kekology4

"Winter is coming" This was actually about waiting for grad school decisions!! theyre all so afraid of winter because the zombies/admissions committees are coming for them...

Welcome everyone! Lots of awesome projects

I had the same experience with their AMST site! As if part of the application process is navigating these incredibly confusing websites

@blackscholar i applied to nyu for american studies, and i think i saw some other ppl in the thread have as well.

@moviesofmyself sorry to hear. cmon minnesota! I have been counting down the days to february, because its when so many decisions should come in, and we're now finishing the last full week in january. we're almost there

@ishouldbeworking this exact thing happened to me too!! It doesn't surprise me that they google us and look at our academia page. It probably just means that they are curious about us, maybe even interested.

FREAKIN OUT

February is coming up soon......... About time!!

A USC American Studies admit was posted today. Congrats to the poster!!

Indeed it is, as those are the key concepts I research. I use those theories and political movements to critique state power n violence.

Congrats on your acceptance!!! Do you know about the thread on here for Women's and Gender studies applicants for this coming fall? I'm sure people would love to help you out! It's under interdisciplinary studies. I would absolutely take a chance on a new WGSS program. I've applied to Santa Cruz feminist studies which is only in its third or fourth cohort, and while I'm a little nervous about the lack of experience, I'm excited by the faculty there, and the structure of their degree. If you're okay with sharing what school you're considering, I could take a look at the faculty and everything and let you know what I think. As for interview questions, I would consider mentioning that you are a little hesitant about going to such a new program. You could then see how prepared and put together they are by their response. Best of luck!

@Wolverine_Champ My research interests are in transnational + women of color feminisms, decolonial movements, nationalism, feminist geography, theories of security, sovereignty, state power and state violence, and bio- and necropolitics. For interviews, I assume they will want to get to know you a little bit more. It could be good to have some questions prepared, to show you're interested, and to take advantage of the opportunity because you likely will have some things you want to ask.

All of the ones I worked with were pretty bland and clunky. UCLA's was probably the best for me, they have a menu on the side of the screen with each application section and fill in a box next to the section title with a check when you're finished with each section. Was very helpful for my need to check and re-check.

congrats @cypressknee! Yes it really was a job, the cost was part of why i didn't apply to more schools. It's just too much. The labor was also too much to apply to more schools, I felt like I was working myself to the bone and I wasn't even in school yet. Though I shifted my plans to applying this season as opposed to a later one pretty late.

That is so confusing! Maybe they will push your admission back to next Fall? Weird...

Congrats! A shame you couldn't apply to those two, but that's a great number of applications to have.

I also got the rejection e-mail from Emory today, with a note that I made the shortlist of 22. At least we're in it together! Personally I am so excited now that the first rejection came, and that it gave that encouraging feedback. 6 left, and ready to get this show on the road! What are everyone's research interests?

Right lol, and me too this wait is the absolute worst!!!!!! I have been working for this for so long, to have the moment be so close is... wild

I only applied to three american studies programs because I also applied to four women's studies programs this application cycle, and 7 felt like my limit. They all feel like great fits. I came to the field through learning a friend from undergrad had started harvard's phd program this past fall. It was my first time learning of the existence of the field, and it was when I was looking at women's studies phd programs. I did some research and the field seemed really critical, and it seemed like there was a greater presence in american studies of scholars doing work in my areas of interest like security, sovereignty and bio- and necropolitics, than in women's studies. The 2016 ASA conference really drove that home, there were so many interesting projects going on that I knew that it would be right for me. I later learned that my undergrad advisor, and bit of a mentor, wrote a paper on the critical and anti-oppressive trends in the field, which felt like a sign and gave me a bit of a push. Then when I started looking at programs, they all felt like the perfect place for me. The final sign was when I was looking at NYU's courses, and they were offering a course on particular theorists of the concepts I just listed. I had been trying to find an institutional presence of these theorists and their work for years, so it felt right.

currently reading queer necropolitics and feminist genealogies, colonial legacies, democratic futures. both are great, and helping the application process go by a liiittle quicker.

Personally, I just gently correct people if they use the wrong pronouns for me, and tell them the right ones. As for trying to pass as cis, I wouldn't because of what we take on psychologically when that happens, unless it really makes you more comfortable. I would go as the real you. Xx

stop i love check please!! @towonderland72thanks for the kind words, and im sorry youre dealing with that. I still get moments of panic and worry, because of how much getting into the academy means to me, knowing there are other strong candidates this year, and also knowing that part of getting in is luck. Those things can also turn into sources of comfort though if I think about them right. Knowing that it's not about personal failings, and that we are at least partially so scared because we care so much about our work. Remembering that passion that drove me to apply in the first place brings me to a place of calm, even if its not total calm

I feel similarly NoirFemme, that I am the caliber of student Yale or NYU is looking for. It's a good feeling. I swear every day just gets more exciting.

I don't have a cat because my mom's allergic, but as soon as I move for grad school you bet i"ll be getting one!! Emory said today was the last date by which applicants would be notified if we got an interview, so it looks like this is my first rejection if not waitlisting.... it begins!

Love all the appreciation for wynter's work. I've been working with her greater project for a few years now, and most recently read demonic grounds which I really loved. That's a shame that you've had to fight, but it certainly seems like you'll be at home in these american studies programs. Your project seems like it would fit right in. @♀ KING ♀ What I've picked up about admissions committees is that what they're interested in often depends on the interests of the individual people making up the committee. @cypressknee Her writing can be really difficult. But it absolutely gets easier with practice. I was just reading an academic text the other day and thinking about how easy it comes to me now, whereas it would have been really difficult a few years ago.