who else is still waiting on the majority of their schools?

[JeremiahParadise]

but I'm rootin for the tards to be graduating the year I'm applying for jobs

"tards" -- really? Are we in the middle school lunch room or are we applying to graduate school? Ohhh, right.

Edited February 29, 2012 by JeremiahParadise

[rainy_day]

Have any of you admitted people or current students discussed these things with actual professors or DGS at your schools?? Would love to hear an "official" point of view. Sometimes I think my own professors were too encouraging, letting the fact that they know me and my work overshadow the adcomm's outsider perspective.

When I was applying 2 years ago (and wound up in my partially-funded MA) one of my letter writer's spoke to me candidly about the schools I had selected. He basically said: Look, I think you would tear it up at these places, but you need to apply to a range, because your tiny undergrad (at which I am a professor) is tiny & unknown. And people are assholes and will judge accordingly.

So, yeah, I think the prestige of your undergrad/MA is, unfortunately, a factor.

[Katy85]

In response to anxious_aspirant and crystalleem, I've been accepted to some programs I'm really excited about, and I can weigh in and say that my writing sample and my SOP were very closely related. My SOP established my general areas of interest, illustrated by texts I've found particularly influential or useful. Then I talked about my honors thesis (which was related to those fields of interests and which I related to the other texts I mentioned). Then the writing sample was a section of the honors thesis in which I examined an extension of these ideas, and solved one of the problems I mentioned in the SOP. I also spent a LONG time revising that particular section, so it ended up really being one of my best pieces of writing.

I don't know if this is what got me in, but I suspect it helped--basically all the elements of the app are reinforcing each other and giving a clear picture of what I'm interested in and how I write about it.

First of all, congrats on the acceptances! What you did in your application package sounds really sound, and well-done. It also reinforces what I did in my applications, which was very similar - I outlined my research interests in the SOP and also went into specific arguments from my undergrad and graduate theses. Then, my writing sample was a segment of my graduate thesis.

Not to say that my application package was perfect, but it seems like I had everything lined up right (including letters, etc). I'm beginning to think what's gotten me all these rejections so far is my state school undergrad degree...but Goddamn, I didn't (and still don't) want to go 100,000 dollars into debt even it it was William and Mary, UVA and other bigger-name undergrad schools....ahh, the decisions we make that will haunt us later.

(end rant)

[antecedent]

I'm also glad that the perception of BA/MA school competitiveness has come up. Because it does matter. Again, we tend to minimize it because people can and have gotten into top-flight programs with noncompetitive BAs and MAs. But look-- that stuff does matter. They do care and it is a factor. I think people don't want to talk about it as much because it's something that we truly can't change. And I certainly am someone who has dealt with that dynamic; my BA school was open admissions and my MA school was not very competitive at all. I'm not saying this stuff at all to discourage; quite the opposite. When people are taking stock of where to go from here and trying to evaluate themselves, these issues need to come into play.

Sorry to grab on to an old question, but I'm curious about the idea of a "competitive" degree and how we can evaluate "competitiveness". Is it a school reputation or prestige based thing, related to how many people you had to beat out to get a spot in the program in the first place? I'm sure it also has to do with things like faculty activity and publishing/placement records, active scholars etc. This is something I've always had trouble gauging and I'm just wondering how it's established.

[bigrelief]

I think prestige is unfortunately probably part of it.

Also, something that's occured to me as acceptances/rejections have come in: many (though not all) of the schools at which I've been accepted have some connection to one of my recommenders. I don't think it's so much a question of pulling strings (though perhaps I'm naive), but rather that if a familiar name comes up on a recommendation, they might be willing to give it a bit more weight. So perhaps an additional advantage of the "prestigious" undergrad/MA is that you're more likely to come in contact with people who have contacts at good fit programs?

[spasticlitotes]

She also told me that today it doesn't really matter where you get your PhD, it matters what you do with it afterwards. I don't know if that's really the case, and I also don't know if that holds the same for where someone gets their MA.

He basically said: Look, I think you would tear it up at these places, but you need to apply to a range, because your tiny undergrad (at which I am a professor) is tiny & unknown. And people are assholes and will judge accordingly.

So, yeah, I think the prestige of your undergrad/MA is, unfortunately, a factor.

Not to say that my application package was perfect, but it seems like I had everything lined up right (including letters, etc). I'm beginning to think what's gotten me all these rejections so far is my state school undergrad degree...but Goddamn, I didn't (and still don't) want to go 100,000 dollars into debt even it it was William and Mary, UVA and other bigger-name undergrad schools....ahh, the decisions we make that will haunt us later.

I did my MA at a pretty unknown school, but I think I lucked out and had a few professors who were not so unknown. Also, one of these semi-famous people mentioned that because I did my undergrad at a state school, unless I was in the 95th percentile across the board for standardized tests, it would be a waste of money to shoot for the private elite schools. It's an interesting theory, but I think what matters more is teaching experience, interest in the field (shown through conferences, I guess? workshops? I dunno, how else could you "display interest" in English academia?), and professors who are known (versus the school) makes a difference. Then again, my track record doesn't really prove any of these theories except the knowing professors thing - I'm pretty sure one of my professors knows the other professors in the field strongest at the university that let me in, and given they know him, his judgment of my work might mean more than it would otherwise.

[lolopixie]

"tards" -- really? Are we in the middle school lunch room or are we applying to graduate school? Ohhh, right.

If tards is not a part of your every day vocabulary, you need to get with the program!

[pinkrobot]

For whatever it's worth, here are my two cents on the two questions of WS/SOP fit and undergrad "prestige."

I'm a gratefully successful applicant this time, but I had a previous application round which was a disaster. In my previous round, I received several rejections and a waitlist (which turned into an acceptance that I was unable to accept due to a big change in my personal circumstances). I come from a pretty well known undergrad (no MA).

In my first round of applications, my statement of purpose had far less purpose than it should have, my writing sample didn't fit with that statement, and I was vacillating between massive egotism due to my strong performance at the aforementioned undergrad and, weirdly, a simultaneous and thorough lack of genuine confidence. (Please know that I am not implying that any of you have any of those issues--just painting a picture of my own dysfunction during round one!)

So, I don't pretend to know enough to be able to say whether or not a "prestigious" undergrad can really help, but, from experience, I can assure you that it does not make up for any serious deficiencies. If you worry that a fancypants BA can help someone slide by even if they underperform in their application materials, I honestly believe that is not the case. While I imagine these other side effects of "prestige" are helpful, in my view it may not be a death knell if you do not have them and it certainly is not a saving grace if you do have them.

Similarly, I don't know enough to be able to say whether or not WS/SOP fit can make or break an application, but I can say that my second round involved a pretty dead-on cohesion between my WS and my SOP. In large part, however, I think that the real heart of the benefit of this cohesion was the circular process it engendered: writing a paper that fit with my statement helped me define those interests more and more, which would then help me revise my statement again to be even more focused, which in turn helped me return to my writing sample to tighten it, which sent me back to my statement . . . etc., etc.!

By the way, although I'm really happy with how things have turned out in this round, I should mention that I'm sitting on a huge pile of rejections, too, and have absolutely no concrete idea about how all of this works!

[Aubergine]

She also told me that today it doesn't really matter where you get your PhD, it matters what you do with it afterwards. I don't know if that's really the case, and I also don't know if that holds the same for where someone gets their MA.

I've been mulling this point over quite a bit in the past few months, as I was told nearly the same thing by a POI (I also consider her a friend). This particular professor, who is now very well-known and respected in her field, turned down offers from the Ivies to do her PhD with one particular professor in much less prestigious university, and then a few years ago turned down job offers from two of the most prestigious universities in the world and took a job at a less distinguished Canadian university, where she felt she would better be able to do her work. Her advice was to go to the place where you feel you can best do your work, do it well, and the rest will come. I tried to point out to her that we aren't all such superstars with (probably) amazing luck-- but also, her words have stuck with me. It's nice to know that in at least some cases, prestige is not important.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Aubergine

[ComeBackZinc]

I was talking to a prof involved in the grad process today and he said that he could think of "dozens" of schools that weren't done notifying yet.

[rainy_day]

I was talking to a prof involved in the grad process today and he said that he could think of "dozens" of schools that weren't done notifying yet.

Yes, I've applied to three who seemingly haven't notified at all!

[spasticlitotes]

On 3/1/2012 at 7:13 PM, rainy_day said:

Yes, I've applied to three who seemingly haven't notified at all!

WashU delivered a painful blow via email to me today. Let it rain blood and tears. (Although if you didn't hear, that's probably GREAT news! Congrats!)

[rainy_day]

On 3/1/2012 at 9:05 PM, spasticlitotes said:

WashU delivered a painful blow via email to me today. Let it rain blood and tears. (Although if you didn't hear, that's probably GREAT news! Congrats!)

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that!! *hugs* In this game "no news is not bad news" doesn't often translate to good news, so I'll probably be gnashing my teeth along with you shortly.

[spasticlitotes]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that!! *hugs* In this game "no news is not bad news" doesn't often translate to good news, so I'll probably be gnashing my teeth along with you shortly.

We can gnash together. *sigh*

[yank in the M20]

I can't believe we're at another weekend and I still haven't heard from a second school. Of course I have heard that one of mine accepting only five and contacted them all, so it looks like the rest of us are on, at best, a very long waitlist. And another school contacted one only one person to accept--at least according to the results board. So my hopes are beginning to dwindle...I keep telling myself that it's not over until it's over, but the other part of me says it's less painful if I prepare for the inevitable seven rejections so they don't come as surprises. And of course I've been sick this week so in front of the computer even more than normal when I would otherwise be at the gym after work or out with friends....plenty of time to obsessively refresh the results page, my email, and check my phone for phantom no-ring missed calls.

[GodzillaGrad]

I can't believe we're at another weekend and I still haven't heard from a second school. Of course I have heard that one of mine accepting only five and contacted them all, so it looks like the rest of us are on, at best, a very long waitlist. And another school contacted one only one person to accept--at least according to the results board. So my hopes are beginning to dwindle...I keep telling myself that it's not over until it's over, but the other part of me says it's less painful if I prepare for the inevitable seven rejections so they don't come as surprises. And of course I've been sick this week so in front of the computer even more than normal when I would otherwise be at the gym after work or out with friends....plenty of time to obsessively refresh the results page, my email, and check my phone for phantom no-ring missed calls.

This. I'm still waiting on 6 schools, 4 of which have already posted some rejections/acceptances. I can not imagine waiting through yet another weekend if I am not notified this week. At least with checking the mailbox/email there is some agency in the process, just sitting around Saturday/Sunday is truly disheartening.

Seriously schools, just accept me already. I'll bake you cookies?

Edited March 5, 2012 by GodzillaGrad

[eatriceorgohome]

Still waiting on 8 schools. For those in the same boat, here's something to keep us occupied until at least March 13 :

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7646862/smacketology-#8212-tournament-determine-wire-greatest-character

[memberofthe?]

I still have three schools I haven't heard from (nothing compared to many people on this thread), two of which for sure haven't sent out any notifications at all. I am so anxious to accept my offer to UCL that I just want them to rip the band-aid off and reject me so that I can move on with my life. Maybe I will get accepted to one of my final programs, but like everyone else in this thread I want to hear back so that I can make a decision already! Waiting for what I think will be rejections is killing me!