marlowe

I have mentioned this already as a particularly frustrating (albeit tangential) part of the application process, but I have started getting all sorts of credit card offers, junk mail, and phone calls from telemarketers. Before this year, I had never received a marketing call at this number, and my home address is brand new. It may just be me, but I find it ridiculous that some schools sell our information after essentially extorting us for hundreds!

Also, Yank, have you considered teaching Community College? There are no certification requirements, and while the money isn't great and you'd probably be teaching primarily freshman composition, it is definitely preferable (in my opinion) to teaching high school freshman.

Oh, definitely. I would never live in Greensboro for that exact reason. I feel the same way that you did about only applying to top twenty schools for fear of job market repercussions. However, I resigned myself to possibly getting shut out and trying again and again until I was successful. I completely understand, however, that an applicant over thirty would not want to continue working dead end jobs year after year in order to continue applying.

Why apply to a safety school if you wouldn't attend (or be excited to attend) once admitted? Also, what do you mean about Greensboro not being a 'car city'? Just curious about the terminology, here.

THERE ARE TWO OF US!?!??!?!?!!

Shit, congrats! Guess I won't be seeing you in Austin. Wow.

So if the waitlist is not ranked, does that mean it is organized by subfields? So if an Early-Modernist declines the offer, one of the EMists on the waitlist takes their place?

Congrats, dude.

My undergraduate GPA was lower than 3.4, and I earned a 'distinction' on my UK Masters same as you. I say you've got a great shot, as long as you focus on things like fit. I received a couple of top twenty offers.

You can get dirt cheap tickets to the Canes if you live in North Carolina. And hey, we've won the cup!

It is truly sad when I look at those numbers and think, "wow, 8% is good odds!".

Man, I hardly have any idea what half of you are talking about.

The fact that you are still capitalizing the name means that you still have some work to do. Agreed, we'd probably be best buds. What year did you graduate?

I think the system was very, very different when many of our advisers went through.

Chapel Hill is the quintessential college town; you'd love it. Then again, so is Austin, and from what I hear, so is Bloomington. I know that doesn't help.

Maybe my intentionally vague post was too vague. I am not even close to making a decision. It wouldn't be fair to either school (or to myself) to make a decision without visiting both towns, meeting the faculty and other students, and exploring my options. Sadly, one school doesn't have their open house until early April, which means I'll be screwing someone else no matter what. I would most certainly decline if I had any idea which school I favored, but I do not.

Cheers.

Where did you end up finding them, Dorinda? I haven't had a look just yet.

Thus, YOU CAN ALL DO THIS. Re-Group next year (like so many of us have done), and come back stronger.

In all seriousness, at the great majority of schools, fit is going to trump almost everything else. I have very mediocre grades and very mediocre test scores; i submitted top notch recommendations, strong SOP (much stronger than my first go round), and a short, strong writing sample with NO trendy theory whatsoever - just a strong engagement with possibly the most over-analyzed text of all-time that demonstrates my unique approach to literature (and corresponds with the 'themes' of my CV and SOP). Fit is so important. Seriously. I still have a lower GPA and than anyone else I've seen even attempt the process in Lit on here (Though I have a pretty valid reason, to be fair).

ComeBackZinc, that post was incredible. Thank you. spastic, NINETEEN! JEEZ. I can't even imagine the time and effort that must have taken. And duh you fucked around in undergrad, you went to Carolina - i can't imagine a more fun four years for you. As for duke, I have been trying (in vain) to hold my tongue. My biggest personality flaw (I didn't mention it in my applications, though) is my hatred of all things duke.

My second acceptance (at my top choice school) was nowhere near as joyful as the first. It was almost painful, in fact, because now I have to choose. I hate saying no to people, and the scholars at the second (choice) school have been incredibly outgoing and wonderful - countless emails, phone calls, encouragement, praise. Their funding package is slightly less generous [no first year funding, although this year's offers are the most generous ever for this program, I think]. Both towns are perfect for me, although the second is probably a better fit for my lifestyle. Programs are equally ranked. I don't know what to do.

TripWillis, I just jammed to your Letters#2. Sweet stuff.

LOLOL, you just got into Columbia, didn't you? LOLOL.

Here is a thematic gif for you all: