perrykm2

I would choose UNC in a heartbeat, if only for the campus. But, of course, it's your decision. Congratulations on both and good luck.

I would ask them for the exit statistics into PhD programs, and that should probably tell you all you need to know. Don't worry about what I said; it's something I've HEARD on a few occasions, but I've gotten advice from so many different people that it can't all possibly be true.

The argument is for a FUNDED MA, though. I could get my PhD at University of Phoenix online, technically. If a school is paying you to be there and to teach, then they probably aren't some weird exploitative program or just stepping on MA students to fawn over their PhD students. And even if an adcomm thought you might have "slipped by" from undergrad to a masters, I'm sure they'll leave it up to your writing sample whether or not you're worthy of their program. I mean, SUNY Buffalo offers an unfunded MA, and it is a great program. So, if I'm reviewing a student with a great application from Buffalo's MA program (where they've taken MOSTLY the same classes as the PhD students,) then something as insignificant having paid for an MA isn't going to be problematic. The lack of teaching experience, however, might be.

I agree with all of this. I thought it was the inverse of the above statement: don't get an MA where there is no PhD program. Adcomms assume it is a subpar program that doesn't have the faculty or resources to offer a PhD. However, even this is suspect. I doubt adcomms would trifle over this sort of thing, especially when faced with a good candidate for their program. I'll be the first to admit that the application process is bureaucratic* and political, but I think some people anguish over technicalities and small details which in the long run have little to no effect on your desirability as a candidate.

Does anyone know how I need to turn down Buffalo? I've misplaced the papers they've sent me. Just email?

Ugh, I know. I feel so bad for him. What a horrible and cruel mistake. ;[

Does anyone have any advice for me? My really close friend applied to some MA programs in Creative Writing, got into a handful of them, but it seems like funding is a little more up in the air and competitive in a lot of CW programs? Anyway, it ended up that of all her acceptances, she still didn't get funding or tuition remission. She's so unhappy and I feel so bad. What is a good thing to say to her?

No joke, there was a post on Reddit about someone who believed he had been accepted to his dream program, then turned down all the other programs, then got an email like, "OOPS, WE MADE A MISTAKE, you didn't get in at all."

Miami of Ohio. I guess I just can't stay away.

"Come on Penn State, daddy needs a new pair of not-working-for-five-years" Love whoever posted this in the Harvard results. I laughed.

This is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks.

Anyone have any suggestions, especially anyone who has already had to teach this type of course?

My stipend is going to be about the same amount of money I make now as a contracted technical writer (not much.) I'm also going to finally have health insurance. It will be just like always.

All of my favorite professors have horrible ratings. All of the grad students that are teaching freshman comp for the first time have ratings like "LUV HIM HE'S THE BEST *CHILEPEPPER CHILEPEPPER*" Totally unreliable site, except for information like "makes you pay $500 for books you won't read."

The standout post in this thread is "it was good, sugar pumpkin."

George Saunders is hilarious. I had never laughed out loud reading anything until I read Pastoralia.

No problem.

My friend is anxiously waiting for their creative writing department to notify as well. Maybe they're exhausted from rejecting all the Lit PhD applicants.

Penn State must do a rolling review process or something.

It says they received the call the 16th of February, so probably not waitlisted.

I see your avatar is Katie from Horton Hears A Who. Truly a cinematic masterpiece.

Congrats! I'm so jealous! The Duke Lit program is so dreamy that I'm restructuring all of my plans for a second chance at it.

“This [oatmeal] represents your soul in its pure state. Your soul on the day you were born. You were perfect. You were happy. You were good. Now, enter Concept Number Two: crap. Don't worry, folks. I don't use actual crap up here. Only imaginary crap. You'll have to supply the crap, using your mind. Now, if someone came up and crapped in your nice warm oatmeal, what would you say? Would you say: 'Wow, super, thanks, please continue crapping in my oatmeal'? Am I being silly? I'm being a little silly. But guess what, in real life people come up and crap in your oatmeal all the time--friends, co-workers, loved ones, even your kids, especially your kids!--and that's exactly what you do. You say, 'Thanks so much!' You say, 'Crap away!' You say, and here the metaphor breaks down a bit, 'Is there some way I can help you crap in my oatmeal?” from a George Saunders short story. More like an excerpt, but very relevant to all aspects of life.

Good luck to everyone still waiting on news from schools. Try not to drive yourselves crazy.

I got a phone call today and missed it. I'm assuming they're notifying people who applied to the Lit. PhD program only right now, as the trend on the result board would suggest.