indalomena

Hello fellow applicants! Haven't posted for a while because I thought I was geting too obsessed with applications and such... But I am also feeling the nerves about today, could be a big one. I haven't had any good news yet this cycle so I'm beyond desperate for an admit soon. Good luck eveyone. I hope our dreams come true today.

I wonder if I should give up gradcafe for the next two months, I have a feeling this could get ridiculously painful UNLESS I GET IN

omgz you gave me a heart attack. Anyone heard yet? I'm desperate for Evanston omgz aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgghhhhh

YES, because this was the week last year for Northwestern. First notifications went out on the 26th. Tomorrow could be the day. Obsessively checking everything all the time.

nothing I applied to has appeared on the survey yet and yet I still manage to be nervous every time I look at it! I feel your pain.

sorry about the bad news folks. Sucks this might be the week for Northwestern, based on last year's results, so I might find myself crawling into this thread lacking even the distinction of having the first rejection! Still, we must keep hoping. fingers crossed for the rest of your apps

I guess I just see things differently. Maybe we have a different definition of brilliant scholarship -- I've never read anything I thought was brilliant but not engaged and forward thinking. I also don't think utility is the most important way to judge literary scholarship. Thinking about the profession, and impressing professors, and creating a product, is very important, and a good antidote to those naive attitudes we might have held as undergraduates. But it is possible to balance a sense of the artistry of criticism and the somewhat loftier aims of scholarship with the drive for success in a PhD program, and following that, in the academic profession. I don't think I am thinking of myself too highly when I try to do this.

I don't know if that was aimed at me, but I don't think it's very meaningful: obviously, originality can't exist in a vacuum. Our ideas are formed by a multitude of influences, some too subtle to discern clearly. I just think that "molded" is a strong word to use in this context. Remember, I come from the British system, which typically involves a much more independent style of learning. I have no problem satisfying my professors, but I absolutely disagree about your characterisation of the purpose of writing. You seem to suggest that artistry and satisfying professors are mutually exclusive. I don't write for approval. My writing gains approval, and it needs to, but that is not my prime motivation. I'm not striving for a brilliant career as an end in itself, but rather as something that will enable me to pursue those goals that go beyond that constant striving for approval. I hope that made sense. I may have misinterpreted your post. I was a little offended by it.

It's not like I'm putting this "attitude" all over my application forms for these people to see. And nobody has molded me into a particular literary position, nor would I want to go to a university that tried to do this. My strength is my originality. All I meant was that I'm tired of proving myself in ways that are ultimately meaningless. Aren't we all? Obviously we have to put up with it for a bit longer, but that doesn't make it any more pleasant. And I am a "young student", but I went through the British system, where an MA takes half the time..

yes please

ahhhhhh that's a lovely idea. Sadly my boyfriend is allergic to incense, but I'll try to do something similar *sigh* My MA applications were totally half-assed, I sort of gave up halfway through. Worked out very well for me in the end, but I was lucky. For the PhD, I have really worked hard, which is probably why I'm so much more obsessive/nervous...

oh wow, I should NOT read that results board!! I will get way too obsessed. Seems like some places have very clear patterns repeated year after year (Yale, eg: phone the admits mid-February, email the rejects late February..), and others are a bit more unpredictable. Phoning the admits seems pretty common, though I wonder if that's only US applicants? (I'm international..) I don't want to go in an immediate-reject pile.. *sigh*

I understand...tone difficult to judge on internet, and all that. I think history of the book is really interesting, but it's not quite what I want to research. Stallybrass is amazing though, you're right. Mortician?!?!?! I had no idea!

I think it's comments like this that tend to present a problem. It's perfectly reasonable to ask people to be specific in the information they require. It's unreasonable to tell them you're not prepared to "waste your time". Offering to help is great Doing it aggressively tends to upset people. If only you'd been nicer about it and not bookended the comment with "dick" and "asshole". Your info on Penn is very helpful! So thank you! I really like the idea of Penn, but I think their early modern work is a bit too history-of-the-book focused for me, so I didn't apply. What's your focus? In other news, I can't believe how late in January it is already. This is terrifying, decisions will be with us soon!

Hi! It depends on where you want to go -- Oxford and Cambridge have early deadlines (literally, in the next two or three days...) Others are later but typically will have funding deadlines around March/April. As far as I know you have to have an offer in hand before you apply for funding, so probably try to apply early February at the latest if you're going for scholarships. Good luck!