bumbleblu

For kindly non-ac people/friends/family, I've switched from version (1) "I focus on transnational identity formation at the intersections between contemporary Caribbean and 20th- and 21st century American literature" to version (2)  "so, you know how you have a story you tell about yourself and your life? And maybe a story or two about your family - where you all came from and whatnot? I look at how people tell those kinds of stories about themselves and others through books."
No one has ever knew what to do with version 1 but version 2 seems to go over OK with everyone who is not hip to the things. One time, my mom's friend cautiously offered up a book she had read for her book club as a kind of "I have read a book in which a person discusses their identity" and I was like, "yes. good. yes. brilliant. you got it."
For the science people, I like to tell them that they do research and we do scholarship. At which point, many are like "so that is the same thing?" And I'm like "no, n00b, it is not. I am a scholar - I scholate things. You merely research them. Leave me to my books." If I have a book at hand, I toss it to them and say "you figure it out because, honestly, I'm not sure."
For the drunk uncles - honestly, I just double down. They're always like "you're never gonna get a job" at which point I remind them that "where I'm going, I don't need jobs."

@a_sort_of_fractious_angel I just read your signature line with ALL OF THAT GREEN. You are on fire!

Congratulations!!

Wowww I love waking up to all this good news! Congrats to  @Elle Coronaria, @Yanaka, @unicornsarereal, @more.truly.more.strange, @Wabbajack, and any others I (probably) missed! 

Wowww I love waking up to all this good news! Congrats to  @Elle Coronaria, @Yanaka, @unicornsarereal, @more.truly.more.strange, @Wabbajack, and any others I (probably) missed! 

Real late to the party re: the MAPH but, as someone who did an unfunded MA, the duration of the MAPH program is arguably (very) concerning.
There are 1,000+ good reasons not to do an unfunded MA - I fully understand many of them having now experienced one. There are 1,000,000,000 reasons not to do an unfunded MA that lasts 2 semesters and is rigorous in coursework. 
Going into debt for what is two blinks of an eye in the academic world is high-risk. Doable? Sure, I had a peer who did the MAPH and (after taking a year off) got into several top 10 PhD programs. But, as @la_mod correctly points out, no MA program, no matter how fancy, guarantees anything - I had no offers when I applied during my MA and it was devastating.
I did, of course, have debt. Great. Yes. Love it. *knuckles turn white*
However, I also had two years of grad school under my belt and 3 reputable professors who remembered me when I emailed them a year and half after graduation (our MA was small - 12 people - so connections were easily made and grown over those 2 years.)
Since I didn't do the MAPH, I can't prove anything about it but I really don't know if, had my MA been 9 months, my professors would have ever remembered my name much less spent months helping me revise the WS and SOP, and (now) with PhD decisions. 
All to say, don't do debt. If you do debt, do not pay for a name and a whirlwind tour - pay for time and intellectual growth and thoughtful advisers and professional connections that will last beyond the time you're there, as all of these things just might - MIGHT - get you into a PhD. And only do that if you've got a financial plan that works.
Moreover, I have a friend who did a funded MA from a "no name" school who ended up at UPenn, so - not to hate on the unfunded MA people since I'm one of you - but, like, there's a lot of options out there .... 
Moving on from this rant. 
I'm gonna yell "BOooOOOO" at my computer for the rest of the week. This is too much. 

Too bad: I hear TU has a decent Russian Studies program... 
X-)

YES! Be careful, though, as it can backfire. The magic 8 ball also told me I had to be the one to do the dishes tonight...

Harold Bloom fucking sucks

I know I haven't been on here until recently but just thought I would put it out there that my partner got accepted to University of Denver! And I heard back from my POI's yesterday that I am unofficially in! It's such a relief to know we have at least both gotten into one of our school's together.

I’m in, y’all. Thanks to everyone who coached me through one or two uncharacteristic meltdowns. I’m a tad bit ashamed of my doom & gloom behavior, so I’m not going to specify where. It was my first choice program and I plan to accept. Thanks to all the first rate humans on this forum! ❤️

Yesssssss!!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you!! Can't wait to hear the good news about Northwestern!

DELAWARE JUST EMAILED HUSBAND AND IS TRYING TO CALL HIM!

Got accepted into Pittsburgh last night, my top choice, and promptly drank several glasses of wine!
Congrats to everyone!!

Congrats!!!!

Congrats to everyone who heard good news yesterday!!!!!

Same. After my rotten luck two years ago, I was wary of applying to certain schools, so I applied to programs that I liked and felt like good fits, but nothing that felt like too much of a reach. And I really wasn't expecting being able to have a choice. I'm sure I'll be happy wherever I end up (though as you say, there are some cities I would prefer over others), but choosing has its own difficulties. 

Yep, I'm pretty much hoping that somehow, between now and April, things will become clear and the choice will be easy (or easier). We'll see!

Yeah, I know I'm quite fortunate, and that has obviously made this waiting way less awful. 
I'm not sure I have a top choice (perhaps I did this whole application this wrong?) -- I feel equally interested in all these programs, but for different reasons. So really, I shouldn't making any decisions (even hypothetically) until I know what's what. 
 

Just saw this on the admissions board - loved it.
 

Congratulations on this and your interview!!!!!!!!
Congratulations!! Sending good vibes so you find your way off the waitlist!!

Best wishes for your interview!! And for the responses from the rest of your schools!
I was accepted at Madison, and that was the only rhet/comp program I applied to. 

Yup. Two dogs and a cat, actually. Oh, and a husband and kiddo. So maybe it doesn't count ?
Really though, I can't imagine not having my puppers with me during grad school. They're very supportive of my academic endeavors.

Congrats, @M(allthevowels)H and @FreakyFoucault!!!!!! 
I am late to this party, but..... I also got accepted to Rice!! Couldn't return the DGS's call since I was at work and almost nobody in my office knows I'm applying to PhD programs... but I am very excited! I've visited Rice before for a grad symposium and I adore their department.

I got accepted to Stanford . I’ll call Northwestern back this weekend. 
I’m melting guys.