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meghan_sparkle

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  1. Like
    meghan_sparkle reacted to snorkles in Academia Is a Cult   
    This whole post comes across as just another form of proselytizing. I am truly sorry that academia disappointed you as it will many others, but please consider that the people here are intelligent enough to question these issues without needing to watch someone sell their brand in a TED talk. 
  2. Like
    meghan_sparkle reacted to MichelleObama in 2021 Applicants   
    we love to see it!! congrats!
  3. Upvote
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from anxiousphd in Georgetown MA but no funding   
    The simple answer is no. Plenty of people get into PhD programs without MAs. They can be great to prepare you for graduate work and for the application cycle, but the steep cost of no funding at a place like Georgetown—the tradeoff isn't anywhere near worth it imo. (I would say the same for the UChicago MAPH too, fwiw.) If you come from a wealthy family and dropping that kind of $ is not an issue, well, by all means I guess (still not worth it imo) ... but for most people, it just is not a great investment, just way too expensive when any kind of graduate work should be funded. When you add to that sunk cost the state of the job market and the effect COVID has had on admissions, even moreso. Plus generally unfunded masters in the humanities are cash cows for the university. Sorry to be a downer—I just think there are so many other ways in here, ones that don't come at that steep a cost.
  4. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from AnxiousKnuckles in 2020 Acceptances   
    From everything I felt going in and all of the replies I've had so far, what set me apart was my writing sample. It was a revised combination of my undergraduate dissertation and a masters seminar paper, both on the same (contemporary American) poet. It ranged back to 19th century, had original archival work, careful close readings, and chewed on broader issues of genre, criticism, reading and the ethics of handling a writer's work and papers.I reaaaaally worked my ass off on it. I usually hate everything I write, but every time I opened that pdf file in between submitting and now, I didn't think 'oh god this actually sucks', I thought 'yeah that's really about the best I could humanly do and I think they'll like it.' Once the cycle is over, I'll have more thoughts—feel a bit weird being so specific in such a public forum without having made a decision yet, knowing that a few places I have left to hear from are probably still deliberating. And again, I really don't think it's helpful in the sense that certain interests = a secret sauce; that kind of logic just isn't correct. 
    Edit: I will just say that even though I worked my ass off on it, it had typos. And I think I'm the first person ever to get into Chicago with a statement of purpose that referred to the fiction of—I kid you not—'David Foster Fallace'. Do not edit your statement at 3:30 AM before the 5 AM deadline (I'm in the UK). It will not "get better". Point being, my app had flaws, and I don't present as a "smart" person, and in many ways I really am not lol. My best friend was over for dinner when the Yale email came in and in the course of screaming and celebrating she said, "It's actually really encouraging that someone who is as much of a mess as you are could get into these places" and reader, she is RIGHT.
  5. Like
    meghan_sparkle reacted to robertsona_grad in 2021 Applicants   
    Welp, applied three or four days ago to Yale (combined PhD with Film and Media Studies), Irvine, and Berkeley. Got into Cambridge and rejected from Oxford two years ago, so we'll see what happens. Simply waiting for 2/3 of my rec-letter writers to submit before the 15th. Good luck to everyone!
  6. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from ashwel11 in 2021 Closed Admissions   
    Just poking in to say I can't imagine how enormously frustrating and sad this is for the fall 2020 applicants. If it's any consolation (not that there needs to be consolation) I think what programs choose to do this season (whether they pause and why, how true or false words about closing admissions 'to support current graduate students' end up being) will be really ... telling. Telling for what it would like to be in that program, telling for the longevity of the humanities PhD, telling for the profession ...
    There is also really no harm in taking a year out and working, if that would be possible. (Though I guess it's sort of like weighing up the choice to defer this year: there's no guarantee it will be better next year.) I worked for 2 years before applying and 1. professors mention my previous job all the time so clearly it's some kind of positive? 2. I really think the step back and gaining perspective was necessary, at least for me personally. Some go straight through (undergrad to PhD or UG, masters, PhD) and it works great for them, but I won't lie, most of the time, it really shows when someone has never been out of school as an adult before. (Sorry if that's a controversial view, don't mean to offend anyone—I just really genuinely think it can make you a better scholar and writer to step out of the academy for a minute, even if this year it may not be by choice for a lot of people.) Hang in there!
  7. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from CyberHarpie in 2021 Closed Admissions   
    Just poking in to say I can't imagine how enormously frustrating and sad this is for the fall 2020 applicants. If it's any consolation (not that there needs to be consolation) I think what programs choose to do this season (whether they pause and why, how true or false words about closing admissions 'to support current graduate students' end up being) will be really ... telling. Telling for what it would like to be in that program, telling for the longevity of the humanities PhD, telling for the profession ...
    There is also really no harm in taking a year out and working, if that would be possible. (Though I guess it's sort of like weighing up the choice to defer this year: there's no guarantee it will be better next year.) I worked for 2 years before applying and 1. professors mention my previous job all the time so clearly it's some kind of positive? 2. I really think the step back and gaining perspective was necessary, at least for me personally. Some go straight through (undergrad to PhD or UG, masters, PhD) and it works great for them, but I won't lie, most of the time, it really shows when someone has never been out of school as an adult before. (Sorry if that's a controversial view, don't mean to offend anyone—I just really genuinely think it can make you a better scholar and writer to step out of the academy for a minute, even if this year it may not be by choice for a lot of people.) Hang in there!
  8. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from kirbs005 in 2021 Closed Admissions   
    Just poking in to say I can't imagine how enormously frustrating and sad this is for the fall 2020 applicants. If it's any consolation (not that there needs to be consolation) I think what programs choose to do this season (whether they pause and why, how true or false words about closing admissions 'to support current graduate students' end up being) will be really ... telling. Telling for what it would like to be in that program, telling for the longevity of the humanities PhD, telling for the profession ...
    There is also really no harm in taking a year out and working, if that would be possible. (Though I guess it's sort of like weighing up the choice to defer this year: there's no guarantee it will be better next year.) I worked for 2 years before applying and 1. professors mention my previous job all the time so clearly it's some kind of positive? 2. I really think the step back and gaining perspective was necessary, at least for me personally. Some go straight through (undergrad to PhD or UG, masters, PhD) and it works great for them, but I won't lie, most of the time, it really shows when someone has never been out of school as an adult before. (Sorry if that's a controversial view, don't mean to offend anyone—I just really genuinely think it can make you a better scholar and writer to step out of the academy for a minute, even if this year it may not be by choice for a lot of people.) Hang in there!
  9. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from punctilious in 2021 Closed Admissions   
    Just poking in to say I can't imagine how enormously frustrating and sad this is for the fall 2020 applicants. If it's any consolation (not that there needs to be consolation) I think what programs choose to do this season (whether they pause and why, how true or false words about closing admissions 'to support current graduate students' end up being) will be really ... telling. Telling for what it would like to be in that program, telling for the longevity of the humanities PhD, telling for the profession ...
    There is also really no harm in taking a year out and working, if that would be possible. (Though I guess it's sort of like weighing up the choice to defer this year: there's no guarantee it will be better next year.) I worked for 2 years before applying and 1. professors mention my previous job all the time so clearly it's some kind of positive? 2. I really think the step back and gaining perspective was necessary, at least for me personally. Some go straight through (undergrad to PhD or UG, masters, PhD) and it works great for them, but I won't lie, most of the time, it really shows when someone has never been out of school as an adult before. (Sorry if that's a controversial view, don't mean to offend anyone—I just really genuinely think it can make you a better scholar and writer to step out of the academy for a minute, even if this year it may not be by choice for a lot of people.) Hang in there!
  10. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from Bopie5 in 2021 Closed Admissions   
    Just poking in to say I can't imagine how enormously frustrating and sad this is for the fall 2020 applicants. If it's any consolation (not that there needs to be consolation) I think what programs choose to do this season (whether they pause and why, how true or false words about closing admissions 'to support current graduate students' end up being) will be really ... telling. Telling for what it would like to be in that program, telling for the longevity of the humanities PhD, telling for the profession ...
    There is also really no harm in taking a year out and working, if that would be possible. (Though I guess it's sort of like weighing up the choice to defer this year: there's no guarantee it will be better next year.) I worked for 2 years before applying and 1. professors mention my previous job all the time so clearly it's some kind of positive? 2. I really think the step back and gaining perspective was necessary, at least for me personally. Some go straight through (undergrad to PhD or UG, masters, PhD) and it works great for them, but I won't lie, most of the time, it really shows when someone has never been out of school as an adult before. (Sorry if that's a controversial view, don't mean to offend anyone—I just really genuinely think it can make you a better scholar and writer to step out of the academy for a minute, even if this year it may not be by choice for a lot of people.) Hang in there!
  11. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from Glasperlenspieler in 2021 Closed Admissions   
    Just poking in to say I can't imagine how enormously frustrating and sad this is for the fall 2020 applicants. If it's any consolation (not that there needs to be consolation) I think what programs choose to do this season (whether they pause and why, how true or false words about closing admissions 'to support current graduate students' end up being) will be really ... telling. Telling for what it would like to be in that program, telling for the longevity of the humanities PhD, telling for the profession ...
    There is also really no harm in taking a year out and working, if that would be possible. (Though I guess it's sort of like weighing up the choice to defer this year: there's no guarantee it will be better next year.) I worked for 2 years before applying and 1. professors mention my previous job all the time so clearly it's some kind of positive? 2. I really think the step back and gaining perspective was necessary, at least for me personally. Some go straight through (undergrad to PhD or UG, masters, PhD) and it works great for them, but I won't lie, most of the time, it really shows when someone has never been out of school as an adult before. (Sorry if that's a controversial view, don't mean to offend anyone—I just really genuinely think it can make you a better scholar and writer to step out of the academy for a minute, even if this year it may not be by choice for a lot of people.) Hang in there!
  12. Like
    meghan_sparkle reacted to Glasperlenspieler in Philosophy in an English PhD   
    Depends on what you mean. Certainly you can deeply engage with philosophy in a literature PhD program, take courses focusing on philosophy, discuss philosophers in your dissertation, etc. However, I expect most English and Comparative Literature programs are going to expect you to take significant coursework in literary studies and produce a dissertation that deals significantly with literature or another form of cultural/aesthetic production.
    You can look at the titles of recent dissertations on many departmental websites, and I think it's pretty rare for most programs to find a dissertation that is "primarily" dealing with philosophical texts. 
    It's pretty unlikely you'll find much support for pursuing analytic philosophy in a literature department. You will certainly find support in many departments to pursue studies in continental philosophy (I hate that distinction, but that's a different can of worms). But if you want to "primarily" focus on philosophy, why would you want to be in a literature department?
  13. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from sapphic in 2020 Acceptances   
    I pledge allegiance
    To the Susans*
    Of the Princeton University English department
    And to the novel
    For which it stands ...
    *Wolfson and Stewart obvs
    ---
    Okay I'll stop now. My heart is being pulled in 10,000 directions and beating very fast because I wasn't expecting anything over the weekend but ... I just ... got in ... to Princeton.
    I know it's obnoxious but I'm posting 1. For posterity, so people know this can happen 2. Because my entire family asked me repeatedly over Christmas "What will you do if you get rejected from everywhere?" and I was so terrified because I'd worked so hard night and day on apps I didn't have an answer. And while I was feverishly working on them an awful ex-boyfriend asked to "swing by and wish me luck" a few days before the deadline and walked into my living room to say "You know you're really not smart, right? You try to make it seem like you are but you just never ... produce much of anything" About that, luv. About that.
    I felt like a loser for two years after a particularly shitty time during my masters, and I've struggled with having zero self confidence even longer than that. I have had embarrassing failures that made a huge dent in my ability to move forward. This? It can happen. Admissions is a wildly unfair process and I think more than anything I've just been incredibly incredibly lucky, but I lurked on these boards on and off for years thinking, "I'm too stupid, I'm a loser, this will never happen for me." For anyone who remotely fits that description reading this now or in future just please know that it can.
  14. Upvote
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from RaskolnikovsConscience in Best programs for editing jobs?   
    No, no, and no. I interned at one of the ones you list for about 6 months straight out of undergrad. An MA in literature really is not necessary to work at these; what's much more helpful is journalistic experience and connections (say, if your goal is NYRB/The New Yorker, try to write for LARB or keep an eye on entry-level positions going at, say, Slate—Slate has a lot of lateral movement to those places). PhD --> literary journalism has in recent years become something of an alt ac track; think Naomi Fry (NYU PhD --> New York Times Magazine --> New Yorker) or Josephine Livingstone (NYU PhD --> New Republic staff writer + freelance for New Yorker et al). But it's pretty rare, and in all cases, those who are successful at it 1.) Are very lucky 2.) Wrote freelance and networked throughout their PhD. So it's not necessarily that a PhD leads to these opportunities; more that when you're doing a PhD in New York and there are no job opportunities in academia, the next best thing for someone who also writes/edits freelance is to move into journalism.
    It's extortionately expensive and not funded, but if you reeeeally want to do a terminal MA, Columbia's journalism MA is going to get you in the door (as in, set you up with work placement opportunities and connections) much better than an MA in Literature would. The MA in Literature is set up to either be a terminal degree or to prepare people for PhD programs—I can't really see the connection to the career path you're highlighting. 
    I also feel compelled to say this (don't shoot the messenger). Editing careers at the New Yorker, NYRB, Harper's, TLS (which is in London, by the way--wasn't sure if you knew, because the others you list are all US-based, but the News UK salary for the TLS will certainly not be high enough for a visa sponsorship if you're American), etc are extremely rare. Even if you've been educated at top institutions and have connections and can get a foot in the door, there's a huge amount of competition for a dwindling number of positions. The places you list all have fairly small editorial staffs with 1, maybe 2 interns—interns that are criminally underpaid (in Harper's case, not paid at all). The editors themselves have either been at the mag a very long time, or come with several years of editing experience from somewhere else. What's more, upward movement in these careers is rapidly becoming a thing of the past; hardly any entry-level internships ever see promotions to editorial assistant or assistant editor positions. Harper's also has a fairly dictatorial publisher who has driven out long-time editors over disputes related to, e.g., doxxing individuals related to the MeToo movement, which is par for the course in this industry. Literary magazines often exist through the benefaction of a single wealthy publisher, and thus are beholden to the wills and whims of rich people.
    Anyway—I really don't mean to rain on your parade, I promise, just food for thought. This is all intel that isn't clear to a reader of these mags on the outside looking in, and it's something I'd wish someone told me when I was just starting out. 
  15. Upvote
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from slouching in Best programs for editing jobs?   
    No, no, and no. I interned at one of the ones you list for about 6 months straight out of undergrad. An MA in literature really is not necessary to work at these; what's much more helpful is journalistic experience and connections (say, if your goal is NYRB/The New Yorker, try to write for LARB or keep an eye on entry-level positions going at, say, Slate—Slate has a lot of lateral movement to those places). PhD --> literary journalism has in recent years become something of an alt ac track; think Naomi Fry (NYU PhD --> New York Times Magazine --> New Yorker) or Josephine Livingstone (NYU PhD --> New Republic staff writer + freelance for New Yorker et al). But it's pretty rare, and in all cases, those who are successful at it 1.) Are very lucky 2.) Wrote freelance and networked throughout their PhD. So it's not necessarily that a PhD leads to these opportunities; more that when you're doing a PhD in New York and there are no job opportunities in academia, the next best thing for someone who also writes/edits freelance is to move into journalism.
    It's extortionately expensive and not funded, but if you reeeeally want to do a terminal MA, Columbia's journalism MA is going to get you in the door (as in, set you up with work placement opportunities and connections) much better than an MA in Literature would. The MA in Literature is set up to either be a terminal degree or to prepare people for PhD programs—I can't really see the connection to the career path you're highlighting. 
    I also feel compelled to say this (don't shoot the messenger). Editing careers at the New Yorker, NYRB, Harper's, TLS (which is in London, by the way--wasn't sure if you knew, because the others you list are all US-based, but the News UK salary for the TLS will certainly not be high enough for a visa sponsorship if you're American), etc are extremely rare. Even if you've been educated at top institutions and have connections and can get a foot in the door, there's a huge amount of competition for a dwindling number of positions. The places you list all have fairly small editorial staffs with 1, maybe 2 interns—interns that are criminally underpaid (in Harper's case, not paid at all). The editors themselves have either been at the mag a very long time, or come with several years of editing experience from somewhere else. What's more, upward movement in these careers is rapidly becoming a thing of the past; hardly any entry-level internships ever see promotions to editorial assistant or assistant editor positions. Harper's also has a fairly dictatorial publisher who has driven out long-time editors over disputes related to, e.g., doxxing individuals related to the MeToo movement, which is par for the course in this industry. Literary magazines often exist through the benefaction of a single wealthy publisher, and thus are beholden to the wills and whims of rich people.
    Anyway—I really don't mean to rain on your parade, I promise, just food for thought. This is all intel that isn't clear to a reader of these mags on the outside looking in, and it's something I'd wish someone told me when I was just starting out. 
  16. Upvote
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from onerepublic96 in Best programs for editing jobs?   
    No, no, and no. I interned at one of the ones you list for about 6 months straight out of undergrad. An MA in literature really is not necessary to work at these; what's much more helpful is journalistic experience and connections (say, if your goal is NYRB/The New Yorker, try to write for LARB or keep an eye on entry-level positions going at, say, Slate—Slate has a lot of lateral movement to those places). PhD --> literary journalism has in recent years become something of an alt ac track; think Naomi Fry (NYU PhD --> New York Times Magazine --> New Yorker) or Josephine Livingstone (NYU PhD --> New Republic staff writer + freelance for New Yorker et al). But it's pretty rare, and in all cases, those who are successful at it 1.) Are very lucky 2.) Wrote freelance and networked throughout their PhD. So it's not necessarily that a PhD leads to these opportunities; more that when you're doing a PhD in New York and there are no job opportunities in academia, the next best thing for someone who also writes/edits freelance is to move into journalism.
    It's extortionately expensive and not funded, but if you reeeeally want to do a terminal MA, Columbia's journalism MA is going to get you in the door (as in, set you up with work placement opportunities and connections) much better than an MA in Literature would. The MA in Literature is set up to either be a terminal degree or to prepare people for PhD programs—I can't really see the connection to the career path you're highlighting. 
    I also feel compelled to say this (don't shoot the messenger). Editing careers at the New Yorker, NYRB, Harper's, TLS (which is in London, by the way--wasn't sure if you knew, because the others you list are all US-based, but the News UK salary for the TLS will certainly not be high enough for a visa sponsorship if you're American), etc are extremely rare. Even if you've been educated at top institutions and have connections and can get a foot in the door, there's a huge amount of competition for a dwindling number of positions. The places you list all have fairly small editorial staffs with 1, maybe 2 interns—interns that are criminally underpaid (in Harper's case, not paid at all). The editors themselves have either been at the mag a very long time, or come with several years of editing experience from somewhere else. What's more, upward movement in these careers is rapidly becoming a thing of the past; hardly any entry-level internships ever see promotions to editorial assistant or assistant editor positions. Harper's also has a fairly dictatorial publisher who has driven out long-time editors over disputes related to, e.g., doxxing individuals related to the MeToo movement, which is par for the course in this industry. Literary magazines often exist through the benefaction of a single wealthy publisher, and thus are beholden to the wills and whims of rich people.
    Anyway—I really don't mean to rain on your parade, I promise, just food for thought. This is all intel that isn't clear to a reader of these mags on the outside looking in, and it's something I'd wish someone told me when I was just starting out. 
  17. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from MichelleObama in 2020 Applicants   
    LOL. Not a triple air sign but I feel this.
  18. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from MichelleObama in 2020 Applicants   
    you're killing it
  19. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from MichelleObama in 2020 Applicants   
    I've finally made a big pro/con spreadsheet and one of the first categories is figuring out what my annual stipend is after taxes and university fees. However, trying to figure out federal and state taxes on any of these fellowships (which so far are all in different states) is proving near impossible, even when places like Yale have extensive GSAS tax information webpages, because I am stupid. I haven't taken a math course—haven't taken anything but English literature courses, actually—since the age of 17. In the UK my wages are automatically taxed and I don't really have to do anything, and I just have to fill out an IRS form for my US taxes saying that I live in the UK with income already taxed there and make way under the threshold of taxable income.
    Is there an easier way of going about this? Like a two or three-step addition and subtraction-type deal...? Like really breaking it down, Taxes-For-Dummies style. Just for my Excel spreadsheet. 
  20. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from MichelleObama in 2020 Applicants   
    Mood.
    This is me every time a bit of positive news enters my inbox: 
    Edit: Just for the record (since my sense of humor is terrible) I'm kidding, I love several of the places I haven't heard back from, but oh man. Trying to figure out whether I should go to the café first and library second or the other way around paralyzes me with indecision most days. How will I make an even harder decision??
  21. Like
    meghan_sparkle reacted to TheorySchmeory in 2021 Applicants   
    Not to speak out of my expertise here, which is limited to what I've seen and experienced from a single application cycle, but I'm not sure the ideas of "Reach" and "Match" can be applied to graduate programs in the same way as they can be readily applied to undergrad programs. Although an applicant's statistical chances might be higher at one school than another, many perfectly qualified applicants are rejected from programs for various unpredictable reasons (maybe their interests aren't well suited to the department, or a professor they would like to work with is going on leave, etc.). Some people are rejected from lower-ranked programs and accepted to higher ones. Forgive me if I'm only repeating information you already know, but I just wanted to opine that these categories are not ultimately very useful for applicants thinking about grad schools. At any rate, that is a really useful list, and and thank you for sharing it here!
  22. Like
    meghan_sparkle reacted to SomethingWicked in 2020 Decisions   
    After much deliberation, I have decided to accept UNM's offer! Albuquerque, here we come!  
    Best of luck to everyone else who is still considering their options, and a BIG congrats to everyone who has already made their decision!
  23. Like
    meghan_sparkle reacted to merry night wanderer in 2021 Applicants   
    This is great advice, and actually, almost every school that accepted me mentioned it as something interesting; the people I talked to sometimes asked further questions about how my creative/critical work were intersecting. One prof even said he particularly liked MFA students.
    I suppose the only thing to mention is that I did feel like I could have benefited from the deep dive of a master's thesis, and for me I had to do my writing sample from scratch. It wasn't quite a seminar paper and it wasn't quite a thesis. But hopefully your lit mentors can help you out here. 
  24. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from LitScript in 2020 Decisions   
    Heading to Yale!!!!!!!!!
    Was genuinely so tough to decide between Yale, Princeton and Columbia, as they were all legitimately tied as #1 in my mind and each had unique strengths for me personally, but something about New Haven just already felt like home. Whether that was just because they had their visit days and Princeton/Columbia didn't, it's a little hard to say, but at one point I just had to say to myself that counterfactuals aren't helpful in this scenario, it is what it is, and I have to go with my gut. If I'm honest I'm going to feel pretty sad about turning down Princeton/Columbia for a long time, but still feels like the right decision, if that makes any sense... 
    Good luck to everyone in the next few days! Hang in there.
  25. Like
    meghan_sparkle got a reaction from caffeinated applicant in 2020 Decisions   
    Heading to Yale!!!!!!!!!
    Was genuinely so tough to decide between Yale, Princeton and Columbia, as they were all legitimately tied as #1 in my mind and each had unique strengths for me personally, but something about New Haven just already felt like home. Whether that was just because they had their visit days and Princeton/Columbia didn't, it's a little hard to say, but at one point I just had to say to myself that counterfactuals aren't helpful in this scenario, it is what it is, and I have to go with my gut. If I'm honest I'm going to feel pretty sad about turning down Princeton/Columbia for a long time, but still feels like the right decision, if that makes any sense... 
    Good luck to everyone in the next few days! Hang in there.
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