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Posts posted by Little Earthquakes
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35 minutes ago, clinamen said:
I am starting to worry that UW is an implied rejection for me I will have my MA by the end of this year so I applied straight into the PhD program and it looks like they've already sent out some acceptances.. Do they usually do them all at once?
I am certain that the decisions do come out in waves but I have no idea how it breaks down. Regardless, I wouldn't lose hope yet!
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I am attending UW as a first year PhD student, and I received my decision on March 2nd 2016. So I would say it's safe to say that decisions will be out by March 15th at the latest!
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3 hours ago, savay said:
Congrats Little Earthquakes! Are you joining the English or Comp Lit department? I'll be starting at UW this fall as well.
I'll be in the English (Lit) department! What about yourself? Congrats!
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I accepted my offer at University of Washington Seattle this morning! I'm elated but I also feel like I'm gonna throw up. So relieved this waiting is over!
- amlitbookworm, Dr. Old Bill and savay
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I'm about to decline U of Oregon. If that helps anyone!
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I edited CUNY with the info they gave me in the waitlist letter. Really helpful doc to have up!
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Thanks for the intel @rdsull89! I really hope they go to the wait list this year, but I'm just going to try to sit tight and try not to dwell this year. Anxiously crossing my fingers as this is my only shot at staying in California for my PhD.
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I just found out I've been waitlisted at UC Riverside as well! Wasn't expecting this in a million years. I'm going in for contemporary American and gender/sexuality/queer studies. Do we know how their waitlist process goes? Do they typically accept student based on areas of specialization?
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Personally, I shied away from programs that placed too much emphasis on the General GRE and did not apply to any that required the Literature GRE. I really disagree with the politics of standardized testing, and the merit of the Lit GRE just seems nonexistent to me. From what I've heard, the majority of programs that still require the Lit GRE don't place a lot of emphasis on it because it's really archaic/outdated. Okay tl;dr ignore my rant.
When I was deciding between applying to other schools or staying on at my undergrad institution for my MA, I *did* take the Lit GRE in 2012 and scored abysmally. This application season, I was accepted to at least 2 programs that stated the Lit GRE was "optional." I chose not to send in my scores to these schools at the time I applied.
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@Cotton Joe I wanted to reply because I had a very similar experience to yours. I did my BA and MA at the same CSU in California. And I really think that staying at the same program for my MA was integral to the success of my application materials.
Prior to starting my MA, I didn't even know two of advisers who went on to become my LOR writers and Thesis readers. Had I applied for a Ph.D. straight out of undergrad, I probably just would have selected three LOR writers who I had consistently produced A-level work with... but I know in hindsight that 2/3 of these instructors simply did not know me as well as the instructors who worked with me during my MA. Since you just recently became an English major, continuing to work with some of the same professors might really help you in the long run. Also, I honestly had no idea how the application process worked before working on my MA, but this is something that you definitely still have time to prepare for should you apply out of undergrad.
Looking back at my level of writing as a fourth year undergrad versus a second year Master's student, I am so blown away by how much I improved. By staying for my Master's, I was able to diversify and specialize myself. I thought I wanted to pursue queer studies in 19th century American Literature at the Ph.D. level but by writing a Thesis on this subject, I was able to realize that the field was NOT for me. So I was able to spin the experience as my "pitch" for pursuing a Ph.D. in queer/sexuality studies and 20th/21st-century American Lit., I was able to envision which allowed me to pitch myself as a highly desirable candidate. Looking back at the statement of purpose I wrote to get accepted into the Master's program, I really don't think I had what it takes to enter into a Ph.D. program.
I've had very good luck this application season and have been accepted/waitlisted at some really competitive programs, including my top 2 choices! Which I never would have expected before applying.
That said, I did decide to take a year off between my Master's and Ph.D. Between writing my Thesis and teaching a Literature course, I was (personally) way too exhausted to apply for a Ph.D. before I had my degree in hand so I decided against it. I know that several people have had good luck starting a Ph.D. directly after the MA, but I was too nervous to attempt it myself.
But in the end, you are going to know your strengths better than anyone. So just remember that and take the time to explore different opportunities/options!
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2 hours ago, hbr93 said:
I contacted them, all they told me was they're still reviewing applications...
I was kind of thinking this might be the case since there still are people here (myself included) who haven't heard anything yet. Thanks for letting us know!
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I still haven't heard back from them, and I really don't know what to expect. Good luck to everyone waiting!
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2 hours ago, sarabethke said:
I will just say this--you are not the only one! I did that two years ago, and I've noticed a lot of people mentioning that this round lol. And they really don't go out of their way to make that clear.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one! They really need to spell it out more clearly on their application website. It doesn't suggest anything that sets it up as a comparative literature program until you start digging through their departmental requirements more closely.
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I'm actually a little surprised that I didn't make as many mistakes as I was expecting. It really helped to just learn from everyone else, but here's what I did:
When I took the GRE 3 years ago prior to my MA, I didn't study at all and scored decently on the Verbal. I was convinced that if I spent more time preparing, I could get a near perfect score. My score went up 1 point. I wasted hours studying for the GRE that could have been used towards researching programs more substantially.
I spelled "multitudinous" as "multudinous" in at least 9 of my statements of purpose. I caught it at the very end of my app season in January when I was submitting my final round. That error really stuck out to me because I think I must have been convinced I was spelling it right in spite of the squiggly lines that came up on Word.
I applied to UC Santa Cruz for English/American Lit without realizing that they were Comparative Literature program. Apart from wasting $90, I really didn't care when the rejection came in last week.
In my U of Washington statement, I shortened the school's name to "UWA" without realizing the standard is "UW." Since I got accepted into the program, I guess they didn't hold it against me but I was convinced that they would.
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I got accepted to U of Washington, which I was not expecting in a million years. On an alternate list for funding though. Really hope I get a funded offer from them. Gotta just calm down, sit tight and wait on it for now.
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Just now, libvan said:
I emailed the grad coordinator and there's a $500 travel reimbursement, if that helps you! It will definitely help me.
Oh my Gosh!!! I had no idea. I was too scared to ask if there was possibly funding!!! I'm going to email her about it.
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3 minutes ago, libvan said:
Congrats! I was accepted yesterday as well. Will you be going to the open house?
Thank you and Congrats! I would love to, but I really can't justify spending the money right now. Will you be attending?
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Got into University of Oregon with funding/tuition remission. The letter didn't specify the stipend amount though. So I'm waiting to hear more. But I'm excited!
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1 hour ago, persynanōm said:
So I called and Tina, the graduate coordinator, was nice, but had some strange information: neither she nor anyone in the department can tell an applicant their status directly. It has to come from the Dean's office. She said that they are going through the waitlist now but can't tell me if I am on the waitlist or not. Overall, her advice was "if you have an offer, I suggest you take it."
This might be UC Riverside policy, though, as there are two other departments I have not heard from either and from which I also expect rejections.
I have to say I am not a fan of this policy. At least I had already assumed rejection.
Omg that sounds really strange. I really don't see why they can't directly notify applicants who have been waitlisted.
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Based on lurking the results search, it seems that Penn State rolls out offers up through the April 15th deadline and doesn't really keep applicants posted.
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1 hour ago, persynanōm said:
I second this question. I plan on calling the department on Monday to find out if I'm waitlisted or rejected.
I may do the same if I don't hear from them in a week or so. I'm just really curious to know whether they're done with their recruitments. Good luck!
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I got waitlisted at CUNY this week which is my #1 choice for a variety of reasons, and got accepted yesterday to U of Rhode Island. Still waiting on 7 apps, but it was fantastic to finally have good news this week.
- ProfLorax and amlitbookworm
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Just curious, but are all the offers/wait lists out from UCR? UCR is the only program I've applied to that's within commuting distance, so I'm dying to know my status so that I can start more seriously considering out of state opportunities.
U. Washington: Seattle English MA
in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Posted
It was my #1 choice on the west coast outside of CA, and I really never thought I'd get in, which is why I almost didn't apply. So good luck waiting!!! Hang in there.