ashley623

How many schools is everyone applying to?

I want to pursue an MA that's a little more flexible and interdisciplinary -- the other six programs have the option to concentrate on rhet/comp and some allow creative writing classes as well, all while also taking lit classes. I'm more interested in rhet/comp than lit, and this program I thought had broader options, but after looking at the handbook, I realized it's really strictly lit-based.

So...the reason I left my 7th app for last because I've really gone back and forth on the school. Rereading the graduate student handbook today, I've kind of come to the conclusion that the program would just not be a good fit for me. Feel weirdly nervous about taking it off the list, and applying to just six schools instead of seven, but trying to remind myself that it's really not a program I think I would do well in, even if I were to be accepted.

Submitted 6 out of 7 apps -- will submit the other tonight or tomorrow. Have letter writers sending letters in, and had one school even notify me to say they had begun reviewing my application. It's getting real!

Yes, I've only applied to programs with good funding. I'm feeling confident again about applying to programs that are only MA. Also, even though this is ironic because I recently broke up with my boyfriend so that I wouldn't have any baggage when moving away, I would really like to find a partner and have children in the next 5+/- years; it's a huge desire of mine, much bigger than a PhD right now, so I'm happy with my decision to only pursue the MA at this stage in my life.

So, this morning I wake up from an email to my prof saying she's sorry and she tried to submit it earlier but there was a glitch and it was now in. She also thanked me for a card I left her and asked for my mailing address so she could send me a gift. Also had another email from my school that my transcripts have been sent, including to me. It's a Christmas miracle!

Thanks everyone. I'm trying not to stress about it, but I also have an app due Dec 30 and two on Jan 5, all of which I need this specific letter writer for. Additionally, my school seems like it won't be able to get my final transcript to me in time for these deadlines, so I've emailed all the grad schools explaining the situation and asking if I can upload an unofficial screenshot of my transcript instead, so I'm just a bit stressed out right now. I truly don't feel this was on me, either -- I requested the transcript from my school very far in advance, but I called today and the (sole) employee got snippy with me saying she probably couldn't get it done until mid-January.

One of my letter writers still hasn't submitted my letter (status says she started it yesterday) and it was due the 15th. I just graduated from college, and she saw me in class last Tuesday and said she had the draft done and was getting ready to submit it. She also saw me on Friday at school (the day it was due), and on Saturday (my graduation), and we are even friends on Facebook. I know this is an extremely busy time for professors, but I'm a little miffed and just hope the school is understanding about the later letter.

Thank you, everyone. @mk-8, that's pretty much exactly how I feel. Purdue in particular has a PhD program I'm interested in that's 30 hours of coursework, and they require an MA first. I'm going with my gut on this one and just going to stick to the MA programs. Whew.

I am graduating from my undergrad this week, and strictly applying to terminal MA programs. My reasons for this are: -I feel like I could be a more competitive PhD candidate if I earn my MA first -The prospect of committing to five/six more years of school immediately is daunting -I'm only applying to out-of-state programs, and I'm not sure I would want to live in a new place for that long in case I don't like it -I want to more narrowly define my research interests while earning my MA before committing to a PhD -(perhaps most obviously) some of the PhD programs I'm interested require a separate MA degree first However, I've had a few people think I should just be going straight for my PhD. What did everyone else do, and why?

Another app DONE. (Pending my recommenders submitting their letters, and my schools mailing their transcripts...) But ugh, I could kick myself. I reread and did some light editing on my writing sample and I mixed up a character's name like, three times. I already sent the old sample into a school with an earlier deadline. Wth. Ugh. At least it wasn't my absolutely favorite school, but still. I feel embarrassed. Hopefully the adcoms aren't super familiar with that work? :/ At least I noticed it before I sent out any more apps...

One of the schools I'm applying to has an option to submit a CV 'if your program requires it.' I have reread the program requirements about five times, and it does not mention a CV at all; I will, however, be submitting a CV with my GTA application, as requested. But should I also attach one on the app itself, even though the program doesn't specify? The program didn't even mention a SOP, but I went ahead and attached that.

I didn't want to because my official transcript won't be ready until the 13th and it will raise my GPA, but the app is due the 15th and that was just too close for comfort. I went ahead and indicated my GPA will rise in the app itself, but this school is on the bottom half of my order of preference, so I guess it's not a hugeee deal.

Just submitted my first application. I've been feeling that I'm not ready because of the constant need to revise my writing samples, but I knew I needed to just get this first one in.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Like we talked about, even the MA programs that advertise themselves as just rhet/comp actually have you talk an equal (or almost equal) amount of literature classes, haha. Guess it'll be the two shorter papers!

@a_sort_of_fractious_angel Both. The literary analysis is the one I showed you, about ten pages, and the rhetorical analysis is only about seven places. Every single MA program I'm applying to is either specifically rhet/comp OR has the option to take classes/do a concentration in rhet/comp. Since I don't have a longer paper specifically in the field of rhet/comp, my prof advised submitting shorter papers of each. Just stressful. Gah. Actually, after presenting my (undergrad) senior thesis in front of all of the English faculty the day before yesterday, my professors believed that the section of visual rhetoric in my thesis was interesting and my advising professor even suggested that I expand/morph my thesis a little bit to focus more on visual rhetoric (the entirety of the thesis is about young marriage). So, I'm doing that, and I think I could perhaps get away with only using this longer (20 pg) thesis as my only writing sample, but it just worries me a little bit to not have a literary analysis at all when applying to MA English programs in which I will be taking lit classes. Thoughts? I'm meeting with one of my letter writers next week to get her opinion (the one who originally suggested two samples).

Is anyone using more than one writing sample? I'm applying to MA programs and submitting both a literary analysis and a rhetorical analysis, as per the advice of one of my profs. I see the point of it, but I'm kind of feeling it's double the stress right now. Agh.

I am applying to a mixture of rhet/comp and English programs, so it's definitely given attention to for me. Didn't get a six, but still happy with it. Congratulations!

Unfortunately, this was only a practice GRE and I feel the graders were a bit lenient, haha! I scored lower on the real one and higher on the verbal on the real one, so I guess it evens out!

Wow, this was an awesome post - thank you. I think my mom thought I wasn't serious at first, and she had a bit of a shock when she found out I'm not applying to any grad schools in my home state. She's said a few times that she worries for me, which only heightens my own doubts and anxieties (I will be the first of her children to move away, and I'm still relatively young I guess). I also really thought I'd want to move somewhere several months before the start of school, but other posts on here have strictly said not to do that so I will definitely just hang out for a while longer here.

Thanks everybody for your kind words. My family actually has been driving me insane much of the time lately, so I'm actually somewhat grateful for that since it will make leaving easier, haha. I'm just trying to remember that going somewhere new on my own will be good for me, and I'll hopefully make some good friends that will replace the feeling of the need to be around currently familiar faces.

I've seen a lottt of mixed answers. I did some coursework for two years at a community college, but didn't get a degree there. All of my credits from there are shown on my transcript where I will be graduating. Do I need to submit a transcript from the CC as well? Just finished a draft of a SOP for another school on my list; took me some mulling over, but I'm actually pretty dang proud of it and it makes me want to go to that school even more. Nothing like grad school apps to make you put your hopes, dreams, goals, and interests into 500 words or less.

I got a 156V and 151Q, if it makes you feel any better (still waiting on writing scores). I'm only applying to MA programs, and I did email a few because I was worried. One of the programs essentially told me it's the last thing they consider and to not worry much about it Another very good program told me they're just looking for people in the 50+ percentile, and yet another said 70+ percentile. So, while I, too, would like my score to be better, I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you're applying to Columbia or something.

I am a 22-year-old undergrad who is graduating in three weeks and applying for MA programs for Fall 2018. My entire life, I have always lived with either my dad or my mom and at least one sibling. The past two years, I have lived with my dad, sister, and two-year-old niece because my university is only twenty minutes from my house. All of my programs I am applying to are out-of-state in locations I don't know anyone -- some states, I haven't even been to! I am serious about moving; a huge reason I broke up with my boyfriend and strictly decided not to pursue any relationship whatsoever is because I don't want to be tied down here. I've lived in my current location for nearly my entire life, and am really discontent with it -- I absolutely know I don't want to live here forever. Most of my family will be moving away in the next few years, anyway. Even though the prospect of going somewhere new is very exciting, I'm also somewhat nervous. Sometimes I fall into the trap of feeling lonely, and am afraid to be so far from anyone I know. I will be taking my dog with me as well as my horse (although might wait a semester before shipping him up). Has anyone else felt like this when moving away for the first time to a totally new place? Any tips for dealing with the anxieties of it?

Coming your way!