eriksmegs

Yes. Assuming it is the same this year as last, you would be guaranteed funding for five years. And, yes. The offer was for full tuition plus the stipend of 13500ish a year.

I have no info about funding, but if you have questions about the program feel free to message me.

Based off a funded offer last year, the "almost full waiver" really does include all except those fees. If I remember correctly, the 200 is per semester, except I think Washington is on the quarter system, so that might be three times a year. Also, it's about 13500 a year starting out, but once you earn your M.A. they raise your funding to 16500 a year. Just fyi.

I'm ISFJ, so I hope not

When I was applying, I was paranoid about schools matching my applications with my GREs and transcripts, because I took the test/graduated under my maiden name. Some schools had application tracking websites that informed me if any pieces of my application were missing. I ended up calling a few schools who listed they hadn't received my scores, as well as all schools that didn't provide this information for me online. I'm very glad I did so, because at four or five of my schools my scores and applications weren't matched. The good news is matching up my scores and applications only took a five minute conversation with these schools. The people I spoke to were very nice and happy to help---it was a pain that I had to go through this process, but the process itself was pretty painless. So if you're worried about your apps and scores matching, it's probably not a bad idea to double check, and it's easy enough to do so.

Arizona State is strong in both areas

I find I can't focus on moving and starting classes at the same time without wanting to curl up under my desk and rock back and forth. So I'm just focusing on moving for now (less than a week!), and I'm a pretty equal mix of nerves and excitement.

If the school mentions they offer fee waivers if necessary, I say go for it. I applied for fee waivers at three schools and was granted it at two of them, which saved me about $150--not too shabby for just having to send in a little paperwork. I don't know anything about requesting a waiver from a school who doesn't mention if they grant waivers. One bit of advice: if you are going to request a waiver from a school, make sure you start submitting your application a couple of weeks before the deadline, because they often require you to submit paperwork which then has to be approved before you can finalize your app.

I'm happy to read SOPs or send mine as an example

Many of the schools will tell you what they want submitted in the header (generally your name/application number, etc.)--for schools that didn't specify, I just used the same sort of format as for those that did. Also, while I think you should leave your paper in MLA if it was originally written using MLA, there may be some cases in which it's okay not to use MLA. For example, my writing sample was originally written as an English/history paper (for an interdisciplinary summer research grant--so I agree it's okay to use a paper not written for a class), and my citations were in Chicago format. While I cut my paper down so the writing sample contained the sections most heavily focused on literature, I left the paper in Chicago format, and was still accepted to several programs. I just wanted to throw that out there in case anyone is in a situation similar to mine.

Maybe "odd" wasn't the right word so much as "amusing." I just get a kick out of seeing Denzel Washington and Keanu Reeves in a Shakespeare production But I adore Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. I was a little unsure about spending the money for Emma too, but I had a friend highly recommend it, so I decided to give it a try. I LOVE it--honestly, I like it better than the Gwyneth Paltrow version, and just as much as the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice (in fact, I might even like it a little more--gasp! I know. crazy.) And while my friends and my mom don't agree that it's as good as P&P, they still love it as well. So, for what it's worth, I'd say give it a try. It's only $20 or so on Amazon right now, or some libraries might have it.

I don't know that these are on Netflix, but I love Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing (some odd casting choices, but on the whole, I think it's fabulous), and I absolutely adore the 2009 BBC Emma with Romola Garai.

I still haven't.

I can only speak from my own experience--I went to a small, not particularly well-known liberal arts college, and I received two funded BA to PhD offers and a couple of MA offers. However, I know that professors at some of the schools I got my offers from are friends or have worked with my adviser (and lor writer) from my undergrad, and I'm pretty sure that helped me out as far as helping my application jump out at them. So I would suggest talking to your professors about where they recommend you apply, and adding one or two of those schools to your list--networking is, unfortunately (or, I suppose, fortunately when it works in your favor), all part of process. This is in no way meant to imply that you can't get into a school without having connections there, but just to say it may not be a bad idea to include a school or two where connections may help you. And, of course, as Stately Plump and Fiona Thunderpaws have stated, luck is a huge factor as well, and I wish you all oodles of good luck in the coming app season. Acceptance fairy dust coming your way!! (and please feel free to PM me as well if you want another SOP for reference--I had a horrible time finding samples until I stumbled across this wonderful place--or if I can help in any other way)

I haven't heard from them yet either.