RockDenali

I'm curious why Berkeley applicants decided to apply to Berkeley . . . . Their rhetoric program seems to have nothing (or very little) in common with the greater "rhet/comp" community. In fact, I didn't meet one Berkeley student or professor at last year's RSA conference. Nor have I met any at regional MLAs. And when I read their dissertation list, I just think, "Huh?" Some interesting classical rhetoric faculty, but otherwise, their understanding of "rhetoric" seems quite different from the one I've developed. More like critical cultural theory than rhetoric. Thoughts? Reasons for applying? My hopefuls are listed in my signature. Brown, Vandy, and Columbia were "why the hell not" literature applications. The rest are rhet/comp or rhetoric and technical writing PhD programs. I'm counting Duke's as a rhetoric program because it has several faculty members who work with (vaguely) rhetorical approaches to literature. Probably won't commit even if I get accepted, but I'm curious to see if the rhetoric angle has any weight for lit applications. I also really, really, really want to say to a top-10 literature program, "No thanks, I'm gonna do some rhet/comp work . . ."

No, completely different programs. Syracuse's rhet/comp program is housed in the Writing Center. They have nothing to do with literature applications. Same with Minnesota; their department is Writing Studies, which is also separate from the literature program. Outside of programs like Penn State's (at which rhetoric students still take literature classes), most rhet/comp applicants are not put in the same pool as literature applicants.

Oh, and are you going to the visitation day Digitality? I was out there in May for the Rhetoric Society of America conference, so I doubt I'll go again. Can't miss the work. Lord knows we'd better start padding the savings account. Lots of Ramen to save for . . .

Accepted via phone last week. (Just discovered this site yesterday.) Flying out to visit--on the Orange's dime, of course--in a couple weeks. Any other Syracuse admits out there? It's one of the best programs in the country for rhet/comp, but not ideal for my interests . . . We shall see what the next week of email brings . . . . But if there are any other CCR admits or applicants out there, I'd be very curious to know about your research interests.

14k a year according to the letter I got . . . . Curious to know if you received more or less or the same? Not for competition reasons . . . just curious if we have some room for negotiating with the department . . . !