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Posted

With little over a month to go before the April 15th deadline, anyone care to share what offer they have decided to accept and why? MA of PhD? And if no offers, what is your plan B?

Posted

I'm leaning, strongly, towards UMass-Amherst's MA/PhD program, provided that I get a TOship. The Rhet/Comp faculty, although small, does interesting work and aligns the most closely with my interests. The faculty members I've spoken to already have been nice, and obviously interested in my work and research interests. (One even drew a rather unexpected comparison between my interests and her own that I never would've considered,  exciting me greatly.)

 

More pragmatically, UMass offers a nice funding package (guaranteed for seven years!), good placement records, and is in a great location.

 

If they don't offer me a TOship, I'll attend Louisville.

Posted (edited)

Josh:  UMass has a great heritage, but with Peter Elbow no longer there, and now Anne Herrington retiring...definitely a different look to the program... but 7 years in the program seems a bit too long....  I heard from a well connected source UMass only accepted 4 to 5 Rhet and Comp people... I would have to assume they would offer you a TA...and if they do, yes, UMass over Louisville...Dr. Carol Mattingly just retired from Louisville too.  Bundle up! Amherst winters are a bear!

Edited by KenAnderson
Posted

Thanks for your input. I did consider the lack of Elbow and Herrington, but neither of them were my POIs. With any luck, the department will hire some new associate/full professors in rhetcomp soon! I won't hold my breath on that, though, and still find the remaining faculty attractive enough to attend.

 

I should get accustomed to Massachusetts' winters. People say Pittsburgh winters are bad, but the last few have been mild...my cold defenses are probably weakened. (In any case, I don't deal well with hot weather at all...so I'm better off in New England than, say, Florida.)

Posted

To the original question: I still really don't know. I am torn among all of my choices, and I'm hoping the visits will help clarify my priorities. I am actually in a hotel in Baltimore right now for University of Maryland's visit tomorrow. (My still body doesn't want go to back to sleep because it thinks it's only 9PM-- not midnight. Sleep, dammit, sleep!)

 

JohnBarblahblah: UMass seems great. Even though Peter Elbow and Anne Herrington will both be retired by the time we would start, it sounds like they will still be a part of the rhet/comp community. I've only talked to one professor, Donna LeCourt, and her awesomeness was clear. She was so approachable and welcoming over the phone! My only concern is really the small faculty, which means small course offerings. In fact, it seems like most of the schools I've been accepted to only offer 1-2 rhet/comp courses a semester, meaning that I won't really have any course selection power. Have you all noticed the same thing?

 

And regarding winters, it seems I'll likely be facing a culture and weather shock wherever I end up! (Arizona may have calm winters, but their summers are brutal.) This California gal is going to have to sacrifice year-round mild weather to study rhet/comp! 

Posted (edited)

Proflorax:

 

I agree, small faculty would be a concern... good luck....at least you have some great options!

 

 

 

UA program has Dr. Enos, great program, and is a do-able one day drive to Cali too! That is my first choice..still waiting to hear back...

 

Although I now live in Oregon, I consider myself a Cali guy! Born in Long Beach and grew up  in Moorpark in Ventura county, just an hour drive north of LA.. Tried to move back and was living in LA..well, Rodondo Beach...but the freeway and the traffic is crazy!

 

I do miss the sunshine and the beach though...

Edited by KenAnderson
Posted

I'm still working toward a decision, but at the moment, I'm leaning toward Louisville. The visit was great, and I really enjoyed both the faculty and students there. That being said, I am visiting TCU next weekend and South Carolina a bit after that, so we'll see how it all turns out. 

Posted

I'm going to UW Madison! The faculty and graduate students are wonderful, the program has lots of professional development opportunities, and there's just enough structure so that I get a firm grounding in rhet comp and the ability to explore other disciplines and ideas. Very excited!

Posted

Proflorax: Also Congrats on your decision!  Sounds as though the program at Maryland is a great match with your interests. Best of Luck  :)

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