cread

Apparently I have hit my ceiling--I actually went down a few percentage points (although I'm not sure how accurate percentage ranking equivalencies are for the new GRE). Here's hoping that the rest of my application is strong enough to get me in. It's not like my score is abysmal; I just don't think it's competitive. I'm much more disappointed about the time and money that I've wasted on taking the GRE again than I am about the scores themselves. I could have been doing more important things and living without that stress. Please, baby Jesus, let me get in so I don't have to take the GRE again!

How did it go??

You both just made me feel a lot better, because it's a sh*t show over here, too. With the addition of "Ahh, I can't work on app stuff, I need to grade papers!" It doesn't help that every study book says something about how you can't cram for the GRE. Which is exactly what I'll be doing this weekend.

I'm re-taking on Tuesday. This will be my 3rd time (once for my M.A. app, once for round one of Ph.D. apps). I'm sick of it too, and I feel like my time would be better spent working on other parts of my application. That being said, I could use a higher score to avoid being weeded out. The key for me, this time, is to slow down while taking the exam instead of blowing through it. I'm also hoping that the new version of the exam plays more to my strengths than the old version did--from what I'm seeing in the study materials, it should. Good luck, lolopixie--I'll send good vibes your way on Monday!

In reference to the original topic of the thread, I'm interested in book culture & intellectual history. Specifically, the people involved in works of literature: readers, authors, intellectuals, and educators. I'm also interested in the idea of "the canon" (see John Guillory). And I like PoMo. A lot.

I'm right there with you, lolopixie and cquin! In some ways, this is round three for me: 1) apply and being accepted to my MA program 2) applying to PhD programs last year and being rejected from everyone 3) this year, which will be our year! I'm currently adjuncting, and it took a lot of thinking to decide to get back on the PhD application horse. Here's hoping that applying what I learned last year will lead to a successful application season!

I got antsy and contacted the department this week. Unfortunately, they weren't really able to tell me anything. Kelly said that she couldn't tell me where I was ranked on the waitlist and that they wouldn't know anything for sure until the 15th. She also said that she'll let me know if they hear anything sooner. If you're not going to accept an offer from CMU, I'd really appreciate it if you let them know!

I'm in the same place. I haven't heard anything since the waitlist email, and CMU is my top choice and likely my only shot at grad school next fall. Crossing my fingers.

That blog post gives me hope: I described a project in my statement (and even used the word "project"), used the critical vocabulary of the subfield, and mentioned some of the main players on which my project would be built. Of course, this will make rejection all the more bitter if it does come my way. Hoping the mailman brings me some happy news this afternoon!

Also "not accepted." I find the lack of an email from many programs to be rather rude. I recognize that they have a lot of applicants, but an email is only fair.

An upper level class certainly isn't going to hurt you, but it might not be necessary. Most applications will ask about your foreign language experience, and you can also indicate it on your CV. I'm not sure about other programs, but if you were applying to a program like mine, an upper level class taken while you're an undergrad would be an alternate way to complete the language requirement. Then you wouldn't have to take the exam itself, which is one less thing to worry about.

One thing that I don't yet see on this thread is studying a foreign language. If you pursue graduate study in English, you'll have to have a reading proficiency in at least one foreign language. I was shocked when I learned this when I was in your place (sophomore exploring graduate study) because I did a "Pre-Graduate Studies" emphasis in my English BA, and they didn't require a foreign language. I signed up for French classes as soon as I could because I didn't see my High School Spanish taking me very far. If you're not already taking a language, summer would be a great time to pick up some books and study on your own. My other advice is to read and write as much as you can. No matter what you're reading or writing, it will help you when you enter a graduate program. In case you're wondering, I'm currently in my last semester of an M.A. program.

Wow! Thanks for the info--I didn't realize that they accepted so many. Does anyone know if this means that they maintain a smaller waitlist? I'm currently waitlisted at another school, and while I'm happy that I haven't been rejected from that program yet, part of me just wants an answer one way or another.

Thanks! No stats whatsoever. Just said that they will accept people in the order of the list. No clue how long it is or where I am on it.

I just received an email that I'm on the wait list. No idea how long it is, but hoping I receive an offer of admission, as I think that this program is my best fit. Best of luck to everyone else--I hope you're accepted to much better programs so that I can go to CMU!

I'm in the same boat. My last name starts with R, so I'm also thinking it might be a matter of alphabetization...

For those of you working on your theses: how are you doing it??? I'm supposed to be working on my second "mini-thesis" (odd MA requirements here), but every time I try to write I get distracted by the unrest/doom/insanity. Any tips on working past those feelings to get some writing done?