haltheincandescent

Sometimes my job annoys me, but, all the same, everyone there is so awesome. I was worried about taking time off to visit places, and: "just do what you need to do, we're excited for you!" Yay.

My brother bought me a bunch of chocolate truffles for Christmas; vendors at my work have been sending a bunch of stuff for holidays (fruit cake, chocolate, and the like); and my boss has left a huge box of chocolate on my desk, so, mostly just consuming an unnatural amount of chocolate.

I went clothes shopping! (Oh wait, that was for interview clothes, never mind....though I did get some nice, otherwise wearable sweaters, for it, so I'm counting it as a reward nonetheless).

Because I'm in love with my field, and nothing else has thus far been as rewarding, personally, as the research I've done and discussions I've had in courses and in various little literary circles. But I'm not the creative writer myself--rather I like sitting back, observing, trying to understand how language and communication work on an emotional, subjective, and aesthetic level, and how and why this has transformed and developed over time. And so the role of a researcher is appealing. Further, I adamantly believe that understanding how people (individuals, groups, past societies) represent themselves and their world through language is crucial to understanding and working through political, societal, and cultural relationships and conflicts. Thus, I'm driven to the teaching role of the academic, insofar as I want to help to continue the current work that's trying, always, to both explain and demonstrate to the younger generation how crucial--ethically, politically, individually--a deep engagement with the arts and the humanities, alongside--never in place of--scientific and technological work, is to human life. That's the thumbnail version, at least.

haha, thanks @gingin6789. That part is one of my favorites in the whole show, possibly only beaten by the entire flu season episode! But, also to return to wine: all the time I'm going to/might have to take off work for interviews/campus visits this coming month is starting to stress me out, leading me back to the beer aisle! Although my boss knows I'm applying, and offered me the position knowing full well I'd be leaving for grad school come May/June, I really don't want to test their patience by repeatedly being out for 2-3 days at a time this early in the year; the last thing I need is for them to start deciding to look for my more permanent replacement sooner rather than later, leaving me with no income 'til I start my program. Though to be honest I should stop worrying, at least until I actually hear back from Duke (and talk with my boss about it) (I mean, if I don't get an interview there [which, tbh, is a super long shot] then it's only a few days off at the beginning of the month, then a few days at the end, and probably a few again in March, which isn't as bad as a few every other week.) I just like being able to definitively plan ahead, which this process of vastly different schedules for each program's acceptances/rejections is not really conducive to.

Stands for person of interest--basically a potential advisor/PI that you'd like to work with.

speaking of nervous interviews and Ben Wyatt....this is 100% me in all interview situations: also, @raaawr, I totally feel you about the nervous swiveling. I had to give a video interview once about a campus event I was participating in....and they gave me a swivel chair. Between takes, I'd notice I was swiveling, make a conscious effort to keep myself from doing so, then, as soon as they started asking me questions, would notice I was doing it again. For any skype interviews going forward, I plan on using a non-spinny chair, haha.

God I love Ben (and everything about that show--especially being from a small town in Indiana! Hilariously accurate at times (and hilariously not at others--don't try to follow in April's footsteps and go for Vet school at IU; we haven't got one!). People were campaigning so hard for Amy Poehler to be the commencement speaker for my year's graduation, since the show was ending the same year, and Leslie herself gives a speech on IU's campus. (Alas, didn't happen, though some are still trying to make it happen this coming year.)

Thanks! I can't say it's my top top choice, so still some anxiety as I wait for the rest. But, it is still a great program, with awesome faculty for my area, and it's just pretty fantastic to finally know I'll definitely be going somewhere next year, even if none of the others work out (goodbye for now, proofreading job!) And, nope, it still says something like "application has passed first stage of review, and has been sent to your program, which will notify you of their decision."

Just got a call from Penn State--accepted! (With a really nice university level fellowship offer [I like email correspondence better, as it was really hard not to respond with "holy shit."])

Congrats!! I just rolled out of bed (sleeping in for the holiday), refreshed this page, saw this.....then almost immediately got my own acceptance call from Penn State!

I'm in English/Comp.Lit., for a PhD. Hoping one day for a professorship, but I might head back to publishing if it all doesn't work out.

Unless it's admissions are rolling, it doesn't matter how close you get, as long as it's in by the deadline. Personally, I submitted all my stuff fairly early, because I had one super early deadline, and by that point, I had everything pretty much ready to go. But, 2 of my letter writers submitted their letters the day-of (one, literally one hour before the cut-off, haha), and I had no problems with it. Getting stuff in early can be helpful for you, so you have time to deal with any computer errors or still-missing materials before the actual deadline hits, but, if you turned it in right at the deadline, as long as everything got there, then you're good!

Come to think of it, I also had weird teeth-dreams for the first time while applying. But since, I've mostly just been repeating my tried-and-true school-stress-dream script: being late for my first class, just totally forgetting that I even had it, trying desperately to will myself back in time so I didn't look like an idiot, then showing up the next time without having done the required reading and being asked pointed questions by the teacher/prof. about it without being able to come up with a response. Every time before the beginning of a new semester since like, 9th grade. Except I'm not in school anymore currently, so I guess my brain is just still stuck in the habit/schedule. Eegh.

I think there were only about 60 slots on the poll, so, I can't imagine they sent it to every applicant. But, we'll see. With so many people, I'm just hoping that a time conflict (making me one of the applicants not able to be interviewed) won't be a cause for rejection, with the committee favoring those they were actually able to talk to. I work most of the hours listed, and so couldn't choose many of the options (and since I won't know if I'm even being interviewed or on which day until potentially the day before, I won't be able to take any time off). Super awkward as far as planning goes for full-time employed people.

Yeah, it looks like they might be trying to talk with everyone? Or at least everyone that met some sort of really basic cut off? I agree it's pretty weird, though--especially to only officially notify potentially the afternoon before. We'll see I guess?

A few of my programs accept/reject by phone, around this week, according to the results board. My dear brother has a phone that is notorious for pocket dialing whoever last called him (seriously, it's bad--like, once every half hour. [He really needs a new phone]). I had to call him last night. Hence, I've been getting phone calls all day. I usually never ever get phone calls, so every time: "Wait! Maybe that's the school! Ahhhh!....Nope."

I saw one post (a rejection) on the results forum for this year--but haven't heard anything myself. From looking at past years, it's usually around the 20th or so of this month, so there's still a bit of time to wait, I guess. (edit: assuming you mean Ohio, not Oregon)

I haven't been before, but, I'm planning on going business casual (khakis or dress-ish black/grey pants, button up shirts w/ & w/o a sweater, and a jacket/blazer). Not going to do a full suit, but not jeans, either. However, I am going to pack a pair of nicer jeans, converse, and a less dressy shirt in the case that some of it's more casual--especially since it's equal parts meeting with profs and talking/eating with grad students.

There's a rejection on the results board for one of my programs....which means I've been extra anxious all day. But, still nothing. On the one hand, it's good, because if they're sending out rejections, I still have a chance for an acceptance. But, I wish they'd send everything at once...... Maybe needless to say: it was a beer as soon as I got home sort of day.

Well, hey: if they invited you to a talk and think (on the basis of a proposal or your other work?) that you're a prof: you're doing something right! Congrats! I once gave a conference talk also as a 21 year old undergrad. I was on a panel with one other undergrad and one grad student. Afterwards, at the reception, one of the visiting scholars thought I was the grad student on the panel, and was super confused when I said I was about to start applying to places, haha. It was a nice moment of "Hey, maybe I do have this thing down, if my work seems to be at grad-level to a prof I don't even know." (Though impostor-ish feelings inevitably crept back in).

Ooh--can I be writer/director? At least then, if the whole 2% admissions rate (D:) thing doesn't work I can at least stay in my general field. Also will have appropriate life experience. Also: this. I have a friend who I went through the whole application process with, and while he definitely has a strong application...I heard back about an interview at a school we both applied to, and, unless he's waiting to tell me until I tell him for the same reason, he didn't. On the one hand, I know he'll be just as excited for me as I would be for him if it was flipped the other way around, but I also can't deny that I would be discouraged--not jealous or anything, really, but bummed nonetheless. Trying to figure out the best way to share the info--I really don't want to be the bearer of bad news :/.

I've accrued something like....over 300 books. I'm really not looking forward to moving them across the country to wherever I end up...and yet I still end up with more, and more... (how can you pass up a 50% off or $1 book sale? [I am very good at finding these]) (Literature major problems...?)

Oh: and now, there are the academia.edu views. But no city listed..... where are you from, mysterious visitor person??

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny Yay!! (Guess you didn't need that 3 month tranquilizer after all, eh? )