Ategenos

Yeah, I'd imagine they're waiting to hear back on the first round of acceptances and Writing Program interviews (which are happening over the next week). After that, there will probably be more movement.

Proflorax was saying that in previous years they have tried to make accommodations for those who weren't able to get a TO position. I think they usually have enough positions for MOST people, though - and new intakes get priority, I'd imagine, because 'veteran' TOs are likely to move on to actually teaching within the English Department after two or three years. I'm actually quite looking forward to teaching writing, now I've read the website, but I - for one - would definitely be moving on to teach the subject when the opportunity offered itself.

Congrats!

Brandeis might also be sending out its acceptances in the very near future.

Ah... and I just got my interview email. Looks like they're not wastin' any time!

Luckily, my dog is too stupid to be anti-intellectual. She just stares at things with a sort of mellow stupidity that I envy... and huskies were meant to be smart and noble.

I got in to pilot training in the navy, but decided once I'd finished the initial officer training that I would rather be back with my books. My father wasn't overly happy about this, because my grandfather had been in the navy, and he was very proud and stuff. My mother was happy, because she hates the military and didn't like the idea of me being blown up. When I told them what I was changing my plans to... well, my father was content that I was doing something worthwhile (although still would have been happier with me as a naval officer), and my mother was extremely happy... ... and they have both been supportive and patient. It's actually a pretty boring story. No gut-wrenching shame, or telling me that I am wasting my time. ;P My fiancee, on the other hand... most of her family think that she believes she is better than them because she's getting fancy pieces of paper, or that she's going above her station. That is a more appropriately Dickensian tale full of trials and tribulations... but to bring that one back down to levels of ennui, her parents (at least) are very proud (even if they don't always understand why she does what she does, and why she didn't just get a real job). It's just other members of the family who rage, rage, rage!

Congrats, Stephanie. I think many of us know exactly how you feel... I've taken the whole day off work today and am just playing Ni no Kuni and eating pop tarts. Tomorrow I eat sensibly, mark student essays, and do more work on my thesis... but today... I slob...

That sort of thing. My mind went immediately to something dirty in a sexual as opposed to a Nicholas Cage way, but then I was raised on British comedies like Red Dwarf and Monty Python. I didn't stand a chance!

As for the interview... I guess the important thing is just to make sure that we thoroughly understand their particular ethos and instructional methodology. I think I remember a section of their page which talks about how they don't just concentrate on the formal aspects, but also wish to teach people to actively enjoy and creatively engage with the writing... I'm sure they'll also have the sort of questions one might expect: about your previous teaching experience, how you think that might be applicable to the Writing Program, how you might feel (if you have that experience, and have taught in a certain fashion) about having to do things in a different way, why you think the writing program might be important, etc, etc... and of course they'll probably have questions that are drawn directly from your application form, so it'll definitely be a good idea to take a close look at what was said in order to prepare expanded answers.

Just you know, don't attach any embarrassing pictures by accident, or have some kind of e-tourette's.

I gushed like a broken tap. Well, I said that I was very thankful, felt very honoured, and that I would most definitely send an email if I had any questions once I had time to re-study aspects of the Writing Program (as I did that for the paper application form already :>). I also told him I would make sure to keep him apprised of my situation, regarding the applications, because I know how frustrating it must be for a graduate director when people keep them hanging until the last minute. To cut a long story short, seems to me like sending a reply can only be good. It must be nice to hear you've made someone happy!

Congrats to you, potential fellow Umie!

Seriously, though: private school teacher in the UK. It's not what I want to do at all, but they looooove having someone with those magical three letters after their name, and don't always require you to have a PGDE (Postgrad Diploma in Education)... though I might do one of them anyway, in that case, just to make me even more employable. It's only a one year thing, and you can get funding/loans to tide you through it.

I'm more than willing to work in any university anywhere in the world, so I'm hoping that will open my options somewhat. If that doesn't work out... particularly well-educated hobo? Instead of busking for a living, though, I'll read poems and short stories to people passing by, and encourage them to get into discussions with me.

And congrats to you (and to all the other potential Umies)! UMass is actually my joint top program (with two others). Although the funding is not as good as the other two, the fit is really great, and my fiancee is already studying Philosophy there... Gods, I want to get in to those other two, but at the same time... if I do... it'll be a really tough decision... the I-wish-I-could-split-into-three kind of decision. I read your post on the other forum about finding out, Proflo, and I know exactly what you mean. My email was accidentally scrolled down, so I saw all the acceptances last night and thought 'Shit, well, that's that then...' and then, just before going to sleep, I saw the little scroll bar, scrolled up... and there it was! Man, it might have been midnight by that stage, but I called ALL the people and didn't end up sleeping until 2am. When I originally read it, I actually shrieked aloud, terrified my dog, rolled about on the floor... ... coz I was in the same boat as you. Last year, I just got almost straight rejections (except for a couple of wait-lists)... and that stings, you know? Made me feel like a bit of a failure, even if I knew that it was just because my application had been flawed, and made me question pretty much everything I was doing... but then getting in... Gods, it was like a year and a half of stress just vented out of me in a gout of sheer hysteria, and I was left falling back into the calm and optimistic mindset that is far more natural to me. Haven't slept so well in ages, and woke up feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed despite having only five hours sleep.

I think 15 people overall (Rhet Comp, American Studies, and straight literature)

My letter says the bit about there being 200 applicants, and only wanting a class of 15... then it says a bit about the Writing Program (Initial funding for our program requires an offer of teaching from our nationally ranked Writing Program, which will contact you soon for an interview. The Writing Program is selective, and you should expect a serious dialogue about your thoughts about the writing process, your teaching aims, and any experience you have that might prove valuable in the classroom.)... and then some financial details, stipend of 17.2k, full tuition fee and curriculum fee waivers... then some less wonderful financial stuff (Students with assistantships must pay mandatory graduate student fees of about $1,400 per year, which includes the 5% cost on the individual health insurance plan. A one-time graduate entering fee of approximately $360 is due your first semester.)... and then a bit asking you to make contact if you want to arrange visits, sit on some classes, etc.

Congrats... and I know what you mean! I got my acceptance yesterday (monday) evening (my time), but haven't heard anything from the Writing Program yet (I presume they'll be in touch with us over the next couple of days). It's an awesome start to the application season...

Heh, I know your pain. I use words like 'Oopsy daisy', 'codswallop', 'tosh', and the like... and thanks to all who sent well wishes!

Well done!

I know I'm just a lurker, who occasionally pops out to post, but I just got the interview-email-thing from Umass! I'm so happy... it's not only where my fiancee is currently studying, but is also a great fit! ... and after so many rejections last year, it's so nice to start this whole thing off with an acceptance. I actually shrieked aloud, ran around the room, and terrified my dog. I know it's actually just the interview... but... I reckon I can get through that!

I have been feeling this agony since last application season... I got waitlisted at four schools, and accepted to none. This year, so far, only one of my schools has even started reporting, and I didn't hear anything... this might seem hopeful, as there's still places to hear from, but deep down in the stress cave that is my heart, there's a little devil already whispering of my coming failure.

Who freakin' knows? The thoughts on foreign masters that I've heard about runs the full gamut from 'worthless' to 'looks good, but doesn't mean as much as good SoP/Writing Sample/references'. Of course, some schools (justifiably) hold people with any type of Masters to a higher standard... which in the case of most British Masters courses (unless you did a two year MPhil, which has some kind of mystical aura, despite just essentially being a one-year taught masters followed by a one-year research masters ;P) can actually hurt you, because the one-year ones are really just an ever-so-slightly more difficult version of the final year of undergraduate education... and the difficulty doesn't come so much from polish (and a ruthless desire on the part of the faculty to improve you), as opposed to how many essays you have to do. My fiancee, who did her one-year MLitt at the same time as me (but is smarter, and therefore got in on the first try), is currently in the first year of an MA/PhD... and she says the difference is like night and day. While she loved our old university, she says that she feels that there is a much larger emphasis on faculty interacting with grad students at her current program, not to mention whipping them into shape, than she has come across before... and the difficulty now stems not from the workload, but the need to make everything as polished and perfect as possible... I'd probably come down on the side of: it shows how interested you are in the subject, which is good, and just hope (like everyone else) that every other part of the app is as polished as you thought it was when you sent it off. ;P ... of course, I have also heard that some universities actually don't like you having a Masters at all, because they want to be the ones to mold you (as you said... too many possibilities) As for being an international student, it depends on just how international you are. You have a BA from the US, so you presumably know the system. Apparently one of the areas in which international students (who have never been involved with the US system) fail is in this regard: Letter writers aren't primed to exaggerate, there is apparently more grade inflation in American undergraduate programs (which means that international students... depending on country... apparently have lower grades on average), a lot of international students aren't used to standardised testing and also end up doing worse on the GRE and Subject Test... being so far away means you are also unlikely to have references that people on an adcom will necessarily recognise, and there are fewer chances to meet with potential POIs... Of couse, the above is just what I've heard and picked up along the way, so I could be entirely wrong.

I think the answer to that is: the more, the better. Anything that shows you're genuinely interested and willing to sacrifice for the cause (but still eminently moldable). For example, after my failure last year, I spent a few months saving up enough money to put myself through a one year research masters this year, and have managed to obtain some university-level teaching (and soon lecturing) experience. Making contacts at the universities you want to go to seems like a great idea, as well... or even doing some extra courses, as you're thinking about. I reckon, as I said, it's just about showing that you are remaining active in the subject, and also trying to improve yourself academically.