Timshel

Yikes. I know a couple of people who are applying. I hope they don't do that again this year.

They said in the email it had something to do with the GRE scores. I don't know.

Don't worry. At first I didn't realize what school it was either until I noticed the contact email. They should have been more clear!

Just a heads up: I just received an email saying Cornell extended their deadline to December 20th at 5pm!

So, I thought I would start a thread where we could just complain about random stuff that didn't really fit anywhere else. I'm irritated because I found out last night that Kansas will not let you send out the request for LORs until you submit the application, which is due December 31st, and I fear that if I do not send the request before the end of the semester, my LORs will not remember to send it out by the end of the month. It doesn't help that they require two writing samples and a different type of SOP, which means I cannot just submit the same things I have been for previous schools. Grrr...Talk about stressful!

I am trying to get my second writing sample ready for Kansas, and I have decided to use a chapter of my thesis. I'm just not sure what to do about all the background information I provided chapters before. The chapter is already 20 pages long, and that is just jumping right into the character analysis. It doesn't give anything about what other people have said about the topic, etc. Grrrr...This is so difficult. I don't know if I should just submit it as is or completely recontexualize it.

Yeah, schools like Cornell give it as an option, but the UC school I applied to required it.

Okay, another issue. The English website states to just upload transcripts from schools where you got a degree, but then the application says ALL schools attended, but then only gives room for 3 schools. Now, I received degrees from the 3 schools I listed, but I also attended another school prior to those three for two years before I took time off. I'm guessing it's okay since I didn't receive a degree from them, and the English site just says schools where you received a degree, but it's just so confusing when the application says ALL schools but then doesn't give you the option to add more than 3 schools.

All right, I'm going with American Studies.

I am looking over their site and they have Minority, Indigenous, and Third World Studies, but that isn't an option on the list. I really don't know what to put. I wonder if it's optional....

Concentration? What if none of the ones they offer directly apply to what I want to do? I am interested in psychoanalysis and trauma studies in 20th-21st century ethnic and minority literature. Do I put American lit after 1865? American Studies? Cultural Studies? Literary Criticism and Theory? the 20th century? Ahhhhh. I don't know what to put.....

So, just an update. I have now officially applied to half of my programs, and I plan to finish the Cornell application tonight or tomorrow morning. I can honestly say that I have never over-thought or second guessed so many things in my whole life.

I had one source out of order alphabetically on the works cited page. I almost died when I realized.

Awesome. Thanks. Instead of just logging in I just freaked out and closed it for now. lol. Anything out of the ordinary at this point is totally freaking me out.

Okay, so I tried start the application for Cornell (I know, I know, I shouldn't have waited until the last minute) and it's saying I already have an account for that program through another school and that i should use that log in info. I am nervous to go forward. Is that normal? Is that going to cause issues? Do I still put in all the same information? Basically, I have no idea where to go from here. I haven't logged in yet because I am confused about this email. Someone, please help!

I think it's best to go to a graduate conference before a national one. UPenn's CFP site is the best.

Yikes. Talk about succinct and to the point! lol

Yeah, thanks. I think I just had a moment of panic. I just wish I would have noticed that on the application before I sent all of the other materials last week.

I guess since I still have time I can just send another envelope that has the "academic CV" they requested with a cover letter that asks them to add it to the application materials I have already mailed in. Does that sound like a good idea?

Hey, I already mailed the rest of my materials. I just didn't mail the CV of my academic background because I didn't realize that portion did not have enough room for 4 schools. As for the letters of recommendation, Graham Hammill told me when I inquired that they can send the letters electronically. He stated that they would be contacted once the application has been submitted, and many others on this board have already done that.

Okay, so now I'm not sure what to do. I somehow missed on the Buffalo application that it states that if there is not enough room on their application for all of the schools you have attended, you must send them a CV of your academic background. I have attended 4 schools, and there is only room for 3. I have already sent them my materials and the application is due Thursday. What should I do?????

If you can do both, do both, but if you can't, do the teaching. I teach, and I am also presenting at a conference next semester. This time I am lucky that I only teach on Mondays and Wednesdays (my other classes are online) so it won't conflict with my schedule, but it did last year, and I just got one of my fellow colleagues to sub for me.

Ahhhh, those are much better odds! I have a friend at LSU and he loves it. Good luck!

Whoa, what schools are saying they get less than 100 applicants? All the schools I've looked at say at LEAST 150 applicants, but it's usually more.

I just mailed the transcripts and the writing sample to UMass.