crutch Posted January 13, 2011 Posted January 13, 2011 I applied to 13 schools this year. All my applications were for PhD programs. Virginia UT Austin U Toronto McMaster UCLA UCSC WUSTL Boston Uni Uni of Rochester Arizona State Chicago Cambridge Oxford (where I did my Master's) My general field is early modern studies, with a focus on 18th-century and restoration British lit. I'm particularly interested in the Scribblerians.
DisneyLeith Posted January 13, 2011 Posted January 13, 2011 I went all out and applied to 20 schools this fall. 20th Century American, focus on Cold War studies, cultural studies, postmodernism and the novel. Rutgers NYU CUNY Graduate Center Columbia Brown Boston College UPenn Duke Wisconsin-Madison Minnesota UC-Davis UC-Berkeley Rochester Miami of Ohio Harvard Yale WashU UCLA University of Chicago Iowa ...whew Good luck to everyone!
wreckofthehope Posted January 13, 2011 Posted January 13, 2011 Wow! - that must have been expensive and insanely stressful!
lyonessrampant Posted January 13, 2011 Posted January 13, 2011 I can only imagine. I'm at over 1500 for 14 schools and that doesn't include test fees. . . This process sucks
KRC Posted January 13, 2011 Posted January 13, 2011 (edited) This process sucks Grad School App Fees: $850 GRE Fee: $135 GRE Distribution Fee: $138 Interfolio LOR Distribution and Registration Costs: $99 Transcript Costs: (none for me) Postage: ~$20 Total: $1242 Add in anxiety and yes it does indeed suck. Confessional Time: I HAD TO SELL MY FSCKING MOTORCYCLE TO PAY FOR THIS. Luckily I work full time and a new one might** be en route, but taking public transit after years of not doing so SUCKS. **pending rejection from all 10 schools Edited January 13, 2011 by KRC
DisneyLeith Posted January 14, 2011 Posted January 14, 2011 Yeah, this whole thing ran me somewhere over $2,000 dollars. I can't even conceive of calculating the exact figures. I went for broke, in every possible sense of the phrase. I feel you on having to sell the motorcycle; I was considering the very same thing, but luckily didn't wind up having to go through with it. Living at home has its (very minimal) perks, I guess. If I don't get accepted with sufficient funding to one of my schools, I really have little idea what I'm going to do at this point. Officer Candidate School for one of the Armed Services branches seems to be my primary alternative. I can't justify going into the kind of debt a M.A. in English would carry with it, especially with the possibility that that money spent might not lead me to gain acceptance to a Ph.D. program afterwards. As regards stress, I did spend a year and a half on this whole process (albeit while working full-time), but the last few months were still a whirlwind of stress and anxiety. It doesn't appear that much of that stress and anxiety will be subsiding in the coming months, but rather merely metamorphosing into a slightly different form. What kind of bike you looking into/what was your old one? My bike was the great stress reliever during the late summer/fall when the pressure began to accumulate. Grad School App Fees: $850 GRE Fee: $135 GRE Distribution Fee: $138 Interfolio LOR Distribution and Registration Costs: $99 Transcript Costs: (none for me) Postage: ~$20 Total: $1242 Add in anxiety and yes it does indeed suck. Confessional Time: I HAD TO SELL MY FSCKING MOTORCYCLE TO PAY FOR THIS. Luckily I work full time and a new one might** be en route, but taking public transit after years of not doing so SUCKS. **pending rejection from all 10 schools
KRC Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 What kind of bike you looking into/what was your old one? My bike was the great stress reliever during the late summer/fall when the pressure began to accumulate. Hey, didn't see this... It was an XV535. Not much, but a great bike to learn on. Sad to see it go. I'm deciding between a Gladius/SV650 and Street Triple (and leaning heavily toward the latter). You?
bigdgp Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 Hey, didn't see this... It was an XV535. Not much, but a great bike to learn on. Sad to see it go. I'm deciding between a Gladius/SV650 and Street Triple (and leaning heavily toward the latter). You? I rode an SV650S for four years, but sold it to move to the UK to do an MA en route to a PhD. I feel your pain!
KRC Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 I rode an SV650S for four years, but sold it to move to the UK to do an MA en route to a PhD. I feel your pain! The things we do!
grifter Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 (edited) Foremost: best of wishes to everyone. I can empathize with the anxieties, but feel that this round has been alleviated for me by knowing that I have a good "in" at a program I love, in a place I miss...Keep it on the upside. Things will work out for each of us, despite what the figures might say or NCTE would have us believe. my stats~ Berkeley Rhetoric Stanford MTL U Wisconsin-Madison (Comp/Rhet) U Mass-Amherst (Comp/Rhet) Miami University (Accepted, defering enrollment to weigh all options) U Arizona (Comp/Rhet) U Washington (Comp/Rhet) U Oregon (Comp/Rhet) Carnegie Mellon (Comp/Rhet) I ride a Honda XL350, and I play a Fender Baritone Jaguar. Much love. Edited January 19, 2011 by grifter
BrandNewName Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Don't know if I really fit in with the English crowd per say, but it's where I normally group myself for clarity's sake. Interests: Â 20th/21st Century American (Cultural) Studies Material Culture Studies Critical & Queer Theories Performance Studies Poverty & Class Issues Schools (in no particular order): Â Columbia University - English PhD Washington University in St. Louis - English PhD University of Pennsylvania - English PhD Cornell University - English PhD Princeton University - English PhD University of Chicago - English PhD Harvard University - History of American Civilization PhD Yale University - American Studies PhD New York University - American Studies PhD Brown University - American Civilization PhD Duke University - Literature PhD I was doing really well, but as the holidays fade further and further into the past, I'm getting more and more anxious. Good luck to everyone!
Clawsworth Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 English PhD concentrating in medieval literature: University of Alberta University of British Columbia University of Western Ontario I know it's not many, but I really couldn't afford any additional applications.
Queequeg Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 My list (all English Lit): Brandeis BU Emory Rochester Penn State UCI UCSB UVA WUSTL Good luck all!
woolfie Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Miami University (Accepted, defering enrollment to weigh all options) Congrats! That's so quick. Miami is one of my top choices, but I didn't hear anything yet. I hope I'm still in the running.
snappysorbet Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Congrats! That's so quick. Miami is one of my top choices, but I didn't hear anything yet. I hope I'm still in the running. Wow, me too. Congrats! Hope I hear something soon, I didn't realize they were sending out responses so early. This process is crazy!
grifter Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Wow, me too. Congrats! Hope I hear something soon, I didn't realize they were sending out responses so early. This process is crazy! Snappy/Woolfie--I should clarify. I earned my MA at Miami and applied for the PhD program in fall of 2009, was subsequently accepted, and chose to defer enrollment until fall 2011 (in the interim taking a one-year lectureship to help pay off some bills). SO, as it stands, I have an existing offer from Miami that is sort of a holding spot for me while I see what else I can net. This might seem indelicate to some (sort of territorial and 'squatting'), but I spent lots of time talking to the grad chair to make sure this wasn't a serious breach of application etiquette. She reassured me that this happens commonly. On that note, I'd be very happy to answer any questions either of you have about Miami. When I applied there the first time, I had about 7 other funded or partially-funded offers from schools that have far better name recognition than Miami (Carnegie Mellon, UCBoulder, Oregon, Purdue to name a few), but there was this intuitive sense that Miami was right. I don't regret it, at all. It is an outstanding place that truly takes care of and values its students. I wish you both the best of luck in all your applications.
snappysorbet Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Foremost: best of wishes to everyone. I can empathize with the anxieties, but feel that this round has been alleviated for me by knowing that I have a good "in" at a program I love, in a place I miss...Keep it on the upside. Things will work out for each of us, despite what the figures might say or NCTE would have us believe. my stats~ Berkeley Rhetoric Stanford MTL U Wisconsin-Madison (Comp/Rhet) U Mass-Amherst (Comp/Rhet) Miami University (Accepted, defering enrollment to weigh all options) U Arizona (Comp/Rhet) U Washington (Comp/Rhet) U Oregon (Comp/Rhet) Carnegie Mellon (Comp/Rhet) I ride a Honda XL350, and I play a Fender Baritone Jaguar. Much love. grifter, would you mind sharing when/how you were notified of your Miami acceptance? I know it's totally nosy, I'm just curious. Congrats again, and good luck on the rest of your apps.
TheOtherJake Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Hey, SV650 is a nice bike. I was jonesing for a Kawi Er-6n lately, but will instead be selling my Vulcan 750 if I get into a Ph.D. I will be sad to see her go. It's winter now, and ice everywhere, but I can just picture going down the road in Summer time. Not being encumberered with work! It's a stress reliever indeed. =/
snappysorbet Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Snappy/Woolfie--I should clarify. I earned my MA at Miami and applied for the PhD program in fall of 2009, was subsequently accepted, and chose to defer enrollment until fall 2011 (in the interim taking a one-year lectureship to help pay off some bills). SO, as it stands, I have an existing offer from Miami that is sort of a holding spot for me while I see what else I can net. This might seem indelicate to some (sort of territorial and 'squatting'), but I spent lots of time talking to the grad chair to make sure this wasn't a serious breach of application etiquette. She reassured me that this happens commonly. On that note, I'd be very happy to answer any questions either of you have about Miami. When I applied there the first time, I had about 7 other funded or partially-funded offers from schools that have far better name recognition than Miami (Carnegie Mellon, UCBoulder, Oregon, Purdue to name a few), but there was this intuitive sense that Miami was right. I don't regret it, at all. It is an outstanding place that truly takes care of and values its students. I wish you both the best of luck in all your applications. Thanks for the clarification! I had a minor freak out session because the app was due by the 15th and I was astonished / terrified that they had already made decisions. Glad to hear you speak so highly of the university. Did you earn your MA in Rhet/Comp? If I get in (fingers crossed) I will definitely be asking you more detailed questions. And good luck with all your applications too!
woolfie Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Snappy/Woolfie--I should clarify. I earned my MA at Miami and applied for the PhD program in fall of 2009, was subsequently accepted, and chose to defer enrollment until fall 2011 (in the interim taking a one-year lectureship to help pay off some bills). SO, as it stands, I have an existing offer from Miami that is sort of a holding spot for me while I see what else I can net. This might seem indelicate to some (sort of territorial and 'squatting'), but I spent lots of time talking to the grad chair to make sure this wasn't a serious breach of application etiquette. She reassured me that this happens commonly. On that note, I'd be very happy to answer any questions either of you have about Miami. When I applied there the first time, I had about 7 other funded or partially-funded offers from schools that have far better name recognition than Miami (Carnegie Mellon, UCBoulder, Oregon, Purdue to name a few), but there was this intuitive sense that Miami was right. I don't regret it, at all. It is an outstanding place that truly takes care of and values its students. I wish you both the best of luck in all your applications. One reason I'm so interested in Miami (besides the fact that I'm in Columbus right now and it would be the easiest move for me 0is that I have heard NOTHING but good things from people who have gone there. Everyone speaks so so highly of it and it seems like a very friendly and positive place to have an academic experience. Though most people I know are in Rhet Comp, I'm applying for literature. What do you think of Oxford? Location wise, it's the best for me. Though I worry about living in a very undergraduate-y town. Is it more of a suburb of Cinci or is it too far for that?
woolfie Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 One reason I'm so interested in Miami (besides the fact that I'm in Columbus right now and it would be the easiest move for me 0is that I have heard NOTHING but good things from people who have gone there. Everyone speaks so so highly of it and it seems like a very friendly and positive place to have an academic experience. Though most people I know are in Rhet Comp, I'm applying for literature. What do you think of Oxford? Location wise, it's the best for me. Though I worry about living in a very undergraduate-y town. Is it more of a suburb of Cinci or is it too far for that? One other question about Oxford- what is the job situation like? My partner will be moving with me and I'm worried about him finding a job in a small town like that.
grifter Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 One other question about Oxford- what is the job situation like? My partner will be moving with me and I'm worried about him finding a job in a small town like that. Both valid concerns (the undergrad-y vibe and the job market). The fact that you will be attending with a partner will make quite the difference, from my way of thinking. Although my spouse and I are both drawn to the small town experience, it did help to have someone with whom we could always leave town. Having said that, I think Oxford is far better than many people describe it. Sure, it is insular, and the undergrad Greek system looms very large, but there are a decent number of places to eat/drink, plenty of gorgeous parks and wildlife areas, and access to Cincinnati is maybe 30-40 minutes away on average. In fact, many PhD students and Professors live in Gaslight district and make the commute everyday--some even live further away. Although Oxford is small and somewhat limited, this does something for the cohort--people really draw together, throw parties, get involved in each others lives--It presents an opportunity for social intimacy that I haven't experienced at other places. And what to say about the beauty of the area? I mean, campus and its environs (especially Western Campus, to me) are just fantastically gorgeous. The seasons are all distinct. Then again, you are likely aware of this, living just up the road. It certainly isn't Columbus by any stretch of the imagination, but a Columbus or Cincinnati experience is only a short drive away. To put it delicately, the job market in Oxford plain sucks. It is not good, keeping par with Ohio employment trends. My spouse had a job at the University, actually, when the bottom fell out of the economy. As the most recent hire in her area, she was one of the first they let go. She subsequently got a job at a small farmer's market/greenhouse that helped us out and provided some unique experiences--she also found a job babysitting one day a week. Hamilton isn't too far away (10-15 minutes) and there are quite a few more job opportunities there, but they are still coveted. From my understanding, it is still a rough time to secure a good job in Southwest Ohio. I hope this helps. I also want to confirm your good reports about the cohort/faculty at Miami. It is a complete family atmosphere, even if that involves occasional throw-downs. I felt like those people would flop on a live grenade for me, and I felt the same for them. This is part of the reason we're so eager to head back, barring some fantastic offer from say a Stanford or Carnegie Mellon. I'd be happy to answer anything else via PM--apologies to anyone annoyed by my usurping this thread space. Best--
woolfie Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Both valid concerns (the undergrad-y vibe and the job market). The fact that you will be attending with a partner will make quite the difference, from my way of thinking. Although my spouse and I are both drawn to the small town experience, it did help to have someone with whom we could always leave town. Having said that, I think Oxford is far better than many people describe it. Sure, it is insular, and the undergrad Greek system looms very large, but there are a decent number of places to eat/drink, plenty of gorgeous parks and wildlife areas, and access to Cincinnati is maybe 30-40 minutes away on average. In fact, many PhD students and Professors live in Gaslight district and make the commute everyday--some even live further away. Although Oxford is small and somewhat limited, this does something for the cohort--people really draw together, throw parties, get involved in each others lives--It presents an opportunity for social intimacy that I haven't experienced at other places. And what to say about the beauty of the area? I mean, campus and its environs (especially Western Campus, to me) are just fantastically gorgeous. The seasons are all distinct. Then again, you are likely aware of this, living just up the road. It certainly isn't Columbus by any stretch of the imagination, but a Columbus or Cincinnati experience is only a short drive away. To put it delicately, the job market in Oxford plain sucks. It is not good, keeping par with Ohio employment trends. My spouse had a job at the University, actually, when the bottom fell out of the economy. As the most recent hire in her area, she was one of the first they let go. She subsequently got a job at a small farmer's market/greenhouse that helped us out and provided some unique experiences--she also found a job babysitting one day a week. Hamilton isn't too far away (10-15 minutes) and there are quite a few more job opportunities there, but they are still coveted. From my understanding, it is still a rough time to secure a good job in Southwest Ohio. I hope this helps. I also want to confirm your good reports about the cohort/faculty at Miami. It is a complete family atmosphere, even if that involves occasional throw-downs. I felt like those people would flop on a live grenade for me, and I felt the same for them. This is part of the reason we're so eager to head back, barring some fantastic offer from say a Stanford or Carnegie Mellon. I'd be happy to answer anything else via PM--apologies to anyone annoyed by my usurping this thread space. Best-- Yeah, Ohio just sucks for jobs right now. I am not suprised. Right now I'm on the other end of the relationship/graduate school experience. I have been looking for jobs in Columbus while my partner attended school, and I have only found seasonal positions. Before moving here, I lived in Bloomington, Indiana for over 10 years, so if Oxford is anything like Bloomington, I think I would love it. I miss the small town thing, though I do like having the option to get away from the campus/undergrads which is harder in a small town. Each has its advantages. Well I guess I just need to cross my fingers and hope. I feel ambivalent about my chances. I wonder if being an Ohio resident has any effect on chances. It's probably like everything else, very competitive, they got record applications, etc... sigh.
alexdelarge Posted January 20, 2011 Posted January 20, 2011 Intertextuality, History of Medicine, New Media UCLA USC UCSD UCI UCR UCSB
Tybalt Posted January 22, 2011 Posted January 22, 2011 Snappy/Woolfie--I should clarify. I earned my MA at Miami and applied for the PhD program in fall of 2009, was subsequently accepted, and chose to defer enrollment until fall 2011 (in the interim taking a one-year lectureship to help pay off some bills). SO, as it stands, I have an existing offer from Miami that is sort of a holding spot for me while I see what else I can net. This might seem indelicate to some (sort of territorial and 'squatting'), but I spent lots of time talking to the grad chair to make sure this wasn't a serious breach of application etiquette. She reassured me that this happens commonly. On that note, I'd be very happy to answer any questions either of you have about Miami. When I applied there the first time, I had about 7 other funded or partially-funded offers from schools that have far better name recognition than Miami (Carnegie Mellon, UCBoulder, Oregon, Purdue to name a few), but there was this intuitive sense that Miami was right. I don't regret it, at all. It is an outstanding place that truly takes care of and values its students. I wish you both the best of luck in all your applications. What's their placement record like? I had really thought about adding Miami/Ohio to my list late in the game, but there just wasn't enough time. I loved the description on their page, and they seemed to not only welcome former teachers, but anxious to get them. I've already sort of mentally bookmarked them as a school for next year's app season if I get swept this year.
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