tinymica
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Posts posted by tinymica
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3 minutes ago, foreigncorrespondent said:
All applicants waiting on Penn: it's also definitely my top choice, but I'm wondering-- isn't the stipend comparatively non-competitive? I know the stipend isn't the primary concern in getting through grad school, but I'm also really thinking about the fact that I will be moving to a whole other side of the world for this. I do not want to be financially insecure on top of all the struggles grad school will invariably bring. I'm just weighing the expected stipend of the Benjamin Franklin fellowship against my other offers, which offer around $7-10k more. I'm just trying to figure out: is ~$24k in Philly enough for a single person? How is that, versus the ~$33k I'm being offered in Evanston, Illinois?
Have you checked out the extensive spreadsheet discussing financial packages? It considers programs' past financial offers against the COL in the programs' areas.
Edit: I believe the spreadsheet is pinned in the LRC main topic.
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@brownjournal we're in this together, my friend
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2 minutes ago, brownjournal said:
@tinymica is your name toward the end of the alphabet? Mine is and my portal hasn’t been updated / haven’t gotten an email
No, my last name begins with a C! So I'm very confused
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Okay, where's my Brown rejection? I"m ready to join the rejection club
- brownjournal and MichelleObama
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I don't want to clog up the thread with my fretting, so last post on this. Thank you to @MichelleObama @merry night wanderer @jm6394 @caffeinated applicant and @Wimsey for your offers of sympathy and your thoughts. I really appreciate everyone chatting with me about this and I have a lot to think about. While I'm glad to know I'm not alone in the career vs. relationship club, it makes me really sad to see how common a position it is for those of us pursuing academic paths. For me that just reinforces how lonely an environment it can be.
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On 2/20/2020 at 1:47 PM, Indecisive Poet said:
Seconding others who have asked if your partner can move with you (either now or in the near future). I think the biggest factor here is how serious your relationship is (and whether or not they're willing to move is potentially a part of that). It's really easy to tell young 20-somethings not to choose love over a career and it's usually good advice. But the situation changes when that person is your life partner (or if you think they might be and have discussed this with them). At that point, it's a situation unlike anything else, really – families remain families even when they only see each other a couple times a year, but relationships don't work that way. A lot of younger people who are applying to programs right now with or without girlfriends/boyfriends will tell you to choose your career over your S/O, but this dynamic becomes much more like asking someone to never see their child again when your S/O is your partner, a part of your family. It becomes a non-option.
I say all of this because I'm totally here with you: the application cycle didn't go well for my partner and I, and the most likely scenario for us now is one of us giving up academia indefinitely unless I manage to get a hold of the uber-competitive funding offered by the two British PhD programs we've been accepted to (spoiler: it's unlikely). And it's been frustrating having certain people on this forum who are rolling in the Best Luck of All Time with their admissions offers give me unsolicited advice based on where they are in their own lives.
I suppose what I want to say is: this is a decision only you can make. What kind of future would you be giving up with your S/O? What is this person to you, and you to them? And, secondarily, how big of a dip in rankings are we talking? There's a big difference between 13 v. 20 and 13 v. 65. We live in a hypercapitalist and careerist country/global society that cons us into believing independence and entrepreneurship at the expense of all else are actually intrinsic human values – but they aren't. If going to a lower-ranked program would open up every other section of your life for you, it sounds like that's right for you. If you think ending this relationship would mean you being sad for a time and then getting on with things, you might need to make the tougher decision. The question really is: what will matter more in the long term?
FWIW, I would kill for my decision to be as simple as choosing a program lower down the rungs. Being faced with no other option but re-applying or giving up the career has really put into perspective what I would have been willing to do if it had been that simple (although a very different decision may be what's right for you). Even still, the decision is a non-decision for me because giving up my family is not an option, but it's such a rough spot to be in.
Thank you so much for your insightful reply. My boyfriend and I have been together for almost 2 years. We've been talking for a while about moving in together, but nothing so serious as marriage. I do love him and I'm very attached to him, but I don't feel comfortable calling him my life partner at this point in our relationship. I don't know that, if I had never applied to school and if I were planning to stay here for the next 50 years, we would stay together. It would be very painful to have to end things, but I know I would live. And rationally, I know he's not the only person in the world. I don't think I would never love again. But I don't want anyone else. I don't want to even look at anyone else. This person feels like...he's almost a part of me. He's such a good person, partner, and friend. This is the happiest, most fulfilling relationship I've ever had. I feel like I would be throwing it away if I ended it. I'm crying just thinking about it, but when I read this paragraph over again it seems obvious what I should do.
As far as programs, it would be a significant dip. Like, 13 to 35. I feel I have to consider that. Thank you for your thoughts and thank you for sharing your own experience. I'm so, so sorry you're in such a difficult position. It must be frustrating to watch the goings-on in this forum from a heart-wrenching place. I wish you the very best moving forward.
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41 minutes ago, ecogoth said:
I fully, fully, fully understand - I chose to only apply to schools in New England precisely because I wanted to be near to family and friends! While limiting in some ways, I also think chasing some elusive idea of "prestige" somewhere fully random can be limiting in a LOT of other ways. In short, quality of life matters - and I don't think the notion of prestige outweighs happiness! Like truly, what does success mean to you?
I considered doing the same! I ended up applying to a lot of schools on the east coast because I suddenly felt that I was limiting myself by wanting to stay in California and by applying only to middle-tier schools. I personally don't put much value into prestige and I initially wanted to avoid it, but I was encouraged to think about how much a degree from a prestigious program is worth down the line. Most, if not all, of us want a TT job after graduation and we are all aware of how scarce those opportunities are. That's why I feel I couldn't refuse an offer from a big-name program, though a big name doesn't mean success to me. I would honestly be happy with my one acceptance so far (UW), but I feel like that program doesn't stand up to others I've applied to (UVA, Brown, UPenn).
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44 minutes ago, gooniesneversaydie said:
I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. I don't want to pry too much (and I assume you've thought about all of this already), but could your partner move with you? Do you think it could possibly work long distance until they are in a place to move? Or could you stay long distance for the duration of the program and go home during the summer? We make a lot of sacrifices to be in this very elite space, but I hate to think someone has to sacrifice love (again, assuming you are in love). Or, maybe one way to think of it, is which love makes you happier as a person? The current state you're in or the potential to go somewhere for grad school and get PhD? Again, I hate that you would have to choose either. I've been fortunate enough to have a partner who is able to follow me around wherever, but more importantly, is able to handle me during my most stressful academic-related (and nonacademic) times. My hope is that you're able to find what's best for you and you find peace with whatever you potentially need to sacrifice in that journey.
Thank you for taking the time to reply; I am so appreciative of this community! My boyfriend is willing to move with me, but only if I stay on the west coast (we're from California, specifically the LA area). I don't blame him at all for not wanting to move cross-country. When I asked him to consider it, I did so without expecting or demanding anything. We've made a plan that if I stay in the west, we'll be long-distance until he's 1) saved enough to make the move and 2) found a job in the area. I don't think I'd be able to maintain a long-distance relationship for the entire length of the program.
You ask some very good question about happiness and I have to say I don't know the answer right now. I love my boyfriend and I love the work I'll get to do when I start school. I don't know how to measure them at the moment. I have to say, I'm so happy that your partner is able to move with you and support you! Having someone like that in your life is such a blessing! Thank you for your well wishes.
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Sorry if this is too personal, I just want to vent quickly... I'm feeling very conflicted. At the moment, I'm in a 1a/1r/1w/4p situation. Honestly, I'm not upset about it. I'm pleased with the offer I did receive and I wasn't very attached to the school that rejected me or the school that waitlisted me. Like everyone else I've been in a state of constant anxiety, swinging between fear and excitement. I can't stop thinking about Brown (my top choice), but I don't know how to process my feelings about it. It would be amazing if I did get an offer from them, which I absolutely don't expect because they're so prestigious and I'm really not up to that caliber, but I almost....don't want to go? And that's crazy, right? Because it's Brown. Part of me gets so excited about the opportunities waiting there. But another part of me is stuck on the massive change to my personal life that that would bring: I would have to end my relationship, which I really don't want to do. And actually, that would be the case if I chose to go to any of the 4 schools I'm waiting for. All those programs would objectively be better than the one I was accepted into; I feel that if I got a really good offer from any of them I wouldn't be able to refuse. So that makes me feel like I almost don't want any more offers. And that's even crazier.
Of course, I don't know anything yet and I'm just stuck in this spiral of speculation. Anyway, time to go for a walk and not think about this for a while.
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12 minutes ago, Rani13 said:
Waitlisted at UVA with a rather odd email. OK.
Ahhh that spells rejection for me. I've heard nothing but crickets from them. A waitlist isn't anything to sneeze at! There's still hope!
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27 minutes ago, merry night wanderer said:
Joining the classics major club: I would have triple majored if I'd gone to my undergrad with any credit whatsoever! I got to advanced level in Ancient Greek, at least, though translating the Medea during a ridiculous semester where I was dealing with a breakup by taking 18 hours (including a grad philosophy course and Logic II) and TAing at the same time broke my brain and I stopped lol. It was a wonderful experience, but I distinctly remember looking at a choral passage (where a lot has to be translated based on inference) and my teacher going, "Yeah, we still have no idea how to really translate this" and going I can't handle another semester. But I wish I had just gone through with it; I was a class away from a minor.
I think because the number of classics majors tend to be so small, and the language requirements are so stringent, they tend to be some of my favorite people. Just a lot of intellectual curiosity.
Oh wow, that's super impressive! It sounds like you were going through a really rough time under all your commitments; I don't blame you for stepping back. And yessss I can't tell you how many times I came into class all happy with my at-home translation and just had my reality shattered lol. But that's part of the fun! I love learning new ways to translate or otherwise say things in English. I don't miss my grammar nut of a professor, though! He always made my class translate linearly, as in word-by-word, which is frustrating since your verb and your subject are often separated by like 4 lines of poetry!
I think that the closeness of the classics circle fosters great relationships. Some of my closest friends are the ones I met in the classics department and I've only ever encountered one classics major that I couldn't stand! And because everyone's interests are so varied, I learned a lot from my peers.
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29 minutes ago, MichelleObama said:
I am also a classics nerd! Classical Studies became one of my majors. I took a year of Latin under the Classics and Ancient History minor and found I'd miss classics too much, so I declared the full major and committed to another year of Latin and I am SO glad I did! I want to do a million projects regarding race/slavery/women in antiquity which was part of my research proposal in my SOP. Classics are addictive af. Such a huge chasm in scholarship regarding female slaves!
Oh yay, I love this classics club! I truly wish I had enough time to declare the major, but I'm grateful for the time I got to spend studying. Though I don't know how I would fit my interest in classics into my current research interests, I definitely can't abandon my love for Latin poetry and I want to take some more Latin in grad school.
Your research sounds so interesting and I would love to read it further down the line! That topic needs more attention for sure.
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4 hours ago, Wimsey said:
Yay, another classics enthusiast! I also started with a minor, but my professors got me to declare a classics major at the last minute.
Oh, if my Latin professor had gotten to me even a quarter earlier than she did, I would've been a double-major for sure. My classics department in undergrad was extremely small (3 professors, maybe 9 students?) so I love meeting other classics nerds!
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1 hour ago, Wimsey said:
I agree with the comfort of streaming services haha. I started Bones recently and am finding it a good diversion from the stress.
Oh, I love Bones! I can never get into the last couple of seasons, but I rewatch anyway. Also I just noticed that you did your BA in classics as well as English; that’s so cool! I almost did the same, but I would’ve had to stay longer than 4 years so I ended up declaring a minor in classics. It was so much fun!
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1 hour ago, gooniesneversaydie said:
I've been binging Unexpected (similar to Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant) on Hulu, myself. Reality TV drama is a welcome, albeit non-stimulating, distraction from all this intellectual stress. How did our forefathers apply to grad school without streaming services to help alleviate the pain???
Thanks for the recommendation! I hate/love reality tv so I’ll check it out. I don’t understand how people dealt with this in the past. They must’ve been stronger than I am lol
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I don't work today, so I'm basically spending all day biting my nails and trying not to check my email every 5 seconds. Seeing that some have already received acceptances from UVA and Brown just makes me think I must be rejected, but it isn't over till it's over I suppose. If anyone is looking for a distraction, I just started watching Next in Fashion on Netflix (knowing nothing about fashion) and it's keeping my brain in check for now!
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On 2/17/2020 at 11:53 AM, gooniesneversaydie said:
Definitely not alone. Last year I made a huge move from east coast to west coast for a program and it turned out to be a nightmare. Not having an established security net makes the process all the more daunting. I also am incredibly introverted (with just a hint of social anxiety) so when I went to the meet and greet weekend, I had a really hard time building relationships - granted 2 days isn't enough time. However, it was a great way to gauge the community and potential social circles. I opted to stay with a grad host over night, which was terrifying but definitely helped. Luckily, they were incredibly honest about the pros and cons of the program. For someone like me, it's hard to force myself into any conversation, but it's got to be done for this process. My undergrad profs always recommended I reach out to current grad students via email even before hearing from the school to gauge the potential support. Did I do this? God no. Again, terrified introvert. But the visits, if offered and possible to attend, do help.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I have spoken to current grad students at most of the programs I applied to, but I will be sure to ask about community when I do visit.
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Also, I’ve been thinking lately about possible difficulties in establishing a solid community wherever it is that I go. For most of us, this fall will bring a massive move, some even cross-country. I’ve heard that some programs can be very isolated or antisocial, which to me is a con because much of the work we’ll be doing is stressful and lonely to begin with. Am I wrong to worry about this? Does anyone have experience with this?
Personally, I’ve made a big move before and I was lucky to establish a great social circle, but I was an undergrad in an exchange program. This feels fundamentally different.
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1 hour ago, timespentreading said:
As I posted here Thursday, I emailed U of Oregon, SUNY Buffalo, and Brown for updates on Thursday afternoon, since their deadlines were all mid-December, and I've seen notifications on the GC board. Even though everyone is swamped, I also thought this would be a good way to gauge how overstretched the department is, since a good friend of mine who's in a TT English professorship told me if they don't have time for you as a prospective student, they won't have time for you as an enrolled student.
Brown emailed back same day, as I already posted here, saying it might be another week. Buffalo notified me to check my portal Friday morning; I'm on the waitlist there. And Oregon finally emailed me back Friday at about 6pm with this:
"Thank you for reaching out. I understand that waiting can be the toughest part. It is my understanding from the Admission Committee that notifications are anticipated to be out by the end of February. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I do hope this helps."
Here's hoping we all get many updates this week!
Thank you so much for posting these updates! I literally woke up this morning thinking “BROWN” and scrabbling to check my email. I fully expect to get rejected, but I just want to know for sure already!
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2 hours ago, Lblack said:
Same! I’m anxious to get the final rejection/acceptance. I’ll likely end up choosing UCR anyways, but it would be nice to have options.
Hey, that’s great! I just finished up my undergrad at UCR last year. People like to be rude about the area and the school (in the context of the whole UC system) but the faculty is wonderful and so is the community. I considered going back there for their grad program just because of that, but ultimately decided to move on. If you do choose them, I think you’ll have a blast!
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1 hour ago, MichelleObama said:
Congratulations on your UW offer! I just finished my undergrad there in December and the English Department is so hella wonderful. I've also lived in Seattle for my whole life should you (or anyone) have any questions.
Thank you so much! I'm very happy and excited to visit campus in March. I'd love to hear more about your experience there and get some tips about Seattle-living! I'll likely be PM'ing you in the near future.
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Hi everyone! I came onto this topic months and months ago asking for advice about applications and I just wanted to say thank you so everyone who helped me out! I'm happy to say I've gotten an offer from UW. Rejected from Cornell (this was expected) and waitlisted at UC Davis. Still waiting on some more schools (which sucks) but it's really nice to know this community is here and we're all relatively in the same "waiting" boat
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Hello! I'm planning to apply this December to a number of doctoral programs in English literature. I took the GRE last year and, while I didn't completely bomb it, I wasn't happy with my scores. I've already signed up for a re-take and even a prep course, but a friend of mine told me the GRE is just a formality at this point and I should cancel it in order to focus my attention on the more important components of my applications (WS, PS, LOC). To those of you who've been through the applications/admissions ringer, what do you think?
Thank you very much for any responses ?
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9 hours ago, signandsignifiers said:
Also Victorianist here (current grad student)! I took both of these approaches and it worked out fairly well: I only got 2 straight-out rejections.
I'd also look into Boston College, Boston University, University of Indiana: Bloomington, and UC Riverside, to name a few places that come directly to mind. While all of those top-tier programs that you posted are fabulous, you'll want some middle-ground applications as well.
Hello, thank you for your reply!
Thanks also for giving me some more places to look into! I've heard great things about the University of Indiana!
2020 Applicants
in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
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I'm sorry about your rejections! Sushi and a movie sounds super nice. My favorite "don't be sad" movies are Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Anybody else have some good rejection-movie recs?