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I applied to 8 PhD programs and 4 MA programs and I was accepted to all 4 MA programs I applied to. I think many of us get our Masters Degree before we get PhDs because of the competitive market. So, I plan to teach for a year or two with my MA degree before I take the plunge and apply for PhD programs again because it is SUCH a grueling process (at least I think it is). There are many funded MA programs, but many are unfunded, however one year MA programs have the advantage of being less expensive purely because they are shorter than two year MA programs so expenses aren't as much of a worry. Anyhow, that's my $.02 , best of luck!!

I'm planning on attending UCL (in the UK) for a one year masters program and won't have the opportunity to teach however I just spoke with the department head and he said that if I wanted to volunteer/teach I could scout out options at the institute of education. So don't give up hope on no teaching, there are opportunities if you make a point to look for them.

I still have three schools I haven't heard from (nothing compared to many people on this thread), two of which for sure haven't sent out any notifications at all. I am so anxious to accept my offer to UCL that I just want them to rip the band-aid off and reject me so that I can move on with my life. Maybe I will get accepted to one of my final programs, but like everyone else in this thread I want to hear back so that I can make a decision already! Waiting for what I think will be rejections is killing me!

Me Too. It seems to appeal to male philosophy more so than female philosophy but maybe that is an over generalization. To be clear: I never burned the book, I never have burned a book, nor will I ever burn a book. I say "I wanted to burn Heart of Darkness" as an exaggeration, a literary metaphor for the great amount of hatred I have for that particular book. Relax.

Can't say I blame you.... I wouldn't give him a second try and Heart of Darkness is short. A few friends and I considered having a Heart of Darkness book burning party at the end of reading it in AP English our senior year. It never happened and I still look at the book sometimes and consider throwing it in the fireplace... Another book I definitely DON'T recommend is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.Reading this nearly killed me. It took 4 monsters (yes the nasty energy drinks) to finish the novel. Those of you that enjoyed the 200 page discussion of how to define "Quality," I am impressed and bow down to you for your intellect. I can't do that novel. I'd rather re-watch Wild Hogs than understand the Zen of Maintaining my Motorcycle.

NOOOOOO. This is one of my FAVORITE books of all-time. I love Kerouac. My dad traveled across the US after her graduated from UC Berkeley to emulate Kerouac's adventures. So, for sentimental reasons I have to kindly disagree. THIS. I HATE JOSEPH CONRAD. I cannot believe that no one until you--ekim12, who I may be attending school with at some point--has mentioned JOSEPH CONRAD. Heart Of Darkness. Seriously. Is. My. Least. Favorite. Novel. Ever. And for the record, if we are going to talk about YA fiction and mention Harry Potter. Novels NOT to read MUST include Twilight. Worst YA Novel in the History of YA Novels. Don't even get me started on the fact that it is popular enough to have a chinky name for "fans" and its such a loathsome one: Twihards. Need I say More?

I plan on taking a trip to Europe on April 20th, been saving for MONTHS! All I want is to jump off a bridge and know that I'll come right back up. Metaphor for my life right now, cheesy, maybe... But bungee jumping is awesome! And so is Italian food.

ekim12: Their reputation in English is a draw for me too... Good luck on your other schools, I never thought of applying to Cambridge, primarily because up until January I hadn't thought of applying anywhere outside of the US, but I know it is also a great school!

ekim12 : then congratulations are due. I'm about 75% sure that I am going to go to UCL in fall for the MA in English: issues in modern culture. I graduated in June, but I'm really excited about being accepted there! The band members of Coldplay all went there, which may elicit hatred from some readers and isn't all that important, but is a FUN fact. What program are you going into? Maybe I'll see you there!

aeplo : That sounds like a difficult situation. I think it is one that many people face in making such decisions. Its not like there are great colleges that suit your interests everywhere and it is hard to make a decision without factoring in the person you love. It is the classic career vs love dilemma. antecedent: I applied to San Francisco State as well! SF is one of my favorite cities in the world, so if you get it, don't rule it out! It's not the worst situation to be in and the people in San Francisco are some of the nicest in the state of California: It is still on my list of hopefuls, but I'd have trouble passing up on UCL. I face the same dilemma with University College London, I wouldn't get any teaching experience while working towards my masters degree, but the one year experience of living abroad also factors into your diversity as a PhD candidate. I think CA state schools have a lot to offer, so good luck getting in!

VERY Similar, which is comforting because this website induces too much anxiety for me--thus, I haven't posted or read much on the site until today because I hadn't made a decision (even my currently tentative one). I've been dating my boyfriend for more than 4 years, and we have been through the ringer together, and I literally would feel like I was throwing 4 years of my life--minus the schooling--if I just went to London and said goodbye. I'd spend the whole time on the plane crying, which sounds positively miserable! I have a kind enough family to be able to afford to have my boyfriend come with me, if this is the decision he chooses because a flat is a flat is a flat, it all costs the same when you aren't willing to live with room mates (I've had TERRIBLE experience with every room mate I've ever had excepting one). Does this mean that you are choosing Scotland over Madison? And, is your boyfriend going through schooling too, or just working? I see all of these posts where people talk about their spouses being enrolled in such and such program or are also in school, and it makes me laugh because that is SO not the case in my world.

Yeah, the affording thing for me was luckily not a problem in my undergrad program, but the idea of living in London (which I've come to understand is only as expensive as you make it THANK GOD) is crazy because the money has to come from somewhere and it is a lot to ask for... That and asking someone to move to another country with you is a lot. Not impossible, but Long Distance costs SO much which i only say from experience, I don't think I could submit myself to that kind of torture when I'm already signed up for torture in Literature form. So i wish your relationship Luck and am sending good vibes in your direction! PhD programs bring on such things for me as well. I was talking to my dad tonight and he said something on the order of "Maybe fate is telling you to attend this one University" Which equates to something like: no matter how qualified you are for a PhD program, maybe this MA program is meant to be. Mind you, it is... I think leaving California for a year would be an amazing experience, but I can't help asking why do they want me, but no PhD programs (so far) are willing to admit me. No wonder I loved visiting London so much, OBVIOUSLY the Brits and I are kindred spirits. (I jest, but am half serious...)

antecedent: I'm glad to know that others feel the same way. I think getting rejected from some universities and accepted at others sometimes can make you feel like your skills are somehow diminished with each rejection. That is what rejection inherently is isn't it?... Even though I've gotten in somewhere, I feel so far away from academia-- as I'm currently working two jobs, 1 as a (thankfully) well paid tutor of primarily elementary age students, and 2 as an office assistant -- that getting back into the swing of things seems nearly impossible. I'm not, nor do I think anyone is a perfect writer, but I there is an endless amount of room for improvement regardless of how many "A" papers I wrote while obtaining my Bachelors degree... Then there is thinking about moving miles away with my boyfriend who I have never lived with while simultaneously being anxious about writing amazing papers and making a great impression on my new professors. It is SO MUCH to think about. Life is changing people! And it is a scary/exciting thing!

Sometimes I feel concerned that even though I got accepted I won't be able to write quality papers anymore, somehow this whole "take a year off" thing is messing with my head. Okay, so I got in... now what? What if I suck in graduate school? That would be a nightmare!!!

For the record, I am a US applicant that got accepted within weeks of applying here and I recently found out that it is (to some recording institutions) ranked the #1 college to study English in the UK. I have a 3.8 in English and had great recommendations from my professors. Other than that, good luck! I'm considering going there because of the experiences it might provide that are different from US grad schools. I don't think it's fair to chalk up the US students that get in to only being good for their money though, yes it is a lot to go there, but no more than it would cost to go to a UC for an entire year.

Do you already have your masters degree (or are you pursuing it presently)? I'm waiting on a reply from them, and will be quite devastated if I don't get in...