UW-Madison Applied Linguistics MA

[antecedent]

Hi everyone,

I've been having a bit of trouble tracking down where to post questions about the UW-Madison Applied Linguistics MA. It's in the English department (or at least, the one I applied to is in the English department) but no one on the Lit, Rhet, Comp boards seems to have applied to it. I've seen it mentioned a few times in various threads here in Linguistics, but I thought I might try to centralize some thoughts on the program here.

Has anyone heard back about the MA yet? I've seen lots of English PhDs on the results survey, but not much from linguistics.

Is anyone here in the program already? What's your impression of being in a Linguistics program in the English department?

Any other thoughts?

...Bueller?

[LinguisticMystic]

Yep I applied. Haven't heard back yet. Looks like MA decisions come later (this week? next week? ahh!). I also applied to NCSU's linguistics program which is within their English department. I would not look forward to literature classes. But linguists gotta linguist.

[antecedent]

Check your status on the webpage! Mine was updated to say I was accepted by the department (huuray!!!) and they were waiting on the university. I hope this means I'm safe!

(edited because gosh, I must be so excited I can't even type)

Edited February 16, 2012 by antecedant

[LinguisticMystic]

Same! Yay for us!

[antecedent]

Yay!!

I got all gloomy once I finally understood the funding landscape at UW-Madison though. Sigh.

Still, I'm really glad to hear you got in!

[LinguisticMystic]

Yeah, Wisconsin's not looking too great right now. But you never know! Fortunately, I'll have residency here by next September so tuition wouldn't be insane worst case scenario.

[antecedent]

I was crushed to find out the MAs don't get funding, even though UW Madison offers an English Language PhD! The Literature MA/PhDs have funding options, but there is very little to nothing available for AEL MAs. The degree is only terminal because the department says it is - you can still go on and do a PhD, just like the Lit kids can. *harrumph*

But it's an acceptance!

I've been bipolar like this all day

[antecedent]

Oooh awesome! I would love to work on that. Though I think my boyfriend would kill me if I left early for my two year degree I'd ditch my current job for it though for sure

Neat, are you in Milwaukee? I've never been to Wisconsin before, though I think if I end up accepting the offer I might go for an early trip to scout out potential housing. Madison looks like a rad city, so if I can survive the snow I think I'd really like it!

[LinguisticMystic]

Nah, I'm elsewhere in Wisconsin. But Madison is a great city. Would be a nice place to live for sure. I do really, really hate cold weather, though!

[antecedent]

Yeah I'm legitimately worried about the weather. I grew up in California and have spent the past 5 1/2 years in Vancouver B.C. I can handle earthquakes, torrential rain, and forest fires, but intense heat and feet of snow are totally foreign to me. I don't even know how to dress for the snow, other than wear lots of clothes Weather issues aside, I am super excited about the prospect of living in Madison though.

Do you mind if I ask what your specialization is?

[LinguisticMystic]

I don't know what I'll do if I move someplace where it's not socially acceptable to wear sweatshirts/sweaters and shorts in the winter... hah! Probably do it anyway.

Sociolinguistics and individual differences psychology are my thing. You?

[antecedent]

Have you received your official offer from the university yet? I'm still "recommended by the department" but I haven't heard anything since...

[LinguisticMystic]

I got a letter/info packet from the department early last week saying that the university decision will come in a "few weeks". But it was definitely an official acceptance letter all the same.

[antecedent]

I haven't received the packet yet, but I just got Robyn's email this morning so that's good - they haven't forgotten about me!

And re: specialization, I'm interested in linguistic prejudice and grammatical authority (which both fall under sociolinguistics I guess), and syntax, all on a diachronic scale.