Daenerys

I so hope you are right. I am wasting SO much time panicking about not getting in! Only a couple of us in my MA program are planning to get PhD's. A shut out would be soooooo embarrassing, not to mention the necessity of starting this whole process over again.

Me! Going insane, one click of the refresh button at a time...

I am dying to do that but so far have not given in to temptation. Did you hear back?? There are a couple of acceptances and rejections posted in results for the schools to which I applied, but not enough of them that I am certain of an implied rejection. Sigh. The anxiety is killing me.

I applied to six schools. My applications are all complete. The portals all state that my applications are "pending" or "in review." I would gladly go to Waitlist Purgatory at this point just to make sure I am not imagining that I applied anywhere!!! Uggggggggh. Vent over. Thank you for your consideration. ;-)

If so, how did that affect your choice of programs?? To answer my own question, I started my MA program as a burned out attorney, but fortunately my hubby is gainfully employed and supported my decision to commute to a school 45 minutes away for my MA. Unfortunately, that also means that I have limited options for my PhD programs. Lucky for me, I was able to apply to five programs not too far away that are strong in my chosen field. Anyway, I know that I can’t possibly be the only parent perusing this forum. Speak up and we can help each other!!

Hi! Thanks!! Glad to know I’m not the only one either!! I am a kept woman and hubbys job enables me to pursue my education and not live like a total pauper (like we did in law school), so moving is not in the cards for us until I finish my PhD. If it were, I would have applied to more schools. My kids and hubby are really supportive though. I graduate in May with my MA and they are really excited for me. I was gong to ask about your kids but I think I will start a new thread and ask everyone!!

I did mean that but didn’t catch the typo until it was too late to edit it. ??

I had wanted to come here and freak out with everyone else but I was too busy getting my apps in and taking finals in my MA program!! Glad to hear I am not the only one! My applications are all in! I feel good about my SOP and writing sample, though my writing sample is only 11 pages (some schools requested 15). It's the introduction to my Master's thesis, which is still incomplete, so I did not want to add the next chapter-- it would have put me over the page limit for some programs, and I am in the midst of a major rewrite of it. I don't know what the programs will think, but hopefully if the sample is too short, I will still have a decent shot. Overall I think my application is pretty strong: I have another advanced degree, a 4.0 in my English MA program (3 semesters in), and verbal/writing GRE scores above the 90th percentile. What do you think?? I applied to Rhet/Comp programs at: University of Illinois, Perdue, St. Louis University, Tennessee, and SIU. I am married with children and didn't want to stray far from the midwest. Anyone else applying to those programs??? Keeping my fingers crossed for all of you!

My understanding is, as long as you have a 160 V or higher, a combined score of 300 or higher, and a 5 or better on the writing portion, you will be in good shape for the competitive programs.

I am in a similar boat- my family situation means that I will be applying in one geographic area. I have 5-6 schools where I can apply, but not all will be a great fit, and some are more reputable than others. Keeping my fingers crossed that it works out well for both of us!

I would ask as many MA professors as possible to write letters for you. They know your capacity to do graduate level work. Applications I have seen are due between Dec. 1 and Jan 4 (ish). If you do a good paper early in a course you could ask that prof to write the recommendation.

Wow! Thank you all for the responses! I have been busy with finals in my MA program and just stopped by today not knowing that this thread had become so large! I wanted to directly address and agree with the comment above. In my MA program we are required to take a course in visual rhetoric and a course in linguistics. I have done some research into alternative texts and am interested in doing more. What do rhetorical figures that encompass sound-- alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance, rhyme-- mean to someone who can't hear? How does experimental play with words on the page affect someone who is blind? Last year, I read a short story (and it's driving me crazy that the name escapes me!) that had one main narrative, with an alternative narrative printed in small type in the margins. The two working together gave more meaning to the piece than either would have been alone or written in sequence. The whole thing kind of blew my mind, as it is totally outside the realm of our traditional linear definition of a "text" and got me wondering what else is out there adds meaning in unexpected ways.

The thread about languages for a Victorianist got me thinking about my own language test. Has anyone ever heard of fulfilling the language requirement by using American Sign Language? I know some, as a good friend of mine is deaf, and it's related to my research area, which is disability studies (20th Century American lit). Thoughts?? I am not "fluent" in sign language but I could get there pretty quickly with tutoring from my friend. I think I could become competent in it a lot faster than I could in German, which I skated through in undergrad, and which is only relevant to my field to the extent that I could read about Hitler's eugenics program. (Ugh.) Thanks!

I think these two bits of advice will prove quite invaluable. THANK YOU!

Thanks for all the advice. I intend to study for it this summer, focusing on British Lit (I dug out all my Norton Anthologies from undergrad). I am focused on 20th Century American Lit so, while I do love Chaucer, Milton, and Shakespeare, they are not forefront in my knowledge base. Only two of the programs to which I am applying required it last year, so a phase out of the test would be VERY welcome from my perspective.

Hey all you experienced GC'ers-- a question for you. I am ready to register for the GRE Lit in English subject test, but when I went to the website, the fall dates were not up yet. They usually offer it in April, September, and October, right? Does anyone have any idea as to when the new dates will be up? Or, better yet, can I take this as a sign that they are phasing out the test? I am currently in an MA program, with a teaching assistantship. My fall coursework and teaching schedule is set so it's time to register for the general GRE, the Lit in English test, and to think about the time frame for my fall applications. Any insights would be appreciated! Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who replied. I really appreciate your taking the time to help me! I will look into what is legal regarding my name-- undergrad transcripts are in my unmarried name, grad transcripts (MA) are in my married name so I will have to figure out how to handle that (and hopefully not offend my husband).

I have been in the news in the past, and my history is a little controversial. Should I assume that admissions officials will google me? Should I embrace the news stories in my SOP as part of the narrative of how I got to where I am now? Or should I apply under the name I used before I got married an pretend it never happened? I worry that past publicity will keep me from being admitted. (Note: I have not committed a crime or been convicted of anything! My past activity is more... political.)

Starting with Step 2, this is pretty much my plan too, and my preference is also for 20th Century American Lit, though Lit Crit is my preferred major field of study. I am in the second semester of my first MA, though I have another advanced degree. I started out my MA program thinking I was into rhetoric and writing, but now that I am here I am 100% committed to lit crit. I wasn't required to take the GRE for admission to my current program, so I have yet to take it. I plan to take the general test once in the summer and again in September. Only one or two of the schools that interest me require the Lit in English test, but I plan to take that in September, October, or both. I was contemplating taking an online summer class, just for fun, but I am now thinking that I will focus on the GRE and finishing up the research for my Master's Thesis.

I am in an MA program and will be applying for a PhD this Fall. I have yet to take the GRE and am studying for both the general and Lit tests. I am a little older than most students, and I already have an advanced degree in another field. I am planning to stay in the Midwest as I have a family and a husband with a job. ;-) Looking forward to going through this process with all of you!