marisawhy
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Posts posted by marisawhy
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Hi! I'm going to speak as a total novice and based solely on my experiences, but I'll try to address some of your concerns:
2 hours ago, Chomposition said:- I don't have a love for literature that seems typical with an English major.
2 hours ago, Chomposition said:- Even though the program would obviously focus on composition, I'm concerned that I also disliked both of my literature survey classes in college when I started as an English major. Maybe it was my professor, maybe it was some of the material, but I just didn't enjoy reading Frankenstein and then writing a literary critique on it.
The way I'm interpreting this is that you don't read what's considered "literature" often, but you do enjoy reading. If you said, "I don't enjoy reading anything, period," grad school may not be the route to take, but depending on the rhet/comp programs you pick, you may not have to dabble in capital-L Literature very much. I avoided Literature-heavy programs when applying myself because I dig rhet/comp and am not so good at the literary criticism stuff.
2 hours ago, Chomposition said:+ I enjoyed my first-year seminar and advanced college English courses and could see myself being involved in or teaching those, but I have no teaching experience whatsoever.
Unless you were a secondary school educator before your MA, I think it would be out-of-the-ordinary to have teaching experience. Plus, don't discount your Writing Center experience!
2 hours ago, Chomposition said:- I'm also concerned about the rhetoric part. I've taken and did fine in a classical rhetoric course and a rhetorical criticism course (communication department for these), but never felt I fully understand the theories and why all these philosophers from Aristotle to Foucault were so important.
I'm saying this after speaking to two MA programs on campus visits: very few undergrads have any rhet/comp classes before they enter graduate school. I was very open and said I'd had maybe 3 or 4, with almost none of the classical philosophers and no Foucault, and I was told that was a lot. Multiple professors have expressed to me that they had no idea what rhetoric was until they were already in their PhD for it. Plus, that's what your masters is for. A lot of people on this forum point out that your masters is a time to get to know the literature better, and that's absolutely the case for rhetoric.
2 hours ago, Chomposition said:If I could jump ahead with a degree and my pick of jobs, I could see myself teaching composition, working in a writing center, being an administrator in a nonprofit, writing grants or going into student affairs and working in academic advising or some other area.
These are all careers that rhetoric MAs would prepare you for!
2 hours ago, Chomposition said:I don't know if it's fine to do an MA first or if it's advised to go straight into a PhD.
In my personal search, Rhet/Comp is a bit odd in that a lot of the PhDs ask for an MA first. However, my search was not by any means comprehensive. I'd also like to point out that the possible careers you list seem like they could gel well with an MA alone. There are rhet/comp MAs that prepare you for other futures if you decide to not pursue PhD work. ?
2 hours ago, Chomposition said:Edit: Any recommended book on composition for someone broadly interested in the subject and graduate study?
I'm not sure about books (I am also working on my own pre-grad school reading list), but someone on another thread mentioned finding the major journals of the field and just reading articles from the last ten or so years to see what's happening in the scholarship. I hope that helps!
Let me know if I can help any further!
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It's me again! I've accepted my offer from OSU and have also accepted the necessity of a roommate. I'm lurking on the facebook groups right now, and will soon be added to a group for my cohort that I'm told is a good place to start looking. I definitely want to start there because I'd prefer to live with other grad students. Are there other places I should be searching? I know people use Craigslist but I never have and am... wary.
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22 hours ago, nervousrex said:
Umm... is anyone else STILL struggling to make a decision?? And, kind of freaking out?? I love Oregon State's Rhet/Comp program but am worried about their teaching load. And, I would love to live in Cincy, and everyone at the U of Cincinnati is awesome and super nice, but their stipend is on the low side. I've been offered a substantially higher stipend at Auburn and am tempted to accept because I feel like having a bit more financial security will allow me to focus on my studies more. But, on the other hand, I have a feeling that the other two programs would probably yield more opportunities? And be a better fit?
I wish I had seen your post sooner! I visited OSU earlier this week before accepting and got to learn more about the teaching load. Now, if you've decided to move to Cincinnati, I couldn't blame you because I love Cincy
if you chose Auburn for the financial security I wouldn't blame you for that either. Best wishes with whomever you chose!!
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So excited to post in this thread! I've officially committed to Oregon State's Rhetoric MA
I went to visit the area (having never been west of St. Louis), and the faculty and current students were really wonderful. I'm very excited!
- bumbleblu, sarahchristine and Kilos
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47 minutes ago, marisawhy said:
Only one waitlist school could really make a difference for me...
Quoting myself because twenty minutes after posting this I heard from Penn State! Apparently their numbers are solidifying and it looks like they won't have room for me. LOOKS LIKE I'M GOING TO OREGON STATE!
- Axil, sarahchristine and Kilos
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5 hours ago, bpilgrim89 said:
I have now gotten two "you're still in the running!" emails, and I am certain you can feel my anxiety from a 30-mile radius.
I have three waitlists but have gotten none of those emails yet--but I second your anxiety. Only one waitlist school could really make a difference for me... I also hate making my current top choice wait it out because they've been so wonderful.
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10 hours ago, katie64 said:
Just watching this forum slowly die since everyone is leaving after making decisions, while I am still on four funding waitlists...
I have three waitlists, so I'm still checking this every day!
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12 hours ago, clinamen said:
UW has been great at communicating with me about the waitlist and mentioned that they would do their best to move things along on their end before I accept any other program. In fact I was told not to accept anywhere else before giving them a chance to “move things along.” I think open communication with your waitlist school is key! Regardless I feel I am in for a very stressful end to this application season!
That sounds very positive! I hope this works out to good news for you! The school I'm waiting on is being very vague about most things, though they've said they often go into their waitlist and, while they try not to let it come to this, offers are often made on April 15th.
11 hours ago, sarahchristine said:I owe an answer to Wake Forest by April 15th, and it's looking like I'm going to be waiting until the 15th to respond to them.
Good to know I'm not the only one feeling like this!
5 hours ago, bumbleblu said:I know on the Rhet/Comp thread the other day I said I'd probably only wait until the 1st, but that's so soon! Madison has said that's when they prefer to hear by (though I officially have until the 15th) and while I would be really happy to go there, my feelings about Pittsburgh are strong enough that I want to wait it out.
Here's hoping they put me out of my misery (one way or the other) soon.
I hope for good news! I had a program pressuring me to decide early and other programs (including my waitlists) were unhappy (sometimes angry) about that (though this program's official deadline was early). In other words--don't feel bad if you want to make them wait for it (but if you want it over, go for it!).
52 minutes ago, Cassifrassidy said:Sidenote: is the official deadline the night of April 15th? Or do programs need to know before April 15th? I get very stressed by wording about missing deadlines
I read my official offer documents and they said "Return no later than April 15th." I think that's where the language would be more specific.
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To my fellow waitlisted: If you're waitlisted at a school you know you would accept but also have an offer from a program you like, how long are you waiting to hear back from the waitlist? I've been thinking evening April 14th/morning April 15th at the latest but is that too late? What are your thoughts?
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@sarahchristine be honest! You can definitely say they're your number one but still let them know you have other offers. One of my waitlisted programs told me to keep them updated because, if I got an offer from one of their competitors and was accepted off their waitlist, the DGS would use that info to bully the Dean for more funding for me.
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@PricklyParoxysm and @callmethabreeze -- I only found out I was waitlisted for Miami's MA after emailing to ask. I'm rhet/comp, but it's very possible this happened to y'all too!
(Also, her response said they would be sending my official waitlist letter that day--the 15th. I haven't gotten it, though my mailman is notoriously unreliable.)
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Just declined two MA offers (CMU was painful, but I just don't have $20k+ to spare for a Masters). Nobody's really posted about being waitlisted for those programs, and I don't usually believe in karma, but hopefully this comes back to help us all waitlisted at other places.
(Also I'm naturally having a minor freakout because I only have one definite offer left. This will probably drag on close to April 15th.)
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Hopping on this thread for similar advice as previous posters--I really like the program I've been accepted to at OSU but I have nooooo idea what housing or cost of living is like in Corvallis. I would really like to live alone, but I'm not sure how I will do on my stipend. Does anyone have apartment complexes they could recommend to help me start my search?
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21 hours ago, katie64 said:
Is it expected to inquire about your status on the waitlist, or wait for the school to contact you?
I don't think it's really expected, but it doesn't hurt if you want more information. My advisor said it's totally cool to call or email to reiterate your interest in the program and ask generally about the waitlist--so not really "Am I near the top?" but more of "Based on past years, when have you started to go into your waitlist? How far into your waitlist do you normally go?" --especially if the program is near the top of your personal list.
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Anyone else get an email from Oregon State about movement on the waitlist?
EDIT: (an update) I emailed Miami (OH) and Washington State (MA programs) about application statuses, since I'm getting pressure from another school to commit early. Miami has responded that I'm on a waitlist, and my official letter was going to send today (so if anybody else is waiting to hear about Miami's rhet/comp MA, you may hear back soon).
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7 minutes ago, Warelin said:
I think it's important to note that Berkeley Rhetoric and English are two separate programs. Unfortunately, rejections always come much later than waitlists and acceptances for most programs.
Brain fart! I automatically assumed rhetoric. Sorry, my bad!
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42 minutes ago, melian517 said:
Finally got that Berkeley rejection email. Knew it was coming for a while but it's just nice to have that door officially shut.
I got my rejection exactly a week ago. Did they really take that long to send out all their rejections??
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Sorry to bother about this subject again, but I want advice: When asking CSU for a decision extension, should I 1) specifically ask for April 15th and 2) mention I want to wait out some waitlists? I have a paragraph about being excited for the program but I don't want to come off as "If I'm accepted to Penn State I am immediately dumping you," if that makes sense.
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@maengret That's what I thought! I'm gonna ask for an extension but idk why they'd try it in the first place. & thank you!!
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Accepted into Colorado State with a funded GTA position! While I'm thrilled to have such a great offer, they want a decision by March 12th??
why you gotta play me like this fam
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FINALLY got a letter from Oregon State that I'm on the waitlist. (Yes, it's dated the 12th. Uh, sidenote, how do I file a complaint with the Postal Service??)
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1 hour ago, Daenerys said:
I went back to school for an MA in professional writing after practicing law for several years. I was looking for a law and literature paper topic for a literature class and ended up doing a rhetorical analysis of the book instead, focusing on the influence said book had on passage of law. That paper eventually became my masters thesis, and my writing sample for my R/C PhD applications.
So, yesterday I was accepted to a University that has always been strong in R/C and is a 10 minute drive from my house. I am married with children so it seemed perfect: I could get the degree I wanted with very little upheaval in my family’s lives.
Today, though, I got an email from the DGS that said:
“There is one issue that you should be aware of. While our Rhetoric and composition Program is thriving at present, we only have two professors in the area, and both are nearing retirement. We are hopeful that we will get hires to supplement and (eventually) to replace them, but, given all the budget problems in recent years, we cannot be sure of what will happen, or when.If you are interested in continuing to work with both literature & RC, your path forward here is clearer than if you just want to do RC, because we have very strong staffing in literary studies.”My research interest is how social class affects interpretation of meaning- both in the law and other public rhetoric.Not sure what I think of this. Can you all share your thoughts with me??Thanks!This seems like a really tough situation
for me, personally, I would take this school off my list, but I have very different priorities than you (no spouse/kids, don't care about moving). It sounds like the DGS is saying not to count on a strong RC faculty for your degree, though, and that seems like it could not be productive for your research interests. Could there be other factors besides faculty to make the program strong in RC?
I don't think it would be out-of-line if you wanted to call the DGS to chat more specifically about what this would look like (especially about just how close to retirement these two are). Whatever happens, I really hope it works out well for you!!
Trying to figure out if an MA in English Composition and Rhetoric would be a good fit for me...
in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
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I'm actually planning to go into a PhD, but I hear wonderful things from people graduating with rhet/comp MAs because they chose the right program. If you want to be a grant writer, run a Writing Center, advise, or even just teach lower-level composition classes, an MA alone works!
I understand the worry--two of my roommates are going into scientific PhDs and have actually said a Masters would have hurt their chances. I've not heard of that at all from my conversations with other rhet/comp people. For my MA, my school doesn't offer a PhD and works really hard on good PhD placements (and their recent ones were enough to impress me), so it seems having my MA will not hurt my chances later on.
I did take the GRE, though there were some schools I applied to who didn't require it or didn't want to see it altogether. I got an... okay verbal score(?) (English programs will not care about your quantitative score anyway) after studying for about three months. No MA programs I looked at had score requirements or even a general "this is our median score" number listed for your GRE, though I've seen a handful of PhD programs that do. Again, there are really good programs that don't want your GRE score, or even recommend you send it.
I will! Oregon State only admits students they can fund through some form of GTA. In their case, funding could come from a mix of teaching freshman comp with writing center work or some other composition teaching work. Other schools will admit more and only fund a few. My impression is that you definitely want some form of assistantship in your MA if you're considering a PhD, even if it means being a little broke for two years. I've also found no resistance when asking programs if I could speak to current grad students, and they almost expect you to ask what living off the stipend is like.
Are you only considering the MA program at your university, or looking elsewhere?