practical cat

I am confused about Rutgers as well. I think all the supplemental materials are available to upload once you submit the app (though that's not yet true for me) but I'm kind of wondering about letters. They're electronic too,right?

Um. I started my SOP with "It is common knowledge that, since the beginning of time, jobs for academics in the humanities have been getting more and more common." Do you think that will be a problem?

I wish I weren't out of positive votes for the day! This makes me happy and not just because it makes me feel a little more secure in my intuition on the future of the genre. Seriously, thanks for the heads up.

I didn't even think of that! But so, so true. The CFP reads not dissimilarly to my SOP and I'm pleased they're giving serious consideration to the comic meaning.

Great theme or greatest theme?

This too: http://wheninacademia.tumblr.com/

Less Aristotle, more Adorno.

Studies show that members of adcoms do not notice the absence of definite articles. It's when you leave out an "a" or "an" that you've got trouble.

I. Feel. That. Do you want to form an alliance with me?

Ding ding ding. Especially when it so often requires giving up everything else. I mean, I want to be America's Next Top Academic but, like, I totally 100% get why someone wouldn't be chasing that too. Further, I would not be doing this if I didn't feel like I could handle not getting that dream because, hey, this arena is tough and very few people who try get it.

Nah. In fact, that's great.

That IS unfair. I think that radical ideas can happen anywhere. The work I would do at Harvard would be different than at Berkeley (and then again at any of the others) but it would not necessarily be lesser. (Or better.) I've totally produced really cool work with the strict formalist that I completely disagree with on literally everything and also really cool work with the departmental rebels. (And I think there are probably even a couple of each everywhere? I'd like to work with an array of traditionalists to total rebels if at all possible. But I also want to not be completely dependent upon the atmosphere of the department for informing my work, either. I'm something of a cherry-picker anyway and do not believe I will be subsumed whole sale by wherever I end up, if I end up somewhere.) These things are, for me, April decisions, not December decisions and I at least want to give myself the opportunity to make these calculations THEN. (You know, if any of these places will even have me.) I mean, Harvard MAY/not be for me but I'll let them make the first move (or not) on this one. Quibble quibble quibble, sorry I can't really come down on a Side on this one even for myself.

I actually think that gradcafe exhibits less of a bias toward the "elite" programs than what I've experienced talking to my own professors/mentors/advisors.

Nope. They're not as important.

No shit from me (I am applying to Harvard). I feel like the conservative nature of the department/institution would be my biggest barrier to both being accepted and attending. (I have fairly radical, non-normative interests.) BUT, as someone with really out of the box interests, I am actually really drawn to programs that will give me a really generalized education. I WANT to be able to also competently teach more traditional classes because it would make me both more hireable and more useful (as well as better at my own field). I feel confident that I can cobble out some specialization at both Harvard and Berkeley. Pros and cons, I guess. WE ARE ALL JUST DOING THE COST/BENEFIT MATH AND IT IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME FOR EVERYONE. (This yell is generally-directed.)

You guys, now I'm jealous that none of my people said outrageous things about specific programs.

It's a Schrodinger's Cat kind of thing. Anecdotally, I know someone who went to Princeton! He's not a dick. Your DGS must be wrong.

Rules are so pre-poststructuralist.

+ not finding Harvard to be the best path? So very, very irrelevant to success in grad school or academia. The only thing being advised against applying to Harvard is indicative of is not being a good fit (for whatever reason) for Harvard. But, lol. I have no idea why I'm taking that comment seriously?

I was just going to cite the study Phil Sparrow linked to because I highly, highly doubt the market is any different/better for Literature than Political Science. But the thing is, there are non-R1 jobs for PhDs. They're not plentiful and they're not prestigious but being a superstar is not the only option. I tailored my list with the idea that I do want to go for the top of the field and with the knowledge that none of my potential schools should act as barriers to that. And I really, really want to go to any/all of my schools, even knowing that some are technically better "fits" than others.

My Buffalo notes say 20-30 as well. I haven't spent much time on the actual app though.

"Extinct" instead of "instinct." Then I changed it to "extract" before it got any better. No more editing for me, it's not really helping.

It is worth it, I promise!

Cosigned.

Berkeley is due in 25.5 hours and I am one letter (erm, and subject test scores but bygones) away from a completed application and I just want it finished. I am clearly dealing with the stress by pouting. Also cleaning and cardio because my coping mechanisms often disguise themselves as healthy/productive activities, ahahahahaa. I will have the cleanest of homes by March 1.