A blighted one

Actually, I wouldn't say that I would much rather go to the R1. In fact, the R2 seems better suited to my interests and overall goals in an MA program. It seems like your own biases have convinced you of my stance on my own inquiry.

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling better about making this difficult decision!

You can look up programs on petersons.com. A lot of programs list their admissions statistics, but some do not.

Thanks for your help, everyone! I'm definitely investigating placement rates, student-faculty interaction, opportunities for MA students to distinguish themselves (conference presentations, publications, faculty support, etc.). What do you think of attending an R2 university over an R1 for an MA? I've been fully funded at both institutions but have received a fellowship at the R2, which will give me significantly more funding.

Ok, how about people accepted for this year?

I'm really curious about this as well, though I am in the humanities.

Hmm, I hear different things from different people. I keep reading that it doesn't matter where you get your MA. A friend of mine went to some random R2 state school for her MA and does her PhD at UC Berkeley now, so I guess that supports that view. Some say teaching doesn't matter, adcoms care about funding/fellowships/publications/conference presentations, etc. I would think that all of these things matter, including teaching experience. With my fellowship offer I would still teach for a year, though.

Thanks for your reply! This is my first time applying for grad school and I chose to apply only for funded MAs. My current predicament is that I have 3 fully funded offers, some more generous than others, and I'm having a really hard time deciding between better funding/more time to focus on my own studies and research (won't have to teach my first year because I recieved a fellowship) and program prestige. I feel that I am an equally good fit for all 3 programs, and each has resources and faculty that will undoubtedly benefit me in different ways. The program that has offered me the best (by far) funding package has a far lower PhD ranking, but I'd be attending the MA, not the PhD and am planning on applying for a PhD elsewhere after I complete my MA, so does it even matter? I know that this is a best case scenario but I never realized how nerve wracking this decision could be!

Any input?

I'm in a top waitlist spot at the University of Delaware. Woo hoo!! This application season is turning out far better than I imagined it would. Good luck to everyone!!

I'm wondering if there are any current or former Lehigh University English students on here? If so, I would love to talk to you about their graduate program, the department, Bethlehem, etc.! If you're willing to help me out, feel free to comment here or PM me. Thanks in advance!

Penn state, tell us all your decisions already! (or never, which seems to be more their style, haha)

We are still chatting, I'll see if we can get you added to our PM.

This may be a long shot, but is anyone a current Lehigh student? I'd love to talk about the program as I've been accepted to the MA program with very generous funding.

Yes, thank you! If it's possible to add a third person to a PM please do!

I've also been accepted to UW-Milwaukee, but in the MA program. No word on funding yet, but do you know anything about the likelihood of a prospective MA student receiving funding? I only applied for funded MA's this round, and I have another fully-funded offer elsewhere, but I'm very interested in UW-Milwaukee's Literature and Cultural Theory program. Thanks in advance!

But, @lesabendio , I should specify that I only applied for funded MA programs. Wasn't sure I wanted/was ready to pursue the PhD.

Thank you! Yes, I have also been accepted to Lehigh University's Literature and Social Justice program.

No word on funding yet, but I received an unofficial acceptance to the Literature and Cultural Theory program via email on Friday!

It's a reference to one of my favorite novels, Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

Welp, got into UW-Milwaukee's program in Literature and Cultural Theory. No word on funding, but... Crazy!

Congratulations* haha

I applied for the MA in Lit and Cultural Theory, but no word yet. Congratations!

I have a somewhat unrelated question: I'm attending recruitment day at a university I've been accepted to with full funding and I'm wondering if programs ever provide help with the cost of moving across the country if I am to accept their offer? This school is 2,800 miles away from where I am currently living and having just graduated from undergrad, I have little to no savings. Not even sure if this is something that happens, so I'd be mortified to ask at the recruitment day if the concept is farfetched. Thanks in advance!

Oh, geez. I'm still waiting to hear back from 9 other schools! There are only 2 I'd consider over Lehigh, and although its unlikely that I'd be offered comparable funding, I guess it's possible. That makes finding housing now seem impossible. I don't have Facebook anymore, actually, but I was thinking of one making one if I go to grad school so that I could better keep up with my friends in other cities. Maybe I'll just make it early... Thanks so much for asking around for me!!