wanderlust07

Hence my not writing "all," or even "the area around Bloomington," although I will concede that "as a pancake" is more my a reflection of having long since been spoiled. For an alternate perspective: I grew up in the Midwest and have hiked (and driven) a great deal of these rolling hills (including the Appalachian foothills). I like the hills a lot. I am now, however, living in the PacNW, and I am just not missing the rolling hill version of altitude now that I've been roaming all up and down the coast. (The highest point in IN is less than 1500 ft, no? I know it's less than the highest point in Missouri, which is Taum Sauk "Mountain" at around 1700 ft. That is not a mountain, IMO, and any area in which people don't blink at calling it one is relatively "flat." I say this in spite of the fact that that area of Missouri is likewise full of rolling hills). It's pretty and makes for an excellent hike; I just prefer rugged. I am actually so spoiled by this that I am reluctant to leave for a better and funded program. It's a sickness. *shrug*

FWIW, I got a hard copy of the funding offer in my dept. mailbox today (no e-copy). They're working on it.

I should perhaps clarify that although I earn my keep by teaching comp., it is not my area of study. I do find it odd (and counterproductive for us) that what my students most often claim to want out of this course sequence is utility, and yet they very seldom envision any sort of contemporary (particularly digital) communication or their future careers as involving the written word or argument in any way. Nor do they see those things as involving a need for reading in any sense (not even in the sense of being able to pick apart manipulative advertising, political rhetoric, or any other type of loaded language or text--broadly construed-- thrown at them on a daily basis). They also tend to come in assuming that by college they "know" English (at least the native speakers do) and that the course is therefore a waste. I spend an inordinate amount of time jarring them out of that "I'm 18 and hip, and you are stuck in the Stone Age" mindset. "Utility" has been pitched to them as the thing they can "get" out composition class, but they do not necessarily believe it exists. This is doubly problematic. I actually think we back ourselves into a corner when we respond to charges of "uselessness" with assertions of "real world applications" in English. A lot of what we do has much broader and less immediately applicable "use" and capital than comma-splices (although, good lord, would I love to be winning that war), and I think that aesthetics generally are losing ground in higher education and American culture in disturbing ways (cue my "why I eventually dream of teaching at a liberal arts school" sidebar).

Thanks, lyoness! So, indeed, a rather absurd chain of conversations has it. It sort of makes me want to go outside, turn around three times, and spit, since I've yet to receive the email. Of course, today (as most days in Oregon) the good luck spit would immediately disappear into the rain.

Yet I struggle to convey the importance of this skill to ANY of my business or science majors in my intro comp courses. (They can't write a professional email worth a darn either). Riddle me that...

Yeah, far as I know (word from Mike yesterday) they are completely done sorting funding and are trying to get all the email notices out today, usual snail-mail to follow.

Congrats!! Tough call, indeed. Indiana is a fantastic school (I'm not sure of where they are in your subfields, but I do Vict. Lit and would kill for the post to reach the West Coast and put me out of my misery), but I do believe somewhere buried in their department page is info that funding in the first year or so can get squirrelly. I would personally pay more attention to which institutions are known/strong in my subfield and placement records than overall ranking, or which schools have scholars I really really want to work with (at least for the PhD). Re the MA: Funded MAs are an excellent choice, and they will put you in a much stronger position when you reapply (with the exception of a few schools who really prefer to promote from within and so discourage applicants who already hold an MA). It would give you time to develop and refine your scholarly interests, work on your writing, attend conferences, be on committees or take other service positions, etc. All of this is excellent professional development, and might make the idea of reapplying seem less horrific. If you're not going to rack up debt while doing it, and the programs offered suit you, I definitely don't think it's anything to sneeze at, esp. if either of those programs is known for tracking its students into the PhD (the good thing about this arrangement is that you can still apply other places as your MA comes to a close w/o looking ungrateful). Re. the PhD: It's a sure thing. It's Indiana. Have you visited any of these schools? That might influence how much you're willing to take on in the way of debt. There might be some fellowships or outside sources of funding still available for next fall, but my guess would be that that ship has pretty much sailed. If you're not sitting on a mountain of undergrad loans, though, one year is really not terrible. I sort of feel like the pros of Indiana don't need much reiterating. Cons: ? Lots of Indiana is flat as a pancake? Re. Insurance: I'm not sure whether your first post means the MA offers what might be better insurance or they might offer insurance (or if this is even important to you), but either way--if you are not offered insurance as part of a TA or fellowship at either school, you should still be eligible to buy into the regular group plan at the uni (and pay the premiums out of pocket). Wading through the relative costs of this is usually a beast, but unless you have ongoing health problems, the things that matter will be the fine print for stuff that is unpredictable and expensive (is there an annual deductible? How much? Is there an annual cap on benefits? How much? Is there catastrophic coverage? Are things like in-patient procedures and surgeries covered? ...ad nauseam). Possibly mundane things like prescription coverage, if it includes dental or eye care (if you want/need either), etc. If you do wind up with a TA position, you may be on a different/better plan than the school's main one (by virtue of having a union). ---I would look closely enough to make sure you can live with either plan and then not let it make or break the decision (barring serious health needs). I sort of feel like this is a thing most students don't pay any attention to until the sh!t hits the fan, and by then you won't be in any shape to go digging through the legalese, so pardon the excessive info.

Maybe it's like an airline and they deliberately overbooked, knowing/gambling that some people would not show up for check-in?

Yes--although I often think I'm batshit insane for doing so. I took some time off and "worked" (at various entry-level, retail, etc. blah jobs) for two years before coming back for an MA--long story, never mind. I'm certainly not sorry to be back in school, but I've been moving around so often and living out of boxes for so long that I often worry that I'll always have one foot out the door. Applying at all the first time was a total crap shoot, for which I was woefully under-prepared after being out of academia. Applying for PhD programs in English this round has likewise been a crap shoot. Even if I successfully complete the PhD, 6 or so years from now, getting a full time, stable position in my field (let alone something tenure-track) will be...you guessed! A crap shoot. I am setting myself up to enter a field in which there have been--for a long time now--far more qualified professionals than the economy or the academy can support, and this means that it is inherently unstable. At middle age, I could still be living like I am now: taking longer and longer to unpack after each move and playing the shell game with my debt. And yet...and yet. There is so much I love about this work: Being pleasantly surprised by that kernel of new and original thought or a witty turn of phrase in a struggling student's essay. Those minutes in front of a white board when my paper is still an inchoate mess of colored notes but is...almost...there--if I just jiggle the pieces a little bit longer. The chaotic cascade of old books spilling over my office desk, too large to ever be read cover to cover but promising infinite discovery. Lunch with fellow students that somehow degenerates into philosophical debates, and knowing that no matter how vehemently you disagree, you will all still be friends the next day, because vigorous debate is a healthy necessity in academia. Late night grading parties that plummet off the cliff into sleep-deprived insanity, leaving you all laughing hysterically on the floor, with jokes that will keep you afloat for weeks and make zero sense to anyone else. The smell of coffee in the morning before teaching, because my office mate got there first. Freedom to pursue topics of interest and importance to me, rather than those set by others. Hitting command+s and being DONE. I would be SO bored and miserable doing anything else. Masochistic? Quite possibly.

I'm sure he would--Mike is very nice--but I'm awkwardly placed at the moment and would prefer not to kick the hornet's nest too often. Thanks, though. I'll take comfort in the fact that the emails apparently haven't gone out.

Congrats to those admitted! Did any of you actually get the email? Those of us applying from within the program had to apply hardcopy and so can't check status online. NOT happy.

Ah. This. Generally, once your foot is in the door, it's possible to apply for funds within the department (or university wide) for things like specific research or conference travel. They are more competitive at some schools and in some fields than others, and a current grad student is a good person to ask for this info. I'm not sure how available it would be for something like a regular series of summer coursework at the university (for which you would ordinarily be paying them tuition), but you could ask a current grad who has presumably filled those requirements.

I'm sitting a couple floors above the department and haven't heard anything. They said this week--it might take a day or two to get letters written up and out. I wouldn't worry yet. Of course, I could also be doomed to final quarter of shame...

In lieu of a basement/cellar, an interior room (anything with no windows) will suffice. Even better: interior bathroom with a tub. The only real goal is to be away from glass (because the windows will blow from the change in pressure) and possibly the roof/debris (hence years of mindless duck and cover drills in primary school). I imagine that in cases of tornado warnings, any downstairs apartment neighbor would let you in . I wouldn't put it too high on your list of housing priorities.

Since I believe in not doing anything online I wouldn't say IRL (and I went first, perhaps spawning a bandwagon), I'll cop to a thumbs down. If it really cramps your style, PM me and I'll thumb it back up, but my reasons were: 1. Yes, bold font = internet yelling. (so does capslock). It's just puts readers unnecessarily on the defensive, I feel. 2. This is the sort of post that makes me suspect a troll (albeit the marginally subtler type who parodies those brown-nosing posters whose biggest problem is not being able to decide which of a half dozen excellent schools to go to. Sorry, anon. internet persons, but I just can't bring myself to care deeply about that level of angst). --I realize that in all likelihood you post was completely sincere and well-meant, but I frankly can't tell from your profile or use of this forum what you're doing here, what you hope to add to or gain from this community, or where you stand in relation to academia. If I could tell, say, that you were currently an undergraduate, your comments would make more sense to me and I could say "hey, FYI, this is something that matters a lot less at the grad. level." 3. Assuming it is totally sincere, this post is still not useful advice for a graduate or potential graduate student. At the graduate level, your level of respect for the faculty and department is conveyed by your knowledge of and enthusiasm for the work that is done there, by your respect for the person, space and time of your prospective faculty and peers. This means you show up having done your research, you remain willing to listen to others but able to discuss your own work intelligently, you don't monopolize anyone unduly at social functions, you shake hands firmly and make eye contact when people talk to you. You thank people for their time and (verbally or in writing) express enthusiasm for the department. You follow up promptly with those who were particularly generous with their time or invited you to stay in touch. There's nothing wrong with erring on the side of formal dress if it will make you feel more at ease, but school colors, pins, etc., IMO, come off as creepy and fan-ish (not to mention unrelated to the scholarly work). Chances are if you "revere" them too much, you will have a hard time becoming a peer to members of the faculty. There's also nothing wrong with being a fan of the school's teams or athletic programs (with which those colors are usually most closely associated), but that's not the point of graduate study, nor should it be the only image you project to your peers and mentors.

I voted my contract time, which is 20. Most weeks it is considerably less than that, but it evens out in weeks when I have stacks of essays to grade or hold student conferences, which can be massively time consuming. I therefore hold conferences (which are highly encouraged in my program) early in the quarter, before my own work eats my life.

It's quite common to apply to grad school senior year of undergrad (or the last year of an MA). As long as you are in good standing and expect to have the degree in hand by the time of enrollment, there is no problem applying. When they ask for a date of the degree on all the forms, just put the expected one. Ditto for the CV; you can add a (pending) or (expected) note in the education section.

Give it a week or so. I have actually recently been on the other end of this. I am genuinely happy for my friend, who very much deserves the acceptance, but I was pretty bummed at being turned down at a program where I thought I had really good fit. We sort of filled the space with offbeat snark, but I would never want my friend to have to hide zir happiness, struggles or plans from me indefinitely. Does your friend have an acceptance elsewhere yet? It can ease the sting, and you can then compare notes about dealing with schools post acceptance, visits, etc. In the mean time, if s/he needs space, give it. We all know what a crapshoot this process is, so there's no need (IMO) to rush in with the standard post-rejection platitudes. Perhaps agree on a waiting/cooling down period in which y'all hang out and focus on other parts of your friendship? Obviously you were good friends before the trial-by-fire of application season, and I sometimes think returning to staple fun activities is a low-pressure way to let off steam. This is actually going to require some talking at some point.

I would say it's possible to attempt negotiation--carefully and tactfully--without appearing "ungracious," esp. at schools that offer competitive funding (as opposed to ones that offer pretty much the same package to everyone). Regardless of how ivory tower our view of grad school occasionally is, it is still a business (and our way into a larger one). It will go much better if you have leverage of some sort (and if you haven't already made it clear you are super excited to attend Awesome U and would never, ever consider going anywhere else). Are you an attractive candidate for whom an extra summer of funding would make a deal of difference (I assume your advisor suggested this as something possibly achievable and useful to you). Even better: do you have an offer from Equally Awesome U? If you can (truthfully) suggest you would be better off financially elsewhere, it might make sense to go for it. Of course, I'm the sort of person who's sickeningly grateful to have a fully funded offer from anywhere at the moment, so take the above with a grain o' salt.

I will add to Bukharan's excellent overview that, depending on the program/field, some programs still insist on hard copies or will not allow you to send your recommending professors the links to the online system until you have completed your portion of the application. I would check on those when compiling timelines for professors. (I imagine in the sciences most of these are online). If you need to send hard copy letters, be sure to allow adequate time for long distance posting (although many programs will allow some leeway for letters to show up a bit past the official deadline), and it is considered standard (not to mention polite) to provide an addressed and stamped envelope along with any form the department requires the recommender to fill out. This form will include a waiver (even if you apply online) asking if you wish to waive your right to see the letter submitted for you. Hesitant as I am to take away any of your options, you should know that it's considered bad form in most fields to say anything other than "Yes, I waive my right..." The thinking behind this is that it frees the professor to be fully honest without worrying that you will see it and therefore lends the letter credibility. When choosing professors, I generally select ones with whom I've had a long and ongoing working relationship. If it's been some time since they have seen you in class/lab for whatever reason or you have new work that demonstrates your current interests, you can use the email to offer copies of old graded work from their courses, fresh work they haven't seen, or a copy of your statement of purpose or CV. This both shows you are organized and helps keep you on their radar. Ask them politely if and when they would like a follow up/reminder email between initial contact and the deadlines. In the States, it's pretty standard to send a thank you note when they're done and let them know how things turn out. (I recognize that we're much less formal with our professors than most German students/institutions, so I'm not sure what the follow up etiquette would be there). Viel Glück!

MoJingly, I believe that all the evidence one could ask was included in the spaces, but in response to the calls here for community cooperation and togetherness, I extend you the hand of friendship: Besties, WL