emma_and_alice

I published two papers and presented at a conference during my undergrad. In each case, though, it was a situation that was specific for undergraduate students (i.e. my university's undergraduate research journal, student conference, etc.). Although both of the papers that I published are somewhat related to what I want to study, they are light enough and distant enough from my future subject matter to keep me from worrying about being "weighted down" to undergrad-level ideas (one was about Disney's Beauty in the Beast, hehe). Ultimately, I'm not sure that they made much of a difference in my applications--the schools that I was accepted to commented more on my writing sample. Do it because you enjoy it--I certainly had a good time!

I just accepted an offer from a one-year MA program, so I'm moving straight from the "Decision Freak Out" boards to the "Application Freak Out" ones. I can't say that it's thrilling to be starting all over again, but it's better than checking my email ten times a day! With one exception, I didn't contact any potential supervisors for the Ph.D. programs that I applied to last year; when the rejections started rolling in, regretted it. I meant to change that this time around, but now I am reading on a few posts that English students shouldn't bother contacting faculty for potential contacts. I knew that it was uncommon (in the US at least), but didn't realize that it was downright discouraged. Any thoughts on this?

Another UK-er here...desperately seeking information since, according to my calculation, we could have received notification as early as Tuesday. At least its good to know that others are in the same boat. And that we are all "seasick."