NowMoreSerious

Dammit, this was a top choice for me and I was talked out of applying specifically because I was told their funding lacked.

My main goals are to eat, breath, have sex (sometimes even with other people), and read books. I am arranging my life accordingly. Getting a tenure track job is only one way to fulfill my goal, and may not even be the best way. Regardless, tenure track jobs are already becoming mostly a thing of the past, and it will probably get worse. But I am not applying to Ph.D. programs in order to eventually get a job. A Ph.D program for me IS a type of job, and if I get in and finish I'll then reassess and adapt, period. Long-term careers themselves are already going the way of the typewriter.

When this happened to me, I just uploaded them as Pdfs to begin with and it worked. But it was for another school so their system might be different.

It's the 5th, but thanks for temporarily scaring the bejeezus out of me, haha.

The same thing happened to me, except I thought I actually qualified for a fee wavier because I am a California Sally Casanova Pre-Doc. Then they sent me that same email saying I had to get a letter from my financial aid officer. I was like WTF? I don't want to pay that 80 dollars if I don't have to, especially since I already blew it in the Davis application and paid when I actually didn't have to.

I'd be more worried about not being able to get your writing sample under 20 pages. I hear that even in schools that say around 20 pages, they appreciate a shorter paper. Kind of like how in a conference they give you 20 minutes, but most people get irritable if you take all 20. After all, if length was that important, schools like NYU, Rutgers, Riverside and Maryland wouldn't be asking for only 10-12. (up to 20 in the case of some) Now I could be totally wrong, and my evidence is anecdotal. I'm sure it depends on the school itself, too.

I feel ya. I am also experiencing a strange paradox: The more precise, polished, and personal my statements become, the less they seem like they are actually about me, for some reason.

That makes sense and is perfectly understandable. My statements only vary in the fit paragraph because most all of the schools I'm applying to emphasize theory or interdisciplinary type work and my statement reflects this.

I'm applying to 13. I may add another though. I mean once you finish your Writing Sample, and Statement of Purpose it's mostly a matter of the fit paragraphs, right? I don't see the big difference between 10, and lets say 15. More fit paragraphs are tough, but probably worth the time and the risk.

I also presented at disjunctions on day 1 and loved it. Sadly, I didn't make it out to day 2.

you talking about disjunctions?

I know people got into Ivy's last season with scores in the low 70's, so you never know. I think the real question is how to budget your time from here on out, now that we have about two months left. Do you think you can improve your score by 10 ore more percentile points with studying? How much studying? Will that studying detract from your writing sample and SoP? Because those are the two most important documents on your application for most schools.

Yes, I am disillusioned with the humanities. If only there was a space, somewhere in society, where I could talk about this disillusionment. If only there was somewhere I could analyze and write about that disillusionment and general disillusionment, and it would even be a part of my job to do so. Somewhere I could gather with others and talk about the types of cultural references to disillusionment, such as literature and film. If anybody knows of such a space like this, please let me know, especially if it even holds the possibility that I could gather with others and have discussions and maybe even PROFESS my own questions or beliefs. We could call this space, Peopleology, or Person-anities.

I believe I made the same error. I kind of burnt the first 45 minutes to an hour being a perfectionist and subsequently felt like I was bailing water the rest of the time. But the most disheartening thing for me after taking it wasn't that I didn't do well (left over 40 blank), but it was that I am not sure studying literature will improve my score at all. Studying speed reading, test taking skills, and more practice tests to get into a rhythm will probably do more for my score than studying literature.

I didn't even come close to finishing.

A bloodbath. What made it worse is that it was far, far more difficult, as a whole, than any of the practice exams or questions I've encountered. I took it with 3 other MA English students and the best somebody did was 20 blank.

cosigned on the "working on everything...." I'm used to taking things one at a time, but lately I've been just trying to keep my head above water meeting personal and professor deadlines, keeping up with the reading for my Melville seminar, "studying" for the GRE sub and doing further research on schools. At least I did pretty good on the GRE verbal and AW and I am not re-taking it again to try to improve my horrid math score. I have a serious question. How many of you feel like giving up sometimes? If none of you do, god bless you.

It's pretty difficult to try to balance GRE subject studying, with working on my writing sample, SOP plus my MA coursework. I have to admit that I'm kind of putting GRE Subject on the backburner right now, and it isn't sitting well with me.

I recently scored 168 and the best advice I can give you is this: 1. Practice Tests, practice tests, practice test. Don't just take the tests, and then go back to study your vocab or the book. Actually use a practice test that helps you understand your tendencies and gives explanations. Go over those practice tests very carefully. 2. Remember, the test is designed to trick you. It has its own set of tricks and by analyzing practice tests you'll figure out which ones you need to work on. You'll see how the test operates and take advantage of it. Also use a variety of study guides, not just one. I'd say vocab is crucial but everybody knows that. To do well you have to be both good at vocab, and good at understanding how to take the test.

For those MA programs I'd really shoot for Northridge or Los Angeles, which is where I am finishing up right now. And yes, McManus is a great professor. I took her for Renaissance Literature.

Trying to weed a few of us out, eh? Nice play. I'm kidding, but to answer your question, yes, and yes.

Which book is it that begins with a plumber knocking on a lady's door while she's in the shower? Because I believe I've watched several adaptations of this book.

Pro, we work very hard on Significations every year so I'm flattered and happy you felt that way about the conference. PonPonPon, if you have any questions about CSULA please let me know. I'm finishing up my MA coursework and will be applying to PhD programs this season.

Yes, I've read the first few chapters of Kevin Ohi's book on Queerness of Style in Henry James and it was excellent. I wasn't aware he taught at Boston College. I will research Chris Wilson. Thanks for the excellent information. What's your emphasis?

Turn of the 20th century novels and prose. I find myself doing work in realist, naturalist, and utopian novels. I've presented on Charles Chesnutt, Jack London, and Henry James and have also written on Sherwood Anderson, Edward Bellamy, Edith Wharton, and Frank Norris. In terms of "methods": economic criticism, utopian studies/theory, racial and sexual identity. I like looking at representations of desire in novels, expressed both through the thematics and characters as well as the style and aesthetics. I am also into electronic literature and the digital humanities through a seminar I took.