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For what it's worth, I can tell you what their typical package was last year; teach one class a semester and they waive something like four classes a year, teach two classes a semester they waive all six (or more perhaps). When I interviewed with a faculty member, she called the system "exploitative." Given how funding in higher ed is going, I can't see that it's much improved. They have a fantastic reputation, but I don't think it's being maintained well right now - all the late notices could be an indication of that as well. If you get in, I would advise bartering for a better deal. If you have questions about that, send me a message!

I agreed (now and then). I was really forthright that I simply wouldn't be paying tuition, and they said they would try to find me a little more money but there was little they could do about the tuition. I had to decline. It seemed to strange to me that they would operate that way, when every other place gives a waiver to their PhD students. If you want to check out in advance, I can give you some names and emails. They ARE SO NICE, and it seems like a really cool place.

Just wanted to chime in, I'm not a candidate this year - but I went three years with all rejects until my third year and then had a great year - so hang tough. I just thought I'd let you know that last year, I was accepted into UNLV (Nevada Las Vegas). The funding was a 60% tuition remission, and a GA'ship of which I never determined the amount or workload. They were VERY nice and wonderful, and have some very interesting opportunities to meet authors etc. I declined on funding. Unless something has changed, I think that may be what you can expect. I hope this is helpful.

Denver University? My experience last year: Rejection letter in JULY. Seriously. July. When I called they were total jerks. DU is a sucky department full of weirdos and they totally ignore Grad Council agreements, even though they are members. ha!

Hey Craig I actually spoke with a professor there with a Japanese last name - I can't recall it right now; she was very articulate and engaging. I was accepted at CU but I decided upon Stony Brook instead. You might try contacting the faculty and asking them to put you in touch with a current student in the program.

Bookchica, I'd only like to say that I feel your pain - This year was my third round before getting into programs. In the meantime, I took graduate courses at a local University MA program. It helped me because I had been out of school for a while.

DU has a beautiful campus. It is a non-smoking campus, which is kind of neat. (Or torture, if you smoke!) I live in Westminster, and on good traffic days I am on Auraria campus in fifteen minutes. I think the bussline and lightrail systems are useful, but I have always had a car to get to the park and rides. I wouldn't really recommend Aurora as a place to live, but that's not totally true. Aurora has a lot of affordable housing, but it seems to me to be divided between the haves and have nots. Cool little places in the city are often old and small if they are affordable. But Thornton and Northglenn have affordable apartments and are near park and rides. I have lived here for ages. I love it. The snow is rarely an issue, but it's good to have a front wheel drive or ESC. Denver often closes things too late, so if there is a snow storm, sometimes it seems like you are already in trouble before the official closures are made - so be sure to use your own judgment about the weather when it's snowing. The mag chloride keeps the streets clear, most days. Auraria campus, which hosts three schools, can be kind of a challenge. It is definitely a commuter campus. That said, UCD boasts some fairly strong academic programs. They definitely have the jealous sibling thing going on with CU Boulder, so there isn't a ton of collaboration between those campuses. There is not a "feel" of a college campus at Auraria, probably because some 35 - 40k students are attending at any given time, and since it's shared by a community college, a four year college, and a graduate granting college, there's no synergy of identity. For me, I loved that - Auraria is urban, it's about the practical aspects of pursuing higher ed. It feels integrated with the city if that makes any sense. DU is way different, it has the feel of the hallowed grounds of higher ed. One cool thing about Auraria is it is right down town, so the 16th street mall is just a few steps away, about a five minute walk. Depending on where you are moving from, it will seem cheap or expensive. IMO, a decent apartment will run about 750 or so a month. But there are plenty of alternatives. For families, I would say that the suburbs are the way to go - the burbs are accessible to everything and give you a more realistic environment (ie, no drunken parties keeping you up, the neighbors and you have yards). The economy is tough. Unemployment and foreclosures are high. It's probably a great time to buy, if you are ready, but you will have to wait quite a while to see a return on such an investment. Anyhoo, happy to talk about Denver if anyone wants. Particularly questions about neighborhoods, although a visit is always best.

In all of my cross listed classes, I found undergrads wrote 8 - 10 page final papers and graduates wrote 15 - 25. All profs made a distinction and assigned the grad students more. I felt the problem was that the discussions focused more on understanding the plot rather than critically engaging the texts, which left me at a disadvantage. If you have the time, the best way to compensate for that is to pop in during their office hours and try to have some of those conversations. I just can't understand them proposing five classes, regardless. But maybe the overall workload is lower? Hopefully you aren't working...

Thanks for asking - I came out blessed. On the loneliest days, I still had the characters for company The papers, however, were another story. I still have one hanging over my head that I am trying to start But I found that I hated life, on many days, but the literature - never. That's what makes me insane enough to pursue the PhD!

Hahah Americana, it's all the people who will hate YOU when you have taken more than three that I had to struggle with My friends must have been so SICK of checking in only to hear the exact same moan-fest every time they called. I got to the point where if they asked how I was I would just say, I can't do this to you any more - you know how it is - thousands of pages to read, major papers to write -- how are YOU?! I would leave it at that. It became a very lonely pursuit because there was no one to share it with. My fellow students were not even remotely in the same boat, and in all, I am glad it's over and will never load myself down like that again -

ANother major concern in this conversation is whether or not you have to work for your stipend. I have in the past taken three graduate courses, worked a full time job, and taught two sections of 24 students each. I nearly died. I had to give up football and all manner of TV for a year. Someone having a birthday would nearly drive me to a maudlin frenzy of self pity, because before they even asked I knew in advance I would not be attending any parties. On the flip side, I scaled things back this semester, kind of - MA Comps, one class, teaching one class, and a prt-time job. All I can say is that the reading loads mentioned above are accurate - I see at my PhD program a leaning towards 25 - 35 page papers (ACK!). I am worried about keeping up. I will be a TA, lead recitation and attend the UG class. I intend to work vigorously to refrain from any extracurricular commitments my first year. I have often wondered how I possibly took more than three classes as an undergrad. I don't know how I could have ever taken four at the graduate level, especially if I had to work. DC, you'll be OK. You have enough drive, I think, to power through Fingers crossed for you! I think I will try to stick with three and take some summer credits... sigh...