skybythelight

OH SHIT GIRL

It's a lovely quote, a favorite tattoo of mine, regardless of how simple it is.

Here's a somewhat silly question: what exactly is the protocol for declining an offer? I'm nearly positive I'll be declining my acceptance to OSU because I was offered a much better funding package at Washington State... so do I need to write a formal e-mail with my reasons, etc.? argh, I've never done this before. And didn't anticipate having options. The stress!

This was going to be mine. I had "Mere words!" tattooed on my inner arm during a particularly difficult semester when I needed reminding of exactly why I'm putting myself through this crazy thing.

I'm currently reading Foucault's History of Sexuality, as well as Judith Butler's Gender Troubles. I also recommend Helene Cixous--I find her writing beautiful and accessible.

My best offer so far is from Washington State University, so I'm wondering if anyone has any insights on living in Pullman. I know the school is the primary source of population, and from what I've seen, rent seems to be pretty cheap, but any other info would be great.

I'm facing this as well, as I was accepted into a Master's Program with a TA-ship and full tuition waiver. Luckily, Pullman, WA seems to have a pretty low cost of living and I only anticipate needing to take out a bit extra in loans to supplement my stipend. After working full time through my entire undergrad (and this particularly stressful application process), I'm more than ready to just be a student, even if it means giving up on some of my retail therapy.

I've been totally annoying all of my contact people at various schools these days, and they've been surprisingly unannoyed and helpful, Mike Stamm included (if that's who you've been writing).

I don't like that "hoping to" they threw in there.

I grew up and live in Providence, so if you have any questions, want any recommendations for places to visit when you're here, feel free to PM me. So, I was accepted to Oregon State's MA program with a scholarship offer and am third on the waiting list for a TA position. I was then accepted to Washington State with an outright offer for the TA-ship for two years, fully funded, pretty decent stipend. The choice should be a no-brainer, and I think it will be, but I so had my heart set on living in Oregon that I can't help but feel torn. This process is as much about relocating as it is about academia for me, which I know is rare amongst most graduate school hopefuls.

Haha, thanks! I plan on doing both of those things.

That's the worst.

Haha, thank you. As of now, WSU's offer is much better. I would prefer to be in Oregon, though, so I'm still debating. and, hi, Dappled! I am actually not from around there at all. I'm from and live in Rhode Island. I'm being called to the NW for some reason though, so I chose my schools based on location as well as fit. As far as concentration, I'm a theory person, with a particular interest in feminism, gender/queer theory, and post-colonial theory. Yourself?

I got in today! I saw another acceptance posted on the survey a few days ago, where you at?!

I got in today! I saw another acceptance posted on the survey a few days ago, where you at?!

The e-mail that I posted above was from him. I didn't ask about PhD, but he said MA decisions probably won't go out until the end of March.

I actually would prefer a "no," to be honest. I know I have longer to wait as an MA applicant than the majority of you PhD-ers, but I'm still getting antsy just wanting to know definitively from all of my schools. My lease is up at the end of May, so that's when I'm moving... to wherever I may end up moving. A month is not a lot of planning time.

Sure is. I'm pretty frustrated with that response. I have one offer already, but U Oregon is my top choice for program by far.

Here's what I got: Hi, Rachael— Probably late March to mid-April; MA applications are evaluated after all the PhD admissions decisions have been made, and we’re about 1/3 into that process now. Best, Michael

I may get attacked by some Joyce scholars for this, but I'm fairly certain that Joyce's intention with Finnegan's Wake was for it to in fact be difficult, largely incoherent, and long. I say that not to disagree with you, as I certainly could not make my way through it successfully, but just to point out that our feelings about it probably mean that he accomplished his goal. I also want to emphasize Julianne's post and go so far as to say anything by Octavia Butler is skippable. I have a professor, who I absolutely love, who is unfortunately obsessed with her. I've read Kindred, Patternmaster, Wild Seed, and now Mind of my Mind... awful, just terrible.

I e-mailed the grad secretary, Mike Stamm, who I was in contact with a bit during the application process to see if he'll give me a timeline.

All the Rhode Islanders want to go to Oregon.

Good luck to you, by the way!

Literature and culture for me as well, though I didn't give such a specific area of focus. I'm also interested in the post-colonial literary and theoretical tradition, as well as gender and queer studies.

I was given similar advice from the graduate advisor at my school and feel similarly lost as to how to go about it. Not that I need to at this point, I only have one acceptance so far. I wouldn't hesitate to say something, though. It certainly can't hurt. I've been consistently surprised, though perhaps I shouldn't be, at the number of people on these committees willing to actually listen and treat applicants as human beings.