Troppman

This.

Anyone else prepping to defend a thesis?

There will always be exceptions. Reminds me of my first semester of grad school, trying to publish. An older grad student said "of course you can't publish, you shouldn't have anything to say yet!" Needless to say, they were wrong and the piece made its way out followed by several others. Skill and contribution don't always align with level of accreditation. In other words, I agree with you Qaus-gabri; but I wouldn't want to ever discourage anybody who actually has a novel field intervention to offer. Unless said person thrives off of being the underdog. In that case: you aren't worthy, and only after receiving a PhD will your thoughts maybe be good enough--maybe, you loser. :-)

Good scholarship is good scholarship. :-)

Three of us from my ma program presented in Chicago last year. It's far from impossible

I presented at the AAR, and several other smaller venues. I also published a handful of pieces in scholarly journals--all while enrolled in a terminal MA program. I didn't apply to any "high profile" religious studies programs, mostly because my project wouldn't fit in any of them. I did, however, receive a great offer from my top choice program (which is completely divorced from religious studies/theology). I'll be taking this offer and largely bidding farewell to the field. I think that it is most important to shake hands at the AAR/SBL; this is perhaps more important than presenting. That said, I met some great people from presenting and got tons of excellent feedback/support. Edit: I intend for this post to be supportive and encouraging. I know plenty of Ivy League PhD bound Religious Studies/Theology students with naked CV's. Good luck to all :-).

Sweet. I presented last year, which was a blast. Still not sure if I'll be submitting abstracts or even attending this year...

Don't know if the question has already been posed: Anybody submitting abstracts for this year's aar/sbl meeting?

This makes sense; and if it is a larger bureaucratic issue, which it is, voting with/against the dollar is sound. I like the way your professor thinks. This is in line with the whole hold on to many acceptances until the last minute vs. going with the gut/informed decision and withdrawing applications/offers smoothly elsewhere debate...

I post mainly to affirm your angst, in the words of J-Hova: "No answers to these trick questions, no time, shit stressin." If it is not a burden on your current work/project load, I lean towards advising you to go. Although I know that there are plenty of wait-listed candidates for some of the programs that I've turned down, it still feels awkward and tricky when I attempt to best phrase e-mails of thanks but no thanks purport--especially when these institutions are affirming me in ways that I've thirsted for. I say this to say that I feel you. Who knows what good could come from you going?; there seem to be very few downsides. At the same time, if your mind is made on another program: would the peace of mind that comes with accepting an offer and withdrawing other applications trump the angst of weighing several great options? I keep reminding myself, on this note, that i'de rather not know and that I can't see the future anyway. I've accepted a great offer and withdrawn my other applications. Again, it would absolutely be my right to hold on to multiple options to the last minute and make the best informed decision; at the same time, what about people anxiously waiting on a list.... blah! Anyway, keep us posted on the decision. Sorry for rambling...

You. Deserve. It.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL TODAY!

I'm in NC now for school, lived in SC for many years too. This is probably the only downside to the school i'm going to... super cold all the time. I've done it before though, so i'll do it again :-). And yeah, we have awesome food down here most def.

I trusted my gut on this one. Accepted my top choice's offer today, despite having 7 programs to hear back from. Fit, funding, and being mutual top choices sealed this deal. (I also e-mailed many of the other programs and was told I was either wait listed, rejected, or they wouldn't know until late March/early April.) Acceptance of offer phone call was a little awkward, as I had psyched myself up to call and I think I caught the Prof off guard. "Welcome to the department!" Woohoo!

Moving books is going to be a huge pain, especially with ruptured disks in the spine! This question might have already been answered but please share your thoughts: 1)Already in at one of top two choices 2) seven programs to hear from and 2 interviews coming soon (one's a 10 hour drive away and one is over skype) 3)The 10 hour drive one is for a program with no to minimal funding, and I'm in at a place that hooks me up well. 4) The main other school that I would love to hear from said they won't be notifying for another four weeks, whereas the school that accepted me with perfect fit and funding asked to hear back within the week as there are many on the waiting list (I officially have longer, but I agree with them--why monopolize acceptance slots when plenty of qualified people are stressing out over it like I was?) THE QUESTION: is it in bad taste to call other programs and let them know that i am a commodity and that if they want to place a bid they should do so really soon? I would phrase this differently, of course. Should I just go accept at what is ultimately a dream school, or take time to weigh future options?

Grats, y'aal!

I have a colleague who has 'bout a decade on you. She has presented at top conferences as a MA student, and just scored an interview at a top (and well funded) program. She is also very involved mother and grandmother who raised her kids alone as a teenager and now has a MA and MS. AND, she's worked other jobs her whole career as a full-time grad student. I think that age, in a way, can at times be an indicator to the program of question that they are dealing with a serious and competent student. That said, I don't mean to negate your concerns; she is still super-angsty about age too. No Admin com in their right minds will question a student's ability if that student has persevered so seriously in the "real world." I don't want or mean to sound preachy, I just wanted to affirm your angst and provide a tangible anecdote... Edit: underscoring how impressive this lady is. Family doesn't get in the way of her work. She takes her grandson to school, TAs, helps her kids out, has a wonderful husband, presents at conferences, never uses her age/family as an excuse etc... Edit #2: I also feel obligated to underscore, to prospective students, how contingent the process is. Last week I was sure that I would need a "round 2" after many rejections. Then came an acceptance from a great program with no funding, and a few days later an extremely well funded offer. I also come from a seriously non-trad background vis-a-vis the demographics of academia. I was an athlete by trade, and before that I was in Juvee for some years. I'm a published author now at a funded PhD program :-). My advise: so long as your SOP and writing sample are solid as affirmed by a diverse group of critics (Friends, colleagues, advisors, etc) and your GRE isn't terrible (mine was 157 157 4.5; not good, not terrible, surprisingly good at math), the rest is contingent. I am 99% that one of my letter writers had some terrible things to say, and my strongest advocate showed me his whole paragraph of critique in the letter he wrote (because he is cool like that, and wanted to be honest about it). I don't think i'm actually a bratty student, but I entered my program weeks after losing a parent--I should have taken time off. ANYWAY, all of this to say that I am not a 'winner' on the other side; rather, I was good enough like most applicants and the stars happened to be aligned. It is easy to go mad thinking of what else one can do, when ultimately the deciding factors tend to be ineffable in nature...

Last I heard, Irigaray was touching backboard

Well... there's Fanon's rejected thesis, Irigaray's troublesome dissertation, same with Benjamin, etc etc... maybe I missed the point of discussion here? Wait, admissions is different... But, yeah, good luck to all!

Congrats Y'aal!

Others have mentioned Cornell's summer program, I think. Also, UVA's summer language program and Birkbeck's critical theory summer camp are fantastic places to be. None of these provide substantial funding automatically, but I think getting in is priority #1, finding funding is #2! I hope that this helps somehow.

I think we learned that we aren't to hear much until the first week of March this year.

YES!!

Here's hoping!

PM sent. Not a rhet/lit/comp program, and not in the states :-).