a_sort_of_fractious_angel

Yes to this 100% - I understand why they don't want transcripts that have no identifying information on them (my MA advising transcript was literally a WordDoc) but they should absolutely all accept PDF copies of official transcripts. That way, we only have to buy one copy for ourselves - I really think that's quite reasonable. I also wish some schools were more clear about the portals- like, some of the portals need 24 hours to "compute" the grad school application before you can upload supplementary materials. So, if one submits the grad school application on the day its due and the supplemental stuff the next day, does it count? I'm not sure. I don't know.

Not a R/C person, but CMU has capped the Lit program to 3 PhDs this year (and it sounded to me like they've been doing that for a while) - I'd guess that they've done that with the R/C PhDs? Apologies if I'm totally off on that, lol.

Congrats!!!!

And congrats to all the OSUs, and Purdue, and Minnesota, and Oregon, and the Carnegie Mellon MA and Rhet/Comp PhD! If I missed anyone, I'm sorry - y'all are just too damn successful and it's all happening so fast! Also, CMU people - maybe be frands? And thanks, @Warelin!

Hi! Thanks! It was me - so the letter was dated the day I messaged y'all about my portal panic. It's from the grad school - no details on anything. I'm guessing I'll be emailed next by the dept and I'm gonna bet it won't be today/this weekend.

^this. I used to pick criticism the way I (still) pick wine bottles. The "ooooh, this is not what I was told to get but it looks INTERESTING" methodology. My long-suffering adviser found several nice ways of phrasing "why are you like this."

Nice! Yea, it is a good read. I didn't find myself agreeing with everything but (overall) found it fantastic that a scholar with his training/background is arguing so passionately for better teaching/education/university practices (given how "research-research-research!" things can get at times.) Also, his other book on how reading Jane Austen made him a better person is just lovely (I haven't read it but still, I love the idea.)

Regarding the "'if you have [read it], you probably don't get it' look. They're probably right!" THAT'S THE POINT! Who in their right mind is like, "Ah, yes, I have absorbed the entire text and now DFW speaks through me - by the way, I also don't understand why you sillies are struggling through Finnegan's Wake, it's just so oBVioUS." I motion to start our own DFW crew, where no one really knows what is going on but we're having a nice time.

Any time I'm out with friends and they use the selfie-function on their phones to check their makeup/hair/teeth, I make a faux pithy comment about their inability to develop past the Mirror Stage. No one ever laughs but me, but I laugh every time.

It's not trite! It's a great text! It also makes for a great conversation piece at bars/coffee shops AND doubles as a personal safety device since it is the approximate size and shape of a small log or brick.

A couple months ago, I read William Deresiewicz's Excellent Sheep - quite the manifesto, lol. Also read a few stories out of Haruki Murakami's Men Without Women short story collection - lovely as always with him. Top 3 favorites of all time: Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being, Lore Segal's Her First American, and DFW's Infinite Jest (I'm really just in the novel for Kate so I definitely bypass some parts in favor of following her.)

Wherever Willy is, I hope he hears this. But seriously - it's underrated and I'm glad I've a friend in (book) arms. Also, As I Lay Dying? A fan? I read it in undergrad - mostly a blur now, but I do recall "my mother is a fish." Quality line.

HI! Awkwardly smooshing into this conversation to say Light in August is especially fantastic. I'm not a Faulkner scholar outright but I looked at LIA in my BA thesis and one of my MA projects draws on A!A! (I do hemispheric/transnational American stuff) and I got really excited to see that you, too, love Willy Faulks!

Oh me, oh my. Thanks, @id_ot - will definitely fill up a few hours with this gem.

I think (according to the results forum) Delaware has been a late Jan/early Feb school? Could hear middle of next week!

This is now the only I want to check email, hahaha. Are you guys reading anything fun? I'm halfway through Neal Stephenson's Seveneves and it's been enticing enough to keep my mind away from all things email/portal/electronic. God knows what I'll do when I'm done, lol.

YAAAS!!!

Thank you (and to everyone) - I ran out of upvotes (what a nutty system) BUT THANK YOU! Survived the phone call, lol - if I can do it, you all can!

Accepted to Carnegie Mellon's Literary and Cultural Studies PhD. When I stop shaking, I'll call back and let you all know what I find out!

Thank you! And omg, I know right? I should know better - this is par for the course in "Funny Things Grad Schools Do" land.

If you have an opportunity to take a class with Jim Phelan (i.e. if narrative theory fits anywhere in your wheelhouse) DO IT! He co-led the 2015 Project Narrative and he is SO COOL! And so smart! And just all-around a great guy. Angus Fletcher was the other faculty member that year - he's also wonderful and brilliant and fantastic AND THIS IS JUST SO EXCITING FOR YOU!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! WOO!!!

Thank you! I will definitely keep you in the loop - as soon as I hear something from someone, I'll email my friend and do some recon MAYBE WE CAN BE COHORT BUDDIES!

Thank you! Happy to help I'm excited to see where you get in and what your future work looks like! Bless you - I really appreciate you sharing that. I would not give up hope at all - my friend who is currently there mentioned them taking some time getting acceptances out (I don't think they do a mass-drop kind of thing.) If what I have is an acceptance, I'll try and figure out as much as I can and I'll let you know. Bahaha, th ... an .... k .... ummm. Thank. (Not thanks, not yet.)

True story - I read it and was like "either I'm accepted or I'm about to offer @FreakyFoucault a damn good shellack." Also - thanks for the positive thinking! And your interpretation,@punctilious! And thanks @WildeThing!! I'll keep ya'll looped - gonna be a long 24 hours.