rawera

I'm taking the opposite approach: forget that I've even applied.

I think the class of "whom makes you sound smart" speakers exists. Also I think the concept is called hyper-urbanisation? That may refer to pronouns specifically.

The fact is that the vast majority of students at large public state universities are there because they were educated within that state. It's pretty ignorant (since we have varying degrees of authority, right) to assume that undergrad is significantly divorced from earlier education, even if at the graduate level they look at undergrad only. You're right that we're talking about undergraduate and graduate institutes. You're also right in mentioning that education actually occurs in the South. And you're right to say that U of the South won't close any doors. But I bet it won't open many. Furthermore, when a region of states consistently performs lower than the national average, I'm talking graduation rates closer to 50% than 67%, we can probably agree that there is, in fact, a systemic problem within the region or state.

Phil, were you educated in the south? k-12 public schools? Just curious.

I think Michigan, Stanford, Cornell and UMN use the same applyweb thing.

The anecdotal evidence I've heard from two friends who are now in graduate programs, English and Biophysics in top programs, is that they're easily the dumbest people in their program, everyone wants them to know it, and they're the token state school students in the program. Both attended public, large universities in the state. A state where education is alright...but it's the south. Some programs, Buffalo, I think, explicitly de-emphasize undergrad prestige on the admissions website. That said, I'm not expecting anyone to see my undergrad institution and stop the presses or whatever. But I am willing to be that one public school student who didn't grow up learning latin or greek or piano in prep school.

Yeah, we're dumb.

"Not that much in the grand scheme of 1000+, amirite?" I think that might be an official ETS position, verbatim.

I do the mantra thing from 11:12 all the way back around to 11:10. Amateurs.

What is a traditional student, exactly? And I'm not being sardonic.

that's the one in which Hester joins the army, right?

i feel like random dates would only inculcate the sense of impending rejection

The ones that feature pictures from the film in the middle? love them. Had the Patriot after that came out. I definitely understand the family frustration, though. My dad asked me yesterday if I've gotten any leads on jobs or if I've gotten any news on graduate school. I've been asked about the job since the semester of graduation began, he only figured out that graduate school is a thing I wanted to do as of graduation. "No dad, I actually applied like last week" "so maybe in a few weeks then?" face palm. I actually made a family announcement that went something like this: "I appreciate the interest, but I will not find out until late february, furthermore I am applying to some very competitive programs and there's a really good chance I won't get it anywhere, thanks."

Interesting perspective. As a male, I anticipate hating a post-secondary teaching position.

The possibility that you and I would constitute half of the Minnesota program (assuming it's the same) is so totally absurdly slight that I might be sick.

You could use an excerpt of the larger writing sample. Either way, I'd definitely meet the 10 page limit.

So cover your ass but be sure to cover your ass at the same time. Yeah, sounds about right.

I was skimming through the english dept's website while finishing up my SOP, saw the bit about "accepts around 12 Ph.D. candidates" and thought "how is this not a waste of 95 dollars." And then I submitted.

"The objective of the statement of purpose is to demonstrate to the committee that you can define intellectual parameters of inquiry and articulate a field of study (though not necessarily a specific project)."

I would use the Buffalo principle for specificity: propose a field/interest so you can prove that you are able to talk intellectually about something rather than actually proposing a dissertation. That said, how did you choose the MAs if not for research interests. Funding/location? Faculty? I need to pick up a few back up plans too.

What a thread title considering the situation.

Explosions in the Sky is good for pretty much everything. Reading, writing, driving, sexual activity, meditation with and without the aid of chemicals. etc.

I am not confident at all. I don't have any "safety" schools (if those exist). I actually did my undergrad at one of the state schools I see people applying to and the advice I received from my professors was: "I love my grad students here but I don't know if they'll get jobs." So I apply to dream schools exclusively knowing that they're dreams. I guess I am confident enough to at least apply. But when I inevitably get shut out I think I'm just "dropping out" (so to speak) and moving to Asia, existing on whatever I can. Honestly, I think there will be a severe re-orientation of my own values, and I think that'll be ok. Maybe my gf will get into a bio program (next cycle) and I can just tag along.

I didn't really think the Michigan statement was a diversity statement. I approached it like a captcha thing, prove that you're a human.

USPS has an overnight option too.