WendyMoira

UT-Austin's Radio-Television-Film department has a few scholars that would be into that. They're also, I think, a top program in RTF. I think fan studies is fairly popular at the moment.

You're not looking to move, are you? Also, Rambo went back to Michigan for a few weeks, and I'm devastated. The Dogz is too. Hi Globalist-- just to let you know, I live almost on 45th, and there are very few undergrads in sight. I don't know what major street that complex is at, but I would assume anything that far north is relatively UG-free. In my area at least, it's mostly grad students and young professionals. Hope this helps!

I am going to second Gautefeminist (who, by the way, really is not the kind of person to gush, I say with affection . I have not gone to guatemala, but UT is letting me do some pretty unconventional coursework, funding my presentation at a major conference in the summer, and working my summer funding around my spinal surgery schedule. If you're not up for grad school, that's one thing, but I have a hard time imagining anyone who knows what they're getting into and really wants to come here would be unhappy. Our department is almost universally sunny. Of course, now that you've all made your decisions, this information is irrelevant. But I had to say it! Oh also, on placement rates. Another way to look at the job situation is to look at what our own hiring event looked like. I went to all but one of the job talks we hosted this year while our EP was looking for a new tenure-track Americanist and a post-doc, and they were really educational. If anyone wants more specific and gossip-like details, PM me. Globalist--it's quite possible to live a little further out; I know a lot of people that do. That said, I live about 1.2 miles north of campus and love it. I've never lived close before, so I'm just enamored with being able to me on campus so quickly. I know some people that want to live further away for the space/distance, and just as many who are now moving closer to be nearer school. I will say almost all of us tend to congregate pretty close to campus. This is Austin, and Austin is awesome, so there are cool coffee shops and bars everywhere, but I don't really know anyone who drives seven miles up to go to one of the fancy yuppy-ish bars. The few-mile radius around campus is pretty popular (away from undergrad haunts, too). I moved from Orlando, which is sprawling, so Austin doesn't seem spread out to me at all, but then it's nothing like New York or anything. Anyway, I could probably provide more specific details should you want them. You can PM me, too, if you'd like. On another note, one of my roommates is moving out. I believe Amy sent out our ad, but if you're interested in a room in Hyde Park with two 23/f who like to cook and keep things tidy, let me know.

I'll second everything GuateFeminist and Fiona said. (They're both awesome people and a lot of fun to drink with, btw). Anyway, you all can PM me, too, if you want info. I think I speak for my whole cohort when I say we are obsessed with Texas and you should all come here. No, really. You should.

"Quite right." --Cubie. Also, "Marlowe," I think we should perhaps discuss this obsession you have with creating the future cohorts...

I was talking to a few schools when I made my decision, and they were all pretty welcoming. But UT-Austin, where I ended up, was and is by far the most social of the three options I had. The ethos presented at recruitment was exactly the same as the one I'm now living in, which is nice. I can't speak for any other schools but UT goes out of its way to make you bond with your cohort (dept-funded happy hours every day after first-year orientation, anyone?) and the atmosphere is extremely collaborative. My cohort now has a standing weekly hangout and usually gets together almost in entirety another time during the week too. Wemget together to help grade and to read. This was not the case with other programs that I visited, even though those programs were still strong. Depends on the goals of the department. I can't speak for any other school long-term, but I know UT is really on the far end of the sociability/support spectrum. Also. If you're thinking of applying to Austin, I would mention that you're looking for a program that has that sort of support and collegiality built in--they want people like that. Hope this helps.

Hey rems. Hooray! Glad to be helpful. Maybe try to get in touch with current grad students? It may seem kind of forward, and I guess it is. But I know at least in our program, which is pretty benevolent, we'd love to talk about the department and its ethos, particularly because we do feel we fit here (one of my cohort is convinced our DGS has a white board somewhere with all our names, pictures, and specialties). So we'd be happy to help out someone who's trying to find out if they'd fit in too. An easier way might be to cruise the old boards to see what recent admits were saying about each school just after recruitment weekend (which, granted, is the school putting its best foot forward...but still worthwhile). You might be able, to,find someone who posted that they were going to school X and then PM them now that they're actually there. Plus you'll, pick up a lot, reputation info, which, while not always true, can still be valid since you'd be leaving the program under that reputation, no matter how legitimate. Also, you mentioned people that work in your field. I would definitely email those specific professos, too. For example, I emailed James Kincaid, who writes on Victorian children's lit and childhood studies, which is a big focus for me. I asked him if there were other people at USC with whom I might find an interest; he told me in the absolute kindest way imaginable that no, USC probably wasn't a good fit for me, as he will be retiring soon and no one else in his department shared his area. Then he suggested a few schools for me to consider. Pretty cool. Of course, it was a bummer because he's fantastic and his email made me want to study under him even more, but still. It also helps to have a really clear idea of the lifestyle you want. It can seem like you just want to get in somewhere, anywhere, and be a grad student, but there are so many variations. Thinking in specifics will help you choose programs based on more than just profs, which can be daunting, and location, which isn't always realistic. What's your focus, may I ask? And what programs do you already like?

Here I am again, sucked in to the grad cafe. My cohort: don't you judge me! I was looking for info on TAships! All right. That said, I have to add my two cents, since my experience differed so much from what was on this thread. Fit exists, and fit is EVERYTHING. I applied last year and ended up at UT Austin. I had a few other comparable offers, one from a school that is better for my field, but I chose UT because departmental fit is crucial. I'll explain: each department has a different "model." For example, some schools follow a discipleship model, where incoming grad students often work with primarily one or two professors. In cases like this, those students go to that school for those professors. (FYI, UT is not one of these programs.) Some are more holistic and, for lack of a better word, social. Some departments encourage isolated study; some encourage collaboration and want your relationship with your cohort to be reminiscent of a support group. Some departments have graduate students teaching right away; some keep them on fellowship year one; some start first-years as TAs. Some departments are heavy on research, and expect their graduates to aim for R1 institutions on the job market; some schools are more geared toward teaching, and these departments want good scholars, but they also read heavily in your SoP and our LoRs for whether or not you'd make a good teacher. Some schools are more theory heavy than others. Some departments have firm requirements (i.e., you must take a course in each time period or focus, etc...) while others allow students to pretty much self-design their track. Schools have different procedures for master's reports, field exams and reading lists, and prospectus exams, and these different procedures reflect the different expectations of the program. Also really important, schools all have different levels of funding. Some English departments happen to be really valued (rare), and many are seen as superfluous after freshman comp is taught. A school that has more money will not only be able to make more offers, but they will also be able to fund students that, for example, might need long-distance archival research. ***And, most of all, departments have certain amounts of energy being directed at different interests. For example, I study childhood studies and children's lit in the long-19th century. There are very few schools that would work for me on a discipleship model. But, UT has a professor who actually studies Irish literature but is working on a book on the only child figure in literature and ecology; another professor, an Americanist, is working on domesticity and sentimentality in 19th century New England. A few years ago, I wouldn't have gotten into UT, but because the department now has a certain amount of enthusiasm related to my field, it's a great fit. OK, I'll stop there. I hope I've exhausted my point that fit actually does exist and it actually is extremely important. When I came to UT for recruitment, they explained why they chose who they chose, breaking down the process into four categories they look for. I also visited other schools, and it was blindingly obvious that they chose us for different reasons. To say these departments all have their own identity is a massive understatement. It's not about what kinds of machines they have; it's about the atmosphere of the department. Yes, you can read anywhere, but they're not only interested in what you're reading. Remember that grad school is a lifestyle, and you'll be doing a LOT more than just reading and writing. They're essentially choosing members of a team; they want to make sure you will belong among them. I think it would be a mistake to underestimate how important that is. In retrospect, I don't think it would be a mistake early on in the season (like in September or so) to send a polite email asking the DGS to describe their department. You might be surprised at all the nuances. I lucked out, but if I hadn't, I would have wished I'd done this so I'd have known, for example, that Chicago was a terrible choice for me. Anyway, I'll stop babbling about fit, but please, please, please don't overlook it. It is a real procedure, and they really can tell with a reasonable degree of accuracy who will work well in their department. ;: On the SoP: They don't expect that you'll know exactly what you want to study. That requirement exists for a few reasons--A: you really should have a ballpark idea if you're headed for a PhD-- if you don't, you'll want to do more research before writing your SoP; lots of students grow and shift, but many, while making some focus changes, do stay in their original declared area. B: they use your description of your research interests to gauge how well you understand yourself as a scholar--even if you switch fields, they want to know that you can talk about scholarship (any scholarship), so they know you know what you're doing. C: not all departments, but many, do really choose you like choosing a baseball team--I know UT in fact told a few people they would need to adjust their interests this way or that way in order to really gel with the department. This is not to say they marry you to what you said in your SoP, but they do take you at your word and, to some extent, count on you studying what you say you want to study. I'm sure this varies by school too. Make your SoP as flawless as you possibly can. The adcomm will be a team of people with advanced degrees, reading hundreds of applications. And remember, they're looking for teachers too. I'm sure a comma out of place here or there will go unnoticed, but they will absolutely not hire you to teach their undergrads if they don't think you have a command of writing. I would say your SoP should positively ring with your style. Since they can't interview you in person (in most cases), they use the SoP to try to figure out what your personality is like (see above diatribe on "fit"). The two most important aspects of the application are your writing sample and your SoP. And when I say they're the most important, what I mean is that they're almost the only parts of your app. In fact, I know someone who was accepted to a top-tier program when the DGS hadn't even seen the rest--no test scores, no transcripts, no LoRs, nothing. The professor read those two documents and didn't even seem to care that the rest of the app exists--and this isn't a crazy "the applicant was THAT good" story, at all--it was really coincidental. Again, I'm sure it varies by school, but honestly, there are people in my cohort who got 3s on their GRE writing and people who got 6s; I've heard of a guy who was in the 99th percentile on the subject test and I was...well, nowhere near that. One of my big regrets is how much emphasis I put on my test scores. Wasted valuable writing time. Anyway, I looking back on this post, it seems my tone might come off as a little aggressive and perhaps off-putting, but I hope you all don't read it that way, since I mean to be helpful. I'm only posting since I did get to speak with several programs and sort of "see behind the curtain." Again, my experience will still be different from everyone else's, but I remember how grueling and anguished the application process was, so I thought I would try to de-mystify it as much as possible. Keep your heads up, everyone. I promise, when you're in, all of this will seem like a bad dream.

proflorax- I'm pursuing literature, specifically childhood studies in the long-19th century.

I don't want to chime in and be contradictory- and I definitely don't disagree with ComeBackZinc, but I did want to share for a moment, since the responses I got from schools were surprising. I was seriously considering bot UT-Austin and Indiana U. I visited the schools, and both mentioned my dissertation project (I sketched a very rough outline) and implied that they chose their students based partially on that aspect. While I was visiting UT, the grad director pulled me aside specifically to discuss how the school would find the archival research I want to do and to touch on how my interests would be handled at Austin. In fact, when my SO, too, got accepted to UT, the grad director scheduled a phone call with him to talk about his intended project. Anyway, I am sure that, like everything else, this varies by school and by person, but I thought I would add my two cents. I didn't give a chapter-by-chapter summary or anything, but I did sort of define my field and explain what I thought I would need to do to accomplish it. I'm sure that this turned some schools off, but at those two, it did seem almost expected.

Made my day. This man makes me want to set my hair on fire.

I think Dr. Lesser mentioned a cohort class in the second year. It's the methods class, right? Lots of schools have that first year "intro to grad school" class, but I don't see one here that seems like that kind of course.

Pretty sure it's three. I could be wrong, though.

So I'm sitting in my fourth hour classroom, which is empty because my students are taking the stupid FCAT, and I'm supposed to be putting together the grammar presentation I'm supposed to give to some other teachers next month. What am I actually doing? Plotting my move to Austin...

I don't know what to do with myself now that I don't have a monstrous worry plaguing my every thought. Seriously. I keep laughing at inappropriate moments.

Definitely a lot of GFers, Thunderpaws. Anyone picked out potential classes yet? I know you've stalked the course lists. Or am I alone?

Couldn't say it better. I'm living in a grad student's fairy tale. UT is the kingdom far, far away, Dr. Lesser is my fairy godmother, and that's all the H-E-A I want.

I got similar news yesterday. I'm still euphoric. I literally had to recheck my email this morning to make sure I hadn't been having a really elaborate dream. We're going to UT! Marlowe, so happy we'll be cohorts! I'm glad you picked Austin.

Thunderpaws! I'm so thrilled! We'll be in the same cohort!

And yes, I'm on gradcafe while my students are taking a quiz. Don't judge me.

I totally believe it. It is currently a little over 80. Almost all of my students and I are wearing jeans. Six of them are wearing hoodies. So thrilled for you! And happy we'll be cohorts! Are you riding the same high I'm riding?!

Ha, yeah. I'm moving from Florida, though, so at least it'll be less humid.

It's official: UT-Austin for me! Phd program in English. Long-19th Century British lit with a focus on childhood studies.

Two Espressos, I'm with you. I really can't tolerate the heat. But, I accepted anyway. The department was great on so many levels. It's a good fit for me. Decision made! I'm headed to UT-Austin!

Ditto to all of this. I had a perfect score on both verbal and writing and I heard plenty of rejections--although that could have been due to my unimpressive subject test scores. I also discussed my app thoroughly with my admitting schools and my scores did not come up ONCE. But, everything else did. And, further, they had vetted me based on the personality they read into my SOP and writing sample--they had actually put thought into what kind of person I am-- not based on how smart my numbers made me seem. In fact, one DGS broke it down into pretty simple categories that would almost all have been evident in the SOP and WS, perhaps in the letters too. I'm with ComeBackZinc--the elusive "fit" actually does mean something. If I had to do it over again, I would research schools, but not just in the conventional way I was told ("read the work of the professors"--although you should do this, too). I would email the schools directly and ask if they think you'd fit. I would ask people for as many impressions of departments as possible. Sometimes the description on the faculty website is so not what that person is all about. I was shocked, as I got further into this thing, how much departments know about each other, and how much they're willing to share. In retrospect, I understand exactly why I got into the programs I did and why I got rejected from those who didn't need/want me. That's kind of got the ring of closure. On the page number thing--I wittled it down so it could fit on 18 pages if it had to, without looking like I was crunching words in, and kept it somewhere around 21 for the schools that weren't so strict. Usually I just submitted the 18 pager and had done with it. I can't imagine the right schools minded.