grifter

I was considering attending but I just got done presenting at Cs (involving an expensive trip to the south) and I am a little conferenced out for the time. Best of luck.

Well done with Syracuse, Rock--that's a quality program. Seems like you have some good choices--best of luck either way.

Nice! I had to turn down the RCTE offer (with heavy heart) due to some health concerns associated with living in Tucson. They are truly fantastic people there, and I am excited for you--shame we won't be in the same cohort. I accepted at Oregon, which has a far more understated comp/rhet presence than does Arizona, but I think the opportunities for administrative experience will be less competitive. Plus, John Gage is there and he is all shades of badass.

Need to bump this--I am curious about graduate housing. I plan on visiting, but in the meantime, can anyone tell me some specific areas to avoid (as in, loud, wild undergrady-feeling)? Any recommendations or cautions against living in, say, Springfield or another outlying area? Thanks

This "3" indicates 3 lines for ALL programs, which is a decrease in their standard lines. As I understand, this shakes out to 1 incoming Lit PhD student and 2 Comp/Rhet PhD students. When I was admitted there for my MA, there were 4 new Comp/Rhet PhDs and 3 Lit. This total of 3 is a substantial decline. I just got word that, even though I defered enrollment (accepted last year in their Comp/Rhet PhD with a full assistantship), I would not receive an assistantship for this cycle. Sort of bummed...

The "career goals" suggestion seconded--take in to account your professional goals. As a generalist by nature, I love the interplay between the different focuses, and appreciated being in a "mixed" atmosphere, but I can also see the distinct advantage of the other situation. BTW, Nice work on UNC-Greensboro. I would go there just to hang with Hephzi Roskelly. She's a gem.

I'll offer one more thing and then I'll pipe down. I think that much of this is a matter of perspective--your past work experience/psychology (tendency to obsess or not, etc)...I know that even with my 1-2 load first year, the thing that struck me most directly about graduate school (and what instantly endeared me to it) was how much time i had...i was fairly diligent in getting my reading done, prepping for classes, etc, and then it seemed like i had gallons of time to my self (which i filled with a hearty dose of hiking, fishing, antiquing, food-eating, etc). I say this, though at the time I watched some members of my cohort stress endlessly about the amount of work/time required. I am NOT saying this to indicate that I am some sort of scholarly badass or teaching prodigy--I am clearly neither, and some in my cohort shared my amazement about our free time. Your situation will be unique to you, so choose what you think suits your lifestyle and professional goals best. Rock forth, dear snappy.

I can understand your sentiment here, but don't know that I can fully agree. It seems you should look at how you are compensated for assuming this teaching load, Snappy, what the other perqs of the program happen to be, etc. That is to say, take this on a case-by-case basis. Along with that, my MA was 1-2 for both the first and second year, and yeah, although this did take away time from research, I was (and am constantly) enlivened by how my research is often "embodied" through the act of teaching. Then again, I am speaking from a purely comp/rhet perspective, so for your situation, lifealive's advice might ring more true? I don't know--what I do know is that for me it is increasingly difficult to dichotomize teaching and research time into discrete categories--I am always noticing their interplay.

Funding info just arrived via email with mention of a hardcopy to follow. Just a heads-up for others in case they are hanging around to hear...it might be sitting in you inbox.

I think the only risk you run is some slight personal awkwardness if your actual admission status comes up in conversation among other students. If you can handle that, then it couldn't hurt. As for the visit as a means to impress the committee, my thinking is that the door is closed on that. I know from last year that the committee at Miami does indeed make a ranked list that is consulted in order, so your position on said list is most likely fixed by this point and not likely to be improved by your presence there. If you do know that you are ranked high on the list, I would wager that you get an offer made (and I hope you do, seeing how much you want it)--you might just have to hold out 'til April 14th at 11:58 eastern standard time. Best of luck

Seconded on the Arizona pm...

Absolutely. Once the whole picture is in place, let's talk.

I mentioned this to some other members of the GradCafe community, but I finished my MA in Comp/Rhet at Miami last year and would be happy to entertain any questions about the program/town (though I may not be able to field too many Lit or CW-specific questions). It truly is a fantastic and inclusive place, the funding at the Master's level rivals many PhD packages, and the developmental opportunities are plenty. Best of luck to all.

In addition to what is indicated in my sig, I'm still waiting for Washington, Oregon, Carnegie Mellon, and UofArizona...

LuMing is one of the reasons I am [most likely] going back there. He was my thesis advisor/life coach. Love that man. And like you said, gorgeous surroundings, easy pace of life...I adored it there. Congratulations on you other acceptances, and best of luck with the remainder.