Silabus

First, you and I are exactly the same as far as undergrad goes! I also went to a you've-never-heard-of Christian liberal arts college, to a B.A. in English, minored in Theology, got a 3.8 GPA. Ha! That's funny! Anyway! To answer your question, I recently finished my MA and my office mate and I were the only two people in the program applying to PhD programs. She's doing Comparative Lit at Northwestern. From what she was telling me, the school is phenomenal, they're playing really well, the professors there are elite, and you'd be able to do the stuff you're talking about there. Sooooo, my suggestion is to definitely apply to Northwestern.

I'll also pipe in here. I'm a Victorianist myself. I'm about to finish my MA and I'm going to Texas A&M's PhD program in the Fall. So where I did my MA we have a foreign language requirement as well, however, the "foreign language department" is really a Spanish department. So pretty much everyone in the MA program learns to speak Spanish (appropriate considering we're in New Mexico). In my experience, I know no Victorianist who actually knows a second language or reads source material in its original language---so it might really be a moot point trying to learn a second language for the sake of research. However, I really wanted to learn Spanish anyway so I took the requirement as a chance to do what I'd always wanted to do. (And now I have a Spanish version of Don Quixote that I struggle with for fun.) So, I think if you really want to learn another language for the requirement just make it something you've always wanted to learn! Otherwise just try testing out. Also, I might add that A&M also has a language requirement for the PhD. However, something they just started is that if you're interested in their Digital Humanities certificate then a language that is helpful to your research would be HTML and that goes toward the language requirement. Perhaps that's seen as a cop-out by some but I think it's a pretty good idea. That's my two cents.

I think I may have met your friend on the Visit Day then because I remember a guy from Sam Houston who was pretty much sold on the school.

Alright I finally decided! I looked at it all and Texas A&M is the place for me!

Well, I know I was waiting for IU to get back to me---I'd already seen them sending out acceptances. So I waited until I'd heard from every other program I applied to and then I just shot the Admissions Chair an email. He got back to me that day. It's not going to hurt your chances or anything to email them. You've waited a while. It would also be good to check and see what dates their website might say they get back to students. I know some MA programs are still accepting applications so it would make sense for them not to get back to anyone yet.

I'm feeling this way too. A&M has offered me a great deal but the idea of living in Texas again makes me groan. I'd like to go to Florida! But I'm waiting on their letter of funding. If it isn't up to A&M's deal then Florida State is not only lower ranked, a lesser fit, but they also offer less funding which means the more logical option is A&M. I feel like just leveling with them about it might be helpful. Like: Okay guys, A&M is offering me this, match it or beat it? Advantages FSU: Location A&M: Funding, Faculty, Rank, Fit. Obviously one is in the lead....

I would have been down for a waitlist...I think...then again maybe not. The schools that did accept me have given me some pretty sweet offers. I really wanted to work with John Plotz at Brandeis though---so color me green when you get in!

@LurkyLurker @eyeshadow I definitely got a rejection from them! So they've definitely sent those out to folks! I really want you two to get in! Somebody from the GC should!

Hoooo! I want an extra fellowship! xD Oh yeah the 1-1 teaching load is great. Anything more than that and I think you're definitely being taken advantage of.

Same deal for me. However, considering the cost of apartments and such in College Station, that's a pretty good amount of money. They also fund you in other ways. So, it seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Yes! And now, the only school left to hear from is IU. Annnnddddd... even if it is a faux pas I don't have a whole lot to lose anymore. xD

Ha ha ha! Make all the bridesmaids look bad so that you look really good! Oldest trick in the book!

Whoo! Who got into FSU?! Who?! MEEEEEEEE! *dances*

You are sooo right! I did get into some good places. And yeah, at least having limited options means making a decision is a lot easier.

#Same So did I. *sigh*

AHHHH! I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!!

Yep, it is weird. This is the longest they've taken to get back to people in some time.

So you're saying I maybe made it to the final round of rejections? xD

Can I chime in here? I know I'm not exactly a shut out, I've gotten into two programs. However I've also got eight rejections. I'm pretty bummed out about some of them too. I found professors I'd really like to work with at Brandeis and Vanderbilt. I've been tutoring a guy who came to the university I'm at now from UNM. I asked him why he transferred from UNM and he said: "I wasn't doing very good at UNM and I still had a scholarship offer here. Everything happens for a reason, you know?" Everything happens for a reason. That's what I'm trying to keep telling myself...but those words really aren't all that comforting.

Ugh. I finally got what I wanted and heard from Brandeis. Rejection. T_T

Ahem... SAAAAAAMEEEE! Brandeis just tell us already! Jeeze!

Vent: Brandeis, Brandeis, John Plotz....please stop doing this to me. Just give me an answer already. You too Florida State! I'm tired of these games! T_T

Ha ha! I don't blame you! That sounds like a fun Conference! Is UConn better for Children's Lit? I think A&M also publishes a journal on Children's Lit. That's what I'm most excited about too, meeting the potential cohort. I'm also interested in meeting some of the professors too! One of them just sent me a really nice email today about how she was on the Acceptance Committee and really enjoyed my writing sample---and she thinks I should think hard about joining them at A&M! xD So nice!

UW-Milwaukee sent me a letter a week later telling me why I wasn't accepted into the program. To be honest with you, I'll take a form letter any day of the week! xD

To add to my previous comment about the Writing Sample. I just got an email from the lady on the Acceptance Committee at A&M. She wrote me saying that she "quite liked" my WS and secretly always wanted to write on the Piano in Vanity Fair. So there you go guys. Send in the WS that best shows what you are interested in and maybe, hopefully, it resonates with someone. I'm really happy mine did! I guess I now know who was gunning for me in that committee. xD