hawkeye7269

Jewish, I think. But I couldn't really tell while I was there, there was this massive cathedral in the way.

I was just looking at the Google Doc and saw Catholic University and thought, "Hey, who else is going there?" It was exciting! Then I realized it was just my acceptance...*facepalm*

I'm very sneaky. And I wrote a thesis on John Milton, which definitely helped.

Catholic University of America, Ph. D, Renaissance Literature. SO. EXCITED.

I'm going to be starting at Catholic University of America in the fall, and I'm (totally lost) when it comes to knowing anything about the area the school is in, what sort of thing to be looking for in terms of housing, etc. I've looked at some of CUA's online resources, but they're slim pickins'. So I suppose my question is this: does anyone know much about safe neighborhoods in the vicinity of CUA, and what sort of rent prices I might be looking at there? Thanks!

I have a BS in Biology and BA in history, and I'm starting a Ph. D in English literature in the fall. Because I just wanted to try EVERYTHING.

I'm still waiting on English, which I'm fairly certain means "no." I don't mind the rejection, just SEND it already so I can accept another offer. Not that I would say no if Notre Dame asked me to come, haha.

Once you actually get to the application, it's all just one window/program, which is pretty widely used by schools. So that won't be too bad! But yeah, aren't all college websites bad? Notoriously so?

I was notified of my funding along with the acceptance, because I got a TAship (which is an awkward word). So they outlined the tuition remition, stipend, etc, right there in the initial email. Cardinal Station doesn't have any of that information, though, so I imagine whatever funding you get won't appear on there until well on in the process - you'll likely hear by email or phone first. Good luck with all that! Are you very interested in going to CUA? What's your area?

See, I like that area of literature. I'm a Miltonist in terms of my primary interest, but I still love 19th century American, and the earlier stuff. I'm from New England, so I spent a lot of time learning all that stuff growing up, and coming to love writers like Melville and Fenimore Cooper. So I definitely appreciate and enjoy what you research. I actually have been accepted at Catholic, and I plan on going. Any word for you yet?

Congratulations on both acceptances! I'm also a Milton sort of fellow, so when I was choosing schools to apply to, I had a special eye out for Miltonists of note at various schools. So I can tell you that, at Harvard, Gordon Teskey is the Miltonist of note, and he's rather well known. He's published a book, "Delirious Milton," which I have not read, but I have been told is of middling quality. Nonetheless, he's well respected, and I believe he edited the latest Norton's edition of Milton. By contrast, I never found a compelling Miltonist down at Princeton - there may be one as a special lecturer or somesuch, but there's no professor there who lists Milton as a primary interest. I hope that's helpful. Perhaps we'll be crossing paths some years down the line at a Milton conference. Good luck with your decision, and do tell us what you eventually resolve to do. Cheers!

To answer multiple threads of conversation at once: I don't have an MA, just the BS/BA. But I don't feel that it particularly hindered my applications; just made for a slightly different one. If it's what you want, there's no reason not to shoot directly for the Ph. D. What's the worst that happens? You don't get in, and go to one of the MA programs you applied to as a backup. I talked to my POI after I got accepted at the school I want to go to; we talked on the phone for about 45 minutes - he was awesome! Very kind, very generous with his time, willing to listen to me babble like a giddy schoolgirl for a while. He answered all my questions, offered some advice, we talked about John Milton (sooo cool). As to the post acceptance depression - don't worry about it, guys! You got in, thats all that matters. You'll conquer with hard work, not just talent - really, talent only gets you so far anyway. It's the application of talent that makes the difference. I'm sure you will all do fine. And if we want to talk impostor syndrome, my BS is in Biology, my BA in history. And I'm doing English. I'm literally an impostor and I told that to the programs, and at least one didn't mind. If they LIKE you, thats all that counts.

Howdy, I'm sneaking over here from the English Literature forums (he said, by way of apology) because I've been accepted to CUA's English Ph. D and I've been looking for anyone else who might be going to school there. In any event, it's my understanding that A) The funding isn't entirely based on GRE, it just plays a role - and not an excessive amount, at that. Funding is initially discussed at the departmental level, depending on how much money individual departments have to offer. For instance, English offers a number of TAships because they have a large need to for handling freshman writing courses. So the nature of your department plays a role there. Finally, C) the university-wide fellowships sometimes delays funding information for a bit. I have a friend who got into CUA's Theology MA to Ph. D, and he's waiting on funding info because his department is going for a university fellowship for him. I hope some of this information is helpful, and not just re-iterating things you already know. Also, biblical studies sounds pretty cool. Do you think you'll accept at CUA? PS. If it helps, my GRE's were 163 reading, 158 math, 5.0 writing. And I'm fully funded. But I can't say if that's just my department's standards, or if it plays no part, etc. But it might help.

I'm curious - does, after acceptance, anyone else have the feeling of, "Good Lord, why did I apply to THAT program? (not the one accepted, but some of the others)?" I look back now and have to laugh at myself - applying to schools I had little interest in going to, but just trying to cast the net wide. It's that sort of desperate, INEEDTOGETINTOGRADSCHOOL feeling that makes us all slightly manic. And now it just looks ridiculous.

Mr Grimwig! It's cool to hear that someone else exists who isn't inclined towards theory, but towards authorial intent and more traditional forms of literary study. I've always felt sort of... awkward... about it. Like the guy who's still showing up to parties dressed in 80's clothes... everyone sort of giggles and ignores you... *shudders*. My own knowledge of Oxford from my undergrad advisor (who did his doctorate there, he's welsh) is that it can be very traditional, but there can be some elements which are extremely progressive and somewhat hostile to one another. He waved me away from the English system for that reason; though I think he probably overstates the case to a degree, it's still worth keeping in mind. Apparently historicism is getting popular over there right now (in Renaissance/Early modern anyway).