darthzaphod

Well I had to take my proficiency test in a language I haven't started learning yet (I'm doing beginners Turkish) so the best I could do was say "hello" and recite the Turkish alphabet for her. Embarrassing. But I had to remind myself: beginner's Turkish. I'm not *expected* to know anything yet Still though, totally crappy to be tested on something you know zilch about!

Hey! I figured it'd be helpful if I updated everyone whenever I heard things about CLS. I got an e-mail Monday informing me of the city I'd be in for Turkish studies - Bursa. Yay! Off the beaten path, so to speak Anybody else gotten any specifics like this? Included in the e-mail was an attachment with forms I had to send back, including a written letter to my future host family. -Katie

Hi all! I'll be starting at Minnesota Fall 2010 doing my PhD in English Lit (Medieval/Renaissance British). I'm coming from Nebraska, so I'm *sort of* ready for the weather, but I've heard horror stories, and after this winter...ugh. I just don't know if I can handle any more cold and snow. I'd love advice on living in the city with a small dog. I have to find a dog-friendly apartment, preferably with a park nearby. I'm really excited to live in Minneapolis; I have a lot of friends that live there, and I've heard it's a wonderful city! And all this business about having city-wide WiFi for 20 bucks a month?! NICE!! -Katie

I'm finishing my MA at Nebraska as we speak, just so you know where I'm coming from... Nebraska admits a LOT more PhDs than they fund. There's always the opportunity to reapply for funding in subsequent years, but initially they take in way more PhDs than they have the money for. I've heard rumors they admitted 20 creative writing PhDs this year and only funded two (rumors, mind you, but they're not much of a stretch). I do know people have heard about funding already. There's some bad blood going around in the building, actually, because none of the MAs who came in funded got funded for PhD. Hope that provides some answers...good luck!

Also, they weren't specific about funding. Just said I was, and that details would come in the mail.

I was called March 4th by Professor Sprengnether at U of M. She left a voicemail - acceptance, offered funding, mentioned recruitment weekend visit. I think you guys are right about the pool being really small - the mass e-mails I'm getting from them now regarding visiting campus during recruitment weekend are only Cc'd to six, maybe seven other people. I got super lucky. I have a prof I want to work with at U of M that was the perfect fit for me. I think when it came to that department, my SOP was my strongest bit. Certainly wasn't my GRE scores, I'll say that. Good luck to the wait listers!

I applied for the beginning Turkish program and was accepted. I honestly credit my acceptance with the fact that I have something quite specific in mind, a scholarly pursuit, that I want to use the language for and made the case that essentially, nobody else is doing what I want to do and *someone* should be. In other words, I made it sound urgent. I'm very pleased to have been accepted, though I'm curious if anyone has anything to say about the whole "beginning" title. I literally know NOTHING about Turkish right now. Nothing. Surely that's OK if I want to do beginning Turkish?