Tessjane77

Hi everyone! I started a Literature MA at a small school where I've been very happy; I've even made close friends in my cohort! However, they're pretty much the only other 20-somethings I know in this area. There are other grad programs here, some a lot bigger than mine (lots more people), but COVID has stopped any functions being organized between more than one program. My question, I guess, is how to meet people to potentially date nowadays? Between the smallness of my program and COVID restrictions, most of my single friends have resorted to dating apps, but I don't feel super enthusiastic about that route. Should I just wait around until restrictions lighten up or is there some other, not-crazy way to put myself out there?

tree frog

I’ve been extremely lucky to receive full (tuition) funding and a monthly stipend for the M.A. program I’m about to start. However, I applied for a part time job off campus to help with expenses like rent and food...the shop emailed me back a few days later asking when I was available to interview. I gave them multiple dates, but they never responded to that reply. I sent a follow-up email in case they for some reason didn’t get my first one with the dates, but they have not responded to that message either. Should I just move on, since I technically don’t NEED the job? I’d apply elsewhere, but very few places are hiring!

I just received an offer for Villanova! Waitlisted for funding, but I’m excited to finally have a “yes” somewhere.

Aw, thank you for the support! Yes, I am warming up to the idea of a high school level job, especially since post-secondary stuff is so crazy.

Well, she is not my main area of interest, and I wanted something a bit broader. You’re right, though, that I probably should have gone ahead and submitted an app.

Hey, so far I have only gotten waitlisted and rejected from programs. I haven’t heard back from everywhere yet, but, in the meantime, I have interviewed for a bunch of secondary/high school English teaching jobs that I honestly feel are more likely to accept me than some of these schools, at this point ? Did any of you guys work between college and applying to grad programs? What was it like to apply to schools after having been out of academia for a while?

Ugh. I just got two rejections and am feeling kind of bummed. Still either waitlisted or haven't heard from my top choices, though!

Ugh, every time I check my application statuses, they all say "decision pending". ? The wait is maddening! One thing I've been wondering: how many interviews or campus visits have you guys done? I applied to six schools, but have only been invited to interview at two. Does that mean anything/is it normal?

Update: It worked out! I spoke to the Admissions Department today, and they said that the unofficial score report I attached to my online application is fine for today's deadline; they understand that things like recs and official scores, from outside sources, aren't always on time so they give a few days after the deadline before truly closing admissions. Whew. Now if only I can make it through my senior undergrad exams...?

One of the app due dates for a Master’s Program I’m applying to is December 2nd (Monday). I tried earlier this week to add this school as an additional recipient for my GRE score report, but didn’t get any confirmation, so today I started to worry that order never went through. I’m going to call ETS and the school tomorrow, but, if it didn’t, it won’t get there by the due date from ordering it today (which I went ahead and did, just in case). I’m worried because my application will be incomplete and so not accepted if the test score doesn’t get there. Luckily, this is not one of my top choice schools, but I’d still like to apply! If the school doesn’t have it yet, I will plead with ETS tomorrow to send it that day. And maybe I can somehow get a pass because it was a technical issue, not me forgetting to fill out the form to send scores? But I should have confirmed earlier, so not sure that plea would work.... Is there anything else I can do???

Thanks for the reply. What you say makes sense, I sent him a well-crafted email inquiry earlier today that he has not responded to yet (but it's only been a few hours). If he doesn't reply in a couple days, or maybe regardless, I will call him to ask when he's available to meet or suss out when he'll be in his office. Trying not to stress about it. He's kind of an eccentric, so maybe he will be understanding? A contingency plan could be to solicit a reference from one of the other professors I worked/taught directly with for that job...have heard it's better to have a great review from a lesser-known prof than a lackluster one from a well-known prof. As to second part of your statement, I meant in my original post to convey that I performed well in the job besides this issue, not that I plan to ask another undergrad to write me a LoR. However, the harsh reality is that their opinions don't influence the main professor's. Ugh. I'll see how he responds to my message and go from there!

Hi! So, I am an undergrad senior applying to masters programs in literature. I have two good references locked down, but am anxious about the third. I worked as a TA and course tutor for my school’s writing program last year. This went well overall, but I was a couple minutes late to the actual class semi-regularly due to a scheduling mishap. I have discussed this with my supervisor and was not late to anything else regarding this job. I’m worried that it made me seem unprofessional to my supervisor, though? Would this loom over a rec letter from him? There are other professors and, more importantly, students, from the program who rave about me. However, I’d need a reference from the man himself (lol) and am not sure whether he feels he same way. Does anyone have advice?

I never finished Catch-22, am seriously lacking in plays, and my only Virginia Woolf is Orlando. Whoops.

Ah, I have heard good things about Villanova, but don't know much about it! I'll do a deep dive on their website, etc and PM you (thank you!) with any questions! Thanks for the suggestion.

Hello everyone! Longtime lurker, first time poster. I am a senior in undergrad applying for a masters with the end goal of teaching. I have a good but fluid list of places to apply to; I think my first (realistic, lol) choice is Wake Forest. Does anyone have insights about their program? My focus as an undergrad has been experimental poetry, particularly that of the beatniks. I’ve also taken courses in and published (albeit not on a massive scale) creative writing. I am near-fluent in a foreign language (French), have succeeded in high level French lit classes as well, and I have worked as a T.A. for underclassmen (that’s good for grad school, right? Maybe?) I took the GRE this summer and scored 167 on verbal, 153 on quant, and 4.1 on analytical writing. I am taking the lit subject test this weekend, actually, but am a bit nervous because I haven’t distinctly prepared for it. I took a couple practice tests this week to at least see what it is like and scored around a 540. How much do percentiles, what scores are considered “good”, etc. change from year to year with the subject test?