Bopie5

Hi all! Depending on the program, I'm either in a "literature and the environment" or colonial/postcolonial literature subfield. I'm into poco/eco, particularly in relation to 20th century Anglo/francophone literatures of West Africa, the Caribbean, and the US South. I'm coming from a Comp Lit M.A., but decided to apply to mostly English PhD programs. 

I've noticed that many of us seem to have applied to the same schools, so our fates are intertwined. I was wondering what fields we're all in, since usually decisions are based on traditional categories (even when they're not exactly accurate). I figure this would be nice to know that way if you see that another Victorianist has been accepted somewhere you know if that's one less person to compete with or if they have probably taken your spot (though of course some places will take multiple students with the same specialization). Similarly, if a Medievalist is accepted at your top school, you can stress a bit less that they weren't REALLY competing with you directly.
So, what are y'all? How do you think schools will categorize you when making decisions?

I'm an African-Americanist (mostly 1865-1945), with shades of Postcolonialism and Critical Theory.

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. 

Just got my last app (10/10) in at UC Berkeley !
I'm also very happy to report that I have found a hobby to keep me occupied (beyond normal work, ofc): drawing!
I'll have to make sure I don't start drawing the portraits of my POIs....
 
 

I've just submitted my 6th (out of 7) app! Only one more to go, and it's not due until January 5. I feel relieved--and now I can finally focus on my finals that I have tomorrow. So close to finishing out this process!

I've just submitted my 6th (out of 7) app! Only one more to go, and it's not due until January 5. I feel relieved--and now I can finally focus on my finals that I have tomorrow. So close to finishing out this process!

Hi, friends. Was it just two years ago that I was here doing MA applications? Yikes. 
I am back in the application life doing PhD apps for English Literature. I'm currently in the mad dash of submitting applications (2 today, 4 more this week), grading an incredible number of papers I've been ignoring, and writing my own. What a time. Everyone sharing that they have finished their apps and are back to real life is giving me hope. 

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. 

Hi all!
I am sure I am not alone when it comes to feeling super anxious about waiting to hear back from schools after pressing that submit button. I know there is a Venting Thread, but I thought it would be nice to have a specific forum where people can talk about their worries while they wait. So, I am going to first talk about what I am worried about and then talk about what I am excited about if I get accepted in grad school.
Worries: I feel like I don't have enough research experience under my belt, especially since I haven't done any research in the fields that I want do pursue my graduate degree in. My GRE scores are mediocre, so that scares me as well. I think the fact that I am taking a gap year and I am not currently doing anything "resume/cv worthy" right now will make me look lazy to the admission committees. I am also worried about paying for moving to grad school. I really hope I can get a retail job next year so I can start saving money for that. Also, I want to pay off my loans during grad school, even though I know I can defer them while in school. I just am tired of my interest accumulating.
Excitement: Even though grad school will have plenty of hellish moments where I probably won't get enough sleep and be able to make meals for myself, I am ready to be back in school again. Despite the homework and stressful tests, I oddly like taking classes. I am even more excited to take graduate-level classes because I feel like I will be able to focus more on learning and less on getting an A on every single assignment. After doing that in undergrad and pretty much destroying my mental health, I am never going back to putting myself through that again. I am also ready to move to a new place and explore the area. Additionally, I can't wait to start researching something I am interested in. I am nervous that I might find out that I might not like it, but at least it will still be interesting enough that I can do it for 5-7 years.
So, go ahead and just type away your worries about waiting, grad school, and anything else. Also, talk about what your excited about when it comes to grad school. I feel like doing both will make you feel slightly better. 

apps are sent. I'm going on a goddamn vacation this week and might even read a magazine on the plane.

oh my god, all i have read/watched these past few months is sop-related stuff (when i'm not doing homework.) my brain feels mushy. 

Hi all!! 
I finally decided to create an account after browsing often over the past week weeks. I finished submitting all of my applications this past week (mixture of MA and PhD programs)!!!!!!!!! I thought it would be a huge relief to have it all in, but now I am even more anxious than before! Trying to focus on pleasure reading, hiking, and cooking to pass the next months. Look forward to hearing about everyone's results and journeys!

Omg yes,100%. I’ve had trouble reading for pleasure for a while now because my brain is like “you should only be reading books related to your research topic to improve your SOP!” I am so relieved to just have this whole process over with soon.

Submitted 3/6 applications today. Of course now I’m afraid I made a mistake or something, but I guess at least they’re done? ?

I have this feeling every day! So hard letting go...and just too overwhelmed by the whole process.

@Matthew3957 thanks! taping was SO fun. my episode airs February 5th in case anyone wants to see me be awkward on national television.
i submitted one more and am seeing my LORs come in. feeling now like I could have improved SOP more but i just... no.

I've officially spent over 35 hours since Sunday on my grad apps...the amount of fatigue is unreal, it's my last week of classes, next week is finals, and I still have four to submit! 

I've taken the meatiest paragraph to unpack. The more I examine your statement, the more it becomes clear that there are major gaps in your understanding and application of deconstructivism. I suggest you re-read foundational deconstructivist theory, as I'm not convinced it's the approach you want to take.
"To facilitate better communication and understanding of people with strikingly different experiences I will first use Deconstruction to break down axiomatic views of other groups so they can be replaced with more inclusive ways of discussing our experiences. Deconstructivism has nothing to do with facilitating "better communication and understanding of people," but rather approaches literary texts in order to note tensions and contradictions within a (perceived) unified text. It demonstrates that meanings are multiple and unstable and points out where 'slippage' occurs. 
I will do this through the use of American Modernist writers and their fascination with internal thought processes and the exceptional variance within every human life. Authors that I am interested in include: Sherwood Anderson, Gertrude Stein, Hemingway, and Faulkner. I take this to mean you have authors whose work you'd like to 'deconstruct.' Yet deconstructivism has been around since the 1970s; surely this has already been done. Drop what you're doing and go read how scholars have deconstructed particular works so that you can participate in this conversation. You need to know what others have done in order to make a convincing case as to what you'll contribute. 
These authors pushed for something new in their writing and this extends to how they represent thought. This is not very clear. What is new about their writing and thinking? And how does deconstructivism apply? This highlights the differences in not just what we think but also what leads someone to having that thought. I don't understand this sentence. This time period and group of writers is an important resource for those trying to build relationships and strengthen communication." Are you saying that modernist texts offer insight into human relationships and behavior? If so, what insight? And how does deconstructivism help us understand that? 
 
Stepping away from your statement, can you give me your elevator pitch? What is it that you hope to learn, and why is it urgent and important? 
 

@Bopie5 Thank you! Me too! 

@lyonel_ I'm feeling the exact same thing. What's submitted is submitted and I can't change it now, so no point in looking at stressing myself out! I'm in the exact same place, crossing my fingers for that one acceptance. Hopefully we both get it! 

@lyonel_ I'm feeling the exact same thing. What's submitted is submitted and I can't change it now, so no point in looking at stressing myself out! I'm in the exact same place, crossing my fingers for that one acceptance. Hopefully we both get it! 

So excited to see people who have already submitted some apps! I have officially submitted 2/8 applications, UT Austin and UCSD! I do not even want to look at my materials again in case I botched something without noticing ? I'm obviously nervous, but I'm excited to see what the next year has in store– regardless of an acceptance or a shut-out (even though I will need some TLC if this happens). I know I have put everything I could, both mentally and emotionally, into my SOP(s), Writing sample, and GREs. So hopefully that one acceptance will come! 
Also, I commend everyone applying– this shit has been/is hard! 

I would submit an academic CV. A resume may be more appropriate for a job application. 

I've heard that a CV is preferable if you have/once you begin to acquire considerable professional experience, mostly because they can be a bit longer, but if you are pretty new to the field and don't have a lot of professional experience I think a resume is probably okay. You can also list other related skills like language abilities on a CV, which can be nice padding if you only have one or two conference presentations and are still in your undergrad. I definitely did that my first application cycle. (EDIT -- obviously that can also be on your resume lol)
Personally, I don't think I would ever submit a resume to an application. I have had a lot of jobs that are really unrelated to the field that are on my resume (waitressing, desk jobs, etc.), but my CV is for my professional and academic experience only.