sandyvanb

I got my first official rejection... Michigan State Univeristy. It wasn't a great fit, I only applied because there is one person there I would love to work with. I wasn't heavily invested, but it still stings. I hope that this isn't a trend over the next few weeks...

Congrats to Safferz on the interview and to teachgrad on the acceptance! I swear I am close to having a panic attack everytime I come to this site...

iequaljoan Congrats on the NYU invitation! I am hoping that my field hasn't finished making decisions yet. I was googled a few times in December, but nothing recently. I would love to start getting some notifications that I am being searched... I have a fairly common name, so searches for me are usually combined with my teaching institution. I just want to start getting yays or nays so the suspense and obsession can end... Back to grading quizzes...

I am totally obsessing over getting results... At least I have a distraction on MWF when I am teaching... And this semester is going so much better than last semester! I am actually having fun this time!

Congrats on those who have gotten contacted by programs! I also feel like this is going to be a big week. Several of my schools have histories of contacting those who have been accepted before February 1...

In the British system, students only have to take courses in one subject. So if you are teaching history courses in the UK, you basically have a classroom full of history majors. In the US, we have to teach survey courses where the majority of your class may not want to be there, but they need the class to graduate. Also, in the British system students are tested at the end of their three year course of study. In the US, we give frequent quizzes and exams.

I brought those points up to my mentor and was told that it doesn't matter if you are an American or did your undergrad at a US school. If you receive your PhD training abroad, you will not be gaining teaching experience with American students. There is a big difference between teaching abroad and teaching American students.

I was considering applying to schools in Canada or the UK, and my advisor cautioned me against it because it would be difficult to be hired in the US. Another reason it is hard to get hired is that some American universities feel that international PhDs don't understand American students.

Goldie, I noticed that you added Hogwarts, I just hadn't had a chance to comment! I love the humor! I would love to know about Penn, I did apply there... I am trying not to be obsessive about hearing from schools, but I am failing miserably... At least I go back into the classroom tomorrow, that will distract me three days a week. Fingers crossed for a better crop of students this semester!

Congrats CPeterson! I can't believe this is starting already...

I got my syllabus done and I got invited to do AP grading! A pretty good day!

My data was recovered! I am so relieved!

Oh that sounds painful to recreate... I am kicking myself right now. I really hope that the recovery works... I have all of my syllabi/lectures/exams/quizzes as hardcopies, I would just have to recreate all of my powerpoints.

I jinxed myself... My flashdrive that had my syllabus, lectures and powerpoints on it got corrupted... It has been a rough day and tomorrow I am going to pay to see if anything can be recovered. This could be a very stressful semester again, but at least it would be a distraction.

Thanks! It will be much easier with all of the apps out of the way. I just need to tweak a few lectures and I'll have to do some work on the exams. But overall, I think that it will be a much easier semester.

I'm only teaching four sections of WHI this time. Not a lot of prep, I just wanted/needed to make some big changes to my syllabus. The first draft of the syllabus is done, I just need to look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow.

I'm still working my my syllabus.

I am now turning my attention back to class prep.. Syllabus revision is on the agenda for this evening!

Goldie congrats! That is amazing news! I am officially done with the application process! Ten applications finished, I just need to watch for the last couple of LoRs to get submitted. Now I just need to forget about them for the next 4-8 weeks...

I still have three more to go, they aren't due until January 15 but I want to get them done this week. Is anyone else applying to the University of Miami? They want a writing sample but there doesn't seem to be anyplace to upload a sample. Does it need to be sent in hard copy form? I meant to call on Friday but I ran out of time. That call will be one of my first things I do on Monday.

7/10 done! Three more to go...

From what I understand, you need to be able to explain what you did with your time off. Did you work on language skills? Conducted research? Gained experience in your field? I finished my MA last May and I put off my PhD apps until this fall, but I was offered a full-time teaching contract, which has given me valuable insight into what I am going to get myself into. You have to do what is right for you, but committees are going to want to see that you did something valuable with your time off.

I still have one more app to submit this week, but I'm waiting for one more round of feedback on my writing sample. Then I need to work on my final three apps that are due January 15th, I want them done before Christmas. I finished writing my final exam tonight, so grades should be calculated and submitted by Friday! Whatever will I do with all of my free time in the New Year?

Goldie I feel your pain! Georgetown only allows 500 words as well and I was very creative in my cuts/rewrites.

6/10 done! Just one more to go in this round...