ProfLorax

Woot! Glad I'm not the only YA fan in the house. Oh no! I'm worried about that... My brother had cancer when I was in high school, so some of the plot points hit a bit too close to home. I have a feeling this book is going to destroy me! Do it! Do it! The Book Thief transcends the YA genre and is just a really great book. And don't feel bad about Beloved. I didn't really love it until I read it in a class; I needed a professor to guide me through the novel to really appreciate it. This is my first John Green book! Which is the next I should read?? AND WHAT IS A NERDFIGHTER?! I want a piece of that action! I love the quick, brief reviews for all the series! I now have some more books to throw on my queue. I'll let you know how I like Code Name Verity when I'm done!

While ya'll read the intellectual Literary novels, I am going to be in this corner consuming some YA fiction. In addition to being a Harry Potter fanatic, The Book Thief may be one of the most beautiful and heart-breaking pieces of prose I've ever read. I am in the middle of The Fault in Our Stars right now, and I love it. Next up, I have Code Name Verity. Where my YA fans at?! Holler.

ABH90: Have you contacted the school where your application arrived late? Several posters in this forum have had parts of their applications come in late, and the schools still considered their app. Perhaps not all is lost?

I haven't heard anything yet, either. But it's still really early! Only one of my schools has done any notifying (Ohio State), so I am remaining optimistic. That being said, I am planning on a high level of crazy come February 15 if I still don't hear anything.

I know what I will be doing to distract myself from my empty inbox... ACADEMIC TIM GUN.

Well, the graduate program director told both of us she guessed they would be done reviewing and processing by the end of this week, so I am not giving up on Ohio State yet!

What up, rhet/comp folks! I haven't heard anything back yet, but I haven't started totally freaking out yet. Just minor freaking out. I'm mostly anxious because my writing sample is from a lit seminar; it addresses writing and my interests directly, but it's definitely written through a lit perspective. So... we'll see! My interests are feminist theory, disability studies, and writing pedagogy. I am interested in how our identities, particularly gender, sexual, racial, and ability identities, are shaped by writing (both in the classroom and out). I am also applying to a full-time writing/reading instructor position where I currently adjunct; because of the reading certificate requirement, the applicant pool will be much smaller than the average English instructor position. Plus, my school has a history of hiring from within, so I feel like I have a really awesome possible Plan B to pursue if nothing pans out this year. Congrats on the good news, ya'll! And I'm optimistic that we'll hear even more good news in the next few weeks!

THIS ONE TOO: Okay, I'm done.

Not so much encouragement, but happy distraction for dog lovers: http://www.dogshaming.com/ I could read through these all day (even if I'm slightly bitter they haven't published any of the several pictures I've submitted. My dog is downright gross sometimes, but I love him so). My fave of all time:

+1 (Out of upvotes!) YES. I feel like I am making a deal with some benevolent deity every time I step away from my computer. "Okay, this is how it's going to work. I am going to not look at my computer for FIFTEEN MINUTES, and then I'll check my email and VOILA there will be news. Got it? Got it."

Preach it! Seriously, this grates on me as well, especially when the correction isn't really a correction. You are not alone!

Wisconsin's coming in! Wisconsin's coming in! I didn't apply there, but I am so excited to see some action on the Results Board. Congrats to recent admits! ETA: Classes don't start for me until next week, so scouring the results board and tweaking my syllabus are the only things on my agenda this week. So... yeah.

If I am fortunate enough to get into multiple programs, I know job placement rates will be a huge factor for me. Furthermore, the job placement rate for tenure-track positions (I've heard that some programs will boast of a high rate, but will include adjuncting positions in that number). I'd want to know what specific programs and mentorship opportunities they offer to help students prepare for the job market. Congrats on having multiple acceptances!

It's only January! It's definitely not time to throw in the towel. We are just getting started. Rems, think of your avatar! Think of the obstacles she faced to run for city council: the relationship scandal with Ben, the lack of official party support, the painfully awkward rally on ice, Paul Rudd's boyish charm. Remember those moments? Those moments when even we, the fans of Leslie Knope, started to doubt the campaign?* Okay, remember those campaign travesties, then remember this: ** And right after we all wipe away the tears because we are flooded with emotion for THE GREATEST MOMENT IN SITCOM HISTORY, we shall claim Leslie Knope as our spirit animal. She never gave up, never surrendered-- even after Pistol Pete broke his arm after slipping on the ice, she pursued! And we all know what happened. (Spoiler alert?) SHE WON. And so will we. *Ha. Yeah right. We never doubted Leslie Knope. **HEY GUYS. This is my first post with a GIF!

Woohoo for the recent admit! I'm still in review at OSU, so my neurotic self called and asked what was up. They are still meeting and making decisions, so it's not over yet! The Graduate Program Director predicted that all decisions would be made within the next two weeks. Phew! That news will give my index finger a break from the refresh button. Also, I logged into LinkedIn today and saw that the director at a different school where I applied has looked at my profile! I'm trying hard to not get too excited by this revelation...

Tell me there are AMAZING special features. OMG, is there director commentary?!?! If so, I may have to rescind my previous post.

For those not in the know. You're welcome. I know that link leads to illegally streaming the movie, but if you pay any money to watch The Room, you're doing it wrong.

I'm baaaaaaaaaack! Paris: snowy and magical. Rome: ancient and delicious. Loved them, but so happy to be back home and compulsively checking my email. OSU status still says "In Review." I'm rhet/comp, so there doesn't seem to be a method to their madness. Who knew that the words "In Review" would lead to my mental downfall?!

Hello! I have a BA and an MA in Lit, and I'm making the switch to Rhet/Comp for the PhD. I've been teaching developmental writing, freshman comp, and reading for three years now at a community college. I love the CC system, but I'm eager to get back into writing and research alongside teaching. The schools I applied to should be in my signature. Good luck, ya'll!

On my way to Rome from Paris, I decided to hop on airport wifi. First thing I did? Check my email of course! No news there. Second thing I did? Checked gradcafe! So happy to see this good news party. Congratulations to all who have heard back already!

Teehehehe! I am beyond giddy about this trip. I've romanticized Paris for years and years and years. The weather reports shows it's going to be a wet trip, but I hear that Paris is perfect no matter the weather.

This is where I got my MA in Lit. If you end up going there, let me know! I loved it. You can also earn a certificate in composition while getting your MA in Literature, which helps in getting teaching jobs at the high school or community college level. Great faculty, great cohort, great grad student association. (I promise I'm not on their payroll!)

I'll be spending the next two weeks avoiding thinking about PhD applications in the best way possible: the hubby and I are visiting Paris and Rome for our first time! I've promised myself not to obsess over results until I get back on January 27. After that, shit gets real. I am most looking forward to the school-specific threads for this application cycle. Reading last year's threads from start to finish was like reading a Jonathan Safran Foer novel (at times comic, tragic, triumphant, and suspenseful); I can't imagine what an emotional rollercoaster actually being a participant on said threads will be like!

If you want to enter a whole new stage of crazy, you can devote hours upon hours to searching for your programs in the Results Search. That way, you can see how early your programs have notified their applicants in the past. However, I do issue a warning: the Results Search is a blackhole of time, sanity, and time.