JustPoesieAlong

Oh, wait, maybe I don't understand what this means. Your program doesn't let you work during the semester? I've done some freelance editing work since graduating. My first couple of gigs, I massively undercharged and hated myself. It's a sort of a tricky business since people don't always understand what goes into making written work shine. But now that I've got a little better idea of the details, I have been thinking about pushing for more freelance gigs to supplement my stipend.

I'm soooo over my current job and just wanna tell everyone "Bu-bye! Imma get a PhD, sukahs!" Buuut I'm not moving until June/July and definitely need the money until then. I'm dreaming of when I get to tell my supervisor I'm out. In the meantime, one good thing is that all of the things that I've been getting out of shape over at work matter a heck of a lot less to me now. I'm just clocking in, doing what I can, and clocking out. In a few months I won't give a rip about the flaws in the system around here. (Funny enough, I was just nominated to be on a committee that basically gives opinions on what can be done better...) As for family, we're slowly but surely letting everyone know. We told my in-laws earlier this week. They didn't take it super well because we'll most likely be moving even further away, but they've only visited us once in the five years since we moved away the first time anyway. I'm bracing to tell my grandma, who was really hoping we'd move closer to home. I'm really trying to prepare myself for making little money again. We had juuuust started earning grown up money (not much, but we were comfortable). It's going to be a challenge to go back to clutching pennies like we did when I was in my master's program.

Hi, all. I'm considering moving my family to the Chapel Hill area to pursue my PhD, and my main concern right now is regarding the public schools and day care situations. Where we live (CH or surrounding areas) will depend largely on where my husband can get a job, but I'm guessing we'll be in either Durham or Chapel Hill. Does anyone here have any recommendations or advice regarding daycares (for a 3 year old) and public schools (for a 9 year old)? Thank you!

@maengret Not during the regular semesters, but I will more than likely try to find something for the summers. If there's an opportunity to teach or RA during the summer, I'll definitely try for that first. If that's not a possibility, I'll probably need to look for some part time work to have some money to help with summer bills. :/

I would very much appreciate something of this nature as well!

I think it's a great question! Sorry for swinging in uninvited!

I didn't apply to UT-Austin, but as a fellow early modernist, I hear great things about it all the time. Rankings, from my understanding, are somewhat arbitrary, but even still, UT is within the top 20 for English grad programs. I hardly think you'd be sabotaging your career by going there!

Thanks! I think this was one of those things I "knew" but need to hear it from others to calm my nerves. UGA has such spotty coverage on the results board that I can't figure out what to expect.

I think this has been asked before, but at what point would you email a school for more information regarding an acceptance? I discovered yesterday that UGA updated my portal to show an offer of admission, but I haven't heard a peep (not even a notification of the change in app status). I'm not even sure when it changed since I stopped checking earlier last week. Is it too early/obnoxious to email the department to see when I can expect more info?

I'm heading to Texas A&M the first week of March for their recruitment event, then UNC-Chapel Hill for their open house the first week in April. I'm waiting for more details from UNC about hotels and travel reimbursement (if they even do it). I had been hoping my husband could tag along to Carolina so he could get a feel for the area while I do the school stuff, but reading past posts here, I think I may be asked to share a room with other prospective students. Hoping to hear more soon. I'm nervous that I committed a faux pas with one of my schools though; maybe folks here could either give me some reassurance that I'm overreacting or some tips to smooth it over? The main events for this school's recruitment event take place on Friday, and they suggested we arrive on Thursday. They will reimburse up to a certain (generous) amount for travel, including hotel costs and airfare. I booked my flight to arrive Thursday evening. Because I have family in the area, I thought I would spend some time Saturday with them and fly out on Sunday. I would stay with family Saturday night so as not to have an additional night at the hotel. My plane ticket was round-trip and the extra day didn't change the price that I know of. All in all, the cost of hotel and air fare should be right at what they offered to cover. I mentioned to my POI my plans to depart Sunday, but I didn't think to also say I'd be staying with family that extra night. I haven't had any response from her and I've got this looming anxiety that they think I'm trying to swindle the department for extra money. Should I email her this information--even though it's been at least a week since I sent her my travel plans? Or am I worrying over nothing?

Seriously. Bug off if you don't like it, dude. I've really valued my interaction here. It gave me an outlet to focus my energy while waiting and nearly every encounter I've had here has been positive and encouraging.

Thank you! Congrats to you as well.

Got into University of Georgia! I think, anyway. No email, just an update on the portal that says "Offer of admission." The user who got an error from U-Mich breaks my heart and awakens all my worst fears! I'm so scared of getting an email that says, "Oops, sorry, not you. Our bad."

Hi there! Some schools do interviews before they decide on admissions, so those of us who didn't get invited to interview for, say, Emory, can pretty much assume we're rejected. I believe most other "implied rejections" are going off of information on the results board (i.e., have notifications gone out, how have they gone out historically, etc.).

@themoderncondition You and I seem to be in similar life positions. My husband and I have been together for about 10 years and have two children--9 and 2. My husband is very supportive, but he's also super apprehensive. We're going to need to sell our house and move across state lines with very little money saved up beforehand. I wish I could have stayed nearby so we wouldn't have to pick everything up and leave. We're really hoping he's able to transfer his job, but it's going to be a little bit before we find out the status there. In the long run, I know we'll be okay, but I know the next two or three years will be a big struggle. I'd love to hear more about ways you're finding to supplement your income, because I'm going to need to do the same. I don't know yet about working through summer, but I'll definitely be looking into it. I'm hoping my program offers some opportunities for summer funding, but I don't know that they do. :/

I call all my professors from my MA program by their first names, but it's been SO DIFFICULT to call my undergrad profs, even those I'm Facebook friends with, by their first names. I guess it's just about the different styles of interaction between undergrad and grad, but it's still so weird to me.

Damn, @mads47, you put my answer to shame!

No worries at all. The way I'm using it, early modern refers to a general period of study--roughly 15th century to 18th.

Oh wow. That sounds intensely cool. I had wondered if you were early modern when I saw your user name. If you don't mind me asking, what schools have you applied to/heard back from? (Feel free to PM me if you'd rather).

Wow, I'm sorry I didn't see the updates here! Good to hear from other early modernists. Congrats on your acceptances, @colin_cloute and @RK092089! I too have been fascinated by Donne's generative verse; it's, at least in part, the focus of my master's thesis.

Thank you for sharing! Did you talk to someone in the department?

Okay. Totally new territory. I'm almost certain I know where I'm going. But I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm in a state of disbelief. I've got the offer letter from my top choice in my bag and keep taking it out to confirm it's real. I'm still afraid they're going to contact me and tell me it was an error.

Thank you, @klader! I'm still waiting on UGA. It's later than they've notified in the last couple of years. There's a creative writing track up, but I think they notify at different times, Also waiting of waitlist movement. Pretty confident Emory is a bust since I didn't get invited to interview.

Okay, awesome! Just wanted to be sure I didn't mess up your work!

@Warelin Was it your intention that we update entries for our schools with the 2018 funding packages?