser. Thank you to all who responded for your generosity of spirit, and your comforting words/advice...I actually feel some sort of relief. It was never my doing to begin with (as I'm sure fellow LOR-disaster-boaters know full well), but at least they know I've been in touch with him several times already. xx

Thank you all so much! xoxoxo @drownsoda: omg still...I know, right? This is a shit-show lololol @Wyatt's Torch: I totally will do. Basically, I'll send a version of the following email (attached for your consideration) to all eight schools: Dear Office of Graduate Admissions, I hope this message finds you well, and that your holiday has been pleasant! My name is X, and I have applied to Harvard's African and African-American Studies PhD program. I was emailing to ask about a letter of recommendation that is missing on my applicant profile page, and was wondering if it has been received? I am so very sorry for the inconvenience; I have been in touch with my referee, and have asked that the letter reach you as soon as is possible, if it has indeed not been sent. I appreciate your time and patience, and hope my application will still be given your kind consideration. With Best Wishes, X

Any and all words of comfort and wisdom are welcome/needed...much love and appreciation always! PS: I will happily explain my situation in depth if anyone desires to know (via forum or PM). XX

Hi! I just wanted to post an update on my situation, though there's no significant change since you last heard/read. My LOR situation is the same as it was 12 days ago. But I'm thinking of bright-siding it, so I wanted to ask, would programs with three submitted letters (and waiting on a fourth) still review my application even though it is technically incomplete? Second, would the schools that have only two submitted LORs look at my application if they know the third letter is on its way?/Are they likely to contact me asking for clarification/completion, or will they contact the prof directly? I'm in shambles, but we'll get through. xx