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cassidyaxx

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Posts posted by cassidyaxx

    2022 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    On 12/31/2021 at 9:31 AM, A Small Raven said:

    So I'm applying to a few of these programs this cycle (Brandeis, BU, and BC). Of the dozen schools I'm applying to this year, I found BU's faculty to be some of the most accessible. The interim department chair even offered to do a zoom call with me for a little personal Q&A. Of course I mostly asked questions specific to my own research interests, but perhaps they'll be relevant to you – I asked about weaknesses in the program, and she did mention that the department is currently in a stage of transition – various poetry faculty are retiring, and they don't have strong Native American literary scholarship within the department, though they are hoping to bring some on board. They do, however, have pretty strong scholarship in transnational literature.  

    I also found BC and Brandeis faculty to be very responsive and friendly! When I reached out, they replied with long, thorough answers instead of just something short and generic (I received short generic answers from faculty at other schools, which makes the longer more personal responses stand out so much more). While that sort of thing might just come down to the specific faculty member you reach out to, for me, it reflected well on the department and made me more eager to apply. BC was one of the schools I applied to last year and was unfortunately rejected from, but...hopefully things work out better this time around! I Know BC does heavily lean towards Irish literary scholarship, so I'm not sure how much they distribute their admissions between Irish lit students and others on a year to year basis. I know they accepted a couple Irish lit students last year, so maybe they'll accept other research interests over that this year, to even things out. That's just my ungrounded theory though. 

    The Brandeis professor I spoke to emphasized that since they are such a small school, they have to be selective about the research areas they choose to develop scholarship in – he mentioned that American and British Romanticism are strong fields within their department. He also mentioned that they are acutely aware of how competitive and challenging the academic job market is, so they help prepare their students to become strong candidates for alt-academic jobs as well.

    A note on Tufts – I looked at their program, and while it seems like a great school, I ultimately decided not to apply because it wasn't a good fit for my research interests – the department seemed particularly sparse on any kind of poetic scholarship. 

    Hope this helps! They all seem like decent programs to me, though they have their own strengths and weaknesses and specialties. Best of luck!  

    Just saw these and wanted to chime in- I am a first year PhD at BC in English doing Irish studies. I've found the faculty here to be very friendly and accessible, and I truly love this program so far. However, did want to jump in and say while Boston College does have a strong Irish Studies program, they don't lean heavily towards only admitting Irish studies candidates. In fact, I am the first candidate accepted who primarily does Irish studies in about three years, and the only one in my cohort of four. So don't count yourself out if you don't do Irish lit! I'd also be more than willing to share my experience here with anyone who applied to BC-- feel free to PM me!

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    I JUST GOT ACCEPTED TO BOSTON COLLEGE! I'm crying so hard. I'm so thankful and in disbelief, I've been shaking since I got the email. I'll be emailing shortly to take myself off of the UConn waitlist and I hope this helps someone else out. Thank you all so much for your kind words and support through this whole process. It's especially wonderful because yesterday marked one year since my dad passed away, and I can't help but feel he's looking out for me.

    Decision Anxiety: Faculty vs Funding vs Location vs Life

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    46 minutes ago, Oklash said:

    And one of the worst parts is that I really don't have anyone to really talk about this with. Everyone who isn't an academic says "just go to SMU" like its a no brainer because its closer and pays more. But every tenured academic advisor is like "just go to UW" like its a no brainer because they don't have to worry about money as much as I do. 

    I'd like to speak to some of your post as I was in a vaguely similar situation two years ago. I had worked full-time throughout undergrad as my family was very poor. I had been in an emotionally abusive relationship for four years, and I made the decision that if I got into one of my dream programs, I would go, and do something for myself. I had visited Portland State, and fell absolutely in love with it. Well, I got off the waitlist for funding. I then also got into Villanova with funding, and thought about attending there as well. Well, then on April 11th, in the eleventh hour, I got off the waitlist at UConn (which I had planned to just deny). That same week, my father was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

    I made the decision to attend UConn largely because of my dad. If I had attended another school, I probably wouldn't have been able to fly back or see my dad as much as I was able to. My dad passed away last April, and I don't regret my decision at all. I got to spend time with him every single week. It was a really, REALLY, difficult time for me, as it happened right after the start of lockdown, and smack dab in the middle of the spring semester. I truly believe this would've been miles worse if I had chosen a program farther away. 

    You phrase it as picking between your dream school and your family, but it's a lot more complicated than that. I know it will be a heart-wrenching decision for you either way. However, I would really weigh the pros and cons, and consider what you would regret more. If you're able to travel and see your family and think you'll have the funds for it, I'd say pick the dream school and perhaps let the department know about your situation when you start the program. If it would hurt you more in the long run to not be able to spend as much time with your family, or be able to support them in a more direct way, so to speak, I'd say go with SMU. I personally know it's not even that straightforward, but that's just my personal take on it as someone who had to make a similar choice.

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    I've seen a few posts like this before, but I'm wondering if I should reach out again to BC and reaffirm my interest in their program as well as see about my place on the waitlist? I've been accepted to two more conferences since I submitted my application, and received two awards. I'm wondering if it could be a kind of two birds one stone sort of email, or if I should wait to send an email like this when we get closer to April. 

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    39 minutes ago, Debord said:

    Hi folks,

    Not really one for public forums but wanted to notify wait listed applicants of some potential movement: I was accepted off the wait list at my reach school and will be declining my PhD offers at Boston College and McGill.

    Hope that is welcome news to somebody.

    Congrats for getting into your reach school! If you would feel comfortable, would you mind PMing me what your research interests are? I'm waitlisted at Boston College and am curious. If not, no problem :) 

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, Bopie5 said:

    Omg congrats! I couldn't pull my life together enough to submit to NeMLA this year, but I wish I could come to your panel. What are you presenting on?

    The extension for abstracts is the only thing that saved me, lol. I'm presenting on the Irish female celebrity body and it's connections to the Irish landscape in a way that sort of acts as an extension of colonial ideals! But more broadly it will be about Grace Kelly ?

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Hi all! Despite what I think may be an encroaching shutout for me, I'm trying to get excited about other things happening in my life. That said, I'm presenting at NeMLA this Friday (it's virtual)! If anyone else is presenting there and would like a friend in their audience, feel free to let me know because I would love to meet some of you and see your neat research in action! I have the day off so besides my panel (5-6:30), I'll have plenty of time to check out people's amazing work. 

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    39 minutes ago, j.j.pizza said:

    Their field is poetics and they have an MA and an MFA.

    Thanks for letting me know! From the way the waitlist has been explained to me, I don't think we'd be in competition for the same spot, but I'd definitely appreciate it if you let me know if they do end up taking themselves off the waitlist! I'll do the same.

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Also I know this is a long shot of people seeing this specific post, lol, but if any one currently waitlisted or accepted at BC is planning on turning them down, I'd love if you could let me know whenever you plan to do so. I only know a few of the people who have been waitlisted. I have a vague understanding of where I am on the waitlist but would love to keep track of movement as best I can. This has always been my dream program and I legit cannot sleep at night sometimes thinking about the possibility of getting in here, lol. 

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    46 minutes ago, brockdenbrown802 said:

    Ahhh I appreciate this thread @cassidyaxx!! 

    I am waitlisted at two programs right now (both are top choices, one is my top choice). 

    I am also a first gen and first time applicant, so I don't know the process/etiquette here at all. I've been working on follow-up emails for a recruitment event all weekend. I know I'm over thinking it... but tell me I'm not alone? lol. 

    It makes me feel better knowing others are in the same boat. 

     

    You are definitely not alone! I am a first gen student as well (though it's my third cycle applying). It is SO hard to be a first gen student battling through the application cycle for the first time, and I had no idea the amount of etiquette I would need to learn for my time in graduate school. If you ever need any help, you can always DM me on here! I'd be more than willing to share follow-up emails I've sent and what not.

    2021 Applicants

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Hi everyone! As you can probably see, I'm currently waitlisted at BC and UConn, and hoping to at least be waitlisted at Notre Dame. My top choice is Notre Dame followed closely by BC (both have been my absolute dream programs for years) I primarily do 20th century Irish lit and identity studies. I do like (or hope) to think that there's a chance for a lot of us! Many people get accepted to more than one program but can only choose one, obviously, which ends up normally creating at least some movement. 

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