Katia_chan

I don't necessarily care about it. But one of the schools I was looking at wanted above a 310 for their cut-off. With the horrific math score, I am sitting below that. So I care less about the math, and more about how it looks over all. I just don't want to get knocked off a big pile at a bigger school because my total score isn't what they want. ...There is a possibility I'm putting way more weight on this than it needs. I'm willing to accept that I could be and probably am neurotic. It is app season, after all...

Real quick interruption for a follow-up GRE question. Are there any advantages/disadvantages to sending previous GRE scores along with the most current ones? I did better in English this time, and worse on math, partially due to the no-calculator issue. Don't know if I should send both, or just let the current test speak for itself and send quietly apologetic Emails dealing with the state of my overall score. Just curious.

So, went to take my accommodated GRE this morning, and ETS sent me... a broken talking calculator. It's always something with them. >_< The lady running the test was wonderful and acted as my eyeballs, operating what I needed on her pocket calculator. Goes without saying that it did nothing good for my overall score. Did pretty well in the verbal, but well and truly tanked the math. So my combined score isn't beautiful. Really hoping that won't get me skimmed off the top of a pile somewhere. Sleep now. Extended time sounds like a great thing for GRE, but after listening to a talking computer for more than five hours, I'm ready to fall over. /whining

That's the date when I took my test the first time. I didn't have any trouble getting scores places, and I even had the 4-6 week BS to contend with. So you should be fine.

Thanks--you share my rant exactly. Most of the "overcoming adversity" I've had to do was figuring out how the hell to make Moodle work with a screen reader, and how to keep Mac Pages from sneakily reformatting my shit without telling me. . My interests largely center around codicology/manuscript studies, and national identity/perception, mostly in the Celtic fringe. I've looked at medieval disability studies, and I find it vaguely interesting to read about, but it's never been anything I had any interest in writing about. It's possible this comes from a dislike of feeling (possibly irrationally) pigeon-holed into disability studies by dint of having a disability. But I do have a few projects in mind along the lines of digital humanities/medieval manuscripts, so we'll see how that goes... If I can ever write the bloody SoP. When I asked my advisor about it, she basically said I should play up any helpful angle as much as I could, including having a disability. She compared it to being part of a minority race group... Most of the things I've done, I would prefer not to be thought of as overcoming adversity. I've had to make adaptations to make a few things work, but mostly it's just a matter of getting and keeping things in working order. There is a way I could discuss it, being that I work with...books, which are historically inaccessible, but I'm not far enough along on that track to be able to use it effectively in a SoP. Either way, I have to use it. I'm just trying to figure out how, without having it take up much room--I want to address it and move on pretty quickly. And vise versa, if there are any questions you have, or things you'd like to discuss, feel free to PM me as well.

I think they're wanting me to hit the minority angle by mentioning it, also talking about how I "overcame adversity" or something. It's a visual disability, so it does impact how I have to run things. In some ways, they have a point. In others, it has nothing to do with my intelligence, and I really hate fighting against preconceived notions that come as a packaged deal. ...also if I have to run the "inspirational" angle, I will actually scream.

Hello all, I know this has probably been beaten to death ten times over, but I wanted to mine the collective GC brain for your anxiety-overcomers. Basically, I'm working on my SoP. It's not going well. Every time I open it and try to write about myself like a reasonably intelligent human being, it goes terribly wrong and I end up feeling like I'm only suited for sanitation work for the rest of my life. I've gone and looked at samples, but mostly that just makes me feel worse, because I feel like these people are much smarter than me. Then I panic, and it's a big old insecurity-gasm. I know my specific neuroses are my own problem, but I'm curious if any others had crazy crises of confidence while doing this, and how you overcame those/pushed through the crazy long enough to put out something decent. Any writing exercises you used, methods for balancing academic-speak while portraying who you "are", anything would help at this point. Because right now, I'm dealing with a metaphoric dog attack after which I'm asked to sit in a pit of giant barking German shepherds. Also trying to work in acknowledgement of a disability that has to be mentioned because my letter writers are mentioning it, so any tips there would be good too, though I realize that's pretty specific. That's a lot of questions, but I'd appreciate any advice. ETA: I'm looking at this, and having deja vu. If I went similarly nuts to this before, I really do apologize for posting it again.

Welcome to GC. I wish you best of luck--the applications are a pain in the butt even when everything is firmly settled. But I'm sure it'll be just fine for you. And ugh SoPs. I feel the urge to have myself committed every time I open mine up. I hope yours are going better.

Slightly off topic, but does anyone else feel like a blithering idiot when Emailing POIs? I Emailed one of mine, just checking on the availability of one of their courses, and kind of got a "duh, X means this will be offered next year" sort of response. Feeling dumb, but sending back a "thanks for clearing that up" Email. But now I'm just staring at it, because I feel like I should say more than thank you, because otherwise she's going to remember me as the twit who couldn't read a web page properly, and nothing else. But I have nothing else of substance to say, even though I'd like to prolong the conversation. Ugh. TL;DR: I'm super awkward.

Have you looked at University of Missouri in Columbia? I don't know if they'd specifically have your exact interests, but I've met some of their medieval faculty, and they're really great. And for being Missouri, it's a really, really fun city. A good friend of mine is in the program, and cannot say enough good things about it. Also, their program is MA/PHD, with pretty darn decent funding. She's been teaching from the beginning, and has had excellent luck collecting further opportunities working for their writing center, editing journals, etc. Another bonus there, if you decided you wanted to do PHD somewhere else, you do have the option of simply leaving after finishing the MA, because you take the exams for it. So the MA is not just implied. Obviously I think they prefer you to stay, but you do have freedom there. I believe the woman you'd like to start your search with would be Johanna Kramer. Hope that helps.

I had it on my list last year, because they have one of the few Welsh language scholars around. But I took it off after my advisor suggested I do so. Whether she told me to take it off because of snobbish prejudices, or whether it's just a bad school, I don't know. But she didn't seem keen. Also, I may be a tech snob, but purely paper applications are sort of a turn-off for me. In this day and age, there's o reason to still have that be your policy. Just my two cents, for whatever they're worth.

Well, it lists itself as a TEFL/TESOL course, and is, at least claiming to be, internationally recognized. And it is by no means a quick course--there is a requirement of 150 hours of work, with input from tutors and teachers. The comment about actual teaching time being more important is definitely valid, though. The program does give simulated experience, but I know it isn't the same thing. I do have a little over a year's worth experience teaching comp, and I know that will do me more good than this course. But, considering the fact that I have 3 ESL students in my class right now, I may still do this anyway... It would have been nice if it gave a leg-up in the apps, but it'll still be useful to me after graduate school. (also, as it stands, I have so much time to spare. I teach one class two days a week...I'll be drowning in free-time until final papers come along).

Hey all, I have the opportunity to take a massively discounted TESOL course that would, normally, be absolutely out of my price range. I'm looking into it, as, I figure, the more skills the better, but was wondering if having this would make any difference in the applications cycle. Obviously I know it can't hurt me, but I was curious if it might have benefits above and beyond just "knowing more". I realize this is sort of a dumb and maybe obvious question, but I just wanted to see if anyone here had thoughts. I want to do it anyway, but it would be extra awesome if it might be of some use in the hell that is applications. Thanks.

You're always allowed to reapply. You just have to pay all the fees over again and send everything in again. But there are no schools, as far as I know, that won't let you. If they can keep getting money from applicants, they will... /bitter cynicism.

Thirded. Zinc is unfortunately right--there are hard schools to get into, and harder schools to get into. Any school even sort of worth its salt is going to be a rough road to travel for admissions. That being said, there is a slight difference between getting into UPenn/Harvard/whatever, and getting into, like, (insert non-ivy league here), but not in the matter of difficulty, only in the number of applications they receive, and even that is not a guarantee. The only "safety" measure I can suggest is to look at the rankings, and pick things that aren't in the top ten. It doesn't mean much, but then you should be able to dodge the ivy league schools. But it's most important to apply where you fit--if there's someone at, say, Harvard that is perfect for you, then you have just as good a chance at getting in there as you do somewhere else. TL;DR: CBZ said it, I just rambled, and it comes down to the same thing.

I realize this thread has kind of stagnated, but figured I'd add in my two cents anyway. I go with the "do as you like" approach, as long as it's respectful. I admit, it does a bit to my giddy-meter when a student calls me "professor...", but I could never actually ask them to call me by that title, especially since it's more for my benefit ("yay they think I'm an adult!"). To introduce the notion as a joke, I tell them that if they call me professor, it makes me feel like I'm in Harry Potter, and I give (fake) bonus points for doing it in a British accent. This gets a few more of them to use "professor," but everyone is still free to do whatever. And it seems to amuse them, and (hopefully) gets the point across that I really don't take myself too seriously in that sense. ...I'm not smart/intimidating enough to be cool, so I have to be funny, or at least try.

OKay, I...think I've outdone myself in sheer pathetic academia-related freakishness. I was wandering the google in search of PHD programs, because that's what I do on a Saturday night, and I found a link to a program that looked like it had a strong presence in my main area of focus. It was in a location that, in theory, would actually kill me with weather, and in a place that I could not even fathom living in, But looked really good, so I clicked on the faculty list, just for the hell of it, because you never know and location can be adjusted to blah blah blah. ...The first three professors I clicked on were incredible fits, in one way or another. Some of them even studied things I didn't even have on my "interests" list. ...I cried. Just a little, but there were tears. I'm kind of hoping someone else has done this, because I feel like such a weirdo, even amongst fellow nerds. Coincidentally...anyone know anything about the program at UG Athens? Just, ahem, theoretically, you know... (I don't know how asking for info on specific schools is looked upon, so PM-s are fine.) Anyway, I'm going to go...away, into this little corner over here, and...enjoy my cocktail of happiness and shame in peace. :B

Okay, I feel the need to come on the less practical side here, and instead on the stupidly-optimistic side. If the money for apps is there, and you at least have more than 50% desire to go, then....why the hell not? It's not like you have to quit your job to apply. So take a gamble, join the rest of us in the crippling anxiety game that is applications. See what happens. Maybe you get into your ideal program, and you go to school, and it's great. Maybe you get into one and decide "meh, it's not for me." And maybe you get into none. Either way, you have a job, and the freedom to cast a wide net. As long as you're applying for your own sake, and not because you think you "should," go, fly, take the plunge. At worst, you get to experiment with your threshold of crazy, and everybody knows that's fun.

That there is an awesome list of specialties--you've got a lot of really fascinating topics going on. I mostly work with manuscript studies and codicology, Celtic (mostly Welsh) identity through folklore, and the effects of pseudo histories (Monmouth etc) on "national" identity and perception. And you're very much right--the money is all about context. Graduate funding sounds like a fortune to me, but I also make less per year teaching than any institution would ever think of paying a student. But coming from your perspective of a grown-up job with a grown-up paycheck, it will certainly be an adjustment. Is there anything you could do part-time through your job to help offset some of the transition? (and you didn't "start a thing." "Things" just start, and get debated, then fade away. You're fine. ).

*raises fist* medievalist representing. Specialty? And if it's really what you want to do, the pay cut won't matter. And above-poster is right--it'll definitely be a cut, but you won't quite be living in a cardboard box or anything. You'll be just fine--and if school is tempting you out of that comfortable pay bracket, then it's probably a good sign that you really want to be there.

I...don't even know at this point. Just, I guess, if there are any tips for how to stand out when there is no way I feel like I can compete with the "usual" ivy-league applicants. I am floundering so far out of my depth, but I don't want it to just be a "what the hell" application, because it looks like such a wonderful program. You look like you navigated the process quite well; I stand in awe of your academics (and just in case the internet makes me sound like a jerk I mean that with absolutely no sarcasm. You are living the dream). I just don't want to commit a major flub...and I'm crazily insecure.

So the skinny is: I usually kind of think of myself as a...level 2 applicant. I apply in the middle of the road, and have one (more than average) crapshoot reach school every year, just to keep things interesting. But after a visit to Boston this summer, and after falling in love with certain aspects of the city (I found a real working print shop run on an 18th C printing press, and it just went down hill from there), I decided to look at PHD programs in the area. Besides showing me that Boston has a depressing lack of medieval faculty, it also lead me to...Harvard. I'd heard of their Celtic studies program before, but had never really checked it out. And then I did, and it was, sort of... so much of what I'd been looking for in a program. It's not easy to find a place to study medieval Welsh, surprise surprise. So to get to the actual point...does anyone have any advice about applying to a program where I'm already feeling about a thousand miles out of my league? I made a shot at UPenn before, and failed, but I didn't "care" about it as much as I care about this program. And if there's anyone who knows anything, or knows what I can read, or...whatever, I'd love to go in to the process as armed for battle as I can. If your advice includes "just don't apply you money-wasting idiot," that's okay too. I'm starry-eyed, but I'm occasionally capable of being a realist. This will be my 3rd round of applications, so I'm not exactly bubbling over with cockiness. Thanks for any advice.

This is going to sound really weird, but getting rejected countless freaking times has affirmed to me that a PHD is what I want to do. I decided as a junior in college that I wanted to do my masters, after having a few friends older than I was start on theirs. They all seemed to love it, and I thought it sounded pretty cool. I tried to go straight for PHD, failed at that, and ended up getting accepted to a MA program at my UG school, where I absolutely did not want to go. But I went, and it was amazing. Did I want to throw myself under a bus sometimes? Absolutely. But over all it was exactly what I needed. So I reapplied for PHD work, and got rejected across the board. I got very lucky and an adjunct teaching job sort of fell into my lap. I admit, I didn't love it. Freshmen are frustrating, and comp is not what I enjoy teaching. But it kept my hand in, helped me form some new connections, and I do not regret it for a moment. I learned a lot from those little bastards. Then I applied again, and after a prolonged waitlist process, got rejected again. And I had someone, very nicely, ask me how long I was going to continue to put myself through this, after they watched the ten-thousandth mental breakdown. And I thought about it for a while. My original answer, a while ago, had been that I would apply until my GRE scores ran out, because I never wanted to take the test again. But when that friend asked me this year, I had to revise that. Because I can't imagine a life in which I do not get a PHD, and in which I do not get to teach literature. And it was a comforting feeling. There are lots of jobs I could do--I could adjunct for a living and, in the right place, probably make decent money (or livable money) doing it. But I don't think I will find a point in which I do not try to reach that dream, because I can't imagine feeling truly fulfilled until I do it. That was a really long two-cents, but there you go. I think, if you like the work you do as a MA student, you should go for it. At the very least send in applications--that never hurts. And how you feel when you get accepted somewhere will be a good indicator for you. If you are pleased, it's a good sign. If you are crying and bouncing off the walls with joy, it's a great sign. If you, at that point, don't care one way or the other, then maybe take that time to reconsider. ...but I push grad school like drugs, so I'm always going to say at least make the attempt.

I do creep in here every once in a while to see if anything has happened. But I spent the last 9 months with grad school anxiety stepping on my soul and sucking the life out of me, so I needed to step away for a while. May was a chill-out month, and honestly, the only thing I really plan on doing during June is registering for the GRE and studying vocab on my phone. I love GC, and will not be totally absent, but I do know that I need a break from all but the surface stuff for a while before I have to throw myself into the crazy pool again.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I think I will nix the subject test, then. Gonna retake the general, since I *think* I can do a fair amount better on that one, but I'll save the Subject test money for...one or two application fees in the future. (Do not screw with the acronyms. You are messing with GC bible there. )