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elaleph

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    English MA/PhD

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  1. I would expect a mod to know the title of the board which he moderates. In this case, the title was "Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition" Who cares that it doesn't address a literary work? This discussion, especially considering that much of it is concerned with the speech used by the 911 caller, is perfectly suited to its ex-forum.
  2. Here is an example of the arrogance that I unfairly applied to you, GoodGuy: Take a look at this current thread from that bastion of bitterness and entitlement, the Chronicle forums: http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/t ... 736.0.html Now that's insulting to professors and high school teachers. Now I am sure that there are many really awful grad programs out there. But the ironic thing is that the complaint the OP has about the lack of guidance from professors at "lesser" programs is a complaint I have previously only heard directed at top-ranked programs. In fact, hasn't one of the programs that he mentions (Berkeley) had this reputuation for awhile? I know people have complained (on the CHE forums, no less) that they have received a lackluster education at a lustrous PhD program because their brilliant, genius advisor cared about nothing but her own research.
  3. I never meant to state or imply that GoodGuy is arrogant. So sorry about that. I was reacting to his adoption of words and phrases often used to disparage universities that seek to go about their educational mission in a different manner than the Top R1s. My desire to teach at a non-top SLAC or a good, teaching-oriented state school is inspired by a desire to emulate the professors who I respect at my undergraduate university. As I am going to a good R1 for graduate school (not nearly as good as GoodGuy's, of course), it is possible that I will change my mind and decide to pursue a research-oriented position. But I doubt it. You are right, intextrovert, that I cringe at the thought of living within the "publish-or-die ethos." I feel that I can contribute more to the humanities as a teacher than as a researcher (though I certainly do have some good ideas for research I plan to do). I bet that GoodGuy wants to emulate the brilliant researchers that he learned under at his undergrad.
  4. I answered the question as to the link between ambition and arrogance. It is due to the attitude of "having to settle," which you continue to exhibit in the language in your second post. I don't, but you should realize that some do. There are cases in which teaching colleges skip Ivy phds because these phds have exhibited the attitude that I am criticizing. In numerous cases, when an "ambitious" person takes a job at a teaching-oriented institution, they immediately begin looking for ways to "move up." It is one thing to discover that one is not a good fit somewhere (the library has absolutely no holdings in one's subject, for example. Or one's upper-level classes are routinely canceled due to lack of student interest). It is quite another to never give the place a chance. It is not the desire to teach at an Ivy that is arrogant. It is the culture that denigrates phd grads who desire and take jobs that are not R1 that exists at top-20 schools that creates this attitude. Many professors at my undergrad who received their phds from top schools spoke of experiencing this. My undergad is well-respected, but they still got questions such as "Why would you want to apply there?" Just because its a common term does not mean it is not condescending and perjorative. I'll never understand people's hang-ups regarding location: Manhattan is the same as Montana in my book. I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority regarding this however. I think a bit of elucidation of my idea of arrogance is necessary. For me, pickiness and arrogance are very closely related. Someone saying "I want to teach at Columbia, but I guess I'll be fine settling for Southern Alaska A&M" is, for me, just as egrerious as someone who says, "I want to marry a supermodel, but I guess I'll settle for Josephine." They both sound horribly arrogant and even vicious to my ears. Look, the reason I used the word arrogance was because of this phrase from the OP: Both arrogant and false. Another important distinction I should make is between goals and expectations. You are right that desiring an R1 position isn't arrogant. A goal can never be arrogant. Silly or foolish, yes. But not arrogant. If someone has the expectation that they can only do good research, or only be happy, at a Top R1, I say that that is arrogance. So to answer your question, "Why is it considered "picky/arrogant" to "want" to work at a Top R1 upon graduation or afterwards?" It isn't. I thought that my first post had read something along the lines of "picky/arrogant to think you (or worse, others!) can only be happy at a top R1." That was what I wanted to say. So, really, we aren't arguing over my orginal intention. I misspoke in my first post and wish I had realized it before we started arguing. My advice is still legitimate, and is something I think many applicants need to hear. Unless you only desire a job at a top R1, and recoil in horror at the so-called Podunk U in the middle of nowhere, please don't limit your applications to the top-20 programs. I personally know one person who primarily wants to teach undergrads. Unfortunately, she fell for the myth of the Top-20 and got burned (unsurprisingly, it was impossible that she would be a good fit at a research-intensive place, even though her research interests were fits). I'm trying to do nothing of the sort. I'm am trying to get people to ignore the bad advice of the arrogant. The good thing about criticizing arrogance is that the arrogant won't be hurt by it: they're too arrogant! Good! In that case, I recommend you drop the pernicious idea/diction of Podunk U. You criticize my criticisms of your language, but the language, and the attitude it reveals, is exactly the problem. Some of us want to teach at what you and others call Podunk U. The continued condescension showed towards such universities is the arrogance of which I speak.
  5. THIS is why such ambition is oftentimes tempered with arrogance. Your post is a perfect example of why I said arrogant: you imply that the "good or great" jobs only exist at Top R1s. There are good and great jobs at universities that are FAR removed from from the Ivies and their peers. I would wager that most of us on this board did not attend the type of institution you did for undergrad, and I bet that almost all of us are extremely satisfied with our undergraduate education. Otherwise, why would we be looking forward to Grad school? Teaching comp can be frustrating, but it is also an important service that an English department provides to universities and society. These are the classes in which students really learn how to do research, write, and employ critical thinking. Doing a successful job teaching comp may, dare i say it, be more important than all but the most brilliant monographs. Besides, no TT professor is only going to teach into to comp: not even the comp professors do that. The term Podunk U isn't exactly a humble move on your part, either. "end up"? If you do "end up," as you so enthusiastically put it, at an R2 or regional SLAC, I hope that you won't live the rest of your life in bitterness in having your "ambition" disappointed. Your post reveals ignorance and condescension towards universities that aren't tier 1. Do you really think that being a professor at an institution that privileges the education of students over "publish or perish" is so undesirable?
  6. Some myths need serious dispelling. Your advisor, and anyone else who parrots this advice, is dead wrong. There are English programs that are UNRANKED!! (yes, not ranked at all by USNews) that have placement rates above 80% (yes, TT). These placements, of course, are at different kinds of institutions than the placements of Yale grads. Small SLACS, CCs, R2s and R3s, and state branch schools are more common placements for lower-ranked programs, but their students are getting good TT jobs. Unless you are so picky/arrogant that you only want to work at a Top R1 (Ivies, Publics Ivies, etc.), you are being ridiculous in limiting your application to the top-25 programs. Try for the 30-100 range, and possibly beyond. But you should still be picky: Don't go to the school ranked 40 with a 40% placement rate if you have a funded offer from the number 61 with a 65% rate. And fit should be the biggest factor. Neither did I, and I am pleased with my success. My undergrad institution also emphasized close-reading over critical research and theory. Knowing that this wasn't going to cut it, I spent TONS of time reworking my writing sample into a work that effectively dialogues with recent criticism. You've got time, so do the same. So am I. While this is undeniably a very popular sub-field, I think the problems it causes are somewhat overstated. Remember, it is also a popular sub-field for undergraduate classes, which translates into more demand for teachers. Any chance you can sell yourself as trans-Atlantic? One of the professors at my undergrad is a trans-Atlantic modernist, and he is capable of teaching (and does teach) both British and American survey courses. Needless to say, this kind of pedagogical flexibility is highly desirable. If you have a genuine interest in a less competitive sub-field (say, 18th century women's letters), then it might be a good idea to switch. If your heart lies with Modernism, then you shouldn't let this question keep you up at night. This is not a negative in the slightest. However, the teaching experience you are currently gaining will definitely be a plus. Because the AW section is so recent, very few schools use it at all in admission decisions. Simply put, it's a big unknown. Years of experience has shown how good a predictor the verbal and Lit GRE is of grad school success (good enough to be used in admissions; not good enough to be highly important in admissions). In the future, this might be the case with the AW, but as things are now, it's not an issue. Besides, 5.5 is pretty good.
  7. Does anyone know what is delaying UConn's masters admissions? I haven't heard anything from them. There are some rejections posted on the results search, but no accepts.
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