waparys

What is the purpose of this? Will it affect the adcomm's decision? For example, if I'm applying to a lower-ranked school (whatever that means) and list on my application that I'm also applying to Ivies, will they not accept me, thinking I won't accept their offer anyway? I want to be honest, but I don't want to hurt my chances. Thanks!

I get the impression that writing sample lengths are double spaced whereas SoP lengths are single spaced. Which is utterly ridiculous, but oh well. Probably best to contact the department. That can mean a difference of 300-500 words, depending on the page lengths.

But then how else are you supposed to show you've researched the department thoroughly and are sure it's a good fit? I mean you don't have to say: I want these professors to be my adoptive parents, but at least showing that they do the same type of work you hope to do can't hurt.

Thanks for the advice. It is an Ivy, though not HYP. I switched my undergrad concentration from creative writing to 20th-century pretty late in the game so never got to work with the big names in modernism in the department.

I'm applying, too, and I'll be lucky if I break 500 with my subject score. I am absolutely dreading getting those results. (On a side note, I feel like there was hardly ANY identification, which is what I spent most of my time on). Anyway--I think it's worth a shot if you find professors who fit with your interests, and if you truly believe you will contribute something to the department (and can successfully convey this in your SoP). I'm applying because I believe I have the academic background and interests. I'm not sure my grades and test scores are stellar, but I guess it's worth a shot. Also, I guess I'll add my own specific program question into the mix (well, not super specific): is anyone applying to their undergrad for their PhD? I did a one-year master's elsewhere, but would love to go back to where I got my BA. Thoughts?

Also in a related GRE development, my boyfriend (a scientist) took the GRE for the first time yesterday and scores 170 on the verbal section.

GRE Lit sucked. Whoever said it wasn't like the practice tests was absolutely right. Urgh. Good luck to the East Coasters.

I'm with you. Also, it's TOMORROW, you guys. I'm guessing I'll be taking it about 6-9 hours before most of you. Just wanted to come on here and wish everyone luck. I took my final practice test yesterday (I can't believe there are so few in existence--it's just not fair) and bombed it, so I'm going in with very low expectations. At least once this is over I can finish up my remaining SoPs and say goodbye to these applications forever (well, until early next year). Anyway: good luck. And, as we say in Poland, "break a pencil."

I honestly think it'd be a little strange if your SoP matched your WS exactly. Aren't your research ideas supposed to be evolving? If you want to write on the exact same topic for the next 5 years, I'd say that was a little strange. Just another thing to think about.

Where it asks for major GPA maybe use an average of your two majors? Or if you're only applying to Spanish, use that. But where it doesn't specify, use cumulative (yes, I know that's where many of us fall. Stupid calculus).

Okay, so I thought I'd write with my final list. It's been cut down significantly. Mostly a cost/time issue. I also decided to cut Johns Hopkins because of their relatively teeny program (therefore smaller chances of getting in). Plus they took someone last year with my exact interests, so I didn't consider my chances to be very high. Anyway, here goes: Penn Delaware Northwestern Michigan Maryland Chicago Harvard I'm all in. (Edit: By all in I mean I'm giving it all I've got, not that I'm actually accepted or somehow deluded into thinking that I will be...)

I would say this isn't your fault. Whenever you submit stuff you check that little box that says you know all the stuff to be true to the best of your knowledge...so you weren't intentionally lying. Also good for you for having your apps in already...!

I just wrote to the grad chair at a school which asks for 20 pages and asked if 15 would be okay. He said yes; he'd rather have a tight, 15-page paper than a super-stretch version.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Also, quick question. If a school marks the subject test as optional, are you sending them your scores? I won't know mine until it's too late, so I have to decide now. Thoughts?

Almost a week away. Kill me. Kill me now.

Isn't that a little lengthy?...

I'm using a different paper mostly because I don't want to cut down my thesis. Also it was on a very specific poem and I think I've gotten all I can out of it...I don't know. I'm confused and lost just like the rest of you.

I'm adding to an existing paper. It was only 13 pages so I'm trying to add two more. I'm working with the professor who originally graded it (my MA prof). Naturally, I'm terrified. If you already have an MA, they don't expect you to use your thesis, right? I'd just rather add than have to cut down. Plus, I just handed in the thesis two months ago and I'm still not ready to look at it again.

Just to be clear, these folks are talking about the revised general test (computer) NOT the subject test (paper).

So honored. Also, it's suddenly really cold here in Berlin. Winter is coming.

I'm pretty sure Penn's is 20 pages. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I can probably get my paper up to 15 pages, but I don't feel like that's enough for Penn. Thoughts?

Like I've said before--we just have to play the admissions game. Some win, some lose. But we have to play to stand a chance.

I would say broader is better. Either way, they're not going to hold you to the stuff in your SoP; from what I understand they expect you to change your mind (as much as you think you won't). I would stay clear of mentioning specific authors, unless they're ones with huge oeuvres like Shakespeare or Woolf. I also have my MA, but I'm mentioning things I learned from my MA and how it's changed my perspective. I think it's all very personal, but I would steer clear of TOO specific. You don't want to seem rigid and unwelcoming to new ideas. My two cents.

This is discussed in a bunch of other topics, but I'd say 10 is about the average...some people apply to up to 15-20. I think I'm applying to about 8.