Winter Quarter: January 3, 2011

My first quarter of classes begins January 3, 2011. Below is a summary of the two courses I will be taking.  I am focusing my studies on an individualized plan of study. My interests lie mostly in comparative and world literature, though I also look forward to the opportunity to explore American and British Lit (excluding *hopefully the Bronte's).


Topics in Comparative Literature: Guy Debord and the Internationale Situationniste

This course is an introduction to the work of Guy Debord and the Internationale situationiste, which is often credited having played a significant part in triggering the near-revolutionary events of Mai '68. With others in the IS, Debord developed a radical understanding of the relation between art and politics in the cultural revolution he aimed to provoke. Debord was a prolific composer of tracts, articles, reviews, books, memoirs, and films, and students will also read work by others in the IS including Bernstein, Vaneigem, and Viénet. The students and teacher may also have video screenings outside of class at a time to be determined on the first day. All work is in English. Counts toward the Comparative & World Literature specialization.

Special Topics in Literature: Globalization and Culture This course takes as its subject the proposition that "globalization" is a paradigm or episteme within which individuals interact differently with one another and with cultural production itself. We will consider 1973 a key marker in this transition into "globalization" because of a number of important changes in financial markets, technologies, and geopolitical history. If forms of cultural production such as the novel and the feature length film dominated the 19th and 20th centuries through the 1970s and had (according to social scientists) an important role in developing concepts of nation, empire, etc., what does the epistemic shift into globalization tell us about the role of literature and culture in the digital age? What happens to the novel and the feature length film after 1973, cultural forms now putatively anachronistic? The course introduces and examines theories of globalization and culture, as well as related fields (postcolonial theory, poststructuralist literary theory, postmodernism), in order to grapple with these and related questions. Along the way, we study films and read captivating works of fiction produced since 1973, both on their own terms and for instructive lessons on how to understand that elusive and ever changing present we find ourselves in. Literature and films from the U.S., Europe, North Africa and the Middle East (all readings in English or English translation). Counts toward the American Literature and the Comparative & World Literature specializations.

Financial Aid

Now that I have been accepted, it's time to begin paperwork. I am looking forward to registering for classes (beginning January 3rd!) and have been perusing the student handbook since I received it. I have a phone meeting with a new student adviser this afternoon to assist me with all the fun aspects of being a new student: ID cards, email addresses, class registration and .... oh yeah... tuition.

I like to believe I am a fairly intelligent person, (after all I just got accepted to Northwestern, bitches! haha j/k). Yet, I am a complete idiot when it comes to financial aid paperwork.  Hopefully my adviser woman is a magical genius fairy godmother who can make sense of these documents, my loan status and (unfair) remarkably short deadlines.

Decision Day

This morning, I woke up nervous. As I sat up in bed, practically shaking with overactive anxiety, I realized I knew. I would find out today.

I got up, and went straight for my phone, something told me I had an important email.

I looked, and sure enough there was one from Northwestern entitled, " Decision". I read the short paragraph instructing me to follow a link where I could view the decision. Anxiously, I waited for my phone to load the page, where I had to sign in.

Once signed in, it instructed me to follow yet another link to the decision page. (they were really dragging out this suspense weren't they?!)

Where, I discovered this letter:

November 18, 2010
Andrea Finken
1625 West Morse
Chicago, Illinois 60626

Dear Andrea:

Congratulations on your admission to Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies' Literature -
Degree program for Winter 2011. We are pleased you have chosen to earn your degree at SCS and are
delighted to welcome you to the program.

Your official decision letter with detailed admission information and next steps has already been mailed to you
at the address indicated on your application. In the meantime, click here to indicate your acceptance or
declination of our offer of admission.Please direct question about your offer of admission to an admissions coordinator at scsadmissions@northwestern.edu.

Congratulations on your achievement and welcome to Northwestern University.

Sincerely,
Joel Shapiro, PhD
Associate Dean of Academics


WOO HOO! I just got accepted to Northwestern University!

November 8th

Mom said not to start worrying until November 8th. Well here we are. Let the worry commence. Realistically, I hope to hear something this or next week. Panic.

Shall I hold on to hope? Or expect disappointment? Either way seems stressful.

I have just been informed that decision meetings are taking place this week, and applicants can expect to begin hearing back next week. *sigh.

Events

I keep receiving emails being invited to events at Northwestern. This one actually sounds kind of interesting, though not completely related to the program I hope to get into.


Every time I get an email from Northwestern my heart skips a beat...

Information Session

Today, I got this email:

Dear Andrea,

You are invited to join Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies for an Information Session featuring our graduate programs.

Date & Time:
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
6-7 p.m.

Location:
Wieboldt Hall - Chicago Campus
339 E. Chicago Ave - Room 408
Chicago, IL

To register for this event, visit our events page.

This event is a great opportunity to find out how a Northwestern University education can help you achieve your goals and advance your career. You will meet academic and admissions representatives and learn more about the program and the admissions process.

Best regards,

Joel Shapiro
Associate Dean of Academic Programs

Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies
Wieboldt Hall, Sixth Floor
339 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611-3008
Phone: 312-503-4682
Fax: 312-503-4942
Email: scs@northwestern.edu



WTF does that mean? I already attended an information session, hence the grueling application process, submitted application and insane overwhelming anxiety. 

They are screwing with me, I just know it.

Worry

The worry is starting to creep in. I am still trying to keep it together until November 8th, but still. I think it has something to do with the constant attention I was receiving in the form of emails and reminders and mail and phone calls from the admissions office up to the application deadline. And now, NOTHING. I haven't heard a peep. Sometimes silence is stressful.

Complete Application Received

As of today, my prospective student page states that all materials have been received and processed, making my application officially complete. Whew. No more worrying that it got lost in the mail. Now, lets just hope that my writing sample isn't so terribly horrible that they laugh at the thought of letting me in.


Still hanging in there until November 8th when I can start worrying about being accepted.

Waiting....

The application process is complete. Everything has been finalized and sent in. Commence the waiting! Mom said I am not allowed to start worrying until November 8th. So that is the plan. I will be focused on other things in the meantime.

See you on November 8th!

Application Complete

I have completed my application to Northwestern University's Master of Arts in Literature program. Aside from actually putting it physically in the mail (which I am scheduled to do immediately following work this evening) it is done, including the recommendations. Thank you Thank you Thank you to everyone who helped. Now, the waiting/anxiety/stress begins....

At least now I can read something other than The Picture of Dorian Gray. 

Submission

I have completed the application, paid the application fee, submitted the application along with my resume and statement of purpose. Step one is complete.

I am finalizing my writing sample to send via mail along with my transcripts, and anticipate sending those out Monday at the latest. My recommendations are in process.

Looks like I'm really doing this! Now begins the waiting period/anxiety. (more so than already!)

Wish me luck!

Freak Out

And, it's official, I'm freaking out.

I have awaken this morning to being completely convinced that my Statement of Purpose needs entirely re-written, and my writing sample is a classic FAIL. I need to get it together.

My plan today is to re-write my Statement of Purpose and to begin revising my writing sample into more of a critical essay and less of a personal story. maybe. I don't know. I have images of others writing these brilliant essays on classic works of literature, finding new and unique analysis of the text. Yet, here I am, relating Dorian Gray to my own life. Seems lacking, selfish, childish and unoriginal.

Oh who can help me write a critical essay? I'm going crazy here. I used to be good at this.

Ruthless Revisions

Here we are on day 3 of my application process.  The updated checklist below:

1. Online Application: mostly completed, needs some minor review for completion
2. Application Fee: will be sent at the end, ready
3. Resume: done
4. Statement of Purpose: under revision
5. Writing Sample: draft completed, under revision
6. Letters of Recommendation: 3 parties have been notified and are in process (via online)

I have finished a draft of the Writing Sample, and am in the midst of ruthless revisions. By the time I finish it, it may be a completely different essay. The same can be said for the Statement of Purpose.

But I'm getting close.

Writing Sample

Part of my application includes a writing sample. This terrifies and overwhelms me, and completely stresses me out! I have been in contact with the Director of the program, and he has been quite helpful in ensuring me that despite the fact that I have been out of the educational system for many years, my academic performance leaves much to be desired and I haven't written anything not related to investment banking in the last 3 years, I am a positive applicant.

He has let me know that my writing sample can be less institutional and more personal, focusing on "how I am thinking regarding literature". This should relax me some. It doesn't. I originally planned on editing an old paper about The Picture of Dorian Gray. But, once reading it carefully, and realizing I was a complete moron at that point in my college career (probably why I didn't do so well in that class), I figured I should start over.

So, I have re-read (for the third time now) The Picture of Dorian Gray and have begun my writing sample. I decided to structure my sample based on my three readings, and my development as a reader through each stage, and comparing that with Dorian as a character. I read the novel when I was young, and at the beginning Dorian was young and innocent. I read it again when I was selfish and focused on experiences, much like Dorian in the mid part of the novel. Finally, as an adult I am able to read the work, absorb it and recognize the significance of each character, and how my perception has changed as I grow up. This is supposed to be a fantastic example of my ability to write a comparative essay on a work of literature while at the same time exhibit my deepened understanding/personal link to this particular piece. Sounds easy and great, right?

I'm on page 4, I assume it will be in the 6-8 page range when I am finished. It is still a VERY rough draft at this point. I am just assembling it currently, but am already disappointed in my abilities. I haven't written anything in a long time. Hopefully, I get this figured out and in final format in time. The deadline is officially October 15th (next week) but I hope to get everything submitted by the end of this week.

While at work, my lunch break has been consumed with re-reading the novel on my iphone, searching for examples and writing short paragraphs to later insert into the final piece. All this, on top of planning a wedding, and the most stressful work month I have had in a while. *sigh. This better be worth it.

Applications

I am filling out my application to the MA Lit Program at Northwestern University today. The Application deadline is October 15th, to begin classes in January.

I have to get the following items in order:
1. Application: basic info about me, my education etc. done online (almost done!)
2. Statement of Purpose: only 300 words!? (drafted, under intense review)
3. Resume: I'm not exactly sure why this is relevant, but at least it was easy (done!)
4. Writing Sample: *sigh, a work in progress. (mid-draft, I think I'm over thinking it)
5. 2 Letters of Recommendation: in process, I think. (hurry up kids! haha)

Hopefully I get all of these things organized and sent off in a professional, and timely manner. Then, it's time for 4 weeks of finger crossing and prayers that I get accepted.

If not, that will be the end of this blog, won't it? But if a miracle happens... look forward to more as I chronicle my classes, my assignments and my comments for the next few years.