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Gray Under Gray

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Everything posted by Gray Under Gray

  1. Gray Under Gray
    Thank you all! I chose Georgetown! SO HAPPY
  2. Gray Under Gray
    GT is calling it a "scholarship" and saying that "the English department will pay tuition for two years."
  3. Gray Under Gray
    I was admitted to the MA/PhD track. However, I only applied to the MA. I would have to complete the courses necessary for the MA and then get faculty approval to continue on in the PhD program. However, the MA is strictly a series of courses. No capstone or thesis. And when I visited I got the vibe that it's sort of expected that you'll continue on with their PhD. To quote a member of the faculty, "Why wouldn't you continue? Funding is guaranteed!" Additionally, I was told that only one person in the last ten years has stopped after the MA, of course who knows if that's accurate...
  4. Gray Under Gray
    All advice welcome! I have two choices left. It may seem like an easy call, but I'm in complete meltdown mode, and the advice I'm getting is different from all of my peers and mentors. University of Illinois (ranked #26) PROs -Fellowship (first year) -TAship (subsequent years) -Queer studies minor -Great people, such as Tim Dean CONs -I don't want to be pressured into pursuing their PhD. It is important to me to get my PhD elsewhere. -I've visited the midwest and it's just not my thing. However, it's way more affordable. -Large school Georgetown PROs -Tuition waiver -Flexible program -Great reputation -MA only -Located in a great city -Smaller school CONs -Waitlisted #2 for TAship (there are only two spots) AND I won't know anything until after 4/15. Neither of the initial offers have responded. -No minor -More expensive city Both schools are great, of course, and I've been incredibly lucky this season. However, the big day is upon us and I just don't know! As a poor, first generation student from a conservative Maine family, I feel this great pressure to make something of myself, and I worry that's clouding my judgment.
  5. Gray Under Gray
    I've turned down my offer. Goodluck to all of you who need funding. Hopefully you will get my spot!
  6. Gray Under Gray
    If anyone on here has been offered the Community Scholars teaching associateship, please respond to GT as soon as possible. Also, congrats! I'm waitlisted and cannot make plans/decide on my backup school until I hear back from GT. THANK YOU
  7. Gray Under Gray
    You're so optimistic! I LOVE it.
  8. Gray Under Gray
    Anyone going to the accepted students event on 4/8?
  9. Gray Under Gray
    You're right. I will see what I can do, but the edit button is no longer available.
  10. Gray Under Gray
    This is exactly why I'm going for an MA. I still need to focus my interests. The "bird in hand logic" sums up my trouble and anxiety. Yes, I'm incredibly lucky to have two great offers. But I've also seen people screwed over by the perceived worth of their alma mater to not give ranking a serious consideration. I find a lot of peace in this! Yes! Totally — That's why I reached out about VU's Phd placement. I've read a lot on here about how unranked programs make it more difficult to get into a top PhD program. I already come from an unknown undergraduate institution, though I loved it, it's not doing my CV any favors. I worry about placement (probably too much) because of my mentors—both in their forties and accomplished in their literary fields. One went to Columbia and CUNY. She got a TT position within several years of finishing her PhD. However, my other mentor, though equally brilliant, cannot find a permanent teaching position. She hops around universities, submitting dozens of apps every couple of year; she went to Texas A&M and UT: Knoxville (great schools, yes, but less esteemed). She's so jaded by her misfortune that she unknowingly talks students out of going into academia. I've been told by several tenured professors that her experience has everything to do with her education — I worry about ending up in that same boat. A good point. Currently, I think Villanova is a better academic fit based on what I've read, BUT I'm still very new to all of this. My interests are clay, so maybe I should worry more about secondary factors (networking, exposure, etc.)... No problem! How do you respond to the message I received? Does it affect your decision at all?
  11. Gray Under Gray
    Alright, I need help making a decision between two fully funded offers. I've been beating myself up over this and just can't work it out by myself. Please, all relevant opinions are welcome! The two programs: The MA/PhD English lit program at UIUC (ranked #26) or the English MA at Villanova (unranked). My interests include gender and queer studies. And I'm currently interested largely in the ability of language to oppress and liberate people within these groups. THE CASE FOR UIUC: -Better ranking (I'm pretty sure I want to get a PhD elsewhere and UIUC might make it easier to get into a prestigious program) -Teaching Assistantship -Larger stipend in an area with a lower cost of living -Minor in Gender and Women's studies. -Option to pursue PhD afterward. -Self-proclaimed women's and gender studies powerhouse THE CASE AGAINST UIUC: -Giant school (might affect my experience as an MA student) -Less attractive geographical location imo -Despite having a larger faculty, fewer faculty share interests similar to mine. THE CASE FOR VU: -Smaller school, courses are limited to MA students (15 students in each course) -Gender and Women's studies certificate -More exciting area -Option to TA (eventually) -Faculty with interests more similar to my own (esp. Travis M. Foster) THE CASE AGAINST VU: -unranked program (rumors of graduates from the MA program having difficulty getting into a top PhD program.) -Graduate assistantship (with option to eventually TA. At UIUC I will begin teaching asap) -More expensive area with smaller stipend And I haven't visited either campus yet. I won't be able to until the week of the 4/15 probably, so I can't use that as a factor.
  12. Gray Under Gray
    I'm unsure. Thanks for asking. The program seems wonderful and there appears to be more faculty with similar interests to me at VU (I want to study feminist and queer lit). BUT VU being unranked is a big drawback. The University of Illinois gave me better funding (and it's a TAship instead of a grad assistantship) in a significantly cheaper area. Plus, UIUC is highly ranked, but I'm not sure it's "as" good a fit in terms of the university's size and interests. I'm completely conflicted. I'm visiting both in the next two weeks so, hopefully, that will help. BTW CU is gorgeous! I almost applied there! And congrats on the TAship!
  13. Gray Under Gray
    Do you think you'd choose VU over CU if they offered you funding? I can tell you that the graduate assistantship offered comes with a stipend of roughly $16,000 if that helps at all...
  14. Gray Under Gray
    Got full support! Found out this morning!
  15. Gray Under Gray
    Did anyone else receive a call yesterday saying that funding information will be sent out today or tomorrow? Good luck!
  16. Gray Under Gray
    That's so frustrating! I've been incredibly unimpressed with their process. Good luck!
  17. Gray Under Gray
    Thank you!! This makes me feel much better.
  18. Gray Under Gray
    My decision is looming and it looks like I'm most likely headed for UIUC for my English MA. I was accepted with funding and a teaching assistantship. I'm from a small liberal arts undergraduate university in New England (total enrollment of 2,500, student-to-faculty ratio 13:1) located in a town of 7,000 people. I loved my undergraduate university and succeeded there. I wanted something similar for my MA (btw I'm going for an MA because my BS is in Secondary English Education. I'm not fully confident in my scholarly work yet. I plan on going for a PhD, someday). I hoped for a small liberal arts college on the east coast. Realistically, though, large schools often have better funding—SO I applied to UIUC (and some other larger schools). I applied the day the application was due (the same day my advisor sent me a link to their program); I knew nothing about the school. Long story short, U of I is easily my best offer so far (in terms of both ranking and funding), but I'm anxious about it for a myriad of reasons, including its total enrollment of 44,000 people! I've obviously read their website, but that's only so helpful, What should I know about UIUC's literature program? What are their teaching assistantships like? Any notable information on their women's and gender studies program? Other info or advice? THANKS!
  19. Gray Under Gray
    The advice that I've been given is that it's okay to get your BA and MA at the same location as long as your PhD is from a different location. Likewise, it's okay to get your MA and PhD at the same school as long as you didn't get your BA there. It's just important to get a 'different perspective' at some point. As such, I would go with the fully funded offer at your alma mater as long as it's a decently ranked school.
  20. Gray Under Gray
    Exactly how I feel!
  21. Gray Under Gray
    Officially rejected via email :/
  22. Gray Under Gray
    I'm wondering how concerned I should be that Urbana-Champaign seems to have dropped quite a bit? I'm most likely attending this fall for my English MA. I know the ranking system is flawed, but prestige still carries a lot of weight, and if this is a sign of what's to come... Pretty sure it fell from a tie with CUNY #22 to #26.
  23. Gray Under Gray
    It's strange. This is exactly what was said, "We have made some offers of admission already, but I don't see a decision for you yet. The only information I have now is that any additional offers of admission we release would be without funding." It seems really odd to me that they still haven't finished admitting people, but funding is already concluded??? But that's what it seems like...
  24. Gray Under Gray
    I reached out to the English department and found out that although they are sending out acceptances daily, anyone that's accepted now will not receive funding
  25. Gray Under Gray
    I guess my question has more to do with etiquette. I've heard from many different people that reaching out for an update is a faux pas, but now it's down to the wire and I don't really have a choice...???
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