heja0805

I know you didn't ask me directly, and while I clearly didn't have an exceptional application season, things worked out for me and I have a little advice to offer. While it's wise to be clear about what your interests are, and to outline a research project in your personal statement, it's so important to situate yourself as someone clearing your own path, creating new opportunities for yourself, and learning from others in the different contexts you find yourself in. Embrace the idea of changes and your learning as an ongoing process, because there's so much to be learned from others and about yourself in a PhD program. Few people arrive to the fields of rhet/comp, tech comm, and writing studies knowing, exactly, that we would do this from the first moment we started attending college--and do we ever have stories. And those stories matter, they shape us, and they're happening right now (and will). That might all seem obvious or preachy to you, and maybe it is, but according to the lore I've heard, the students have rigid research/dissertation plans when they begin coursework are typically have the least successful and least fulfilling experiences in their PhD programs.

Hi JaimeA, It's nice to meet you! You really do have a nice list of programs. I'm in my first semester here at MSU, and while I can't offer the same knowledge and lore that more experienced students in my program would, I'm more than happy to answer specific questions off list. I can also put you in contact with other students who can tell you more about the program and the experience here--just email me if that interests you. I can say with confidence the program is well situated for the study of transfer, and the highlight of our program really is the people here, who do interesting work that crosses multiple areas like cultural rhetorics, digital rhetoric, tech comm, and community writing. I applied to Michigan Tech last year and was waitlisted. In fact, I was waitlisted by every program except MSU, who got back to me very early (first week of January). ...I suppose it's sort of wild how it all worked out for me. Have you considered the joint program in English and Education at Umich? It sounds like that might also be a good place for you. I hear that the University of Kentucky is also developing a PhD program in their department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies, and I'm certain that it will be fantastic--the only thing is, I'm not sure when they'll be accepting students into the program and officially rolling it out. Maybe someone on here has some info? I'm sure you could send an email to their grad director to find out more info if you're interested. It's nice to hear from you, and welcome to the board!

Hello all! I'm not an applicant anymore, but I'd like to start a new thread specifically for those who are hoping to apply for graduate programs in rhetoric & composition, professional & technical communication, writing studies, and related fields. Are you applying for a certificate, M.A., M.S. or PhD? What issues or questions do you have about the process, documents, things to know, where to apply, etc.?

This might be useful: https://www.mla.org/bulletin_124043 Of course, it's over a decade old, and I'm sure there are more studies out there. I think the best advice I can offer is that, the more you expand your work to be interdisciplinary, the better chances your placement in a wider range of positions. I would argue that doing interdisciplinary work is truly necessary for anyone in the humanities right now and likely into the future, too.

Hello! I'm a bit of a lurker, but I thought I'd chime in and offer my thoughts. As others have already mentioned, you absolutely do have interests that bode well with rhet/comp, and you'll thrive in any program that encourages you to further explore those interests and find ways to connect them to your teaching. As I'm sure you're aware at this point, there aren't a whole lot of rhet/comp phd programs that will accept students straight from a BA--so if I were to offer any advice, it would be to look into MA programs. I do agree that the field is a bit saturated, but that also means that there are many fantastic teacher-scholars working at regional universities across the country. These are excellent places to grow and develop your interests & gain experience tutoring/teaching. I received my MA from one of these said institutions, and I view it as being very important for my personal and professional development. I can't speak to what most MA programs offer for funding, but I can say confidently that you're looking into a field where unfunded offers are uncommon. I can share more information off list about my MA funding package if that's useful to you. I wish you best of luck in finding a program that's not only good for your interests, but also one that's positive, supportive, eclectic, professionalizing, and challenging. I agree with the other posters here that the safety school concept doesn't bode well with the graduate level in our field. Besides, you really don't want to commit to a program if you think you might be unhappy there.

I'm excited, too! It's only an hour from the Cities, so I'd totes use it as an excuse to visit family & friends. As for the trip to Pullman, I bought my plane ticket a couple of weeks ago--flying into Spokane. There's no way I'm flying all the way out to that area of the country without bringing my bike, so I'll be doing the Ride2CW this year (probably ride out to Idaho and back). Anyone else thinking about participating in the Ride2CW? I'm also staying in the dorms, and I'm also hoping that I can find a shuttle returning to Spokane on that Monday. Just like it was last year, this trip is going to be ridiculously expensive (even worse now that I'm transitioning between institutions). I applied for one of the GRN Travel Grants to ease the pain. ...wow, that ended up being a dismal reply. I really am excited for the conference.

Also, this might be of interest to you, BowTies http://siteslab.org/cwcon/2013/online-conference

(excuse the hasty writing and broken links)

In the past, they've hosted online versions of the conference (called CW99 I believe). The SiteSlab sites that are used for cwcon every year are created by Dan Anderson at UNC, has they've been designed to promote as much interaction and engagement as possible, even if you're not at the conference. Last year in Maryland, I've never seen so many people live tweet at a conference, so you can follow the feed. Last year they gathered as many people as possible to volunteer and videotape sessions. While I haven't heard anything about that this year, I imagine that it would be happening. You can also read panel reviews on the Sweetland DRC after the conference http://www.digitalrhetoriccollaborative.org/conference-reviews/cw-reviews/

I'll be heading to cwcon!

If you'd be interested in saving a little money on rent, you're likely to find an apartment in St. Paul cheaper than mpls and take the light rail to the U -- the route on University should be finished soon, and it'll take you all the way to campus.

Also a student entering a grad program at MSU, know that this reply is biased. Just remember that you're going to be involved in an incredibly engaging department this fall and for the next two years, and you're going to be surrounded by students (BA, MA, PhD) who will collaborate, work beside you, push you, and inspire you. For me, the hardest thing about transitioning to studying and working in WRAC is figuring out how to say no to all the different professional and academic opportunities. In a year from now, that mark you will receive --be it a C or a W-- will mean nothing when compared to all of the presentations, activities, organizations, and projects you're certain to involve yourself with as a student at MSU. Also, in a year from now I'm certain you may even be seeking advice on how to balance your activities in this new environment. This is unsolicited and perhaps unrelated to your original query, but my advice for your first year is to slow down, pick and choose what is right for you in term of professional endeavors with a keen eye towards balance with all the other parts of you that compose your larger sense of self. Your acceptance to MSU has reinforced what you already know, and that is you have novel, original, and valuable contributions to our field. You already know how to market your experiences and articulate your identity to admission committees, and it's no different when it comes time for you to apply to PhD-land. Besides, a year from now, your undergraduate coursework will seem like ancient history.

Congratulations, BowTies!!!

Congrats!!! I'll see you this fall

Congrats, BowTies!

Well...I'm just taking my sweet time to commit to MSU, and I just want to know for certain before I decide. There's a possibility I could get an offer off the wait list at Syracuse. MSU is having a get-together at CCCC's this year, so I would be letting them know before then. Congrats on your acceptance, BowTimesAreCool! Where did you get in, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm not sure if this helps out any of the PhD applicants on here or not... I just emailed South Florida and Michigan Tech to tell them that I no longer wish to be considered for admission off of their wait lists.

Thank you so much for this, Algernon. I can relate to your experience in a number of ways, though I'll chose to mention one for the sake of brevity. I would, however, like to mention that I study rhetoric and composition and can really only speak to that context. I did my undergrad at a state university in Minnesota, just large and old enough for it to have a long and illustrious history of binge drinking. Despite its high enrollment, it's a comprehensive university and is little known outside the state. I did mediocre in my courses and found much more satisfaction by putting in as many hours as I could as a writing tutor. Of course, there are fine things about spending several years of my life here, but I want to emphasize that getting into a masters program was a huge concern for me. I had convinced myself that going to a better institution for my masters was essential for getting into a PhD program in rhetoric and composition, and I set out to take a year off to prepare for that endeavor. But after trying my hand at teaching abroad (and finding out after a few months that it wasn't my jam), stressing about the GRE, and working at a meat-packing plant through a temp agency, I was ready to go chat with the faculty at my alma mater to see if I could still get into their small, newly established M.A. in Rhetoric and Writing. Less than a month later, I was admitted and offered an assistantship to teach composition that fall. Of course, I was pleased to have the opportunity, but I went into that program knowing that its prestige or reputation wouldn't do me any favors when it came time for me to apply to phd programs. Over the course of a year, I did anything and everything I could to bolster my application. Because departmental funding was nonexistent, I ended up spending a fair amount of money out of pocket to present at 10 conferences over a year and a half. I interned as a tech writer for an health mobile app startup in Georgia (and couch surfed that summer to make ends meet). Finally, I stressed out (probably a bit too much) to write a book review which was published in a major journal just before the application season. Were all of these activities and expenses necessary for me to be a competitive PhD applicant? Absolutely not. But what I can say about this is that I have been able to learn a great deal about the field, and more importantly, myself. While all of these activities were shaped by my context, I'm confident that many readers of this thread can relate to concerns about reputation when applying to doctoral programs. I did not take the GRE seriously, frankly, because I don't believe it's an accurate assessment of my ability to do research and teaching in rhetoric (I expertly selected three programs that did not require it for admission). As of today, I've been waitlisted by every program except for my top choice, where I have been accepted. I am pleased that a great number of successful scholars in rhetoric and writing have come from institutions like our little-known, Midwestern universities, and I certainly wouldn't mind working at one once I get my phd.

The highest I've heard was $75k starting out, but that was a position in Manhattan...

I echo your advice, ComeBackZinc. I wouldn't worry too much at this point, but there are many opportunities for you if you're motivated. I was also a writing tutor as an undergrad, and I think that experience was integral in helping me learn more about composition. Most importantly, you're in an environment where conversations are continuously centered on writing and language. My advice to you would be to seek out any leadership opportunities at your writing center. At mine, I led a weekly group for L2 writers and occasionally revised handouts that our writing center published. I also volunteered in a community literacy program when I was an undergrad, which helped me gain a sense for the kind of teaching that I wanted to do for a career. You might want to look into local student colloquiua on your campus. These are essentially low-pressure mini-conferences that allow you to feature your work. Attending conferences is also a great way to learn more about the field and the kind of work that others are doing. Presenting at a regional conference would be a great way to start. These environments are generally smaller and supportive places to gain experience and get valuable feedback. Most of all, I think you should embrace your undergraduate experience as a time to explore different texts and ideas and experience as much as you can. When I was 19, I read Post Office by Charles Bukowski. Changed my life.

Oh! I definitely heard about you. We had a fantastic time here, and two recruits signed already (which has apparently never happened before during the recruiting event). I'm not positive if I'll sign at msu quite yet, but if I do, I know that I'll be joining a great cohort. I look forward to meeting you if you join the program!

I was waitlisted by Syracuse this morning, which is difficult news for me to handle as I'm currently visiting the program at MSU. These are my top two choices, and I echo the waitlist confusion that folks on this thread have mentioned. It's from my understanding that most people accept their admission offers at Syracuse, though I may be wrong about that.

I'm coming to this conversation a bit late, so my apologies if anyone has already suggested these listervs: GWPA-L http://rhetorike.org/mailman/listinfo/gwpa-l_rhetorike.org TechRhet http://www.interversity.org/lists/techrhet/ ATTW http://www.attw.org/connect/listserv CPSTC https://lists.unomaha.edu/mailman/listinfo/cptsc WAC-L http://www.lsoft.com/scripts/wl.exe?SL1=WAC-L&H=LISTSERV.ILLINOIS.EDU Of course, these are the ones I'm familiar to because they are in line with my interests. WPA-L is by far the most active, and while it isn't quite as active as it once was, it's definitely my go-to, with TechRhet at a close second. Listervs are kind of an interesting phenomena in higher ed. Despite great advances in social media and connectivity since the early 90's when they came about, it's surprising that we still rely on them for a great deal of important conversations in our field. Some of them have unfortunately fallen out of use over the years, like the Alliance for Computers and Writing listserv (ACW-L). That said, I think TechRhet is definitely essential if you're interested in getting into computers and writing work, though it's actually not that active (or at least hasn't been lately). It's not quite like a listserv, but you should check out HASTAC if you haven't already. They have an excellent social network designed for academics. You might also want to look into their Scholars program, which is an even better way to network. I'm part of the working groups in Rhetoric and Composition as well as Digital Literacies, and it's so far been a great way to connect and collaborate with PhD students in programs across the country. If anyone has suggestions for other networks or listservs, I'd be grateful if you posted them here.

Hello Dali21oh-- Thank you for raising this question about MSU. I was accepted into the Rhetoric & Writing PhD program in early January, and while I'm certain I'll be going there this fall, it's always good to hear everyone else's perception of the program. I like to think that MSU is a top-5 program. Their faculty boasts strengths in both computers and writing and cultural rhetorics, and to me, that's the greatest draw. If you're doing work in either of these areas, then yes, it could even be the best program out there. If placement concerns you, check out the link to graduates and their dissertation titles below (and just google their names). Placement percentages are often misleading, so I've always found things like this most useful. If you're interested in some of the universities that graduates are now working at, I know there are individuals currently at Kentucky, Purdue, Eastern Carolina, George Mason, Central Florida, and others. http://wrac.msu.edu/graduate-programs/alumni-dissertations/