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Tybalt

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Everything posted by Tybalt

  1. For what it's worth, Rochester has been VERY focused over the last two years on the time to completion thing. Dr. Kegl has more than once discussed the importance of staying on the 5-year pathway (it was the main topic of the first official meeting of our cohort last semester). It will take a few more years for that change to be reflected in the stats, but know that the department is really focused on improving that number.
  2. If last year is any indication, you've got a LONG wait ahead of you. Last year, UVA was still sorting application materials well into February. I don't think they do interviews, but I could be wrong about that.
  3. It's the College English Association. The CEA is the 2nd largest national conference in the US (behind MLA), and it's a great place to get your feet wet in the world of major lit conferences. It's a great group of people--very outgoing and friendly.
  4. I doubt it. I have a BS in English/education, five years of high school teaching experience, and three semesters of teaching freshmen comp. I wasn't exempt from that course at either my MA or PhD schools. Honestly, though, it's best NOT to be exempt from it. Teaching is such a wide open field, and there are so many different approaches to it. No matter how much experience you have, it's always interesting/beneficial to learn from other people who may have a different take on it.
  5. I'll be at CEA as well. We should do a GC'er coffee hour or something, haha. Anyone coming up to Rochester for the Northeast MLA?
  6. I wouldn't worry too much about it. My thesis adviser only sent a letter to one of the schools I applied to (He's a really nice guy, and incredibly brilliant, but he was also on phased retirement, and wasn't always..."there" in many ways--almost two years in, he still wasn't sure what my name was). As such, he couldn't really speak to what I was trying to do in my thesis anyways. I made sure to get a letter from my second reader. He wasn't as big of a name (he was one year out from his own Ph.D.) but he could write a better letter about my work. The program I'm in now did not receive a letter from my thesis adviser, so it is possible. Good luck!
  7. Sound cold. It's the only way to discuss your project coherently in 500 words. If you have the length, then you can be personable and convey your personality AND your project, but when length forces you to choose, you have to focus on just the project (one of my MA profs, in a joking yet serious email, told me repeatedly that my SoP was too narrative. He said over and over again that "you are your project. That's all you are"). A friend of mine had what I thought was a very "cold" SoP, and she was admitted to all three programs she applied to. I'd recommend writing up a short, "cold" SoP from scratch (don't try and cut the long one--just write a new one). That way you'll have two distinct SoPs that could be used for different schools (that's what I did, and I found the act of writing the shorter, colder SoP helped me to refine my project and improve my longer SoP as well). Good luck!
  8. Rochester seems to be mixed--Half of the new cohort has a masters in hand, half don't. University of Maryland also seemed to take this kind of balanced approach. While they don't really say anything directly, Delaware NEVER seems to accept PhD applicants with a MA in hand, so I'd avoid UDel if I were you.
  9. Since you are already in NY, you should definitely look at the NYCEA conference (conference is in Utica at the end of September, abstract deadline is next week) and the NEMLA (a regional MLA conf--abstracts due by 9/30). NYCEA usually has a fairly large number of Rochester people, and NEMLA is also likely to have a heavy U of R presence (it's being held at St. John Fisher, right down the road from U of R). It would be a great chance to do some app-season networking without the need for heavy travel. Good luck!
  10. Thanks for the response. I did tell her to speak with her undergrad professors, but I had not mentioned languages or conferences. Do history programs frequently have language requirements? I'm used to that as a Lit student, but it didn't occur to me to ask about that. As for conferences, is there any kind of central listing of upcoming History conferences and Calls for Papers (similar to the UPenn site for lit)? Thanks!
  11. Hello, history folks. I'm a literature grad student, and one of my cousins asked me for advice about applying to history grad programs (she just finished undergrad). I was able to give her some general advice, but I was hoping that you kind folks could give some content specific nuggets of knowledge. She lives in MD, but is not against traveling for school (though I'm pretty sure she wants to stay on this side of the country). She seems particularly interested in the French Revolution and its impact on later time periods (she seemed most excited when telling me about a paper wherein she connected the FR to the politics of WW2). Any suggestions as far as programs, potential mentors, other details that a Lit student wouldn't have known to tell her? Thanks!
  12. I'm not a rhet-comp guy, but I do have a bit of advice. DON'T make a decision based upon what the job prospects are right now. First of all, just because your friend got a TT job this year, you have no idea what the Rhet/Comp job market will look like 6 or 7 years from now. Further, after securing that TT job, you need to spend 30+ years teaching and researching in that field. You want to eventually pick the subfield that you truly love (which may well be Rhet/Comp). If you still have sub-field confusion into your senior year, I would recommend taking a year or two, putting off grad school applications and living the life. Teach in a foreign country. Audition for a play. You are still VERY young, and you have the time. You might be surprised to see how much your time out of the classroom will help to clarify your interests in the classroom. Good luck!
  13. Hi Joe! I'm glad to see that you were able to get something going at Rochester (and I'm sure once they see you in action that the MA will turn into a PhD). I'm really looking forward to getting up there for good, though I am not a fan of the housing hunt! See you in a few weeks.

    Scott

  14. Tybalt

    Rochester, NY

    Hi folks, Quick question-- I'm in the process of deciding between renting an apartment or buying a condo (it will depend on my mortgage approval). From my initial research, buying seems to really be the most cost-effective thing to do. My question is this: I came across a condo-building that seems to be ideal. The prices are reasonable, the HOA fees are within my budget, and the condos seem spacious and full of character (the building was converted into condos--it used to be a 1920's high school). I'm curious as to the safety of the neighborhood, however. The building is on 409 La Grange Avenue (about a 10 minute drive from U of R according to Mapquest). Anyone know anything about the neighborhood? Any other suggestions for (pet-friendly) condo buildings? Thanks!
  15. First- The only big thing to remember about starting grad school from scratch is that you WILL feel overwhelmed in the first few weeks of the semester. You will likely feel like the dumbest one in the room and wonder what the hell you were thinking about this whole grad school thing (that's how I felt--and every grad student I've ever met has a similar story on those first few weeks). By the end of that first semester, you'll start to "get it." By the end of the first year, you'll be right at the same level with the rest of your cohort. There really isn't anything you can read/do to "prepare" for that. Just remember that it will happen, you DO belong there, and it will get better. Second- As for the teaching- Don't reinvent the wheel. You will have people in your cohort who have teaching experience. Use that experience. Share lesson plans. Discuss tips for grading. They will be able to give you the best feedback because they will be teaching the same courses as you. You aren't in competition with your cohort. Offer ideas when you have them and solicit help when you need it. I actually know two of the people who will be in your cohort, and they are absolutely amazing people. Trust me. You will be fine.
  16. Very cool. Any idea what sub-field you're interested in?
  17. I'm not sure how many people are still checking TGC, but I'm curious as to whether anyone else from this thread will be starting at Rochester this Fall. I sent in my official acceptance a week and a half ago (so excited!). Dr. Kegl said that the incoming group would have 3 Early Modernists (she seemed somewhat surprised that they were taking that many, but I'm thrilled about it! I've spent the last two years as the ONLY Ren scholar in my entire program). So, anyone else planning to spend the next 5 years putting up with my bad jokes?
  18. Tybalt

    Stipends?

    I spend about $250 per month, but I tend to buy a lot of expensive organic food (and at least $75/month of that is coffee and assorted coffee supplies!)
  19. I just saw this thread. I really don't know much about outside sources of funding, but I just read through the Javits website, and I had a quick question--is this Fellowship primarily for students who don't have institutional funding? I'll be starting a program this Fall with a tuition waiver and stipend--is that something that will put me out of the running for a Javits Fellowship? Thanks!
  20. I just wanted to add on to this that I also LOVE conferences. Even if you don't get any useful feedback, the act of cutting a paper/chapter down to presentation length is a really good way to figure out what is/is not important in your argument. Cutting a paper/chapter down for a conference is a great way to start the revision process.
  21. I almost can't believe that it's April 16th. When I submitted my first application (UCLA on December 1st), I thought this day would never come, and it has been the LONGEST four and a half months of my life. On campus visits and in the offices of my current MA, people (myself included) would always joke about "the gradcafe" and how it was a dangerous website. Some would only check the results forum. Some never logged on at all. There were debates about the usefulness of the site, particularly when contrasted with the inevitable reality that this site DOES add to the stress of the application season. I will only say this--Regardless of anything else, good or bad, about this website, it has made it abundantly clear to me how difficult it must be for admissions committees. If I was tasked with picking out a group of 6-10 people from just the Gradcafe membership (which is just a small percentage of the overall applicant pool), I don't think I'd be able to do it. Over the last few months, we've agonized together, commiserated together, celebrated together and grieved together. For all of that and more, I say to the Gradcafe community at large--THANK YOU! For those that made it--Congrats! For those facing another round of applications next year-Good luck, and we'll all be around pulling for you. Also- I just want to plug my MA institution. I have spent the last two years doing my MA at Saint Bonaventure University in Western NY. I can't say enough good things about the program. When I look at the work I was doing before and after the program, the difference is somewhat frightening. For anyone who may be interested, Bonaventure's deadline isn't for another couple of weeks yet. Some details about Bonaventure: -36 credit MA -They have a Learning/Teaching Fellowship that gives you the chance to add teaching experience to your CV -The funding is 50% tuition waiver and then a stipend that covers the other 50% (and the cost of living is so cheap in this area that you can do the program without taking loans). -There is support for submitting to and attending conferences. You will also gain experience (and CV material) in organizing a conference, as Bonaventure hosts an annual grad conference. -Four of the students in my cohort wanted to continue our education (3 at the PhD and 1 who wanted an MLS). All four of us received at least one offer. The MLS student got in to the only school she applied to. Between the three of us seeking PhD's, we ended the season with a combined 5 offers of admission and 7 wait lists (including Florida, Rochester, Buffalo, Maryland and Toronto). I will be attending Rochester, and the other two will be attending UBuffalo. Last year, two of the graduates sought to continue on. Both are now in PhD programs. I'll digress for now, but I've had such a great experience at this relatively unknown program, and I wanted to let others know about it--particularly those who have not received good news this week. This is the link to the program: http://www.sbu.edu/a...es.aspx?id=8480
  22. Unless they've said something to that effect, I wouldn't give up hope yet. I get the feeling that schools have been accepting fewer but waitlisting more this season (due to the uncertainty of funding due to the economy). As such, lots of people seem to be deciding in the last few days. I also met a bunch of people at the CEA conference a couple of weeks ago who told me they got in to their programs off of the waitlist (and almost all of them were notified on the last or second to last day). Good luck!
  23. Thanks (to everyone)! Looking at it now, it was stressful, but it went fairly well. Out of 11 applications, 7 were outright rejections, and most of those were "reach" schools for me. Back in November, I would have been thrilled to somehow know that I'd end up with two acceptances and three wait-lists. It's amazing the difference a phone call can make! Now to the real conundrum. I need to figure out where one would attempt to buy a pallet of Ramen...
  24. Not to be Johnny Stormcloud, but it's not looking very likely at Rochester now, either. There were two of us in my MA cohort on the UR wait list. The other one got a phone call today. She's going to think about it tonight and decide tomorrow. I doubt they'll take two people from the same (small) MA program. EDIT--Then again, they might just call me with fantastic news just minutes after I was being all gloom and doom depressing on the Gradcafe...
  25. Sorry to hear that dgobox. I haven't heard anything from Florida since March 15th. It's not shaping up to be a very good week.
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