thehauteculture

Apologies if there is already a 2013 thread for Wake Forest. I just got accepted to the English MA program for the fall! Anyone else going to be in Winston-Salem? My boyfriend and I are from Texas and do not know anyone in NC, so this will be a totally new experience for us! I'm wondering when most people who don't live there are planning on moving...

Haha, I can do basic math. I should have clarified: the total estimated cost of the program is $72k, tuition is $42k, and I am only receiving 25% of tuition, not the total cost of the program. That was my bad for not being more clear!

This past week, I was accepted to Wake Forest's English MA program with full funding and Columbia's History and Literature program in Paris with a 25% fellowship, and I'm having a difficult time choosing between the two. I am strongly leaning on the side of Wake Forest because it's a two-year program rather than a one year program, it has a wonderful reputation, and financial concerns are a huge factor for me. I have also heard really good things about Columbia's H&L program in Paris--for example, I heard that all of their students got accepted to every one of the Ph.D. programs to which they applied. Additionally, studying in Paris at some point is absolutely critical to my research. However, I will almost certainly have to take out a SUBSTANTIAL loan since the program is an estimated $72k and my fellowship only covers 25% of tuition ($42k). I've had professors and English graduate students saying contradictory things--some say Columbia/Paris is indispensable, while others say Wake Forest would be the better option. Anybody else want to weigh in? Does anyone know WFU's placement rate for grad students into Ph.D. programs, and to which schools their students are accepted? Is this an appropriate question for me to ask the department, considering they've already accepted me?

I was wondering if anyone had any particular thoughts on this question. For my SOP, I am writing about my interest in portraiture (in relation to women's studies). Would it be in bad form to mention a scholar's work that has generated my interest in studying portraiture and the female model if that scholar is a professor at another University? She is at the forefront of research in this particular field, and indeed a professor with whom I'd be interested in working in the future, but the university at which she teaches only offers PhDs, not MAs, and I'm only applying to MA programs right now. I don't necessarily need to include her, but I studied her work extensively in writing my thesis, which led me to my field of interest. Thanks in advance!

I take the GRE on November 27th, and I'm applying to a few English literature MA programs, so I think the AW section is probably the most important part of the test for me. I've done quite a few timed practice essays, but none of them have been scored. So, although I feel confident about my writing, I still have no idea how I will score/how I am currently scoring on the essays. I read in an old thread on this board (that was posted before the GRE Revised came out) that it wasn't worth the $13, but I'm still considering purchasing it since scores are now typically given by a computer and a human reader. At the same time, I'm worried that, with the deadline this close, a low score will freak me out and only inhibit my writing abilities on test day. (I have pretty bad test anxiety.) Can anyone give me some feedback/advice on ScoreItNow? Are there other similar resources that provide the same services at a low cost with prompt feedback? Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you so much, amlobo! Very helpful response, esp. in regards to the subject heading.

I'm going to New York in a week to look at a few master's programs, and I wanted to visit one in particular that doesn't have any open houses/information sessions scheduled on their web site. I have a few basic questions: Is 1/1.5 weeks too short of a notice to try to schedule a visit? The contact information on the web site lists a Program Director first and an Admissions Coordinator. Should I contact the Admissions Coordinator? What should I expect from the visit? What are some good stock questions to ask at a visit? I'm sure many questions will naturally come up, but the web site answered my general questions pretty well and I don't want to go into a visit unprepared. Since I would be visiting the school by myself and not through an open house, I have no idea what to expect. Do you tour the facilities, speak with professors one on one? To add to the situation, the program is in Paris, so I'm not sure which (if any) faculty members would be on the school's main campus in NYC.

I've read through these threads about emailing professors for LORs. I do not live impossibly far away from my undergrad university (an hour away), but I work M-F 9-5, so getting up to the school is challenging and costly (especially since I do not have a car). In addition, I am about to leave town to go visit schools for a week, so emailing seems like the most efficient means of communication over the next month--and some programs I'm looking at have applications due two months, so I want to contact my professors immediately. However, is it the best way to go about it? Should I email a professor specifically asking for an LOR and then plan to meet them in person? Or should I try to schedule a meeting and ask them in person? Here is one of the emails I was going to send to a professor: Dear [Professor], Thank you so much for putting together [Publication] reception ceremony. It brought back memories of when my research class participated a few years ago! It was so exciting to be attending this second time as a newly-published author. And although I was disappointed I didn't get to see you there, major congratulations [receiving your recent award]! Since graduation, I've been working full-time in [new city] at [a business], but I already miss the academic environment. With encouragement from [another professor whom this potential recommender knows], I'm beginning my graduate school applications. In particular, I'm looking at programs that concentrate in [this subject]. Because you have advised me on my research and subsequent publication in [Publication], I was wondering if you feel you could write me a strong letter of recommendation? If not, I completely understand. However, if you can, I would love to schedule a time to meet with you in person to discuss my applications in greater detail. Please let me know what time would be most convenient for you! Sincerely, Me Finally, the question that's been bugging me most: what should I put in the subject line of the email???