PaperChaser
-
Posts
97 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by PaperChaser
-
-
Wha...? I really can't figure out the tone of this post.
Here's my jargon-free explanation:
Basically, think of these threads as rooms. You enter a room where people you don't know are discussing something with a lot of personal relevance to everyone in the room as well as people outside of it, and interrupt it to ask a question completely and exclusively centered on you. Basically, that question seems to be: "I'm bad at math, and don't like it much. Can I thus be a literary scholar?" We all look at each other perplexed, because we have no idea (especially since we don't know you, much less your work), and don't really see what one has to do with the other anyway. But we want to include you in the conversation, and thus try to reframe your question in terms of something that would have broader implications, for other people aside from you, and also for the conversation we were all having. But it turns out that you don't care about the larger issue and really just want us to talk about you, and answer an unanswerable question. So we then explain that liking qualitative methods over quantitative ones has zilch to do with your aptitude as a literary scholar. Then you get mad, sarcastic, and belligerently drunk (in my head, this is a cocktail party), and yell at the host. Everyone uncomfortably sips on their wine, and probably leaves the room.
Funny! I guess I would just hide in the bathroom and look for pills to dull the torture of trying to constantly outwit everyone else.
-
Wow. Well, I'm sure you have some good points. I personally don't see them, but I'm-by your standards-of such low intelligence and have such inferior qualifications that my perspective not only doesn't matter, it probably doesn't exist. So I'll direct my opinion to the other people who, like me, applied numerous times. Some of us applied and were rejected more than once to the LOWEST TIER SCHOOLS. Some of us got accepted eventually to lower or middle tier schools and are ECSTATIC to have the opportunity to participate in the pursuit of a PhD regardless of how much time it takes, how little the jobs (should we "bottom feeders" be so lucky to even be considered for them!) pay, how little history may remember us, whatever.
For some people, having a chance to be in a community where knowledge and learning is valued is INTRINSICALLY valuable. Some of us CHOSE programs that aren't "prestigious" because they had something else to offer (i.e. high job placement rates-yes, outside the top 20!). Some chose programs close to home because we AREN'T 26. Some of us aren't planning to be tenure track professors.
To me, saying that not going to a "top" school (and I mean "top" by your standards, not mine) is pointless. Some people who don't go to top schools don't get jobs; some people who go to top schools don't get jobs either. Some people apply once to top schools and get in; some people have to try multiple times to get into unranked programs. Some people will be miserable anywhere they go, no matter how prestigious the school. Some people will be happy just to be IN school. People are so different that an Ivy PhD doesn't guarantee you a job because someone else with a mediocre degree may have other qualifications that are "superior" for a certain job, like great course evaluations, a really interesting area of study, or (gasp) an inspirational personality.
Sometimes it's not about a job or a seal of approval from a certain school. Some of us are the educational equivalents of Brad Stevens (who started as a volunteer coaching at Butler, in case you didn't follow the NCAA tournament)-we keep at it for the love of the sport, and maybe, just maybe, one day we'll be eye to eye with the most formidable leaders in our fields in ways that no one would have ever expected.
"Top," for me at least, is subjective.
I apologize if that was a bitchy reply. I just don't appreciate someone pissing in my Cheerios, because I was pretty dang happy to get into 4 schools I did. It may not be Manatee's dream "accomplishment," but it was MINE. So I'm going to go be happy for myself and anyone else who got what they wanted through persistence!
-
Nice reply. I might have been living in the German-speaking world for too long. I'm accustomed to frankness, bluntness, and saying things so directly that they are considered rude by American standards. Someone told me the other day that I for example, could stand to lose 5kg (I live in Berlin). Out of the blue. There is no malice behind it; it's just a frankness of expression that Americans are unaccustomed to.
I've taught in the German and Korean educational systems; it is not uncommon (it is in fact commonplace) to tell the students exactly where they stand. This includes failing them and telling them that their dreams--as they stand at the moment--may be completely unrealistic and unattainable. There is not so much an appreciation, or even an awareness, of the snowflake syndrome that seems to plague American educational systems (or maybe that was just my experience at Kaplan!). This of course does not mean that these students cannot one day become a doctor, but their credentials and so on are not where they need to be. I had to adjust to these expectations. In my training, a bad student got a C in America. In Germany, they fail outright. I kind of prefer the latter. I would rather know where I stand, without sugar-coating it.
Of course I have gained so much from living abroad and the only reason I am coming back is because of the offer. As soon as I'm done, I'll leave again. I don't want to go into all of the soul-enriching and perspective-widening things that traveling/working/living abroad has done for me here. Drifting abroad has not really helped my C/V aside from teaching experiences, but it has been a personally-enriching--which is tolerated by the academe moreso than the business world. Working on an organic farm for three months? Which boss at Random House or Novartis is going to find this compelling?
One thing I do know about myself, however, is that I don't particularly enjoy struggling for material things like a job or money. Who does? My position going into this whole app process was Ivy/Top 20 or bust. I understand that some don't want that, or are prepared to struggle more than I am. I don't think there is anything wrong with opportunism, either, and those who reap the successes of their efforts and calculated risks just know how to work the system, however busted it is. Getting into these schools requires having all of your proverbial ducks in a row. Everyone on this forum who got in somewhere had success working the system--let's be honest. I'm not convinced that Harvard offers a better education than Indiana, but the name really helps! My most amazing undergrad prof had a PhD from a program in the 100s and she was amazing, did amazing work, and taught at an excellent, top ranked university. There are those anecdotal stories out there, but I'd personally rather not take the risk.
However brilliant you may be, Berkeley or Columbia or whatever top university behind you turbo-charges your C/V and will help float you through tough times. People have different dreams and different goals of course. I'm just suggesting that people be honest with themselves. If after some soul searching (which the application process really encourages), you still want to do it, then go for it! I'm not trying to stop you. I'm just questioning, which is never a bad idea
Wow. Well, I'm sure you have some good points. I personally don't see them, but I'm-by your standards-of such low intelligence and have such inferior qualifications that my perspective not only doesn't matter, it probably doesn't exist. So I'll direct my opinion to the other people who, like me, applied numerous times. Some of us applied and were rejected more than once to the LOWEST TIER SCHOOLS. Some of us got accepted eventually to lower or middle tier schools and are ECSTATIC to have the opportunity to participate in the pursuit of a PhD regardless of how much time it takes, how little the jobs (should we "bottom feeders" be so lucky to even be considered for them!) pay, how little history may remember us, whatever.
For some people, having a chance to be in a community where knowledge and learning is valued is INTRINSICALLY valuable. Some of us CHOSE programs that aren't "prestigious" because they had something else to offer (i.e. high job placement rates-yes, outside the top 20!). Some chose programs close to home because we AREN'T 26. Some of us aren't planning to be tenure track professors.
To me, saying that not going to a "top" school (and I mean "top" by your standards, not mine) is pointless. Some people who don't go to top schools don't get jobs; some people who go to top schools don't get jobs either. Some people apply once to top schools and get in; some people have to try multiple times to get into unranked programs. Some people will be miserable anywhere they go, no matter how prestigious the school. Some people will be happy just to be IN school. People are so different that an Ivy PhD doesn't guarantee you a job because someone else with a mediocre degree may have other qualifications that are "superior" for a certain job, like great course evaluations, a really interesting area of study, or (gasp) an inspirational personality.
Sometimes it's not about a job or a seal of approval from a certain school. Some of us are the educational equivalents of Brad Stevens (who started as a volunteer coaching at Butler, in case you didn't follow the NCAA tournament)-we keep at it for the love of the sport, and maybe, just maybe, one day we'll be eye to eye with the most formidable leaders in our fields in ways that no one would have ever expected.
"Top," for me at least, is subjective.
-
Off-topic from UNCG, but... I'm stunned to hear you include South Carolina. I've gotten very prompt and courteous responses to my emails throughout the process. I attended their graduate recruitment last weekend, and everyone was incredibly nice -- from the faculty to the students to the guy at the cafe in the Humanities quad. I was unsure about going until I visited, but the collegial atmosphere swayed me.
I wanted to go to the graduate weekend but was out of the US and didn't get back in time to make it the whole weekend. I was rather annoyed that the DGS said it "wasn't worth" coming down if I could only go down to Columbia (it's only 3 hours from me) Friday and Saturday. I was somewhat set aback that she didn't think meeting other students and seeing the campus, city, etc was "worth" driving to see. I had emailed some REALLY basic questions, and it took the graduate student assigned to the DGS (the student was very nice, she just didn't know much) a really long time to find the answers. Most of her answers were not particularly positive (perhaps my fault for question asking...). I was disappointed because it was by far my first choice scholar-wise (I totally agree it's a great program) but had such a low stipend. Still, I wish I had just gone down Friday and Saturday so that I knew what I was missing. Oh well! Congrats to those who are going!
-
linkin park-- "somewhere i belong." & i LOLed @ paparazzi.
In my own defense, I do own my dorkiness
-
Soooooooo, in the final 2 weeks before some of us make big commitments, some of us lose hope, some of us "get it all," and most of us are varying degrees of in-between, I think it's worth a minute or two to come up with a short playlist of the music that epitomizes the rollercoaster of grad admissions...
I'll go first, because watching NCAA is better with music....
1. "Paparazzi" (Lady Gaga) - overplayed but I feel like I'd chase down the dream till it loves me....or one of us dies.
2. "Heart It Races" (Dr. Dog cover of Architecture in Helsinki) - I AM slow to uncover the knots in my laces. Luckily, this time I wasn't TOO slow.
3. "Go West" (Liz Phair) - I'm not going west, but I'm taking a dicey chance....which scares the shit out of me.
4. "Revelate" (The Frames) - I think that speaks for itself.
5. "We Used to Vacation" (Cold War Kids) - I suspect this would be my story if I hadn't forced myself to take a chance.
6. "Engine Driver" (Decemberists) - I guess it's in my bloodline...either way, I have to find out.
7. "Bullet and a Target" (Citizen Cope) - always good for musing.
8. "Go Your Own Way" (Fleetwood Mac) - yep, in the end, I probably will....and then never hear the end of it!
9. "When You Were Young" (The Killers) - I'll always have that hurricane turning.
10. "Sparks Fly" (Widespread Panic)- all time favorite short quote..."while you're trying to think of.. why you never could become.. things you dreamed of... hot night sky we watch sparks fly..." Time to see if I can make sparks fly.
That's me. Not too creative, but real. You?
-
Good luck! I'm sure you will love it there! I hear great things about the program from my friends.
Thanks, and congrats on your fellowship! Couldn't happen to a nicer person!
-
You know, I've been staring at two nearly (but not quite!) identical packages of semi-permanent hair dye - while simultaneously watching the NCAA tournament - and realize that 99% of the problem is that I can't make a decision. I'm completely paralyzed by the possibility of....permanency...of any choice I make. Do I throw away 3 years of law school and 2.5 at the same firm? Do I become one of the many young women who go to law school, start work, and then quit because it's not particularly female friendly and I'd rather do something where I'm occasionally praised? Am I crazy to pass up a good job at a reputable firm (two things that are often mutually exclusive in the law) because I'd rather have summers off? The economy is SO bad, and I literally have NO savings after going to law school. If I went to a PhD program - even my best offer - a car accident or major illness would totally bankrupt me.
I worked full time during undergrad, my MA, and 25+ hours a week during law school. I can definitely work and do school; I'm just not sure I'm comfortable enough with my employment prospects if I only do ONE. What if I don't do the PhD then get fired? What if I ditch the job and hate the PhD and then can't find a job? It seems like working myself to death by doing both is the only way I can (in my own little OCD way) convince myself that I've done absolutely everything I can to ensure employment.
If money were no option (or if I were married to someone who had a job that could support us both, or had wealthy relatives or SOMETHING), I'm pretty sure I'd choose the job that gave me flexibility, something resembling self-esteem, and summers off to keep from burning out. I guess I have two weeks to decide if the greedy devil on my shoulder or the angel will win---either way, they''re both pretty scared of making a huge mistake.....
FINALLY decided! Going part-time (in-state so dirt cheap) and keeping my law firm job. I can always flip flop, right?
-
From what I can tell according to the graduate studies webpage, anyone who does not qualify for in-state tuition is classified as out of state. There are very specific guidelines posted as to what to do to get to in-state status. I think the idea is, if you are funded, you are told outright; if you are not funded automatically, you are supposed to seek out a TA, RA or GA ship on your own through the graduate studies department, or to pay out of state tuition for the first year, live in Greensboro, and then shift to in-state rates after twelve months. That's according to what I can construe from the website - which is actually a little better organized than some I have looked at!!
Ultimately, though, you might want to call the DrEGS and ask outright; she seems really nice via email, and certainly would be able to answer your questions about funding.
FWIW, I'm all in for UNCG. They're so flexible classes and requirements, and I just can't turn down a really good job AND pursuing my dream at bargain basement prices. It's not for everyone, but the DGS said about half the PhD students have full time jobs and pay their own way, so at least I won't be alone.....
Louisville, VA Tech, and South Carolina, thanks for the consideration. Good programs, just not for me at this point.....(RELIEF)
-
UNM=University of New Mexico? Not hideously selective. (Check the 2007 Portrait of the Profession thing for more info)
Oregon=pretty dang selective.
Let me clarify. I didn't get IN anywhere my first round of apps (5 yrs ago) but WAS waitlisted at UNM. (I applied based on places I'd like to live....not so smart.) But that they CONSIDERED me...
My sister, who would kill me for writing this, is an uber-genius who got into UNM's MD/PhD program in Neuropsychology (obviously, the brains of the family). Considering that she went to Amherst, maybe that's not so impressive. However, she had NO undergrad classes-not one-in psychology. She enrolled in non-degree classes, busted her ass, got a perfect score on the GRE Psych (yes, I love'hate her, but mostly I'm proud of her), and beat the crap out of the odds to get one of 4 spots in the program. She LOVES UNM, has tons of opportunities to publish and travel, and will get a kickass job. She's said that the best thing about UNM is that the faculty (graduate, at least) really start mentoring early on and give you as many opportunities as THEY get. I know Psych isn't Lit, but her boyfriend is in Classics (hello, opposites) and he says the same thing. It may not be the highest ranked or fanciest school, but the campus has gotten a major facelift, the cost of living isn't obscene, and the students seem really happy.
Just revising my earlier inadvertent snark.
-
Addiction memoir sounds very cool..I'm thinking of Burrough's Junkie, Augusten Burrough's Dry, and more recently Mary Carr's Lit.
It makes sense to me that many people focus on the 21st century because there is new literature coming out all the time that needs to be analyzed and viewed through all these different lenses.
What I don't understand is how all these people who specialize, say, in Victorian lit, can be expected to publish articles and books in their field on a regular basis. There are 4,000 universities in the U.S. Let's say each one has at least one Victorian lit professor. Are there 4,000 professors of Victorian lit researching and publishing books in their specialty right now? Do they know what the others are doing, or are they reinventing wheels? True, there are many wonderful yet somewhat obscure authors from that period who have less written about them, but still. There are only so many primary sources from those years I would imagine. You are more likely to come up with something original if you focus on 20th/21st century authors, but each university only needs so many professors in that area.
I'm just curious about this. There are so many sharp people on this site, maybe somebody can fill me in.
I managed to get a BA and MA in English without taking a single Victorian class...I honestly hate it.(Except for the rhetoric of the corset of course.) But I can totally see why (most) people wouldn't want to research MY interests...they're weird, not readily marketable, and outside what most literate people consider literature. But that's cool. I met a girl recently who said she was doing research on the evolution of primary school textbooks from the colonial era in America on. Would I want to do this? Hell no. Is it an interesting project that I'd like to READ? Absolutely. I think the challenge in researching older works is finding new angles from which to view them. Believe it or not, there is still a LOT of cool stuff to do with 19th century or earlier works that have barely been touched. Could I think of them? No. I'm too pop-cultury, too pedestrian, and (honestly) too much of an "If I haven't lived in that century, it basically doesn't exist to me." My secondary school and undergrad were a little deficient compared to many academics. But I am SO glad other people can find buried treasures! I think the sometimes motley fabric of English programs is exactly what makes them worthwhile. I mean, I'd love to know why death row written statements aren't afforded copyright protection in the US while many letters written in prison are. There are always questions....the coolest thing is to meet someone whose work is super-interesting but something you would never have thought of yourself! That's why I show up, anyway
-
or they're just super busy (most likely the case).
if you don't hear back after a total of 7 days ping them again (maybe call this time?)
Send a plant. (I'm not kidding.) Get a cheap one from 1-800-Flowers and send it to the DGS. Then they HAVE to acknowledge you...someone has to sign for the flowers. Say something clever that's not pushy.
And if they don't return your calls or emails in a week, they don't deserve you. Spring break ain't forever.
-
You are correct, and I would not take any such declaration about my character as an insult. I am encountering difficulty with a certain professor over my adamant desire not to teach. Often they will highlight my various habits/skills and proclaim, "See, this is why you need to teach." Just because I enjoy reading and correcting papers and am rather efficient at it does not mean that I "need" to teach. The professor has allowed me to mock grade some of their other students' papers.... Quite frankly, if I had to read those poorly written papers year after year, I would kill myself. I'm not saying that teaching isn't rewarding. It must be unbelievably satisfying to watch students develop and to spur that growth, but that is not my vocation. Also, I would like to add that I'm not declaring my writing to be superior.
Those are some interesting suggestions. I doubt that law is the right place for me. Not too sure about linguistics, or at least any useful application of my specific interest areas. I'm not sure how useful the study of Middle English would be, heh. I'm just so picky, I know. But I do appreciate reading the feedback because it gives me other avenues to explore and consider.
I know I'm going to have to sit down with a professor and have the dreaded graduate school talk. It won't be the one who is pushing me to pursue a PhD just to teach. That professor also researches in an area I rather dislike, so I imagine, while they probably have some great suggestions of what to do/how to pursue my various interests, they may not know the full extent of what can be done with them. I need to sit down with my Medieval and Renaissance professor, who also teaches a History of the English Language course that I will be taking next fall. I imagine they will not lead me astray--I do some research for them. By keeping me happy, they ensure that I remain highly productive for them!
Another semi-law (or just high level paid research and editing gig) is to research and edit technical texts. If you enjoy the technicality of writing/appreciation of the Harvard comma over the, in your words "soul-sucking," comp classes (I too prefer the latter, though I've had some great Comp students...just not enough to make grading the other 90 papers worth it)....LexisNexis, Kaplan, Thomson Reuters, Pearson, Aspen, etc have good jobs for editors that <gasp> actually have upward mobility and don't require participating in sales meetings or any of that BS. While you generally need a MA in technical writing, English, or a related field, it might be something that you like, especially if you'd like to live in a big city. Just another idea...
-
I think that is a very good suggestion, especially for a person like me. I'm interested in Cultural Studies and New Media and have been pondering this suggestion for a long time. The problem is, interdisciplinary programs, while getting fewer applicants, also have less spots and way less funding (usually the TAships are in other departments are sparse and with low pay). Granted I haven't done nearly as much research as with English programs, but that has been my impression. I think that I've decided to do a mix; because the CS programs are still less competitive, while English departments have more spots and funding. Yet, another problem for me, is that CS or CL programs have a much bigger emphasis on languages. I have one proficiency in a language, and CL programs usually are expecting two. I might try and audit a course this summer, but I don't know if that's enough.
I, too, have been rejected this round, and am preparing for next years apps. I only applied to three programs so I am not surprised, and next round I'm going to do about 15, maybe three or four of those being CS/Interdisciplinary studies.
The main things I'm planning on doing to improve my application is 1.) I sent my writing sample to a professor (a recommender too) and asked him to give me an honest critique and his opinion on whether the sample is competitive. If the consensus is yes, I will furiously editing the paper until it is perfect, if not, that leads me to 2.) I am lucky to be near a top-ish tier school that I work for. I'm currently enrolled to audit two graduate courses. Hopefully I can get a new writing sample out of one of them, and maybe even a new recommender that has an in on the program. 3.) I think that for some people with good scores, retaking the GRE general might be a waste of time, but I had a 200 on the math (long story) so I'm studying furiously to retake that and then take the subject test too (haven't taken that, my programs didn't require it). 4.) I am doing much better research this year- I'm leaving no school unresearched (before I would have discounted, say, University of Nebraska) as I am discovering good, well funded programs that I hadn't known about before and making sure they are a the best fit in order to up my chances for acceptance. Also, for the lower tiered schools, I am making sure I am applying to schools that have funded terminal MAs, in case I want out and to reapply.
So far, I think that's a good start. If anyone else has any other advice on what to work on, please tell!
If you're willing to take a chance on a "new" program (albeit, not at all a new school), I was very impressed with VA Tech's English DGS. Their program is only about 3 years old, and it's Rhetoric and Writing rather than Rhet/Comp. It appears to be very interdisciplinary--the DGS said I could teach pre-law courses, etc--and the DGS was SOOOOOOO SOOOOOOOO nice and helpful. They have iffy funding----he said one year they could fund ten, the next two, who knows?----but I DO think they fund MA students as well as PhDs. (It's only the PhD that's new.) I was really impressed with the DGS and the school would've been my first choice if it had offered me funding OR were about an hour closer to where I live. Because it's so interdisciplinary, they evaluate each transcript individually (as opposed to every other school I applied to, where my work from 2005-2006 was "too old") AND....<this should get your attention!>....THERE IS NO LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT. I nearly shat.
-
Cool! I'm finishing my undergraduate thesis on contemporary female mental illness memoirs at the moment, specifically examining accounts in relation to class, gender, and "self"hood. My sophomore year I wrote a paper that compared Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Benjamin Franklin so I feel like I might have an idea how your combination would work, haha.
In general, I'm interested in gender studies (this year I've been focusing a lot on marginal 70's feminist rhetoric - Black Panther women, women addicted to valium) and psychopathography (autobiography about psychology/illness). I still have a lot of figuring out to do, though. And of course, I wouldn't be going for Rhet/Comp if I wasn't drawn to Composition studies, as well.
I'm working my way through Rothenberg's "Creativity and Madness" for my thesis right now and he argues that creative inspiration is a myth perpetuated by the artistic community but I definitely subscribe to PaperChaser's "spark" theory
OMG!!!!! I once stayed at a b&b the same time that Angela Davis did. (I of course couldn't believe she was THE Angela Davis...) I nearly had a heart attack. And yes, I totally dug through the trash (with the b&b owners!!) for a shred of paper or plane ticket or anything that was authentically hers. So cool. And I am obviously SUCH a dork. I wish I could trade brains with her for a day to put my bosses in their place...
-
Right on. The job market is abysmal. One has to be prudent about these things.
I'm inclined to agree, generally. However, if you're going to have to get a MA eventually to get the kind of job you want, you might as well do it. Here's the good news: thanks to the new Income-Based Repayment option for students loans (which may or may not apply to your existing loans, you'll have to check into that), you could take out MA money...and not have to pay most of it back! If you go into public service (a lot more counts as public service than you think) or something education-related (ditto-a lot more counts than you think), you make payments in the amount determined by the IBR system for ten years, then you're done, regardless of how much you still owe. If you go into the private sector, it's 20 years and then done.
It's really worth looking into IBR (just google it-I'm not a great explainer) if you feel like you're going to need a graduate degree (or, in my case, three) to get a living wage job. You'll also be able to defer your current loans while you're in school. If you haven't consolidated them, you'll be in really good shape. If you have, you're still okay. It's not as hopeless as it sounds-you don't have excessive undergrad debt, and you can likely find a program to fund you next year if you didn't this year.
-
On 3/16/2010 at 10:51 PM, int.student said:
I am graduating from law school next May and have been searching for Interdisciplinary Law Programs (like NYU Law and Society and Berkeley's Jurisprudence). Are there any other programs like these? Where do I find them? Are they worth the time and effort or is it better to apply to PoliSci or Soc. Phd. programs? Any and all advice would be truly appreciated.
I think it depends on what you want to do. Many attorneys who want to go into academia (or eventually become "specialists" if their state bars allow such designations) do LLM programs rather than PhDs. LLMs are shorter (1-2 years) and are geared specifically towards the law, whereas (as I and many others have found) PhD programs don't necessarily offer you the options that you might want--i.e. having to lump your interests into Political Science, Economics, etc. I know George Mason Univ. (DC) has a Law and Economics PhD. Harvard and Yale have LLM and SJD degrees---that might be something to look into if your end goal is law school-level teaching or governmental consulting. Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) offers the following joint JD degrees: JD/MBA, JD/MSW, JD/LLM in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution and JD/LLM in Taxation. WashU also has JD certificates in Public Interest Law, Business & Corporate Law, and International & Comparative Law.
For lack of a better idea, try googling "Law PhD" and see what different programs you find. I think what you're looking for exists--albeit, very few--but it might not go by an obvious name
-
Why not an M.A.? You continue your education, write a thesis and see if graduate school is something that appeals to you without committing to five plus years before you earn your degree. It seems that an M.A. may make you a more attractive candidate to a Ph.D. program, though that is only what I gather from here on the forums. You might also want to think about getting an M.A. in Rhetoric and Composition instead of literature. I don't know if that will help you attain your goals, but it's something to consider.
My advisor suggested that the M.A. was a positive experience, since you're taking classes in subject that you love. She said for the Ph.D. you have to deal with a lot of depression, anxiety and self-doubt, especially while you're doing your research and prepping for your dissertation. You're doing a lot of work for years and years and years without seeing any pay-off. I wouldn't say she used the term "soul-crushing," but the clear implication was that it was not a pleasant experience.
Do you want a Ph.D. or is it something you think you should have? Don't feel pressured by your professors. This is your life and ultimately your decision. No one's going to think less of you if you decide not to pursue your Ph.D. There are plenty of people who go to work after their B.A. and they're (probably) much better off financially for it. Perhaps see if you can get an internship at a publishing company this summer while you're still a student? Some of my undergraduate acquaintances have landed in the publishing industry that way.
If you're not 100% sure that you want to go to grad school, take a gap year to make sure. Work in the industry, if you can and go from there.
Probably not the clear answer you wanted. :-\
This is very sage advice!!! Obviously, your professors think you're very bright. You sound like (and this is NOT a dig) more of an introvert and someone who would NOT enjoy teaching or even necessarily working with others as a major part of your job. If that's true, you'd probably really dislike having to teach, bury yourself in someone else's research, and have to do a dissertation that-given your interests-you'd probably have difficulty finding committee members with that level of skill.
Some other ideas (I don't want to repeat the good ideas already mentioned by others)....
You like archiving and language. Applied linguistics? I think there are both MA and PhD degrees focusing on applied linguistics that don't make you teach. It's a fascinating field but not so glutted that finding a job would be impossible.
I would ordinarily never suggest law school...BUT, if you could force yourself to tolerate law school (and find a school that will pay your way--age will NOT hurt you there!), you could then become a law librarian. Being a law librarian allows you all the benefits of being a university librarian, except that your expertise is limited to archiving/managing/researching only legal and related texts (not that you'd ever run out)...plus they make a TON of money. Also, another aspect of the law that might interest you is transactional law - any subfield of transactional law requires EXCEPTIONAL attention to detail and mastery of language. Tax, intellectual property, bankruptcy, etc are all detail-oriented areas that require less "teamwork" and more "focus." Not to pitch law over anything else, but if you do in fact have "the eye," the law would be one of the more lucrative ways to go. Plus---and I say this from experience--a law degree never hurts anything but your wallet! A lot of people go to law school wanting to be the next Atticus Finch; the jobs-what few there are in this economy-are for those of us transactional attorneys who can stand to read and proof the same contracts over and over.
When in doubt, I DO think that testing the waters with a master's program is a smart thing to do. I'd say take a year off and "see what happens," but the job market isn't great, so if you don't have something lined up...well, you know your options better than I do. A master's (depending upon where you go) degree WORST case scenario at least shows you what you do or don't want to do and isn't the huge time (PhD) or money (law) commitment that longer degrees are....
-
Master's Thesis: (it was more timely in 2006...) addiction memoir + Benjamin Franklin (yes, a weird combo, but it works)
Potential PhD Ideas: Visual rhetoric + ICJ + Judith Mason OR legal rhetoric + media construction of "language crimes" OR something involving John Banville if I can somehow tie him to rhet/comp...
I think many people decide after the first couple of years what they'll do for their dissertations when something "sparks" one day....
-
There's some really good information in this thread. Does anyone have names of specific apartment complexes appropriate for grad students that are near UNCG? Are they in safe areas?
Thanks!
I wouldn't advise a complex that caters to students "near campus." First of all, usually that means you rent a ROOM (not an apartment) for $250-600, which is ridiculous since you have to share it with 3 other people! Secondly, these places get absolutely trashed after the first round of students move out. They're relatively high-crime---not violent crime, just property crime---and they are NOT quiet places to study. I'd advise renting a room in one of the older Victorian-style houses around campus (close enough to walk but not good if you have pets or kids), renting a small house near campus (there are quite a few in walking/biking distance), or finding a regular apartment complex on the HEAT line. (The HEAT bus is MUCH safer than the regular bus-it's only for higher ed students in the area.) If you know when you'll be moving, you can post what you're looking for on the "Housing Wanted" thread on the Greensboro Craigslist. With the housing market so bad, people are more willing to deal now than a few years ago....
-
It's not just state schools anymore, as we know from my unhappy situation. Even some of the private schools only have X number of TAs, and they generally go to the high scorers also.
But some schools fund everyone! (I promise!) As far as high scorers, I sure AS HELL was not one....I can conceive that PERHAPS the schools that offered me funding offered ALL their admits funding, but tomato tomato to me! I did get a decent scholarship to law school, and I will agree that it had to be based solely on my LSAT score.
I'll be the whiny kid who says "schools should fund all their admits." Or at least offer the opportunity for MERIT-based funding after the first year, which some schools do.
-
What kind of employment do you want after you finish your PhD? If you want to work in Rhet/Comp as a professor, you're probably going to need some teaching experience. So, if that's your goal, you should probably pursue one of the PhD options that lets you gain teaching experience.
Would it be possible for you to continue working for the same firm but work remotely? That would eliminate the studying and need to take another bar exam potentially. Plus, would you really have the time to take another bar exam if you are working and going to school full-time? My sister is a lawyer, and spent 2+ months studying in the evenings after work to take the bar that she just took in Feb (and that was her third one! she's moved a bit).
You know, I've been staring at two nearly (but not quite!) identical packages of semi-permanent hair dye - while simultaneously watching the NCAA tournament - and realize that 99% of the problem is that I can't make a decision. I'm completely paralyzed by the possibility of....permanency...of any choice I make. Do I throw away 3 years of law school and 2.5 at the same firm? Do I become one of the many young women who go to law school, start work, and then quit because it's not particularly female friendly and I'd rather do something where I'm occasionally praised? Am I crazy to pass up a good job at a reputable firm (two things that are often mutually exclusive in the law) because I'd rather have summers off? The economy is SO bad, and I literally have NO savings after going to law school. If I went to a PhD program - even my best offer - a car accident or major illness would totally bankrupt me.
I worked full time during undergrad, my MA, and 25+ hours a week during law school. I can definitely work and do school; I'm just not sure I'm comfortable enough with my employment prospects if I only do ONE. What if I don't do the PhD then get fired? What if I ditch the job and hate the PhD and then can't find a job? It seems like working myself to death by doing both is the only way I can (in my own little OCD way) convince myself that I've done absolutely everything I can to ensure employment.
If money were no option (or if I were married to someone who had a job that could support us both, or had wealthy relatives or SOMETHING), I'm pretty sure I'd choose the job that gave me flexibility, something resembling self-esteem, and summers off to keep from burning out. I guess I have two weeks to decide if the greedy devil on my shoulder or the angel will win---either way, they''re both pretty scared of making a huge mistake.....
-
Suspicions confirmed...I just received a follow-up letter telling me that they have no assistantships or tuition waivers to offer me. As MM suggested, the alternative is to apply for administrative graduate assistantships or pay OOS. Hey, at least now I know.
Are you applying for the MA or PhD? Or the direct-entry PhD? I'll tell ya what I've found out, lest it change your mind.
1. Because of funding issues I've mentioned before, only PhD candidates (who already have MA's) are being considered for funding. If you already have a MA and did not receive PhD funding, you can apply to teach as a adjunct (NOT a TA-ship)---the grad school didn't tell me that, past grads did. Apparently you can apply for admin work too.
2. I got an email saying I'm an "alternate" for a TA-ship. Because I'm in-state, the tuition is SO cheap that it's smarter (much, much, much smarter) for me to keep my job---as MM wisely noted almost all of UNCG's grad classes are at night---and go to school 6 hours a semester. That way, I keep my decent job, get in-school deferment on my student loans, only have to use Stafford subsidized loans (I had no loans except law school), and make progress towards the degree while having the stability of "well, if I lose my job, I have school; if I screw school up, I have my job." I was having a really hard time choosing between accepting a good job offer at a local law firm (while people far smarter than I can't even get interviews) and accepting a PhD deal that didn't GUARANTEE me employment after 4-5 years of work. So if I can have both, I'll take both. I haven't gotten the official "ok" from UNCG on this, but their Graduate Bulletin doesn't suggest that one not on school funding can't go part-time so long as the degree is completed within the time frame (7 years).
3. That said, if I can't go part-time, I'll probably defer...just haven't figured out which school yet.
4. The beauty of UNCG is that you have access to the UNC system without the cost of living in Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Asheville, or Wilmington. It's a GOOD school for Rhet/Comp, and the campus has been VASTLY improved (I obviously live in Greensboro). It's a NICE campus, and the English building is the nicest one I've been in...ever.
5. It's easy to get in-state tuition, but I wouldn't go if you had to pay out of state. Anyone who's seriously considering UNCG should keep in mind the funding shortage and not bank on getting funded if you're accepted; however, there are a lot of community colleges and smaller colleges (Bennett, Guilford, A&T, Elon, etc) that hire adjuncts and lecturers, so if you got in, you could defer a year to work and establish in-state residency.
6. I don't LOVE the city, but the cost of living in Greensboro (esp around UNCG) is fairly low generally and considerably lower than the aforementioned NC cities. I'm not going to promise anyone that they could live on the $14-16.5k stipend from UNCG, but if you're willing to tutor part-time or have a side gig (or don't have pets/kids/surprise expenses), you can get by. The one HUGE surprise I got hit with-which is probably LESS than those of you from north of the Mason-Dixon are used to-are the LOCAL taxes. Guilford County has ridiculously high taxes compared to most other NC counties.
Anyway, I think it's worth considering. It's a solid program with good placement rates, opportunities to teach outside Comp, decent place to live, relatively diverse, etc.
-
Dear Truth Snake,
Thanks so much for your honest evaluation of me as an individual and a scholar. I shall take what you have said into account.
For my part, I'm sorry you have deliberately misread everything I have posted. I don't blame anyone for my life choices. They're mine. I don't blame programs for not admitting me. I do think it is unfair in terms of the reasons I was given for being denied - but so does everyone who hasn't gotten into their top choices. I have a course of action in place for handling my current situation, and I am going to continue to invest in my future, my hopes, and my dreams. I am also going to continue to post what I think and my ideas and opinions in the forum, because I am, like everyone else here, participating in a larger conversation, and I hope my examples and stories and my opinions will be of use to someone (clearly, not to you...but maybe someone else would read my stories as cautionary and/or uplifting tales, which they are meant to be, rather than the victim stories you have analyzed them as being. I am NO victim). In the end, the departments will make their decisions and we will make ours and we will all live with our choices. I take full accountability for everything I post, think, say and do, and I'm proud of myself.
Unlike, let's say, other folks in the forum, who rather than owning their words choose to create a brand-new account simply for the delightful chance to attack me with impunity.
Pot, Kettle, Black.
Also- Game, Set, Match.
Have a lovely day attacking others with your newfound anonymity! I'm off to teach the classes I have created from scratch, tutor my student for the AP Art History exam, and go about the daily business of being the best I can be on this day.
P.S. - in case anyone else misread all the exclamation marks and question marks in my first post in this thread about UNCG - I was being complimentary of the program. These marks are meant to underscore my admiration for a program that allows for people to have both a life and a doctoral education. They are not in any way intended to denigrate or otherwise take away from any other doctoral program. I admire many programs for many reasons. I was just delighted to have found such a wonderful reason to admire a program I had previously not known anything about, and felt the need to underscore that enthusiasm with enthusiastic punctuation. Please take this as a positive commentary intended in a positive fashion to highlight a positive attribute of UNCG's English program.
FWIW, MM, I'd love to have you as a classmate.
- Pamphilia and fromeurope
-
1
-
1
UNC-Greensboro
in 2010 Archive
Posted
Is anyone going to UNCG?