hemingways_abs

I agree: you need to look inward. Obviously, no one here can comment on your chances, so looking here for affirmation is generally a bad idea. Additionally, your application is what it is. It's already in. No point in second-guessing it now.

And you might also want to drop the "I did it all with three kids" mantra before you get to grad school. It gets really old.

Because I've lurked here for a while and some of us are tired of compliment-fishing posts.

And also? It was a very honest appraisal of this person's application. Writing samples, statements of purpose, and, to a much lesser (but still crucial) extent, numbers are going to make or break this applicant--not TA positions, poetry, conferences, awards, or Hellenic speaking ability. All of that stuff is so ridiculously irrelevant to this process, and it's clear that the poster just needed to read the advice posts from last fall and years past before making such an embarrassing grab for affirmation.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.

I agree: you need to look inward. Obviously, no one here can comment on your chances, so looking here for affirmation is generally a bad idea. Additionally, your application is what it is. It's already in. No point in second-guessing it now.

And you might also want to drop the "I did it all with three kids" mantra before you get to grad school. It gets really old.

Because I've lurked here for a while and some of us are tired of compliment-fishing posts.

And also? It was a very honest appraisal of this person's application. Writing samples, statements of purpose, and, to a much lesser (but still crucial) extent, numbers are going to make or break this applicant--not TA positions, poetry, conferences, awards, or Hellenic speaking ability. All of that stuff is so ridiculously irrelevant to this process, and it's clear that the poster just needed to read the advice posts from last fall and years past before making such an embarrassing grab for affirmation.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.

Because I've lurked here for a while and some of us are tired of compliment-fishing posts.

And also? It was a very honest appraisal of this person's application. Writing samples, statements of purpose, and, to a much lesser (but still crucial) extent, numbers are going to make or break this applicant--not TA positions, poetry, conferences, awards, or Hellenic speaking ability. All of that stuff is so ridiculously irrelevant to this process, and it's clear that the poster just needed to read the advice posts from last fall and years past before making such an embarrassing grab for affirmation.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.

I agree: you need to look inward. Obviously, no one here can comment on your chances, so looking here for affirmation is generally a bad idea. Additionally, your application is what it is. It's already in. No point in second-guessing it now.

And you might also want to drop the "I did it all with three kids" mantra before you get to grad school. It gets really old.

Because I've lurked here for a while and some of us are tired of compliment-fishing posts.

And also? It was a very honest appraisal of this person's application. Writing samples, statements of purpose, and, to a much lesser (but still crucial) extent, numbers are going to make or break this applicant--not TA positions, poetry, conferences, awards, or Hellenic speaking ability. All of that stuff is so ridiculously irrelevant to this process, and it's clear that the poster just needed to read the advice posts from last fall and years past before making such an embarrassing grab for affirmation.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.

I agree: you need to look inward. Obviously, no one here can comment on your chances, so looking here for affirmation is generally a bad idea. Additionally, your application is what it is. It's already in. No point in second-guessing it now.

And you might also want to drop the "I did it all with three kids" mantra before you get to grad school. It gets really old.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.

Because I've lurked here for a while and some of us are tired of compliment-fishing posts.

And also? It was a very honest appraisal of this person's application. Writing samples, statements of purpose, and, to a much lesser (but still crucial) extent, numbers are going to make or break this applicant--not TA positions, poetry, conferences, awards, or Hellenic speaking ability. All of that stuff is so ridiculously irrelevant to this process, and it's clear that the poster just needed to read the advice posts from last fall and years past before making such an embarrassing grab for affirmation.

I agree: you need to look inward. Obviously, no one here can comment on your chances, so looking here for affirmation is generally a bad idea. Additionally, your application is what it is. It's already in. No point in second-guessing it now.

And you might also want to drop the "I did it all with three kids" mantra before you get to grad school. It gets really old.

Because I've lurked here for a while and some of us are tired of compliment-fishing posts.

And also? It was a very honest appraisal of this person's application. Writing samples, statements of purpose, and, to a much lesser (but still crucial) extent, numbers are going to make or break this applicant--not TA positions, poetry, conferences, awards, or Hellenic speaking ability. All of that stuff is so ridiculously irrelevant to this process, and it's clear that the poster just needed to read the advice posts from last fall and years past before making such an embarrassing grab for affirmation.

Thanks callmelilyb. I saw The Positives thread where many others had posted this sort of list and just assumed it was what is done here. Apparently not. Certainly not an affirmation "grab," but a miscalculation of how this online community flows. Ultimately, people here do not know me at all and can say anything they like. It won't diminish what I accomplished or that I did so while working full time with three kids. No worries. I'm Teflon, and in my experience, the haters have a hard go of it when reality strikes in graduate school and everyone is amazing. There's always a bigger fish. If I needed external affirmation from randoms that I don't even know, I wouldn't get it here. I understand that folks are coping with fragile egos and the terror of not getting into their dream program, and I found this website late in the game. So it's easy to fall on the new comer like a pack of ravenous dogs, rather than looking inwardly and determining where all that anger comes from.

Best,

~ m

I agree: you need to look inward. Obviously, no one here can comment on your chances, so looking here for affirmation is generally a bad idea. Additionally, your application is what it is. It's already in. No point in second-guessing it now.

And you might also want to drop the "I did it all with three kids" mantra before you get to grad school. It gets really old.

I agree: you need to look inward. Obviously, no one here can comment on your chances, so looking here for affirmation is generally a bad idea. Additionally, your application is what it is. It's already in. No point in second-guessing it now.

And you might also want to drop the "I did it all with three kids" mantra before you get to grad school. It gets really old.

Hi All,

I applied to Bloomington. In Fall 2009, I visited Bloomington and Purdue to interview with some professors, meet grad students, check out the campuses. I ruled out Purdue at that time. They were very rigid about working in an interdisciplinary manner. When I asked the professor I met with if I could work in both the lit. and creative writing departments because I am an essayist and a published poet, her response was, "Just don't tell them you work with us." And she wasn't kidding. They're an ag and engineering school, so they struck me as being very single minded in their approach.

Bloomington on the other hand was wonderful. I spent about an hour with Susan Gubar (of Madwoman in the Attic fame) and John Lincoln Schilb (winner of the 2008 MLA Shaughnessy Award), both very kind, very thoughtful, very engaging folks. Dr. Gubar also set up a meet and greet for me with a professor in religious studies. My interest is critical theory with subfoci in gender/feminist criticism and religious studies. The whole tenor of the meeting was the polar opposite of Purdue. I'm hoping I get accepted, but I suppose that goes without saying.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject, multiple TA positions, multiple poetry publications, three articles under review for publication, and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university. I've also already presented at a conference, where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting. I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic. Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

minnares

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.

Because I've lurked here for a while and some of us are tired of compliment-fishing posts.

And also? It was a very honest appraisal of this person's application. Writing samples, statements of purpose, and, to a much lesser (but still crucial) extent, numbers are going to make or break this applicant--not TA positions, poetry, conferences, awards, or Hellenic speaking ability. All of that stuff is so ridiculously irrelevant to this process, and it's clear that the poster just needed to read the advice posts from last fall and years past before making such an embarrassing grab for affirmation.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.

My stats: 4.0 cumulative, 700V/abysmal math, 710 subject,

Um, okay

multiple TA positions,

irrelevant--no one cares about your ability to "TA," especially not as an undergrad

multiple poetry publications,

For PhD in English programs, no one cares

three articles under review for publication,

But not accepted? Ouch.

and I won every writing award at my undergraduate university.

No one will look closely at your CV to even know.

I've also already presented at a conference,

Whoopee. So has everyone else.

where my paper was selected as Best Critical Paper out of two dozen universities presenting.

Oh, was this an undergrad conference? Then it didn't matter.

I'm fluent in French and speak passable Hellenic.

???

Yet, I am still unsure that I'll be accepted anywhere. Looking at the acceptances coming in on this website is terrifying.

I'm sure you'll get in somewhere.