transcendental

You're really smart to figure out a back-up plan now. Another option is doing temp/contract work as an in-between thing. I've been doing this for as long as I can stand it, and it can make you feel better that you don't have to fake/pretend that you want a full-time position at the company (but most contracts will be 6 months to a year, though, but again, something you can get around). And it usually is a way to get in to a company full-time if you do end up wanting to. These positions will almost always provide benefits and insurance, as long as you find a good contract agency. In fact, some contractors that I've worked with actually made more money than regular employees. I think that if you can market yourself as having x abilities that fit with the job, you should be able to convince employers that your English degree has made you a skilled writer and thinker. Honestly, corporations really need more good writers and thinkers.

Don't think it's been mentioned yet, but Marquette offers a funded, terminal MA (which can lead to their PhD). Awesome profs there

I actually just got a response. This waitlist has really thrown me for a loop. I'll PM you!

SERIOUSLY!

I saw some Illini rejections go up at the beginning of the week and I haven't gotten one yet--but I live in Illinois. I assume this is a testament to the efficiency of the Illinois post office... Just realized that they're the actual last school I have to hear from. Let's go Illinois!

Thanks! My most recent nail polish name was lame -- turquoise wave, but it was one of the magnetic ones that allegedly makes cool designs in the polish... it didn't work too well. But I'm going to go by one of my other recent purchases, which was called Hidden Treasure. Clearly that means Iowa. Ha! The amount of nail polish I have purchased over the admissions process (let's just say December through today) is disturbing. Yay! I emailed the Director of Grad Finances who signed the letter about chances of getting in and timeframe, and I haven't gotten a response back yet The Iowa thread seems a little dead, too. Kinda weird that only one acceptee has claimed getting one, and no one made comments in the acceptance posts. Maybe these other people aren't excited about the offers and WEWILLGETIN!

Thanks. It is of course the craziness of the admissions process -- I had just gotten used to the idea of accepting another offer, now this. I have been following this thread for a while and have been pulling for everyone!

Ahh, now I can join the madness of this thread. I got waitlisted at Iowa and I'm trying to quell my excitement as it mixes with anxiety!

Congrats, pirrip! May I ask what your subfield is? I just got a letter saying I was wait-listed! Pretty excited because I really thought I was out of the running. I've got options but my mind would be blown if I ended up getting in.

I was in a similar situation as you. Applying straight from BA, I had gotten into a couple unfunded MA offers and a funded one from my undergrad institution. I ended up taking the one from my undergrad because, well, it was funded, and there is no way I'd take out loans for a humanities degree. I was able to get valuable teaching experience and was able to write good writing samples. From what I've heard from professors, grad students, and on these boards, it is not a good idea to get all three degrees from the same place -- BA, MA, PhD-- unless it's from somewhere stratospheric like Harvard or Chicago, for job placement reasons, as employers like to see more variety. I don't think my choice limited my options necessarily and whatever did not get me into certain places was not likely due to the fact that I got my BA and MA from the same place. I would recommend taking the funded offer. You'll know the professors already, which will give you a leg up, and you can take it as prep for a better program that will come later on. I ended up getting into one program that was not a good fit for me right after my MA, and have gotten into 2 this round, with 1-2 still TBD. (I say that only to show that I was able to get in with BA and MA from the same place, not to be braggy).

Saw a couple of rejections and acceptances go up for Iowa. Anyone here want to claim the accepts and maybe provide details, like if the early posts were special fellowships or something? (Congrats, btw). I had already counted them out...

True. I'm sure if someone gets more than one abstract accepted, they can choose at that point which session they'd like to present on. Abstract deadlines are coming up soon, March 15ish, so I've got to get going on this!

I wanted to bump this thread because I wondered if anyone has submitted abstracts to present at the 2013 MLA in Boston? I see a few different panels/CFPs I could come up with abstracts for, but wondered if it was a good or bad idea to submit for more than one? I assume it's pretty difficult to get accepted to present at MLA, and thought I could maximize my chances by submitting to more than one, but I honestly have no idea if that's smart. Any feedback would be appreciated!

Buh, I didn't get a waitlist email. No rejection on the website yet either. Let's just get this show on the road.

I lived in Milwaukee for six years, undergrad and grad, and I really miss my apartment on the East Side near Brady street. Shout out to Dirot apartments on Cambridge, because they were great. There are a ton of great bars and restaurants there on Brady, and up on North ave. I'm not familiar with it, but I hear the Bay View area is pretty great, too. It does get pretty cold in the winters, though I think this past winter was pretty mild (relatively speaking, since in 2011 there was a massive snowstorm that slowed down the city big time). Expect it to be 20s, 30s in winter, and for there to be snow. Sadly, there is not a train system, but city buses that are pretty good (though I don't have much to compare it to as I'm a big driving person). I had a car there my last couple years in the city, and most people I know did, too. Depending on where you live, there's usually street parking available if it's not available at your apartment building. Have fun in MKE!

Haha, friends AND family! It's like triple rejection - implicit, real, social. Also, I'd add: "So where is that school?"

When implicit rejections become real ones: "Oh, that's too bad, but I thought you were already rejected from that school."

Wow, 20K to live in Urbana, that's so awesome.

It's horrible that I keep thinking of the Insane Clown Posse thing, "Magnets, how do they work?" whenever I see this thread. You know, this one: Anyway, looks like a few more acceptances went up. I really doubt my chances esp. if RP thinks the earlier ones were for people with external MA's. I don't think I'd fit too well there, either, so I'm not too phased. Congrats to those who got in!

Congrats!

I ended up doing my MA where I got my BA, too, and professors were pretty upfront about the fact that if I got a better offer that I should take it, and did not at all seem worried or offended that I was waiting on other schools. Your recommenders and professors are going to be rooting for you to get into the best position that you can. It is weird that they don't mention a date, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to ask if they have a deadline? Or just wait until they start pressuring you to make a decision-- that would indicate that they really need to know ASAP, or if ASAP just means to take your time. Good luck!

That's good news! I am going to restrain myself from hoping. Was it a prof in your subfield or the DGS? Maybe if interviewed people decline the waitlist spots, they reach out to their other waitlist. I wonder if you would have to interview if you received a spot?

Out of curiosity, is there anyone else who wasn't invited for an interview but not yet gotten rejected? I saw a bunch of rejections go up but didn't get one yet. I assume that it just hasn't been processed but wondered if others were still waiting in a similar situation.

Haha, thanks! It seems like a great program there but I, like everyone else!!, just want the whole process to be over with so I somewhat know what I will be doing with my life. I only got my official letter from the grad school today so I imagine they also have some waitlist stewing. Congrats on your other acceptances, too!

Thanks for looking into it for us, Readwritenap. Your brooding Faulknerian image gives us false hope.