CarolineNC

At UNC it's a 1/1. At KU, where I got my masters, it's a 2/2. I taught straight out of my BA at KU, and it was fine. They know nothing. They'll believe everything you say.

I have friends in my current program (UNC CH) who have MAs from both Purdue and Alabama. I don't really think MA rank matters as much as what you do during your MA. I got my MA from Kansas, which isn't a particularly prestigious program, but I did OK. Also, one of my closest friends here is the one who got her MA at Purdue, and I just want to emphasize how much she hated it there and how much she said the area sucked. I've driven through West Lafayette and can't say I was exactly charmed either. This isn't to say that Purdue isn't a great school and that lots of people don't enjoy its environs, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway. Hope this doesn't piss any Purdue people off! Oh, and also, I know 2 people who have worked with Trudier Harris and they're crazy about her. She has helped them out a lot, apparently, and is just wonderful in general.

I'm trying not to be too bummed that UNC-CH has fallen from 15 to 18. I'm not doing a great job fighting it off. I was hoping we'd climb. I know these rankings are somewhat flawed, but they still affect job market prospects.

UC Davis jumped up quite a bit!

I'm pretty sure they haven't notified yet Good luck, everybody! I was in this boat 2 years ago and the waiting was unfun.

I bombed the subject test when I took it back in 2012 when I was applying to MA programs. I still got into a funded program. I didn't retake it when I applied to PhDs and I had a lot of success with those applications. I don't think it's necessary to retake it. I think most faculty realize that it's a useless test, and I think it'd be smarter to put your effort into your writing sample and SOP. (The year I took it, it was nothing but Milton and Shakespeare! Ugh! I didn't know any of it!!)

You're not spouting reality here, though. You're just wrong.

I'd pick BU and make my absolute mission during that year to produce a writing sample. I'd work on it for as many classes as the professors would let me. UIC sounds like it's not the right place for you. You want faculty there who can help you with the writing sample AND who are reputable in your field for recommendation letters.

It's really too late for me to consider this because I'm already in a PhD program, but here's what I considered when I made my decision. 1. Placement Rate 2. Ranking 3. Congeniality of program 4. Funding offer 5. Departmental Support 6. Research fit 7. Summer Funding 8. Weather 9. Cost of Living I put research fit low because I'm not too attached to my research area to switch if need be. In fact, I switched from 19th-C American to Contemporary American last semester. Couldn't be happier about it.

If you do decide you want to pursue a graduate degree, I'd worry less about grades and more about a sophisticated, relevant writing sample (try to show off as much as you can here. Show you can use theory, historicize and/or contextualize, close read, etc.) and a detailed statement of purpose that states *specific* plans for future research. I wish I had spent more time worrying about my writing sample and less time worrying about my grades and individual classes when I was in undergrad.

If I were you, person who sounds very much like youngcharlie, I'd just take some graduate classes elsewhere, boost my reputation, and get some letters from some new professors.

(Hiya christakins ) Uh, so yeah, Chapel hill/Carrboro is expensive. I live in a one bedroom and I pay almost $1000 a month, which is killing me. I have been looking hard for next year. Thus far my best option is a tiny little cottage the size of a garden shed with no kitchen (but a hot plate, dorm fridge, and microwave!) for $550/month. That said, things can be MUCH cheaper with a roommate. I need to cave and get a roommate. If you have a roommate you can find some really awesome houses in wooded areas that seem almost like you're living in the mountains. I also had better paying options, but it came down to rank for me. I narrowed it down to two schools that were similarly ranked. The other school offered me a good bit more money (including summer money) and a fellowship year for dissertation writing but I had to pick UNC CH because of how awesome our placement rates are. People who graduate from here usually do very well.

Fantastic!!! I bet your are on top of the world! Congratulations!!

I was on the waitlist last year, as were I'd say most of the people who ended up here in my cohort. I'd recommend emailing them every time you get an acceptance just to let them know you're competitive. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!

Anyone on the boards been admitted to UNC Chapel Hill? It's a great place to be! If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me.