caitlee91

The DGS for University of Delaware, when I asked him about the thesis option for their MA, said that many students no longer complete a thesis. He attributes this to the growing professionalization of the field that emphasizes conferences and publishing; the thesis would have to be considerably edited to be the length appropriate for a journal. It's certainly a great opportunity for research and extended writing, but just is no longer the major focus of the MA. I had never heard the thesis framed in that way before, and found it definitely worth considering the pros/cons of doing/not doing one.

I don't think I've put my Villanova acceptance on the board, but I'm in there as well. The e-mail I got from Heather Hicks mentioned that assistantship decisions would be made in mid-March (and emphasizes that we look at funding outside the English department in the meantime). I think they wait a bit to see whether any of their initial offers are turned down. I won't be attending Villanova, though, and will inform them this coming week, but I think you'll hear about funding sometime in the next couple of weeks! Congrats on your acceptance!

I'm applying to Concordia - only news I've gotten is the Feb. 1st update that they are now assessing my file. I have no clue when we'll hear though!

When the DGS from Delaware called about the MA, I definitely didn't have any questions prepared (though I wasn't expecting the call at all - esp. since it was 9 PM). I basically just listened to the information he gave, expressed my interest in the program, thanked him for the offer, and when he asked about questions I did say that I know that I will have a lot of questions that I can't think of at the moment, do you mind if I contact you later? It ended up working out really well, and I dug deeper into the intricacies of the program, came up with a list of questions and sent them, and then he called me to go through them. I wouldn't worry too much about it if you blank on questions (the questions people suggested above are excellent ones to ask though, and ones I did end up asking). I think it's good to do a bunch of your own investigating and then be able to ask really specific questions, so that you get the clearest answers possible. Congrats on your acceptances!!!

I'm headed to Portland for this as well! I enjoyed the conference last year (although I agree that some of the papers weren't the best I'd heard), and I am definitely looking forward to the conference this year. I'm dragging some fellow students with me, so it should be a fun time!

I'm presenting on the Shakespeare Film Adaptation panel and I have a friend presenting on the general Adaptation panel. I'm looking forward to it!

Hi! That was me! Congrats to you for your acceptance to the MA as well! It is definitely a relief to know there is something waiting for us come September! I imagine I have all the same info you have at this point; Dr. Larkin didn't mention anything about how/when others are notified, so I just have info on my offer and the program set-up itself.

I think that is a fantastic idea. I have no acceptances and just one program left, but I do think I have an idea why my application didn't resonate with the committees. I was going to graduate undergrad a year early, but I'll just stay and graduate on time, and build up a better SOP, a better writing sample, and expand my list of conferences and publications. Best of luck to you, though, on the waitlists!!

My group (there are three of us) only attended each other's panels. The rest of the time we hit up New Orleans as none of us had ever been. I spent some of my time working on my thesis, but the rest was heading off into the French Quarter, doing a cemetary tour, taking the St. Charles trolley to the Garden District, etc. I think it depends on where the conference is. One of my friends went to the one in St. Louis a few years ago and she mainly stayed in the hotel since there wasn't much to do and the hotel was in a bad area. I definitely like the organization though and I enjoyed the (three) panels I attended

Welcome to the boards! I share your hopes! I really want UConn (and, like you, would love Yale, but, you know, it's Yale). I still have Northeastern waiting in the wings (still a few weeks before I'll hear from them, though), but UConn is a much better fit. I may possibly have a waitlist at Brandeis, but I'm not even officially there. So, I'm definitely hoping for UConn. It would be amazing if the other admits came tomorrow, only assuming we're in that group of course! What's your proposed specialty?

That's odd. I emailed her yesterday morning and didn't receive any reply. I suppose I'll just have to wait.

I'm a Shakespearean. =)

We can drown in misery (and I don't drink, but I'm thinking alcohol) together! Well, there are still some schools left! Brown was my top choice (I've never entertained the possibility of getting into Yale all that much), so my new top choice is UCONN. Don't let me down CT. By the way, I love your avatar with all of my heart. Bridgewater's screening Muppets this Friday for students and I may need to go to cheer myself up.

Same here - for both Brown and UMass.

I'm in the same boat. I haven't been officially rejected or waitlisted, so I'm still somewhere in the middle. I'm okay with this only because it at least shows that they have seriously considered my application; it's better than the two rejections I got this week. When I had emailed the DGS she said that people on or just below the waitlist may have to wait a bit for an official answer. So best of luck to you!