mattyd05

As far as the program is concerned, it is a perfect fit for me and it broke my heart a little to have to decline the offer.

For one thing, 12k gross income with no summer teaching option is just not enough to live in the Vegas area. Rent, food, utilities, incidentals, etc - and you're talking about the most basic, pauper life. And while in and of itself that isn't a reason to decline admission, I've been having second thoughts about the whole Ph.D. thing for quite some time now. My only other admit this season was UGA, which was approximately the same 12k for teaching 3 classes per year (which would be easier to manage in Athens, GA than Las Vegas). I've been in school for 6 straight years now - I'm finishing up my M.A. at UB - so I honestly think I need a little time off to regain some perspective. I'm more than a little burnt out at the moment, and I don't want to go somewhere far away on a pittance if I'm not absolutely sure I'm doing this. So as of yesterday I turned down both offers and am taking at least 2 years off.

Just turned down an offer of admission to UNLV. Apparently they only have 4 funded spots this year, and I was among those selected for that small group. There are a host of reasons I'm not going, so I won't bore you with them here.

So.... anyone hear anything at all? Or is it safe to say that UNLV is going to one of THOSE schools this year?

Anyone heard anything from UNLV? This is the last school I'm waiting on. 9 rejects, 1 admit, and UNLV.

I've declined my offer of admission to UGA.

Me. Guess I'm the last wave of rejections!

About the subject test: rather than spending all that money/time on anthologies, really take a hard look at the Princeton review study guide. I studied from it for about a month and got 640/82% on the test. They really do what they're talking about. It's a truly awful test that has absolutely nothing to do with the current state of literary studies (or currently trending disciplines within the field), but points-minutes ratio, short study guides like the Princeton review's are the best.

I see that 3 rejections were received by email this morning - and that some acceptances were received awhile ago. But I have heard nothing. Could this possibly mean waitlist?

Sorry, Skeleton!! I've been feeling the same way!

I have heard nothing since mid-November when they emailed me saying my application was complete. Keeping fingers crossed!

I'd like to hear from Rutgers as well!! It would be another step toward ending this agonizing waiting... But I am already quite drunk and leaving for the bar soon as it is my birthday tomorrow.

Quarter-life crisis? (Or third...) But seriously, this wasn't exactly a plea for encouragement, as one poster said. It was more of a momentary venting of all my frustrations and anxieties that have been building and layering for the last 3+ years. Sorry to anyone who thought I was being narcissistic or selfish. Not my intention.

At which point in his career?

You're all absolutely right, of course! I guess it was a poor way of saying that I feel the clock ticking, you know? I want to get moving on my life... But I guess we shall see how this round does completely pan out and then go from there. I'm not ruling out coming back to this in the future, but i think I may take some time off from academia if I receive 11 rejections to gain some perspective. Thanks for all the kind/wise words!

Hi all, This is my second round of applications and it is not panning out well so far. 0/5 at this point, and I applied to eleven total. I applied two years ago for Fall 2009 with a B.A., didn't get in anywhere, and did my M.A. to increase my chances. I have a 4.0 grad gpa, presented papers at several conferences, have an excellent writing sample, and some very good letters of reference, etc etc... (we all think we have strong applications). B.A. SUNY Geneseo, M.A. University at Buffalo. If I get rejected everywhere a second time I think it's going to break me - I just don't think I can muster the motivation to go through this whole process AGAIN sometime in the future; nor do I necessarily want to be in my 30s when I'm coming out with my Ph.D. (I'm 24 now). I don't know, maybe the Ph.D. and academia were just ideals? Maybe it's just not for me? But this whole process has really sapped me of my academic ambition. Sigh. Maybe it's time to move on with my life. Rejections: UB, UDel, Princeton Implicit Rejections: Hopkins, WUSTL Still waiting: Rutgers, Stony Brook, UNLV, UGeorgia, UFlorida, UNC CH Field(s): Early American Postmodernism and Public Theory&Pedagogy