Talk:Medieval 2009

On Campus Interview Discussion
Those of you who have experience with this wiki: does it stay active after MLA? Do people post on-campus interview and job offer updates with as much regularity and diligence as they post pre-MLA info? I hate this waiting and not knowing anything stage and the wiki has been quiet for over a week.


 * Wow, has this wiki died?


 * In the past, it has remained active throughout the hiring season - hopefully it will continue to do so!


 * I thought it had died, since I stopped receiving updates in my e-mail.

'''Has no one heard from any other schools yet? Rumors?'''
 * As of January 7th at 4:44pm I've not heard a thing.
 * It's a usual quiet time as many schools don't start back up until next week (Jan. 12) and so many search committees haven't/can't make decisions yet. All of my MLA interviews said that they would be meeting the third week in January and then had to get it approved before they could contact people about campus interviews. So I don't expect to hear anything until towards the end of the month. But I'll still be checking and posting any new information I get.

On UNH A friend of mine who has not been on the wiki said that they were contacted on Jan 2 to let them know that they were not one of the three finalists for the position, but that they were on a short list of alternates. Did anyone else receive such a phone call? I've not heard a word since the MLA.


 * Me neither (1/14).

The Silent Searches
Now that all MLA interviews are scheduled, or at least I would certainly hope no one schedules later than this (12/23), what about the few left-over searches? Does anyone have any info on the following:

Alcorn State Georgia Gwinnett Winona State
 * Hasn't this job been advertised for a few years?
 * The Early American wiki shows that they recently scheduled phone interviews, so it looks like they aren't doing MLA: http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Early_American_2009
 * Interesting. But it seems no medievalists have been contacted for phone interviews yet.  The medieval SC must be a bit behind and plan on doing things after break.

wiki-count
Is a wiki count the number of people visiting the wiki?Sobersnail 17:22, 13 November 2008 (UTC)sobersnail --> 200?? Wow. I was told at the end of the Cal U phone interview that they were doing ten interviews, even though we only have 2 people on this Wiki claiming they got phone interviews there. Not sure if we can extrapolate, but I was assuming that we're only a fifth or less of the total applicant pool.
 * Yes, it gives us an idea of how many people are updating the page.
 * (can there really be only seven of us? maybe this will be a good year after all :))
 * (by my count, based on the U of Pittsburgh listing, there are at least 13 of us)
 * For my part (not the original writer of this bit, just making a note), I'm the [overseas applicant] under both the Yale and Sweet Briar posts. So you may need to condense that from 13 down to 12...
 * This count (now at 13) is actually updated by each person (so if you haven't added yourself yet, please add +1 to the count). The conversation (7 vs. 13) was based solely on the Pittsburg listing, which doesn't have an overseas applicant listing. And I also now see that the count there should be 14. So it looks like not everyone is doing their part to individually update the count up here at the top. Perhaps it wasn't clear that you should be adding yourself?
 * No, it wasn't - sorry about that! I was under the impression you were counting responses and such in the entries below.
 * How many of us are there, really? I just got a "no thank you" email from Rollins saying there were 200 applicants!
 * They were tallying the applications for two t-t positions...not to worry.

UNH
Anyone heard from UNH yet? Their letter said that if you don't hear by Dec. 15 you can assume you're not a finalist, but no one seems to have heard anything...(thanks for moving that here!)

Does this suggest that the search has been cancelled? It seems weird that none of the wiki posters would have gotten an interview here (if indeed they have started scheduling).

I just looked on the UNH website and the job is still up - I think they're actually under a few feet of snow! There was a major storm there on Monday and they might be behind on the calls/review of apps. Let's continue to monitor!

Nothing here either: I was worried because of that letter too, but I do know the power was out in most of the state. Here's hoping they're just behind schedule!

The power has been off all week; they're just now scheduling interviews (12/18).

Yale
So I am guessing that everybody applied for the job at Yale. Has anyone heard a single peep out of them other than that little EOE card? They are really taking their own sweet time, but I suppose it's because so many people applied! Or maybe it's a skull and bones thing. Anyone heard anything?
 * I've not heard a thing. But I don't think I would want to take this job anyway under the "new tenure-track appointments system."
 * Yes, I applied, but have not heard anything as of December 8. I would assume that you are correct and that it is a hotly sought-after job.  But then again some may have thought they had no chance and not applied.  I admit that I laughed at the futility of mailing out my own application, but just had to give it a try anyway.
 * I did NOT apply. Good luck to the rest of you!
 * I know that in the recent past they have contacted people for MLA interviews as last as Dec 21; and they send rejections via postcard
 * I did not apply. Yale is not going to interview anyone without a Ph.D. from another Ivy or a top-rank R1 university, much less hire them.  In truth what they will see as their "viable" applicant pool will likely be quite small.
 * I happen to know this is not necessarily true, and I think it's even less true for medieval candidates. I think it's silly not to apply.
 * Hope springs eternal! I'd rather apply and be rejected than not apply and wonder.  I was/am a good fit, whether they see it or not.  I felt it best to give them the chance to see my materials.  Anyway.  I'm NOT counting on an interview from them!

Penn State York
The Penn State York job posting reads "Finalists will be asked to provide a list of references." Did anyone receive such a request?
 * I have not heard thing one, and folks have been good about posting what they hear. I saw on another list (post-colonial?) that Penn State (not York campus) had canceled/suspended a search, so who knows what's up with this one.  To my reckoning, there are 9 schools still interview-silent, though the requests for materials do show signs of life!
 * I heard nothing from them and received no request for additional materials of any sort. I assumed that meant that they were not interested in pursuing my application any further.
 * Well, seems they made their interview decisions based only on a letter and c.v. I wonder if perhaps they are interviewing a larger number at MLA?
 * I think they are--notice that 8 wikifolks have MLA interviews scheduled with them, whereas it's around 5 for most other institutions. (Hope it's not the same five people for all!)

Statistics
Could people who are getting interviews let others know the following information: number of applications sent, number of interviews, campus visits, offers? It would also be great to know if you are ABD or Ph.D. and what medieval field you are in. Thanks!
 * ABD (Middle English): 37 applications (not all specifically medieval) | 4 searches canceled | 7 rejections | 1 request for more materials (which led to a rejection) | 2 phone interviews | 3 MLA interviews (updated January 5)
 * ABD (Middle English): 15 applications (including 3 generalist positions)| 2 searches cancelled | 5 rejections | 2 requests for more materials (both rejected) | 1 phone interview | 3 MLA interviews
 * PhD 2007 (Middle English): 23 apps | 2 requests for more materials | 4 MLA interviews, 3 based on original materials
 * Ph.D. 2006 (Middle English): 10 apps | 2 searches cancelled | 2 requests for more materials | 3 MLA interviews
 * ABD (Comparative Medieval): 15 apps | 2 cancellations | 8 requests for more materials | 1 non-MLA interview | 6 MLA interviews
 * ABD (Middle English): 22 apps | 4 cancelled searches | 1 request for more materials | 3 rejections | 3 MLA interviews
 * PhD 2006 (Anglo-Saxon): 10 apps | 2 canceled searches | 3 MLA Interviews
 * ABD (Anglo-Saxon/Middle English): 21 apps | 4 canceled searches | 0 requests for more materials | 5 rejections \ 1 MLA interview
 * PhD 2007 (Comparative/Middle English): 10 apps | 1 canceled search | 4 requests for more materials | 1 rejection | 4 MLA interviews
 * PhD 2008 Middle English: 23 apps | 3 cancelled searches | 3 requests for more materials | 3 rejections | 8 MLA interviews
 * ABD (Anglo-Saxon): 5 apps | 2 cancelled searches | 2 requests for more materials | 0 rejections | 3 MLA interviews


 * 8 Interviews? Congrats are in order for sure!  Can you give the rest of us some indication of what type of program you are in that has produced such a successful candidate?  Is it Ivy League?  Major R1 University?  Have you published a book or something?  8 is as many interviews as I have heard of for a medievalist.  Certainly you must be a superb candidate, with some sparkling credentials, but perhaps you could give us some idea of what sort of application is drawing such attention (aside from the clear indication that you must be a very promising scholar individually).  I really am wondering how I might improve my chances next year.  Anything you can say will be appreciated.
 * Hey, thanks for the kind words. The 8 interviews surprised me a lot. I will tell you what I can and maybe it will be helpful. I managed to get a visiting gig at a really great school this year teaching a 2/2 load so I've been able to, if not finish, at least move ahead with some of my research projects. No book yet, though I'm starting research on it as soon as I have my sanity back -- that is, when MLA is over!! I think that part of it really is dumb luck -- that your application materials appeal to certain people on search committees who are reading your application. In terms of my preparation, my advisor is WONDERFUL and besides making my dissertation experience humane, also pushed me to work on ideas that I thought at first were stupid but ended up having potential. I did my grad work at U of Rochester, not an ivy but a fabulous place to do medieval with incredibly supportive faculty: they trained the medieval grad students in paleography, manuscript studies, theory, you name it. Also great pedagogy program for first time teachers, and lots of opportunities to publish. I also wrote two separate job letters: one for liberal arts schools and one for research places, and tried to tailor each letter to the individual schools -- this was tedious and took A LOT of time. On the MLA webpage there is a section on advice for job seekers where faculty members have written in to say what makes good apps versus bad apps. According to them, bad= big research letter written for small school or similarly inappropriate audience; whole job letter on dissertation or job letter too short with not enough info. about yourself. So I think that if I have any advice it would be to read anything you can get your hands on regarding what impresses search committees in general. Also, I found it helpful to ask practically everyone I interacted with their advice on job letters, CVs, etc. It made me crazy because everyone gave conflicting advice but a lot of the basics were the same: diversify and show that you can teach a lot of different courses; make sure that you can say something about Chaucer; explain the point of your diss succinctly and say clearly and confidently either (1) how you're making it into a book if it's finished or (2) exactly when it will be finished. I hope some of this helps; also I don't think there is any single right way to go about it because every candidate is different and every sc is different. This year is tough because so many jobs were canceled (I'm still bummed about Pitt) but I am sure it will be better in the next couple of years. Hang in there...I really think the academic job market is just about the most stressful thing out there (besides getting tenure!). (Sorry this post is so long.)
 * Same writer as above: anyone know why the comparative medievalist discussion got cut off at the bottom? It seems like it should just continue or go onto another page. I will shorten the monster post above if you think that's the problem.
 * Eh, I removed my non-comparativist comments, so it's me, not you. Post got "noted" that it wasn't aimed at me after I posted on it, prolly because I was muddying the waters.  Sorry if that caused confusion.  :)
 * Ok, cool. This is my first time using a wiki so I wasn't sure if I had messed it up!
 * Many thanks to the above medievalist with 8 interviews. It's really good advice, especially about tailoring application letters.  You are a kind and generous soul.

Note: Question below was to the comparative medievalist. '''Question: Was your dissertation mainly Middle English? Are these positions for which you have interviews Middle English? '  : Thanks for the clarification. I'm Comp Lit (more Medieval Latin and Old French, although I do parts of the Middle English canon). I'm trying to  see how to position myself. No requests yet...but then I only sent out 6 apps. :: Another comparativist here. I've gotten good responses from English Dept's but only places whose curricula emphasize European lit along with English lit. That said, my writing sample was on a Middle English text, and I made sure a couple CV entries mentioned Chaucer and other canonical types. I think we comparativists have a good shot at some places if we can convince people that, yes, we can teach Chaucer, &c, even if the 14th c. is not our primary specialty. -- Oh, and I applied widely. In my experience schools will advertise for one thing and then hire something rather different. ::: Hey -- I'm 'another comparativist,' and I guess I'm the one to whom the question was first posed. I didn't want to jump onto the metrist who posted comments (hey, metrist, your project sounds cool, btw, and I hope you publish bits of it soon), so I labeled myself as 'another.' Sorry if that was confusing. But you have your answer, fellow-comparativist. And thanks, Rochester PhD., for your excellent advice! I think that applies to everyone. Next time you're back in the Flower City, raise a mug of Genny and think of us! ::::To the latest comparativist poster: same question about Middle English in the dissertation. How many interviews do you have that are specifically Middle English? Thanks! :::::Heya -- my dissertation texts were all written in England, though most of them are in Latin and French. I have two Middle English texts, and a handful of Old English ones, though these latter do not 'star' in the particular chapter where they appear. All but one of my interview requests have been for specifically English literature, and of these one was for Old English. Most of my teaching experience has been in English, and I made sure in my letters and teaching statement to draw examples from my experience teaching Chaucer, Malory, &c. Again, I think that so long as English Depts see that we're committed to good English teaching, they'll give us a chance. I hope that helps!''