wildviolet

Accepted! Checked the website today (March 1). No email to check the website. No word from the department either. Sigh. Are they that busy? Can't even send a "Hello, welcome to UT Austin"? Maybe I've been spoiled by all the cordial and supportive correspondence from MSU.

I sure hope so! I'm ready for the waiting to end and the planning to begin. Not looking forward to the moving/apartment hunting/settling in process. Can we fast forward to September already?

Very sweet!

LOL, Red Lobster! Too salty for me, but I know what you mean. For my sake, I hope that my story turns out different. I've lived in urban Southern California and suburban Maryland. I'm ready to quit the land of concrete--at least for five years. Thanks for sharing!

I think the anxiety and waiting has finally gotten to me. I've been sick since yesterday morning, and no end in sight! Headache, low fever, body aches, and sore throat. Yuck!

fast food

Sorry to hear that. Chin up. "Everything that happens happens for a reason." I am such a believer in this. I hope everything works out for you.

I'm considering a school in the middle of nowhere--and, I'm thinking it might be a good thing--no distractions to keep you from your studies! Few restaurants, so I'll improve my cooking and baking skills. Not much driving, so I'll save on gas (still want to keep my car for out-of-town getaways and running errands, though).

I second this. Once you are admitted to a PhD program, the one personal quality that will help you succeed through thick and thin, good times and bad, is persistence. So, what will fuel you through 5+ years of grad school? Passion is one thing. But, I think, also knowing that it will have its up and downs. Even though I understand that others are waiting for a spot, I also think that you have to look out for yourself, too. So, it won't hurt to attend in the fall. If you like it, great. If it's not for you, leave with a Masters or after the first year and free up that spot for someone else.

Congrats!

I took four years of Spanish in high school, and I have to say that the grammar and pronunciation rules for Spanish are much clearer than those for English. My only regret is that I did not continue learning Spanish in college, with the the result that I can still understand some Spanish but am unable to speak it coherently. And I live in Southern California! Sigh. The other thing I would like to add is that many international students learn English as a second language in their home countries. In America, on the other hand, learning a second language in school is an elective, something that is deemed extra, not essential, to one's education. Therefore, I admire people who know more than one language.

Hey, I'm really enjoying this thread. Glad to know that I'm not alone. Still waiting to hear from two more schools. Already got once acceptance (with full funding and scholarship) and one short-list. I applied only to schools that I would actually want to go to (no safety schools for me), so any acceptance would be fine. I really don't want to have to choose--too many variables to consider. So, I'm almost hoping for rejections from the two remaining schools so that I can finally relax and start making plans to relocate. It's funny how not knowing all the outcomes, even though I already have one acceptance and would be perfectly happy going there, is stressful. I'm looking forward to September.

I'm in the same boat. I'm already looking at cost-of-living comparisons and figuring out what I can do without. But, in the end, it'll be worth it because this is what I really want to do.

I think all students should be treated fairly. Fair does not mean equal. Therefore, to expect the same impeccable level of academic writing from native English speakers and non-native English speakers is unfair. I'm advocating for different, not lowered, expectations. I'm suggesting that teachers make themselves aware of their students' cultural and language backgrounds and of their own subjective biases, especially when grading. Here's the example I always use when I discuss the idea of "fairness": Does a person with a handicap sticker on his or her car get to park closer to the building? Yes. Well, I don't get to park closer. Equal? No. But, fair? Yes, because I'm not handicapped, and I can walk the extra twenty feet. So, as a teacher, I would not take off points for a few minor grammatical mistakes. If the paper was incomprehensible, however, I would take the extra effort to correct the mistakes and suggest tutoring or the writing center. I'm a native English speaker, and my writing really improved in college when I took a writing course from a professor who basically nitpicked everything and made us review our peers' writing (anonymously) and nitpick everything. I'll end with some classic humor. English is not the easiest language to learn (and, might I add, even for native English speakers). Witness: one of my favorite episodes ever from "I Love Lucy." Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmwZqJB_8dQ&feature=related

Very excited for you! Congrats.

Thanks, litjust! I was wondering about that... I definitely place more weight on the specialty ranking rather than the overall ranking.

I'm doing plenty of stuff and keeping my schedule busy, but nothing seems to be helping. I'm usually a great sleeper, but recently I've been waking up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. Last night, I ended up watching King Corn (the documentary) until four in the morning. As much as I try not to think about it, unconsciously, I think I'll be a mess until everything gets figured out in April. I guess it's the nature of the application process.

Exactly! I noticed that you applied to schools only in California. If you don't get in this year, you may want to try broadening your search next year. Initially, I restricted my schools to the west coast, but I'm glad I applied to a school in the midwest--once I did some research, I learned that there are great schools all over the country. Also, I don't have any hard data, but my feeling (from reading stuff around the web) is that this year there are more applicants to grad school because of the poor job market. Thus, this year may have been particularly competitive.

I agree with this as I'm in a similar situation. If I'm good enough to be short-listed at Stanford, then I can do quality work anywhere--it's up to me. The name will carry you only so far, and you'll have to do the rest. Recently, an assistant professor gave me what I think is excellent advice--do your best in the courses. But, use your time in the doctoral program to learn how to do high-quality research and how to communicate it to others. Take every opportunity to learn how to become a thoughtful and persuasive scholar. Present at conferences. Publish papers. Write successful grants. Learn the politics of academia so that you can navigate the job market and tenure review process. Network. Build positive relationships with the people in your cohort because they will be your colleagues one day. Reach out to the folks ahead of you and behind you. I'm going to try my best to follow this advice. And, ultimately, follow your heart. You'll know what's right for you.

I want to echo what others have said here... it depends on your career goals. Do you want to be a professor? Do you want to do research? An unfunded Master's degree at Harvard or Stanford may not necessarily get you accepted into the doctoral program either. The way I understand it, at the doctoral level, it's not so much about the reputation of the university as it is about the reputation of your adviser and specific program. For example, the College of Ed at MSU is not highly ranked overall (still Top 20), but the specific researchers I want to work with are successful (as evidenced by their publications, awards, grants, and positions as editors of respected journals) and highly regarded in the field. Also, they are able to place their students in tenure-track positions, which is what I ultimately want. So, I guess you may want to do more research about USC and your potential advisers... see if you can find the names of recent graduates of the program and see where they are now. If they are doing what you want to do, then I see no reason to reject USC in favor of higher ranked schools. Ultimately, I think, the quality of work that you do at USC and your ability to speak and write cogently about your research will speak for itself. It's not an easy decision--good luck!

Silence is golden? Actually, I'm also hoping not to have any of those awkward moments during my upcoming visit. But, if it happens, it happens. It's just a moment, so it'll pass, right? Or, you can always excuse yourself and go to the restroom to freshen up. The other thing to keep in mind is that other people may be just as shy as you, so don't worry! Smile, and look like you're enjoying yourself.

Ha ha, too bad I have no talent for baseball (or any other sport for that matter) and the only video game I play is The Sims, which I haven't touched in a few years. I'm also trying to stretch myself and get out of my comfort zone, like trying some science fiction or contemporary fiction. Usually, I only like dead writers. (These emoticons are so much fun! Ha ha, that must mean it's time to get off GradCafe and go to bed.)

LOL! I really do enjoy reading academic stuff--I even wrote about it in my SOP, and I was accepted! I started this thread to try and get some ideas for what to read for fun when I don't want to read the academic stuff (rather than just checking the bestseller lists, which aren't always my cup of tea). It's good that you're so into your field. Sometimes I just need a break (like, right after completing my thesis).

Hmmm... you're kidding, right?

Ha ha, this is a succinct version of what I wanted to say. Thanks! And, yes, I especially dislike the sweatpants with the writing on the behind (e.g., Victoria's Secret)... or the Juicy Couture matching sets of sweatpants/sweatshirts.