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DEClarke85

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Posts posted by DEClarke85

    My Tips for Reapplying

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    Hello All,

    I have been rejected by all six of the schools I'm applying to. I was completely blind to this process upon applying this year. Here's what I plan on doing next year:

    1.) Raise my GRE scores. Obviously having a 560 (V) and 650 (Q) for a total of 1210 was not enough

    2.) Take Subject Test to broaden the number of schools i can apply to

    3.) Pay attention to school rankings/ratings, so I have a more diverse list of applications

    4.) Get something published before the next round of applications go out (so my CV looks better)

    5.) Sharpen my SOP

    6.) Edit my WS again, making it even better

    Good luck to everyone!

    Safety Schools?

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    I felt that Texas Tech would be a safety school for me. In fact, despite whatever their ranking may be, I felt the Ph.D. program in English and I would be such a strong fit that I wouldn't be rejected. This was compounded with the notion that since I was already a Texas resident and graduate student at another Texas institution that I would be admitted more easily because I would be cheaper to fund (i.e. no need to cover out-of-state tuition, plus I would be familiar with the Texas State Law that does not allow tuition to be waived).

    However, I learned, with my rejection, that the notion of safety schools as far a graduate programs are concerned is total bull s**t.

    I think it is healthy to feel that you are a strong applicant; however, I feel that there is no need to assume you will be admitted no mater what (unless that school specifically asks you to apply).

    College Station, TX

    in City Guide

    Posted

    I come from Colorado, and a town of 130,000, fairly liberal, great local music and theater scene, attractive downtown, great bars, lots of activity, etc.

    Liberal = already covered...

    Great local music is in Austin, TX. I'm sure the bars have bands too, but Texas' music scene is Austin.

    Theatre scene...

    Texas A&M gets touring productions of Broadway musicals through MSC OPAS. While they are typically the very last legs of these tours, the productions are not bad. They are still professional and are professionally cast. Many of the shows happen in A&M's own Rudder Auditorium. For more info visit: http://opas.tamu.edu/

    Then for community theater in the area you can look at StageCenter Theater at http://www.stagecenter.net/home/ and Brazon Valley TROUPE at http://www.bvtroupe.com/. The Theatre Company is notable and well respected as well. Their web site is www.theatrecompany.com.

    Additionally, I'm sure TAMU's theater department does stuff as well.

    Then you can always see what is going on in Houston with Theatre Under the Stars (www.tuts.com), Broadway Across America: Houston (http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/Houston), and the world famous Alley Theatre (http://www.alleytheatre.org/alley/Default_EN.asp).

    Downtown College Station is small, but very attractive. It has a small town charm and appeal, while offering things you would expect to find in an urbanized area.

    Since, I do not live in College Station, I really know nothing about their bars; however, Club Halo does a GREAT drag show if you are interested in that.

    I really like A&M's program, but I'm nervous about the city: what do students do on the weekend, and how conservative is it? I'll be visiting at the end of March, anyone have things to check out while I'm there?

    As far as things to check out... I do not really know. However, I will tell you that you should not pass up an opportunity to eat at The Dixie Chicken or at Freebird's!

    Enjoy your visit... I hope everything works out well for you!

    I am soooo F'ing TIRED of waiting!!

    in Waiting it Out

    Posted

    I have also evolved to this point. And if anyone else tells me to "think positively" with a knowing smile on their face...AHHHH!!!

    I hate this. It makes me more than angry. Thankfully my thesis committee had a realistic intervention with me yesterday. That was much appreciated (and I'm being serious).

    My parents keep asking why I don't apply to schools close by now. They think that these schools had these deadlines for out-of-state applicants only, and that I should be able to apply to UT-Austin, UT-San Antonio, UH, and the like with no problems. They also think it is perfectly acceptable and normal to start your Ph.D. program at one school and then transfer out after a year. UGH! In fact, I gotten to where i dread their phone calls. :(

    ETS

    in Waiting it Out

    Posted

    I was told that any thing above a 1200 was decent.

    I mean, for someone who is an english or math major, I think it would be more of a subject test, but for the rest of us, sheesh!!

    But I didn't take the psych subject test because I thought it would be a waste of time. And yeah, I wasn't able to apply to a bunch of schools

    I cannot speak for Math majors, but the Verbal section of the GRE is ridiculous, even for us English majors. It is asking all test takers to know and be familiar with words that may not have been uttered outside of text-prep for the last 200 or so years. Majoring in English does not prepare you to kick butt on the Verbal section of the GRE at all. The Verbal section focuses on archaic words, their roots, and their meanings. Therefore, someone with a good background in the History of the English Language and/or Linguistics would be better suited for the test than your average English major.

    The GRE subject test in English is extremely ridiculous. It more or less asks you to be familiar with every published work from Beowulf until about 3 to 6 months ago. It expects test takers to be well versed in novels, memoirs, criticism, poetry, and drama. Preparing for comprehensive exams in English is less demanding.

    Thanking Recommenders

    in Applications

    Posted

    Can I say something like: "Thank you Dr...... for writing the recommendation for me. I appreciate all your help."

    I do not see why not. Short and simple is always appreciated. I honestly, think a face to face thank-you in these situations means more than a gift or card. An office visit in which you express your thanks can mean so much more than something written. (Although, that just may be the culture of my current program. We love office visits because our students do it so rarely.)

    Question about statements

    in Applications

    Posted

    You should address it in your SOP while at least on recommender mentions it, especially since it came at the end of your academic career. The last 40 to 60 hours of classes you took will get the most scrutiny when looking at your grades. However, if you have failed or done exceptionally poor in courses, it never huts to explain how this is not indicative of your academic performance. It was a small hiccup, and one that has been recovered from.

    Re-applying?

    in Applications

    Posted

    I have been rejected 4 places as well. I'm stilling waiting to get my rejection (as I'm sure it is coming) from University of Chicago, and I'm waiting to hear back from Miami (Ohio), where I still have a decent chance to get in.

    With that said, my Thesis board and I had a big pow-wow yesterday. We discussed the hard truths of this matter. One, my applications were really top heavy. I had relatively few schools that weren't Tier I and the like, so that hurt my possibilities. Furthermore, my best writing sample did not match the goals/research interests of my SOP, which will be a kink to eradicate. With this notion in mind, we devised a plan B (contingent upon getting an adjunct position at my current university for next year). They all told me, that in the next round they can all write better/stronger LORs (even though their LORs were amazing already) because my Thesis will be done and they will be able to comment on my ability to finish a MA program with whatever my GPA will be (currently a 4.0). They also said that we can work on raising my GRE score (my 560 verbal doesn't look the best when applying to English and American Studies programs). I will also take the subject test in English, allowing me to apply to more programs than I could this year. They also have agreed to help me hone/sharpen my SOP, writing sample, and see about getting parts (or all) of my thesis published.

    So re-applying is something to start considering. Find a faculty member or a group f them that are willing to really help you out. Especially, since I feel they are the only ones who are willing to sit down with you and be honest about everything.

    Yet, I want to leave you with this advice (from my thesis committee). It's ok to think about Plan B, getting it set-up, but it doesn't exist until April 16, so do not worry about or dwell on it. Keep trucking on with your current projects.

    Best of luck to you!

    No Such Thing As A Safety School

    in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition

    Posted

    so I think I'm going to try one more year rather than settle for a place I don't want to be.

    I wish I had another year. I graduate from my MA in August. If I don't get in anywhere this year, I have to try and find a job with an MA in English. Basically... if that comes to pass... I can hope and pray for adjunct employment at the school I'm at now or hope that a school district in the area will let me go through Emergency Certification. However, the second option is most likely out of the question as I won't know if that is the road to take until Mid March through Mid April, making my job application late for that route, and I still have 3 hours to take this summer to complete my MA, which blocks me from taking the required certification courses this summer.

    In the words of Avenue Q, IT SUCKS TO BE ME!

    I am soooo F'ing TIRED of waiting!!

    in Waiting it Out

    Posted

    I feel terrible, but calm. Didn't even get weepy.

    Wow... that's not even how I felt after my 4th rejection. For me they just get harder. You've got some great strength. Although, I'm happy... I didn't cry today when TTU rejected me. I just sighed. Got mopey. And am finally moving on.

    Best of luck to you!

    I am soooo F'ing TIRED of waiting!!

    in Waiting it Out

    Posted

    I just got my fourth rejection. This one came from the school I thought was my safety school (so, I'm a bit surprised). I wonder if this means I'm s**t out of luck with the others.

    I'm tired of waiting to be accepted.

    I'm tired of waiting to be rejected.

    The two schools I'm waiting on usually do not notify for about another week still. GRR! i could use some good news...

    Rice 2009

    in 2009 Archive

    Posted

    I won't be going, but congratulations on getting in. The area of Houston that Rice is located in is BEAUTIFUL! I love that area. It has a great culture (and mixing of cultures). There are many interesting things to see and do around the area as well.

    ETS

    in Waiting it Out

    Posted

    Yes they said that they tossed it becasue of my GRE score. My GRE was not super low, just average.....the programs I applied to are not the best or the top anything ....

    I often wonder if this is a major factor in my three (so far) rejections. My Verbal is 560, Quantitative is 650, and Writing 4.0. Unfortunately, the first time I took the exam (and didn't take the writing seriously) I got a 5.5 on the Writing, a 430 Verbal, and a 540 Quantitative.

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