snappysorbet

Hey murkyama, I was just accepted to UW-Milwaukee for Rhet/Comp, too... any idea about funding? I'm thrilled, obviously, but I want more info!

...Especially how many students they expect per class. It actually hadn't occurred to me to ask that. Good call, lifealive.

Grifter, thank you. I do have some experience with grad school already (MA) and some experience teaching (adjunct), so neither will be new to me. I really do like the program a lot, although a 2-2 load seems like more than most programs have their first year students teaching, even at the PhD level. And you're absolutely right: this is a matter of perspective, and it will most likely differ for each individual person. Everybody's input here has been awesome. I got the info about my assistantships, and instantly knew I needed to seek out the wise members of gradcafe... your responses have been just what I needed to think about all of this thoroughly.

I also have an offer that would require a 2-2 load... what were your friends' experiences with that? (thanks for the input, btw!)

That's a really good point, Grifter. Thank you. One of the reasons I actually applied to PhD programs is to explore and research introductory composition courses, which is what I would be teaching with these assistantships I've been offered. In that sense, my research and teaching would definitely be overlapping. Still, I want to make sure I'm not spreading myself too thin. One program (my top so far) requires a 2-2 load, plus coursework, and to be honest, that worries me.

Hi all, Three of the schools I've been admitted to have offered me funding, each in the form of teaching assistantships which would require me to teach my first year with at least a 1-1 load (varying by program). Obviously I would also be taking courses, etc, so my question is, what's typical, what's manageable, what's too much? Thanks!

Wow, really? The schools that have offered me funding (in the form of teaching assistantships) all would have me teaching at least 1-1 during my first year, with the option to do more after that...

For those people who have been offered assistantships, what's a typical teaching load? For those of you already in programs, what's a manageable teaching load during your first year? What are people's experiences with this stuff?

Given recent developments in WI, anybody have any insight into attending UW for grad school? I just got my acceptance and the situation definitely worries me...

I emailed the program director to ask about funding decisions. He said they are waiting to hear back from accepted students who received funding, and then will extend more funding offers as they are able.

Hey everybody, just wanted to bump this and see how you're all doing. Everybody surviving the wait period ok? I know it's still early, but anybody made any final decisions? I said "no" to one of my schools yesterday, and I have to admit, it was sort of a strange feeling...

I'm going to bump this and hope we get some more replies... I was accepted to USF as well, and would love info about the Tampa area, campus, life as a graduate student there, and any other information you guys think would be helpful. Also, if I decide to attend USF (leaning heavily, haven't committed at this point), I will be moving there from Boston, so if anyone has moved to FL from NE and has some advice for someone used to only two or three months of warm weather a year, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Hi all, I've tried to search this forum for this type of topic, and although I think people have asked this question before, I don't know if anyone has covered the basics, which is what I need at this point. If I should be looking somewhere else, please, point me in the right direction. I've been lucky enough to have been accepted to a few grad programs, and as I think about what would be the best fit for me and consider all the awesome advice that this site has to offer, one thing stands out: will I be able to work with professors I want/need to work with in order to get my career going the way I want it to? And I know that people say, "Contact those professors, send them emails and see if they are taking on new graduate students, and if so, how many, etc etc," but my question is, how, exactly, does one go about doing that?? Do I just literally send these professors emails out of the blue asking them point-blank questions like that? Or is there a more subtle / appropriate way of phrasing this stuff? Any help/guidance would be awesome.

Hey, I just accepted and got some funding information, via email, with more info coming in the mail. Have you heard anything yet?

This information is a little bit dated, but it might help: http://rhetoricreviewsurvey.wikia.com/wiki/North_Carolina_State_University In terms of my background, I have a BA in English Lit, an MA in Gender & Cultural Studies, and really did not do as well on the GRE as a lot of other folks around this forum did. My best scores (and I attempted the GRE about 4 times) were 570 V, 620Q, 6.0 W. I haven't heard anything about funding yet, so I'm not sure how my scores will affect what sort of funding I end up getting. You might also consider getting in touch with current grad students and faculty there. I actually visited campus before I was admitted because I happened to be in the area, and everyone was amazing, really friendly, and very helpful. Sorry I don't have more concrete info for you, but I hope that helps some.

Hey have you checked your app status lately? I looked at mine today and it's listed as "Referred".... any idea what that means?

I got my TCU acceptance yesterday, and saw another English PhD acceptance on the board this morning. Whoever you are, congratulations, and let's chat!

So far I've gotten one acceptance and three rejections (see signature), and as some of you know from looking at my original list, I applied to many, many more programs, so I'm just waiting to hear back from the rest of them. I'm surprised that I heard from those four so early, and haven't heard anything since.I've seen results from some of my other programs on the results board, but when I've checked my status at those schools it has remained the same. At this point the only thing to do is wait, but honestly, if the only school I get into is NC State, I will be totally happy. How have your results been so far?

Oh, I must have been so in shock that I missed them completely. Thanks!

I'm waiting to hear from them too, and I'd love to know if anybody has any news. When did you get the email about mi-March? I don't remember getting that one...

Thanks! And congrats again!

Congratulations on your acceptance! That's really exciting. This may be a question with an obvious answer, but what are the rankings you're talking about here?

Where did you see those dates?

Hi! I just got the email notification from the grad school today. It just said "Your Admission Decision is Available," and then when I logged in and accessed the letter it pretty much just said the same information I already knew... nothing new about funding or about an invite to visit campus. However, when I emailed Jan in the department after I was first accepted, she said "see you in March," so I assume I'll hear about an admitted students day soon.