Fall 2017 Applicants

[Warelin]

On 1/8/2017 at 2:10 PM, ChloeCriss said:

At first, I was just looking for an M.A. program that was funded, since I cannot afford to go otherwise. 

I applied to M.A. instead of PhD because I want the extra time to progress and gain research and teaching experience. I want to see if I can adapt to higher education before I jump into applying for a PhD upon graduating. Also, if the M.A. is funded, two to three extra years of schooling sounds like more of a perk than an annoyance. 

I hope to one day become a professor, with an emphasis in gender and sexuality studies through American literature, specifically relating 19th century to modern day. Syracuse and Ole Miss are my top picks, due to their interdisciplinary studies concerning Women's Studies and English Lit, but Purdue and Alabama are reputable schools as well, and I would make it work if funded and accepted. 

Out of curiosity, have you looked at Villanova? I know they offer a Gender and Women's Studies certificate that can be earned alongside the MA.  I think UMass Boston also has a good focus on Gender and Women's studies.

 

[Scarlet A+]

@Quickmick, thanks for the link. I understand how difficult and daunting the road to becoming a professor will be, let alone obtaining a tenure-track position. It's a good thing I'm not doing this for guaranteed comfort or prestige. If I have to teach at the CC level eventually, I'm content with that. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, I love being a student.  

@Warelin, I was interested in Villanova, but they are a Catholic school and I'm not sure what that entails. Not to get into too much detail, I am not exactly religious, and beyond that, I don't fully understand the mechanics of how graduate level education would be intertwined with religion structurally. 

[Warelin]

On 1/8/2017 at 3:03 PM, ChloeCriss said:

@Quickmick, thanks for the link. I understand how difficult and daunting the road to becoming a professor will be, let alone obtaining a tenure-track position. It's a good thing I'm not doing this for guaranteed comfort or prestige. If I have to teach at the CC level eventually, I'm content with that. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, I love being a student.  

@Warelin, I was interested in Villanova, but they are a Catholic school and I'm not sure what that entails. Not to get into too much detail, I am not exactly religious, and beyond that, I don't fully understand the mechanics of how graduate level education would be intertwined with religion structurally. 

From my understanding, religion plays no role in any graduate school in English.

[Scarlet A+]

@Warelin, in that case, I am very interested in Villanova. If you don't mind the quick question attack: why is their application deadline so much later than everyone else's? How many people get funded through the Graduate Assistantships, and will it help my odds if I have tutoring experience at my undergraduate university? How does Villanova rank for their M.A. program (what are their odds of being accepted into a Top 20 PhD program upon graduation)? Do you like where you live? What percentage of applicants are typically accepted? 

[Warelin]

On 1/8/2017 at 3:17 PM, ChloeCriss said:

@Warelin, in that case, I am very interested in Villanova. If you don't mind the quick question attack: why is their application deadline so much later than everyone else's? How many people get funded through the Graduate Assistantships, and will it help my odds if I have tutoring experience at my undergraduate university? How does Villanova rank for their M.A. program (what are their odds of being accepted into a Top 20 PhD program upon graduation)? Do you like where you live? What percentage of applicants are typically accepted? 

Someone else was curious on that first question too and asked. Apparently, the answer has to do with allowing time for professors to write recommendation letters for both undergraduate and graduate students. They don't make funding decisions until after spring break but do admit those who they think best fit in with the program.  I'm not exactly sure what the exact numbers are.

According to their website, graduate courses are capped at 15 students. 
 

[Yanaka]

On 23/12/2016 at 9:25 PM, Caien said:

So I found a typo in my writing sample... In the title

Ouch! Hopefully that means they'll forget about the typo while reading the sample!

I've just submitted my last application. At this stage of the process, I'm not sure I even feel relieved... Now I just want to know and move on. Or not move on, but at least I'd know. 

[TeaOverCoffee]

10 hours ago, ChloeCriss said:

Hi y'all. I'm new to this site, but in the past few days I've managed to lurk and read everything written since 2014, so I feel comfortable enough to ask this now. 

All of you seem to be applying to 7-20 of the top 20 schools, and it's beginning to stress me out that I didn't do that. I applied to only four English Lit M.A. programs: Syracuse University, Purdue University, University of Alabama, and Ole Miss. 

I haven't really seen anyone mention applying to them. Do y'all know something that I don't?

 

I am also applying to Syracuse for a Ph.D., and I did my undergrad at Ole Miss. So if there's something to know about these programs, I guess I missed the memo, too.  In all honesty, they are smaller programs, which is probably why they're overlooked. Also, they're not in the top twenty or so, which also deters applicants.

I wish you the best of luck in your application process. Try not to fret right now; worrying will get us nowhere (currently)--though I do know that's easier said than done.

"This is fine. This is fine." -- my life motto

[Scarlet A+]

@TeaOverCoffee, you are living my dream!!! I love the program at Ole Miss for M.A., and the reason I am applying to Syracuse for M.A. is because I love their PhD program so much! Also, we clearly share a life motto (case in point: my profile picture). 

... That didn't further the topic at all, but I had to fan girl a bit. It's nice to see familiar goals, outside of the realm of the Top 20. 

[Yanaka]

@DBear pointed out how I had made the ultimate typo in my SOP for Cornell. I sent a message to the admin service of the application website, I really hope they give me a chance to send a new SOP.... God darn it.

[Quickmick]

5 minutes ago, Yanaka said:

@DBear pointed out how I had made the ultimate typo in my SOP for Cornell. I sent a message to the admin service of the application website, I really hope they give me a chance to send a new SOP.... God darn it.

Yikes! Good luck. One committee of mine might wonder if I want to go to the university, or am warning them of some impending weather event called a "Northwester." After I saw that I quit looking at submitted materials..

Edited January 9, 2017 by Quickmick

[Yanaka]

6 minutes ago, Quickmick said:

Yikes! Good luck. One committee of mine might wonder if I want to go to the university, or am warning them of some impending weather event called a "Northwester." After I saw that I quit looking at submitted materials..

So that happened to you too? I love your joke, by the way. Your post makes me feel a little better. Well just not alone, maybe not better, better

Yeah... Usually I specifically do a search for other university names, but since I've been busy (and disheartened), I didn't think to do that, it appears. So a lil' Princeton found its way in the Cornell SOP...

Edited January 9, 2017 by Yanaka

[TeaOverCoffee]

On 1/9/2017 at 11:20 AM, ChloeCriss said:

@TeaOverCoffee, you are living my dream!!! I love the program at Ole Miss for M.A., and the reason I am applying to Syracuse for M.A. is because I love their PhD program so much! Also, we clearly share a life motto (case in point: my profile picture). 

... That didn't further the topic at all, but I had to fan girl a bit. It's nice to see familiar goals, outside of the realm of the Top 20. 

 

My life is a perpetual wreck; I don't think that's a dream you want. Haha. But yeah, I have applied to a few that are in the top twenty, but I am not as hopeful as I am with those outside of it because of my GRE scores.

(And I have that meme printed out at my office. Everything is in flames, but this is fine.)

Keep us updated on your applications!  

[AnimeChic101!]

Has anybody received interview info from Emory yet?

[eadwacer]

I'm also a longtime lurker, just starting to post now. I applied to like 10 programs, a mix of English and Medieval Studies, but now I'm starting to freak out because I'm definitely shooting high. Like, I'm confident in my GRE and my writing sample and rec letters, but my GPA in undergrad was mediocre and I have some weird terrible non-degree grades post-bac. But I guess since those were science classes it doesn't matter? I don't even know, y'all, I'm just trying not to flip out. 

In any case, nice to meet everyone.

[Pezpoet]

5 minutes ago, eadwacer said:

I'm also a longtime lurker, just starting to post now. I applied to like 10 programs, a mix of English and Medieval Studies, but now I'm starting to freak out because I'm definitely shooting high. Like, I'm confident in my GRE and my writing sample and rec letters, but my GPA in undergrad was mediocre and I have some weird terrible non-degree grades post-bac. But I guess since those were science classes it doesn't matter? I don't even know, y'all, I'm just trying not to flip out. 

In any case, nice to meet everyone.

Hey, I hear ya. I applied to 9 schools and am shooting high myself (Stanford, UMich, Brown, UChicago, Northwestern). My undergrad GPA is also meh, and I'm hoping everything else makes up for it. For what it's worth, I think if your bad grades are mostly allocated to science coursework then it's fine. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[Caien]

This is likely a ridiculous thing to be worrying about at this stage (or at any stage) but... is anybody else wondering what they're going to say if a DGS or POI calls them on the phone? Not even talking out research  or the program etc, but like, the first thing out of your mouth?

Because my instinctive response is going to be a swear word, and I'm not sure how I'm going to stop it.

[Dr. Old Bill]

13 minutes ago, Caien said:

This is likely a ridiculous thing to be worrying about at this stage (or at any stage) but... is anybody else wondering what they're going to say if a DGS or POI calls them on the phone? Not even talking out research  or the program etc, but like, the first thing out of your mouth?

Because my instinctive response is going to be a swear word, and I'm not sure how I'm going to stop it.

Just re-record your voicemail message to say "Thank you so much for calling -- I am truly grateful for the acceptance. I know that your program will be an excellent fit for me, and I will be sure to return your call shortly!" That way, anyone who knows you will understand the reason for the message, and any DGS / POI who happens to call will have a delightfully polished response! Foolproof!

[claritus]

Oh I'm definitely going to end up dropping a few joyous f-bombs if a POI phones me... that and probably cry a little. My logic is that if they care enough to call you, you'd have to do something really bad to mess things up. 

[Dr. Old Bill]

On 1/11/2017 at 6:40 PM, AnimeChic101! said:

Has anybody received interview info from Emory yet?

According to the results page, it looks like Emory has started sending out interview requests this morning...

Fingers crossed for our hopeful Emorites! 

Edited January 17, 2017 by Wyatt's Terps

[kirbs005]

The feeling when the graduate coordinator at one of your schools tells you a month after the deadline that they didn't get your GRE scores. But also secretly hoping they're telling you (instead of just ignoring the application) because they want to admit you...

[anxiousphd]

1 hour ago, Wyatt's Terps said:

According to the results page, it looks like Emory has started sending out interview requests this morning...

Fingers crossed for our hopeful Emorites! 

 I applied to Emory and haven't gotten an interview invite (yet?). Here's hoping that isn't a death sentence.

[Dr. Old Bill]

2 minutes ago, mullcj15 said:

 I applied to Emory and haven't gotten an interview invite (yet?). Here's hoping that isn't a death sentence.

Good luck!!

[Yanaka]

Now I'm thinking I should have used a picture on my CV, so the ad comm couldn't possibly resist my inviting and fun smile. 

[angel_kaye13]

1 hour ago, kirbs005 said:

The feeling when the graduate coordinator at one of your schools tells you a month after the deadline that they didn't get your GRE scores. But also secretly hoping they're telling you (instead of just ignoring the application) because they want to admit you...

For reals, yo. ;-)

But seriously: ETS. I'm not worried, and I haven't received any email to this effect {yet}, but two of my top choices still show not having received scores. I've checked the ETS website an OBSESSIVE number of times, before I realized this is just ETS, and my schools know this, too. Hopefully. *^^*

[anxiousphd]

First Emory, now UMD? I guess I'm 0 for 2 thus far