moderatedbliss

I can tell you personally that I didn't apply for a partnership grant because I didn't want to feel obligated to attend that particular school.

Awesome, thank you both. One more question: What exactly does, "Holding an offer" mean? Does that mean accepting an offer, or merely receiving an offer? Some of the scholarships I plan on applying for say that you must "hold" an offer.. not sure about the terminology.

Edit: Using a WRITING SAMPLE from a different field.. Hello, I am a Sociology and Comparative World Literature double major, applying for Comparative World Literature programs. I was considering using the beginning of my Sociology honors thesis for my writing sample, would this be a bad idea? We spend the first semester designing the project and conducting literature reviews, applying for IRB, etc, and the second semester actually doing the research. I would be submitting an introduction, a literature review, a detailed explanation of research designs, and a conclusion. It shows my potential for and familiarity with research, but it's completely unrelated. Any advice would greatly be appreciated, thanks!!

Does anybody know how long programs (masters in this case) give you to respond to an offer before it expires? Is there a general date, like April 15th for the U.S.? One university said that successful graduate applicants have 40 days to respond to an offer before it expires, does anybody know if there is a general or standard amount of time/ date? Specifically, I'm wondering about Edinburgh, UCL, KCL, Durham, Manchester, and Cambridge. Edit: I was found that UCL was four weeks, wooo! Thanks!!

Hey sarab, yeah I have written quite a few for this prof. The associate prof didn't reject me but she didn't seem overly enthusiastic, perhaps that's a sign.

Hey MsDarjeeling, thanks for the response. I haven't conducted research with the master's level prof, but he knows more about my research interests (we have many overlapping interests) and I think could attest to my capacity for research in that field.. I was a student of his, but I'm often in his office hours talking about books. He was my adviser for when I applied to the Fulbright, I think he could talk about my intellectual capabilities. He also knows me pretty well as a human being, so I think he could write a more "personal" (whatever that means) letter of recommendation. I'm always in his office, so helping him through the process wouldn't be a problem. The other professor is fairly high up in the department,but I haven't had her before this semester. Aside from my office visits and classroom participation, she probably isn't very familiar with the quality of my work/scholastic aptitude, etc.. The professor talking about my research abilities is from a different department, coincidentally..

Only two Letters of Rec are required for what I'm applying for, and the other one is from a professor in a related field. The lecturer without a Ph.D. knows me very well, but is perhaps inexperienced in writing letters of rec. He has been teaching for a long time, though. I could gamble on an established professor, but she doesn't know me as well as the lecturer does. Which do I pick? I should mention that I my research experience/grades are very solid. I have some ideas/concerns, but I'll let you all speak your peace first. ANY advice whatsoever is welcome!

I am a Sociology/Comparative World Literature double major. I intend on applying for graduate schools in Comp Lit. Most of the schools I'm applying for require only two Letters of recommendation. One of the LOR's will be from the professor who is advising my honors thesis, the thesis is for Sociology but I figure she knows my work and research skills well and can point to specific things. Here's where it gets sticky: I've only been in the comp lit major since the beginning of this (senior) year, I'm pretty much doing all of the major in my last two semesters. Should I ask a comp lit lecturer I had last semester, or a professor that I have this semester? The lecturer knows me more as a student and as a human being, but the professor more often writes LOR's and she also is more "reputable" as absurd as that is.. I know that letters of rec from people higher up in the department are preferable. I hope I've asked a clear question. Essentially, between a lecturer (with an MA) that knows me well, or a professor with more prestige that is probably more technically skilled at writing letters of rec because she does it more. I don't know if this matters, but I'm applying for progs in the UK. Any feedback at all is appreciated! Thank you.

Did anybody else read the part of that article where the author nonchalantly mentioned that her mother hit her in the face with a switch repeatedly? In regards to your concern about hot sauce in literature: I think the current lack of hot sauce in academia can be related to current discourse regarding food politicization.. freedom means being able to eat literally whatever you want, I know personally that when a waiter or waitress asks me if I would like hot sauce, I see it as a personal attack to my freedom.

Good friend, your link does not work for me. Perhaps it is just me, but I can't appreciate your analysis without an official Dr. Phil source.

I once wrote a paper about how hot sauce consumption is a display of masculinity, males try to assert that dominance by consuming the hottest possible hot sauce. Look around for the Sociology of hot sauce, I think there's a few articles out there from professors at Emory and Kentucky.

Susan Sontag isn't considered Sociology, but her work on photography is pretty interesting regardless. I really enjoyed Regarding the Pain of Others. I'm doing my Sociology honors thesis on the role of shock value photography within the animal rights movement, so I guess I'm combining the two in a way..

That's more or less why it appeals to me. I am considering it, but I suppose I am considering quite a few things.. anything in particular you would recommend? Also, what are you studying?

From my understanding, it draws heavily on micro sociology. Goffman and Garfinkel are considered some of the "pioneers" with their work on social order/ethnomethodlogy. A lot of it focuses on 1 on 1 interaction. UCLA is pretty well known for it from what I gather, here is a page from a related professor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heritage A page from UCSB: http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/research/conversation-analysis

Is anybody in a current program studying conversational analysis or something similar? If so, would you mind sharing your experiences? If you're a prospective student interested in conversational analysis, feel free to contribute, voice apprehension, etc.

You don't want to do that.

Do any of you come from different (i.e. not comp lit or english) undergrad majors? if so, would you mind sharing your experiences and insights?

Whenever you're reading, make a habit of looking up words you're not familiar with.. even if you have seen it before, it doesn't hurt. I hear doing this while reading academic work is really beneficial, but that's your call.

Do it, you have nothing to lose! Don't be afraid to fail.

For those of you are applying or have been accepted into a lit/comp world lit program even though you had an irrelevant undergrad major, what has your experience been like? Any precautions, warnings? Even if you have not, is there anything you feel I should consider? In general, what is applying to an unrelated graduate field like? I am a Sociology major with great grades, LORS, and research experience, but I can't help but feeling that literature is where my passion is. I've considered studying the sociology of literature, but feel that may be too narrow.

I meant a bachelor's level occupation, i.e. having an occupation outside of school that utilized your bachelor's degree while simultaneously attending graduate school.. if that makes sense

How did you pay for food/rent rising star?

For those of you who completed their masters away from home, how do people typically go about doing that? Do you just load up on debt? I know many people do bachelors-level work while obtaining their masters, but did any of you go straight from your undergrad to do a masters in a different geographical location? My understanding is that masters aren't funded, how do people manage? I know I'm all over the place, but hopefully you see what I'm getting at. I suppose I'm asking is there a viable way to get a masters aware from your home city/ area of undergrad without incurring a massive amount of debt.. Edit: Sociology major.