Oklash

I am thinking the same about Emory. I'm starting to suspect that there will be no interviews this year.

I am losing my mind over these pending applications! I've seen rejections and acceptances for both Cornell and Duke but my application status hasn't budged and my email is as quiet as a mouse. If it's a rejection, just rip the bandaid off!

Maybe the forum should add a time accepted. I see updates for Cornell via phone but its like 6am where I live ?. Imagine getting a call from DGS that early

Its perfectly fine! You were still a full time student But just in case you still want to take it slow in grad school: A full time grad student is usually around 9 hours. But sometimes departments have contingency plans in place where you could do “independent study” for credit hours. It was basically a space holder with an understanding that you’d be using some of that time for study. Classes like that may extend the length of your overall coursework. But see if your university has something similar!

I’n resisting the urge to buy a new work bag because I only have acceptance so far. But I want it so badly!!

I got an acceptance from UW-Madison at 7:15pm! It may have been automated but definitely after 6pm

The schools I applied to are a bit off track. Emory hasn’t sent out interviews and are a bit behind. So id Duke. And WSU said that they are delayed and have yet to even get the applications from the office of graduate studies. It’s entirely understandable. This is the first application of its kind. Many schools have closed and we are one year in a global pandemic. I would expect them to be behind! it’d be surprising if they wern’t

Wait? Has the English Department decision been made or only the Literature?

Has anyone heard from Emory? They usually interview but so far I’ve heard nothing. Not even an invitation? I’m starting to fear that they are considering closing their admissions.

I'm a disability studies scholar and an applicant for English PhD programs. I have a Master's in English as well. I'm posting this because I had a hard time find disability studies scholars/programs and want to provide a list for those who are also looking (or will be looking)! I'm also procrastinating and not grading the essays for the classes I am currently adjunction but let's just chalk that irresponsibility up to nerves. I don't mean for this list to be comprehensive, rather I hope to start a forum and ask for additions to the Disability Studies List. I also want you all get an idea of what you should look for in an English Disability Studies program. (Or at least what I think you should look for in an English/Disability Studies Program.) This list is heavily influenced by the 2021 application season! That means that I probably missed many of the universities that did not accept applications this year. Anyway, add more schools and tips to this thread! And if your are a disability scholar, we can just chat too. Emory - Rosemarie Garland-Thomas is here. But there are plenty of other disability scholars. Emory also has the Disability Studies Initiative which is a program with an interdisciplinary reach. The program's director is from the english department http://www.disabilitystudies.emory.edu/home/index.html http://www.english.emory.edu/home/graduate/ University of Wisconsin - Madison - Dr. Sami Schalk, a black disability feminist scholar resides here, however she is a Women's and Gender Studies professor. But the university also has a Disability Studies Initiative and other disability scholars. There are plenty of ways to engage with disability studies during your graduate experience. But one of the most interesting things about UW-Madison is that they offer a PhD minor. If you are getting a PhD in another department or field, you can "minor" in any other field and use it for disability studies. In English, you can minor in gender studies to gain access to Schalk or you can just ask to work with Schalk directly. They are very nice. (I am 99% sure I screwed my own application up. I didn't realize till after I submitted that Schalk was not in the English department so I probably look like an idiot. I assumed she was a literary scholar based on her publications and CV. Don't be like me.) https://guide.wisc.edu/graduate/english/english-phd/ https://english.wisc.edu/graduate-program/phd-minor/ GW - George Washington University - Robert McRuer is a big faculty name for disability studies. Johnathan Hsy is also extremely interesting. But the university has a good Crip/Queer Theory concentration for the english Phd. (I am pretty sure that I also looked silly in this application. I am still unsure as to whether it's "George Washington University" or just "George Washington.") https://english.columbian.gwu.edu/graduate https://english.columbian.gwu.edu/areas-strength Stanford - Ato Quayson is a black disability scholar and author of Aesthetic Nervousness - Disability and the Crisis of Representation. The English department doesn't have a huge disability studies program but their course work and growing disability studies faculty point towards an obvious interest. (I wish I could have applied here but I was out of money and way over budget :/) https://english.stanford.edu/academics/phd-program https://english.stanford.edu/people/ato-quayson Ohio State - There is a lot of Disability Studies faculty. I am afraid I do not recognize many of them but feel free to read the profiles. (They also have a Medical Humanities Master's (More on that later) (I wish I had applied here as well but alas, out of money!) https://english.osu.edu/graduate/ma-phd TIPS: Now that you have this many list, here are a few tips for assessing programs, writing your statements, and researching faculty Look at recent course work! Even if there is no solid disability studies programs, many universities offer quite a few courses on Disability. Look for those courses! Mention them in your statement. And if you see courses that are not about disability but could really benefit from it, mention that too. Overall, use coursework to gauge the department's interest in disability scholarship. Mention how you can be a part of that interest. If a program does have a disability studies initiative or even just an outreach program, include how you could be an addition to the initiative or the outreach as both a scholar and just someone willing to help out and be a part of it. Look for, and read!, recent dissertations. Dissertations from students, about disability, that were published in the last 5 years will give key insights on what disability phd students actually did during their time at the university. It is also a good way to figure out which faculty members helped with the project! Include these faculty members in your statement and if a dissertation really stuck out to you, mention that in your purpose as well. And a quick cheat for this tip, see if the scholar who wrote the dissertation has published anything else post graduation, that will also give you a sense of what grad study was like for a disability phd student at the particular school. Be specific with your academic scope. "Disability" is quite broad in an academic sense. So seek specific avenues of academic interest. (Black/African American Disability, Asian American Disability, Disability and Diaspora Studies, Renaissance Disability, Early Modern Disability, Neurodivergence, Narrative Prosthesis, Gothic Disability, Southern Gothic Disability, Disability in Theater.....I could go on all day. But have a specific academic interest for your disability scholarship.) Some programs are interested in social justice scholarship. They may not mention "disability" directly but it's your job to convince them that disability studies belongs in that social justice category! It is quite a small niche (in my experience) but some programs have faculty interested in the Medical and Health Humanities. Like social justice, it's your job to convince them disability studies belongs in such a category. And while you're at it, if you have never heard of Medical Humanities and it's intersection with Disability Studies, English, Literature, or Rhetoric, look into it! You may want to focus your attention on medical humanities or give yourself more options. Here's a Free/Open Access article on The Medical Humanities! (It's from the Association of American Medical Colleges.) Ohio State has a Medical Humanities and Social Sciences Terminal MA program. If you already have an MA and are applying to a Phd, look and see if the resources for the medical humanities can still help ! University of North Carolina has a terminal MA program too! If you are really interested in the Medical and Health Humanities, Stanford complied a list of Health Humanities Programs Some sad and not so nice tips: There are a few PhDs out there in Disability Studies. HOWEVER, be aware of the reality of academia and job potential. It may be very difficult to find a job with a doctorate in Disability Studies when relatively few schools have Disability studies programs. I would advise against these PhD programs. Your are better off finding a job as a "traditional" scholar with a disability concentration. This may change but for now ? BUT still apply to more english or other humanities programs! In your statement, mention your acknowledgment of the adjacent disability studies program and faculty. To clarify even further, still apply to these schools english PhD program but mention your interdisplenary interest in the neighboring disability studies field. Emphasize that your true interests lie in literature, theory, etc, but clarify that you are also interested in the prospective schools' proximity to disability studies. There is a very high chance that other faculty members or even peers won't be so nice. If you are in disability studies there is a chance that you, yourself, have a disability or are very familiar with the concept. In my experience, this has caused a lot of assumptions about me and my work. If you are disabled, you may be immediately outed. In my case, I have am neurodivergent with a learning disability that's evident in my CV and publication history. I do not know how committees view disability, but sometimes they may count your disability as a "weakness" and assume that it will make you less likely to complete the program. The good news is that if this is true, and you don't get in, then that program doesn't deserve you and did you a favor. If you have a disability don't feel as if you have to justify it in your statement. You do not have to cannibalize your existence or offer a "sob" story if you do not want too. Instead, use it as a way to exemplify your motivations and talk about how it shapes your perspective. Also, when you are a disability scholar, you may find yourself actively resisting flawed rhetoric or just plain ablism. It is highly likely that you'll face criticism or a misunderstanding with a superior. So if you are seeking disability scholarship, grow a tough skin and be very very brave. There will be advice that you have to reject, times where you have to throughly explain a basic concept, and instances where people say something incredibly mean...sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. Be very firm in your scholarship! (I could make a separate thread on universities NOT to go too and faculty to AVOID AT ALL COSTS! However, that would be in poor taste. If I could, though, I would!) Anyway, that's enough procrastination. I really hope I get into one of the school's I applied for! But maybe this will help other disability scholars. Be sure to add your suggestions, tips, or potential schools.

Quick update George Washington University’s English Graduate Program: I emailed them regarding my application and they were very cordial and incredibly friendly. But they have not even received the applications from the main graduate office ?! My toes are tied in knots and they haven’t even seen my application yet. I dont know whether to be happy or sad.

Quick update George Washington University’s English Graduate Program: I emailed them regarding my application and they were very cordial and incredibly friendly. But they have not even received the applications from the main graduate office ?! My toes are tied in knots and they haven’t even seen my application yet. I dont know whether to be happy or sad. —-hi i posted this in the wrong literary forum. But I’m pretty sure if the English Literature department has not recieved applications, many other departments haven’t either recieved thiers either

So what now? I put so much time into grad apps and decision making that now that i finally have a program and it’s finally past April 15th, I don’t know what to do with myself. It sounds silly but now I’m just listlessly waiting for fall to arrive :/. I’m reading up on discipline literature and working on language requirements but now that the excitement of the past few months has dwindled...I’m kind of bored. I feel kind of empty without any deadlines to meet, advice to seek or work to do. Oh well, I should probably just enjoy the down time while I can because I’m sure I will be singing a different tune when the responsibilities of grad school kick in

I know exactly what you mean. Most of my friends applied to phd programs with only one school in mind. They applied to backups but after they got into their one goal school they pretty much dropped all other options. They even cancelled interviews. These were not funded programs or ones with potential benefits like faculty, research and people of interest but still, I envy their ability to choose. Im glad you made the right decision

OH NOOOOO! I asked to visit a school soon after I was accepted in March but the director's response was somehow sent to my spam folder and I never saw it. I took the non-response as a sign of disorganization and little interest in me. I was really excited about the school but without meeting them in person, I didn't commit. Turns out my spam folder was just blocking their correspondence which is strange because that did not happen with other emails from the department. I feel like such a rude terrible person now. They offered me something and I did not respond. The deadline to make a decision is TOMORROW and I hate that I have to decline their offer after they offered me a visit and I didn't get the chance to take them up on that offer. I really hope they wont be too upset with me.

Many of my apps gave me till April 17th!

Thank you! i will contact them in June and I hope they will not have forgotten about me in that time! However there is also the chance that my rejection wasn’t “personal” but they just didn’t have enough space and I wasn’t the best fit. If that were the case, I don’t think that there would be much to “improve” upon. Especially since I’ll be getting an MA and will have a stronger application anyway. There’s always room for improvement but I can’t help but wonder why they held on to my application all they way till the 2nd week of April? Thanks for the advice

I applied to 5 PhD program. I was rejected from each program except for one. I’ve recently discovered that the application is still active?! I contacted the university to inquire about my status. They admitted that they do keep a few applications active and on reserve just for unexpected openings. The email was polite but I have no hope that those openings will appear or that they will actually lend an acceptance. This is fine as I will be going to an MA program but since I made it this far into thier application process, would it be appropriate to ask for feedback on my application? Could I ask what they liked/disliked? May I see the notes they wrote if any? Could I ask what would make my application stronger if I were to apply again in the next few years? Is this frowned upon? Does anyone has any experience with reaching out to schools from which they were rejected?

I have two grad school offers: School a: has a generous stipend with a low cost of living. The faculty is nice and the campus is beautiful though the town surrounding it is a bit dry & lackluster. This stipend is paid over 9 months which means I’m on my own during the summer. The school is also only 4 hours away which is a huge plus and I’ve found an apartment I LOVE! School b: has a stipend much lower despite being a bit more “prestigious.” But the stipend is paid over 12 months, funds summer classes and gives $1000+ travel funding. The campus is also a tad nicer with a more lively town life. The faculty is bigger but I’m not sure about “better” and the average class size is also larger. This school is 9 hours from where I live. I mention distance b/c Both are obly MA programs so whichever decision I make, it won’t be as permanent as a PhD program. So which should I choose? The school that’s close to home with a good stipend and great faculty? Or the school that’s more prestigious, offers summer funding and has a busier town life?

Do not make a decision right away. Take your time choosing and visit waitlisted schools too. Also, Waitlisted is not the same as rejected, so visit the school and don’t be afraid to ask how high/low you are on the list. If possible, don’t make a decision until each university has responded with a Yes or No. And if you do accept an offer, decline the others immediately Don’t wait till “you get a break,”’or “till tomorrow.” Do it as soon as possible For context, I was waitlisted for my number one school. But accepted at another. Once I visited the university I was accepted to, I loved it and the faculty so much , I accepted thier offer the following weekend. I even paid a deposit on an apartment. I didn’t have much faith in my waitlisted position. I then wrote a quick draft of my declining statement, believing that I could proof read it the next morning and send it. When I opened my email the next morning, I was greeted to 3 emails saying that I was taken off the waitlist for my #1 school and offered funding. The director also called to congratulate me and said that I was actually first on thier waitlist. This was just one day after I accepted another offer. If I had known how high I was on the waitlist, I would not have made my decision so soon. It’s been weeks and I still don’t know whether to fulfill my promise to the school I’ve already accepted or tell them I’ve changed my mind and go to another school. All of this could have been avoided if I had just taken my time. Dont commit to any school until at least April 1st.

I was unanimously rejected from almost 10 universities last year. So I took a gap year with the full intention of making it the “best gap year ever.” I had a volunteer position with Americorps Vista and was determined to travel and improve my spanish speaking skills. But after a month into the Vista program, i realized that the program wasn’t for me. I was not in a good place mentally and emotionally while the small living stipend only stressed me out even more so. I moved back home. I thought I could easily get a job with my newly earned degree but after countless interviews the only job I could find was at Verizon Wireless and the pay wasn’t worth the commute. My parents own a restaurant and after watching me struggle with grad school rejections, employment rejections, and dropping my volunteer program they made me move back in for good and take over the restaurant. I still wasn’t in a good place emotionally so they were very adamant about just working at the restaurant and not worry about anything else. So I’ve spent this year as a cook, server, manager, janitor etc. I don’t even get paid. The point Im trying to get at is that my gap year was the most unremarkable year I’ve ever had. I served pasta and fried chicken while working my way through Spanish children’s books. But I still think this year was incredibly successful. The break from school helped me realize how badly I wanted my PhD and career. It gave me time to reflect on what I wanted to do and put a lot of things in perspective. It was successful b/c I got to take a breather before jumping back into academia. The difference in my application was night and day. I’m fact, 4 of the schools that rejected me last year, admitted me for the upcoming fall semester. As for balancing work and application perpetration : you’d be suprised how much time you have when you’re not in school. A “regular” job/life leaves you with lots of down time, so use that time to figure out your interests, both academically and recreationally. Read some books, watch some Netflix, go to the gym!. If you have some schools in mind, find your people of interest, and read some of thier work. If you are still enrolled in a university, download or print thier research from academic journals while you still have access to it and a reliable library. Then take the next few months to read through it. I read the research of at least 3 ppl of interest for each school. For 10 schools, thats 30 people and multiple papers each! But i also used thier research to narrow my own research interests and form my own ideas. (I’m want to study American modernism and African Americans lit.) I also kept in contact with my advisor and sent him drafts of my statement and writing sample. I did all that and regularly worked on Spanish acquisition. My 9-5 job gave me lots of time to do so. So don’t worry too much about time. BUT make a plan early. You have lots of time but that time needs to be organized. Give yourself deadlines and stick to them. Make a budget too. The application season will be here again sooner than you think so you don’t have long to get everything as perfect as possible! So take a few weeks of down time and then get organized. Use your gap year to relax. You deserve it! And good luck next year!

Adding to what every one else has said. I am 22, almost 23, and will get my phd in English. The literary scene of Shakespeare and Milton isnt teeming with black women so I don't really "fit" the model either. I also identify as asexual too, so thats another strike against the standard of black femininity. So I don't really have any optimistic claims like "i've come to terms with it," or "maybe I'll find someone." In all honesty, I've just given up. I want to date and get married/have children but I know my chances are slim. But I also want to be a professor/researcher and that job does not have much in the way of location choice. More than likely I will have to follow my career. If my career calls for moving across the country, then I will have to move across the country. So the silver lining of my lack luster love life is that I do not plan on worrying about how a relationship will get in the way of that. This may not be the most encouraging response and I am sorry for that. But I don't mind my career being the sole purpose of my life. I am not trying to change the world but if i can just quietly research, teach, and present, I'd be happy. So dont worry about love. Its cool but it isnt the only thing.

This was a really hard decision for me. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was in elementary school, it has sense gone into remission with a good prognosis. But there have been many complications such as hypertension, two heart attacks, sleep apnea and kidney failure. My mother is doing very well but the road to recovery is long. I even joke about not drinking b/c my mom may need one of my kidneys though that may not happen any time soon. (She’s also vehemently against it) This past year in particular has been very difficult for my family and after finishing my undergrad, I took a year off to keep my mother’s restaurant open and afloat while she lived in various hospitals. The only reason I feel comfortable jumping back into academia is b/c my little brother has finished his undergrad and can handle everything while I’m gone. She should be well enough to live on her own in a few years time but you still never know when something may go wrong. I was accepted into a PhD program 11 hours from my home and a terminal MA 3.5 hours away from my home. It just so happened that the terminal MA had a larger stipend for incoming students. I also liked the campus and faculty better. But I would be lying if I said that the university’s proximity to my home didn’t influence my decision. In my case, perfect fit was close to home. And since it’s an MA, I have more time to gauge my willingness to move and flexibility in my research interests. It would be a dream to move some place far away for the sake of career and academia, but this moment just isn’t the right time. I want to be a Professor and academic and am prepared to go wherever it takes but I was lucky enough to find a program close. So if you are really torn, I’d advise you to really evaluate what it is that’s drawing you twoads home and what it is that’s calling you abroad. What does the farther school have to offer? What at home is valuable? Home life, people, etc, will they still be there when you come to visit? Will something/someone not be there when you get back? Is the school farther away a once in a life time offer? Personally, if your home town is in no danger of death, illness, or change....you should travel away(if money allows it.) Building New support systems is hard and scary, but it’s still worth the experience. The only time close to home should be the best option is if what makes home home is at risk and you’d like to enjoy it as much as you can before it’s gone. I’ve lived most of my life knowing that my days with my mother are numbered so I try to make the most of it. But if you don’t have that issue, go for it! Go someplace scary and someplace new! But I hope my example can give you a good insight as to why someone would want to stay close to home, instead of going somewhere farther. good luck!

I have already been accepted into a great graduate program. But just to get a feel for the campus and town itself, I scheduled a tour. I also told the university I would be visiting. They were so kind and invited me to lunch with current graduate students and meetings with faculty and my people of interest! I will be with them for a few hours. What should I say? What do I do? What do I ask? There’s a 95% chance I’m going to this university so it’s not like I’m weighing options or trying to make a decision. Should I tell them that? What questions should I ask the faculty so that I am much more confident about my decision? What should I say to make myself not look like a complete idiot? I have no idea where to start.

I just got my last rejection. But with that comes an end to my grad school application process! It’s weird but since I have a few acceptances I feel like I’m breathing fresh air for the first time in months. After months, probably even a year of stress, I can finally stop refreshing the results page, delete the application portal bookmarks, and be excited about having actual prospects.