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Everything posted by Stately Plump
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Tell the early modern faculty at Cornell that they can have me in your place Seriously though, congrats! That's awesome! I, too, love seeing people on these boards succeed. It almost (almost) feels like it's me winning!
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I emailed Dr. Crane, the DGS, about something in my application in the beginning of the month. She was very friendly and cordial, happy to answer my email, and even told me to email her again to keep her updated. So she's an option. I'm not emailing her though, because I want to hold on to the glimmer of hope that "no response" elicits, no matter how psychologically damaging it is. Basically, I'm a drug addict for graduate schools, and I'm telling you how to get better, but I'm not going to take my own advice.
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UMASS - Amherst
Stately Plump replied to Grunty DaGnome's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Everyone has probably already had their interviews, but I just had mine. It went really well; like people said, it was super laid-back and casual. We talked for the first 10 minutes about the writing sample I sent them, and the lady (I can't remember her name...) was excited to talk about early modern stuff, which was fine by me. She eventually asked a little about my experiences, then a bit about how I write and how I hope to help others write, stuff like that. There weren't any questions that I felt completely unprepared for. I think it went well. Like TripWillis, I had the feeling that I was babbling on about nothing. Hopefully they like me, but if not, I hope someone on here gets my spot if they need it! -
Harvard Post
Stately Plump replied to DorindaAfterThyrsis's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
I've heard nothing as well, which I understand to mean I'm hearing nothing good... -
Vermont MA
Stately Plump replied to georgestrait1982's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
I quote my own post: "Please note, this is not the case at all schools. I don't mean to make unfair generalizations, and plenty of people get their MA from PhD granting institutions, then go on to get a PhD from a fantastic school." I'm not the only one who would be hesitant to drop $50,000 on an MA. If your institution funds their MA students, their program is probably a fantastic one. I can also promise you that some programs that offer both MA and PhD degrees pay no attention to their MA students; professors don't work with them, they aren't taken seriously in class, and they aren't welcomed into the larger community. I'm sure that NDSU is not like this, if they are willing to fund you. I was just responding to the OP's worry about the prestige of Vermont's MA. A funded MA program will very likely be looked upon more favorably than a cash-cow MA. -
Vermont MA
Stately Plump replied to georgestrait1982's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
The fact that they don't grant PhDs may actually help the prestige of their MA. Some universities are skeptical of a student who receives a MA from a school that also grants PhDs. Many MA programs, especially at universities where there is a PhD program, admit many, many applicants, because they don't fund any of them. "Cash-cow" is the term that is often used; they'll admit anyone and then use that money to fund their PhD students. Please note, this is not the case at all schools. I don't mean to make unfair generalizations, and plenty of people get their MA from PhD granting institutions, then go on to get a PhD from a fantastic school. You may also consider looking into PhDs from schools that are more geared toward teaching than research. You mentioned that you are really only interested in teaching, but that is what 99% of us--including PhDs from prestigious R1universities--are going to be doing. You would be competing for jobs with a pool of applicants that have PhDs, which would probably put you at a slight disadvantage. Here's what I would do, if it were me: I would go to Vermont, get my MA, and potentially look for jobs when I finish. If you have something, do it; there's no point in spending another 4-6 years in school if you can get a job right then. If you can't, however, I would look into applying to some of the lesser known (but still fantastic) programs. Be up front about your interests; call them or email them and say that you are interested mainly in teaching, not in research, and ask if their program might be good for you. I'm sure there are some smaller programs that are geared mainly toward training teacher and not researchers, and they would probably be really excited about a student who wants to teach. Sorry for the rant. That's how you know I'm supposed to be writing a thesis. Good luck with everything! -
Any news on Penn?
Stately Plump replied to CoffeeInBed's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
*throws self off of cliff, still comes right back* -
Any news on Penn?
Stately Plump replied to CoffeeInBed's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Freakin awesome! Congrats takethiswaltz! Anyone claiming that second acceptance on the board? I'm sayin. Is there no safe hour? -
Negotiating for Higher Offer?
Stately Plump replied to gr1277's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
I'm trying to go the first week in March. I'll be in MA then anyway, so I'm going to try to hit up both UMass and BU that week. -
Hey everyone. I'm a full-grant finalist to Finland. I've been suffering silently along with you guys and lurking the Fulbright thread. Figured I'd introduce myself I want to hear back sooo bad. I have a few acceptances to grad schools, and I need to let them know. Also, if I receive the grant, I will likely be reapplying to some schools, so I want to get started thinking about where (again). Anyway, in this moment of particular angst, I figured I would throw a response up here. (<--- sunglasses to hide misery due to waiting)
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Negotiating for Higher Offer?
Stately Plump replied to gr1277's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
I was also really attracted to CUNY's program. It was probably my top choice, of the schools that I think I had a realistic chance of getting into. I'm sorry we won't be cohort-mates -
Vermont MA
Stately Plump replied to georgestrait1982's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
I know many people on here got their MA somewhere (only if there is funding, of course) and it helped them to gain a better understanding of their research interests, a clearer statement of purpose, and a more meaningful appreciation for their "fit" at prospective schools, all of which helped them enormously, and many got into really great PhD programs. On the other hand, some schools prefer to train their students straight from undergrad, so they may only take a very select few who already have a MA. Other schools don't accept any transfer credits, so you may want to watch for having to repeat a lot of courses (it can easily turn a 6 year process into an 8 year process, if your PhD program won't take any of your MA program credits). Ultimately, I don't think getting a MA would put you at a disadvantage. If it were me, I would go to a funded MA program over not going anywhere and trying to reapply next year, after being out of the loop for a year. Hope this helps -
Negotiating for Higher Offer?
Stately Plump replied to gr1277's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Haha Trip, you KNOW there's nothing CUNY can do if Rutgers takes you -
Wait listing is NOT the end!
Stately Plump replied to readingredhead's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
I actually wanted to quote your signature. I cannot wait for it to be over and I, too, will perform an epic happy dance. -
Questions to ask after being admitted
Stately Plump replied to psychedelic's topic in Decisions, Decisions
Brilliant. Thanks -
Me too! Go gradcafe-ers! +++ energy to people!
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I have definitely counted them out, as evidenced by my placement of them in my "rejected" schools in my signature. However, it would be nice to have some closure. It's definitely really hard to move on having heard nothing, especially because the thought in my head is, "Why haven't I heard anything?" I know that everyone who's in has heard, and I'm not counting on getting an email telling me I've been accepted. However, it would be nice to get an email telling me I'm rejected.
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NYU or CUNY?
Stately Plump replied to coffeecurls1's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Many of the results posted to the board are American students. I, too, am curious about the wait-list, though last year someone posted a wait-list notification the end of February, which would mean it was in time to attend the open house. That's how many schools operate; you will be invited to the open house if you are on the waiting list, so I would expect to hear something before then. Otherwise, I'm assuming that your only hope after that is the unfunded MA . I could be wrong. This is just my guess. Hope it helps -
That still doesn't explain why they would reject some people and not others. It also doesn't mean that some people aren't wait-listed or being transferred to the MA program. The whole process is so frustrating (combination of + ).
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UMASS - Amherst
Stately Plump replied to Grunty DaGnome's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
I'm going to try to visit the first week in March. I'm really, really excited to see the campus/surrounding area. The visits there and at BU are definitely going to contribute to my decision. I think Amherst/Northampton would be awesome places to live. -
But what's strange is that some people have already been wait-listed. Why would they wait-list a group of people before notifying other accept-ees? Or why would they not let all wait-list-ees know at the same time? I'm still counting them out. I'll believe my acceptance/wait-list when I see it
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Post-Acceptance Stress & Misc. Banter
Stately Plump replied to TripWillis's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
I read this post and thought, "I don't remember writing that." Then I realized I didn't write this. Edit: I'm posting this from my phone because I can't wait 20 minutes until I get back to my computer, so I checked my email, results, and forum via 3G. :/ -
Harvard Post
Stately Plump replied to DorindaAfterThyrsis's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
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Harvard Post
Stately Plump replied to DorindaAfterThyrsis's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
That is, unless they pull a Columbia, and reject a bunch of people tomorrow, then leave all the rest with no information whatever. -
Harvard Post
Stately Plump replied to DorindaAfterThyrsis's topic in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
It sounds like they sent out all the acceptances at exactly 12pm eastern time, so I bet if you are still waiting, at this point you're waiting for a no. Congrats again to everyone who got in!