Bopie5

Girl I feel this so much! 

re: advisors trying to talk us all out of going into academia...
I had a really encouraging conversation with a prof of mine about this. I was talking to her about trying to go to grad school (she's a recent-ish (like last ten years) UMich PhD grad), and she basically said "Have you read the "don't go to grad school" literature? Have you read the literature and statistics on the job market? Do you know about the potential psychoemotional drain? Do you know about limited job prospects, especially in academia?" I said yes to all of the above, and she said "And you still want to go?" I said yes, and she said "Then that means you should go. I think you can do it."
It felt really encouraging for her to simultaneously inform me of the realities without ever telling me that I shouldn't go for it. To have her tell me TO try to go, despite everything, felt really good actually.

re: advisors trying to talk us all out of going into academia...
I had a really encouraging conversation with a prof of mine about this. I was talking to her about trying to go to grad school (she's a recent-ish (like last ten years) UMich PhD grad), and she basically said "Have you read the "don't go to grad school" literature? Have you read the literature and statistics on the job market? Do you know about the potential psychoemotional drain? Do you know about limited job prospects, especially in academia?" I said yes to all of the above, and she said "And you still want to go?" I said yes, and she said "Then that means you should go. I think you can do it."
It felt really encouraging for her to simultaneously inform me of the realities without ever telling me that I shouldn't go for it. To have her tell me TO try to go, despite everything, felt really good actually.

Oof, everything everyone's said is so real.
Worries: Coming right out of undergrad and not having any publications, I'm concerned that I look inexperienced. I also found two minor typos in my writing sample after I already submitted my apps ? Also worried that I'll feel like I'll have wasted a lot of time and money if I don't get in, since apps ended up costing more than $700. Also worrying that if I get in, I'll feel/seem really inadequate and not as qualified as other grad students in the cohort.
Excitements: I love classes and academia, and if I get in I can't wait to interact with other students who are just as passionate as I am! Plus delving deeper into theory and getting the space to really pursue the research that interests me. 

re: advisors trying to talk us all out of going into academia...
I had a really encouraging conversation with a prof of mine about this. I was talking to her about trying to go to grad school (she's a recent-ish (like last ten years) UMich PhD grad), and she basically said "Have you read the "don't go to grad school" literature? Have you read the literature and statistics on the job market? Do you know about the potential psychoemotional drain? Do you know about limited job prospects, especially in academia?" I said yes to all of the above, and she said "And you still want to go?" I said yes, and she said "Then that means you should go. I think you can do it."
It felt really encouraging for her to simultaneously inform me of the realities without ever telling me that I shouldn't go for it. To have her tell me TO try to go, despite everything, felt really good actually.

re: advisors trying to talk us all out of going into academia...
I had a really encouraging conversation with a prof of mine about this. I was talking to her about trying to go to grad school (she's a recent-ish (like last ten years) UMich PhD grad), and she basically said "Have you read the "don't go to grad school" literature? Have you read the literature and statistics on the job market? Do you know about the potential psychoemotional drain? Do you know about limited job prospects, especially in academia?" I said yes to all of the above, and she said "And you still want to go?" I said yes, and she said "Then that means you should go. I think you can do it."
It felt really encouraging for her to simultaneously inform me of the realities without ever telling me that I shouldn't go for it. To have her tell me TO try to go, despite everything, felt really good actually.

Of the 6 programs I was accepted into last year, 4 of them had visit days or a visit weekend. Only two of them offered a paid visit/reimbursement.

oh god i try so hard to repress thoughts of loans that i totally didn't think about them. that, too. 

I'm also straight from undergrad, partially because with the way my loans are structured, I don't have to start paying my loans if I'm still in school (so effectively I put this off for another five years, haha). And, I feel like MA/PhD sequential programs are a better fit for me than just getting my MA first. Like @jadeisokay, funding was a big thing for me, and the idea of moving somewhere for just a year or two seemed not ideal.

Omg! I used this exact one too!

I think it's also somewhat likely that the departments don't know what the exact visit dates will be anyway. It might depend on when they release admissions decisions, and then smaller factors like when will key people (like the DGS and the chair) all be mostly free and on-campus at the same time. 

I’ve seen some noted on program websites (sometimes prominently, sometimes very much the opposite). Sometimes they’re specific (I think Rutgers is one?), and others are general. But I think most are not stated. Just got to wait it out and see, I guess.

^ i nearly started drafted a post for this last night then stopped myself , thinking i’d gone off the deep end. 
...but if we were to channel our energy for this beautifully arbitrary task, it seems Emory and Penn State have historically notified around Jan 11 for interviews...

Getting no emails

 
Getting school-unrelated emails

 
Getting "we got your transcript" emails

 
Finally getting an email from the program!!!!!

This is a BIG mood haha!

This is a BIG mood haha!

This is a really fascinating approach! And I imagine quite productive for affective work as it's visual and dynamic. Written texts and affect have always proven tricky to me, as words can certainly express/mobilize affect but obviously can present static definition and crystallization of emotions (an image of Deleuze and Guattari's non-representational sensation painting haunts me lol) - I've mostly used affect theory for work on music. But the idea of a shape !
I really enjoyed the beginning of Sedgwick's article on Tomkins, and found the axioms to be a really helpful way of assessing the field. But on the whole, Cvetkovich's and Muñoz's public feelings approach has felt more accessible to me - though they are by no means mutually exclusive. It's been a while since I read the Sedgwick though, I'd love to know what you found life-changing!
I also remember reading Jennifer Nash's article on Black Feminism and Love-Politics in an affect seminar and felt similarly like why had I not known about this before?! Her book on African American visual culture and pornography, Black Body in Ecstasy, is also amazing!
(I am loving that this convo is not only about stress and panic - though that is SO real - but talking about good books/good theory is a v. pleasant distraction to break up the inevitable panic)

This is a BIG mood haha!

(i have nothing beneficial to add but am vicariously loving this convo)

This is a BIG mood haha!

I have not! But it has been on my radar to get into at some point! However, I did read excerpts from Justice and the Politics of Difference for a philosophy seminar this last semester, although that text is more concerned with inefficiencies of distributive justice than embodiment– still a great writer nonetheless! 

My article was accepted to a peer-reviewed journal. Is this real life?

I received the comments and the evaluations of my students for my TAship last term. Only positive feedback and comments! 

I mean, last year’s email said the same thing and they have consistently sent notifications in late January to early February I believe.

So who else just now got the email from humanitiesadmissions at Chicago and briefly panicked!? I read and reread the application receipt email making sure it wasn't saying anything bad haha! Looks like we'll be hearing mid-Feb.
Edit: Whoops, didn't realize there was a whole thread for this! Sorry friends.