[Fall 2015 Applicants]

Do you mean before it's posted in something like the Acceptance Thread? Not sure if I'm doing you a disservice by introducing you to the neurosis-inducing tool known as the results board: http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/

Fascinating. My SO tells me that following this stuff is only going to make me more anxious. I'm not sure if it will or not but cannot look away. 

[Fall 2015 Applicants]

Question: some of these posts indicate that some of y'all know when one or two people have been accepted before anything is posted on this forum. How does one acquire such information?

[SWAG]

I don't know about you all, but when I'm working on a writing project, I tend to drag around every book, document, and folder I imagine could relate to my work in my backpack. Also, my huge-mongous laptop. And one or two meals because I work long days. The result is that, were I not so spiffily attired, I could be mistaken for a bag lady. Ok. I am a bag lady.

And I want to find out where I can get one of those roll-y bags. I'm too old to put this kind of stress on my back. Anyway, rolly-bags. You know, the fancy looking ones? Any recommendations?

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (!)]

Just got an acceptance call from Boston College! Wooooooooo!

 

Way to go! Boston is lovely. 

[Fall 2015 Applicants]

This is a bit random, but has anybody noticed that the majority of people who are accepted to Ph.D. programs post minimal information (GREs sometimes, comments rarely - and then somewhat vague, like "Second choice. Excited!") while people who have been rejected tend to offer a list of achievements (GREs + "Three pubs, 2 first author, three years research experience. Their loss.")?

 

I have two thoughts on this. First, I totally understand. When you're admitted, the pressure is off - you're free! Woo! Your entry in the database is a celebration, and really you'll never need those stats again, so who cares? And when you're rejected, you feel defensive - you worked hard for this! You're awesome! This is so arbitrary. Those responses are totally natural and totally human.

 

BUT. It would be so useful for me, and other prospective grad students, to know the specific qualifications of successful applicants. So this is really a very heartfelt request: when you get in (and I have so much faith!!) PLEASE include your stats. Pleasepleaseplease. And if you've got research experience, an MA, publications, etc, it would be awesome to know that too!! We all want to be successful applicants, after all - sharing your particular qualifications would be, in my opinion, very generous.

 

Just a thought as I wait impatiently for Jan. 31st!

 

I haven't shared my stats since, honestly, I'm intimidated. I don't want to be some hustling rube, you know? I've gotten accepted into one program, but some part of me still thinks I'll be rejected everywhere else. So many people on this forum are applying to top ten only schools.

 

Anyway, for my SIU Carbondale acceptance here are the stats:

 

GRE: 170 qualitative, 145 quantitative, 4.5 analytic

GPA: 3.9 (English MA), 3.95 (M.Ed), and 3.65 (BA)

over 6 conferences ranging from graduate to internationally recognized

1 pending book chapter publication

Several years teaching experience (high school and college)

 

I also fancy myself quite the writer.

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (!)]

Congratulations! Are you an Early Modernist by chance? Although I didn't apply, I've always thought Ryan Netzley would be super cool to work with

 

Primarily Critical Theory with an emphasis in women and gender studies. My mentor has several friends there I'm supposed to contact. 

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (!)]

Congrats to the Berkeley admits, you magnificent unicorns you!

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (!)]

Accepted to Southern Illinois in Carbondale, recommended for a fellowship.

[Fall 2015 Applicants]

I have a bit in the past, but I find him too cynical even for my tastes – not that his writing on those matters hasn't been insightful.  I've worked in tech for many years so I'm well aware of the sort of flattening of knowledge in favor of 'information' and the trade school mentality being applied to higher ed.  But at the same time, I see (digital) humanities as a means of breaking those bad habits, and actually re-enriching our experiences with that information.

Everyone in my department says he's a middle-brow deviation of Raymond Williams. I asked because he's written a bit about the ways that academic institutions support the hegemony. I thought his argument was a bit... hypocritical? He never addressed his professional stake in the university system. I mean, he publishes and works as a professor, so, if universities participate capitalism, doesn't he have the moral imperative to avoid actively contributing to that "industry"? 

DH seems pretty hot right now, especially paired with Rhet-Comp. Like, jobs seem to exist there. I'm jealous. And I like the stuff I've seen on posthumanism. 

[Fall 2015 Applicants]

Believe it or not, there's only one family member of mine who has been not supportive of what I'm doing, and even they have come around in their own way as I've had a fair amount of success in the past two years.  Of course, I have an engineering background in school and work together with a literary/language studies one.  As someone who does DH, I find that focus provides both a wow factor and sense of financial security in social situations.  The latter may or may not be true in academia, but what is true is that I could likely find my way into a data science job.  

 

As per the stereotype, behind DH's new modes of critical discourse comes the shadow of capitalism (neoliberal, or however you should choose to label it).  But that is also of our cultural moment, and I think most here would agree that the academy is nothing less than shot through with capitalistic interest at this point regardless of our idealistic "content."

Been reading Terry Eagleton?

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (!)]

Almost no programs require them, and those that do are exceptions rather than the rule. Duke lit and Emory are the two biggest interviewers, I think. 

Well... bummer. I shall commence self-flagellation. 

[Your Favorite English Course (...So Far!)]

Contemporary Critical Theory:

 

Mainly, I think I liked this because it's where I met my mentor. The way she taught the class was very open. She has a way of allowing graduates to explore topics that are relevant to their holistic growth in and outside of the particular class. It's also where I began researching the theorist who has become the centerpiece of my thesis. Finally, it had an excellent mix of students with varying perspectives and backgrounds but all willing to share their ideas in discussion. Of course, I love critical theory itself, but I'm a pretty promiscuous intellect and tend to love any hard discipline.

[Fall 2015 Acceptances (!)]

Hey, so what's the deal with interviews in English Ph.D. programs? Will all/most programs request them? 

[Out of curiosity, how old is everyone who plans to pursue a Masters?]

I'm on my second. My first was an M.Ed.; I was 23. My second was an M.A.; I was 26.

[Fall 2015 Applicants]

Hello! I'm jumping in because I'm in a "twiddling-my-thumbs" phase. Oh, sure, I have to finish my thesis, write a chapter for a book, and substitute teach to keep the lights on (my assistantship ended in December), but all I can think about are those applications... just sitting... out there. 

Productivity is at an all-time low. :/

[Thanks to referees... When?]

Thanks, guys! I decided to send some hand-written notes now and will probably send a second batch after I find out what's up with my applications. I like the idea of some sort of program-specific swag. 

[New Year Resolutions: grad school edition]

Last year, I resolved to try to get something published and apply to PhD programs. I did it and am exhausted. This year, I'm going to focus on doing facial exercises to get rid of that saggy skin under my chin.

[Intense Personality]

I've been called abrasive so many times I've lost count... My male boss when I was an RA would always tell me I had to watch my tone of voice and that I frequently came off negatively. I've stopped caring. I really paid attention to how departments treated their female graduate students and profs. No women in high positions is usually a bad sign.

I angst over this. On one hand, I'm passionate, assertive, and outspoken. So, "naturally," I worry about being thought of as abrasive, bossy, or *gasp* bitchy. Really. I do want to respect other people's differing opinions and not squash someone else's thunder. And I do know some women in my department who have grown such a thick shell that they are insensitive and frankly rude to other people. On the other had, these qualities are part of my personality and who I am. It's hard to separate when I'm being "too much" from when sexist or just overly competitive onlookers are just trying to "dull my shine." I feel like all my professional interactions are like a balancing act, and it's making me neurotic. 

[Stupid things you've overhead other students say....]

One I hear all the time: "I'm not interested in X. X is not in my area." Well, then, good thing you plan to work in a university, key work "universe"--as in "universal." 

I understand that we're all under pressure and want to focus our energy, but getting a little perspective will not hurt anyone. 

[popular things you hate]

Dr. Who and Monty Python, both of which have been ruined for me by their fan-base. 

[Venting Thread- Vent about anything.]

I am sick of my own inconstancy and inability to work at a regular rate. I'm an irredeemable binge-worker. I crank out massive output then spend weeks laying around on the couch. At my most apologetic, I say I'm letting the ideas "incubate" or "percolate." It's like I need someone watching me to get off my ass and get into gear. 

[Is dating another grad student doomed to failure?]

Well, it's not exactly the same, but I met my husband while visiting home for Christmas break my freshman year. After three weeks, I asked him what kind of relationship he wanted. I was fine with having a casual relationship or a serious one and dealing with long-distance. I asked him which one he wanted. IN my case, he wanted to try a serious, long-term relationship, and we've been together ever since. Of course, he could have gone the other way, but in either case, I would have known what he wanted. 

So, basically, I think it's a good idea to lay your cards on the table and ask him what he wants. You might get hurt (or not), but you won'd have this uncertainty and will be able to look for someone who will want the same things you do. 

Best of luck!

[Thanks to referees... When?]

My referees submitted the last of their letters about a week ago. Two of them are on my thesis committee. I would like to send them small thank-you gifts and notes (home-baked goods and whatnot), but am not sure if I should do it now, after my thesis defense, when (if...) I get acceptance letters, or at all three occasions. Thoughts?