sebastiansteddy

Rems, you are making my horrible day of agonizing over my personal history statement just that much better.

Haha Rems, thank you for posting that! So funny!

Thanks

Can I move on to something else? For programs that require personal history statements (diversity statements, "pity" statements, etc.) how important are they? They can't be as important as the academic statement or writing sample, can they? For the sake of my sanity, can someone just assure me that they're not really that important, even if they are? Thanks, appreciate it guys.

I agree with this (both sentences). I have met extremely successful professors who have earned their PhDs from schools you wouldn't expect... N. Katherine Hayles, who comes to mind, got hers from Rochester. Duke bought her from UCLA... in other words, she got her PhD from Rochester, then eventually had UCLA and Duke bidding for her, because it's what she did with her PhD, not where she got it from. I'm sure there are MANY other example, but I am using her in my thesis, and that's what comes to mind.

But... I catch them while (re)preparing them for other schools. Yes... insanity...

Yes, I'd say extremely ignorant.... or at least just ignorant. Rankings are important, yes, but there are other factors to consider. Take Buffalo, for example, which may not be in the top 20 in rankings, but it is very highly ranked and renowned for theory (particularly psychoanalysis). When it comes time to get a job, those hiring are well aware of the strengths of particular programs, which I think are just as important as the raw number. Also, many schools outside the top 20 still provide funding...

Count me in as well. Not a typo, but a mistake I made in editing my writing sample down to 12 pages for NYU... In my longer sample, I introduce a term, and then use it a few more times, each time in italics. In this shorter one, I use it (italicized) without ever introducing it. Grrr.

Yup, my notes say 20-30 as well. Looks like they changed it. If you were planning on submitting a sample longer than 25, I would just call the department and explain the situation. I have experience with their department - very nice, friendly, understanding. I doubt they'll really care. The sample I was going to send them was 22 pages, so this doesn't really impact my application much, luckily.

NYU is my only school that requests a significantly shorter writing sample than 20 pages. I feel like the time and effort I spent on my writing sample for NYU is not commensurate with the joy I will feel when they reject me... Yes, this process does take years from one's life!

OSU is having some problems with their applications. Just contact them and they'll understand.

If you weren't only looking for short stories, I would recommend Steve Tomasula's VAS: an Opera in Flatland. Super cool text that looks at medical procedures (specifically vasectomies, though also abortions and cosmetic surgery) in the context of the discourse on genetics/eugenics. It is figuring heavily into my thesis.

I think they generally admit more students without an MA than with, but that is not to say they don't accept any students holding an MA. One of my favorite professors as an undergrad a few years ago was working on his PhD at BU, and had his MA somewhere else. I still keep in touch with him, and I asked him this very question earlier this semester when I was considering applying there. Hope that helps!

That's what I did as well. I also put my GRE scores underneath that, just so they would have it all in one place. They didn't ask for that though.

I did not see your post when you originally posted it. Earlier today I was working on a paper, and I needed a way to procrastinate, so I went on here and happened to see it. Good thing I was procrastinating!

They definitely changed it since I went through all the programs to which I am applying and took notes on their requirements. At that time (early September or so) I copied and pasted this from OSU's website: "Please send the following items (note that the writing sample, personal statement, transcripts, typed page containing GPA, and curriculum vitae/resume are not to be submitted electronically, they must be mailed directly to the English department)" I guess that should be a lesson: always check and recheck what programs want! Again, thanks for notifying me of this.

Woah, really?! Thank you so much for telling me, I had NO IDEA... I mailed them a packet... I never saw email on their website. I wonder when they changed it?

Just submitted NYU! We are getting there guys! So close!

I think UC Riverside does that too. It's not all that uncommon, thought I don't get the logic behind it.

I submitted OSU: Dec 5th deadline, but it must be mailed. I also submitted USC (online), which has a Dec 1st deadline.

I haven't started working on their actual application yet, but on their website it says "Three letters of recommendation, submitted electronically." If it's not there, it might be cause for an e-mail.

Ahh I really hope it is resolved! I had a hitch with uploading scanned PDFs of my transcript. It was a very frustrating 2 hours...

I submitted two applications today. We are almost there! Then there is the agonizing wait...

I have a packet that I will bring to the post office first thing in the morning! Scary stuff! But exciting too!

In my SOP, I am calling the school by it's full name, then abbreviating it any time I mention it again. So I refer to it as New York University the first time I mention it, then NYU subsequently. Just a tip from first-hand experience - don't forget the "The" in The Ohio State University. For some reason, people at OSU emphasize that it is THE Ohio State University - perhaps to differentiate it from Ohio University, which is a different school. In my SOP, I refer to Buffalo as SUNY Buffalo, and then subsequently UB. Most people at Buffalo refer to it as UB (from first-hand experience). UB is a different school than Buffalo State, so make sure not to call it that. Hope that helps!