Julianne Pigoon

I, too, have a glaring 18th century gap. I also totally missed The Great Gatsby and also The Catcher in the Rye. It might have been because I went the honors and AP track all through high school, and I know that the "college prep" track was doing those books while we did a lot of Shakespeare. Which I loathed at the time. It wasn't until I took a Shakespeare class last spring that I fully appreciated him. There are so many things that I want to read. I want to read everything, I just don't have all the time.

I dislike Octavia Butler because she is an abysmal writer. Kindred was part of the curriculum for a majorlevel* course I took, and it did not belong there. She is a YA writer, which is fine, but the writing is subpar even for that world. She took a complex historial/racial/science fiction premise and made it facile. I do not, and will never, understand why so many college professors believe her work belongs at the college level. Both Faulkner and Joyce's masterful use of language and narrative structure is what makes them as famous as they are. They only way I understand not appreciating their work is because it was not approached or taught well. I am not saying anyone is stupid or "reading it wrong," but I know that if I had not read both of these authors in the context of a classroom and with great teachers, I would not have liked or appreciated them. *My dash key is broken argh.

I'm doing my MA/PhD hell or high water, no matter how many loans I have to take out. Either apply every year until you're funded, or take out loans enough to cover both tuition and living expenses. Working during graduate school is unwise, and many schools won't let you do it at all. You're pursuing your career in a dying industry as it is. It's all risk. If someday worst comes to worst and we're all out of jobs because our profession has disappeared, there's always hardship deferral.

I'm hoping they're at least delivered by a drunken leprechaun.

good on you, cquin!

Yeesh. What the hell is taking them so long for the PhD applications? It's been two months x_x.

I'm sorry Timshel and capacity4wonder. I was really rooting for you guys. I'll be back here posting my MA rejection soon enough, I'm sure. Chin up, broskis.

I fucking hate Kindred by Octavia Butler.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, Dorinda. I'm personally excited to explore some Canadian authors other than Atwood when someday I have the ability to read what I'd like. If ever.

If your lip is properly pierced, you won't have dental problems. I've had my lower lip pierced for a year and I have no issues with my teeth. The labret back has caused scarring to my soft tisse, but that's because it's low‒quality and sharp...because, oddly, I'm cheap, allergic to many metals, and must wear high‒grade gold in my face. If I wanted a really nice solid gold labret I'd have to shell out more than I'm willing, but by now I've gotten used to it. Moral of the story: buy a nice piece of jewelry with a properly rounded and small backing, get your lip pierced properly, and you will very likely not have issues with your teeth, or soft tissues for that matter. Is nice!

My partner went to Brandeis for his MA in philosophy. I like it, but it is built on a mountain.

Anyone that got a tailored email should probably feel pretty good. I gave up my Vanderbilt candidacy early on when I sent the wrong PDF of my sample that had (cites) all over the place. I was mortified, and emailed the correct copy right away. Even still, with the volume of applications they had, I'm sure they were unable to even deal with anything so discombobulated. I got a standard rejection, but I was happy to have been rejected at all given their track record. So...congratulations to those that got rejected personally?

Yes.

Yaaaay Mr Grimwig!

This made me :[ so many times. I loved Oscar Wao, it's one of the books I was going to recommend. I think it's well‒written, intriguing in its subject matter, and contains many elements of postmodernism that haven't yet gone out of fashion for being obnoxious. It moved me to tears at multiple moments, which is something contemporary lit seldom does for me. I have to say, though, that your polemic was so vehement I started to worry about my own taste. On another note, one of my favorite contemporary novels is Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. It's not her best, in my opinion, but its tone is true to the times. I've been returning to it and recommending it since high school. If you're a novice reader, and you can vividly remember The Giver, you may like the dystopian science fiction nature of Oryx and Crake. Pigoons, for instance, are a species of genetically‒engineered pig able to grow human neocortexes. If you're looking to read a "classic," so to speak, I, too, recommend Faulkner. I disagree that As I Lay Dying is better or more enjoyable than The Sound and the Fury, but it's probably more accessible on the first read. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym is Poe's only novel. It's worth a go. If you're looking for a contemporaneous author, Dickens is the one. I tried reading Bleak House, but didn't get very far, although I see the merit. I would have seen it more if Dickens hadn't been paid by the word. 19th century lit is not my field, however, so I'm talking out of my ass. If you haven't read Richard III, do it. It's my favorite Shakespeare play. I also don't think thestage was trying to make fun of you, just pointing out that Moby Dick was published later than any of Poe's work. We're all literature professionals and hopefuls here, and I think we all try to be accommodating, if we're a little nerdy :]

I grew up in Narragansett then SK, but have been living in Providence for the better part of 5 years. I'm more than ready to skeedaddle.

Ha! That means we probably know each other by one step of separation. If you're comfortable, what town are you originally from? Best of luck to you, too!

So UOregon is my last hold‒out for PhD and the anxiety is encroaching. Of the three that I applied to, it's easily my top choice. I would even be happy if they considered/accepted me for their MA. My partner also applied to their philosophy PhD, and it's as much of a dream program for him. He already has an MA, so if he doesn't get into the PhD, it's going to be a crusher. A lot is riding on this particular school for us geographically, emotionally, and situationally. I saw on the survey that someone was accepted by phone for philosophy, so I'm pretty sure it's begun for them. I also know that last year the English department began rolling out answers the last week in February. Is anyone else waiting? Does anyone else have any news or timelines?

I also applied to Brandeis's MA, cquin, and I'm almost certain they're on a different schedule. I hope you get in! Whoever got into PhD is a lucky (and obviously capable) dog. Congratulations. Claim it and bask in bravos!

I'm so guilty of overwriting, because as I've seen a lot of people say, I'm guilty of over‒thinking. My SoP is the most overwritten piece of garbage because all I did was agonize over it. I am ashamed I'm not a stickler for grammar, especially on the internet. Obvious mistakes bother me (such as your and you're), but I am pretty much oblivious to the niceties of English grammar. It might be sad for an English major to be this way, but my understanding of the use of grammar, like that of many, is natural. I have taken grammar courses, and so little of it has stuck. For me, learning complex grammar rules is like memorizing math formulas. I know it as far as I'm tested on it, then I promptly forget.

I'm working on a departmental honors thesis. By working on I mean "thinking about and not writing anything." It was accepted for presentation at an undergraduate honors conference in Baltimore in April, so I am in FULL panic mode. It's due in April, too. Between my 2 1/2‒year‒old and a full load of classes, I'm having difficulty finding time. Still, I am deeply invested in my topic and am so excited to have the opportunity to work independently with my interests. I'm writing on Alasdair Gray pictured below, a somewhat obscure (in the States) Scottish writer. I'm focusing on Foucault and Merleau‒Ponty for my theoretical basis to explore the relationships between bodies, sex, disease and institutional and cultural structures in Lanark and Poor Things. It's minimum 30 pages, but will likely be between 50 and 60. It's clear to me that I need to get off here and do some work.

I know that after all the acceptances and wait‒lists went out for Vanderbilt, I decided that I was rejected. I didn't even bother holding out hope because I knew how grim the prospects were. I understand your hope because it's the only school you've applied to, but I am here to persuade you to be realistic. By that I mean try not to let your hope spiral out of control so that if you do get rejected, you're not crushed. Assume you're rejected, and if you do get in, it will be that much sweeter. I hope you do, get in, though :] Good luck!

HI this is my BFF. I will alert her that you have questions.

Buffalo page: I heard someone somewhere say that they have decided on 7 spots and have 11 available. I haven't seen anyone on here flat out get rejected (someone correct me if I'm wrong), so I wouldn't count your chickens, or buffalos, just yet.