SilasWegg

What about programs that require a writing sample with original instructor's comments? Iowa requires this and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm sending everybody else a condensed and excerpted chapter from my master's thesis on Melville but this is neither coursework nor does it have instructor's comments. Could I have my thesis director throws some red ink on there for me and send them that? Seems odd... The other problem is a lot of my coursework (and some of my best writing) has been in areas other than C19 American. For example, I have a killer reception history of a late C18 British poetess with nice commentary but this might misrepresent my research interests. Of course I have some C19 American stuff to send but this was earlier on in my training and not at all my best work. Also, is it ok to exceed these super short page limits by a few pages? CUNY Grad Center says 15 max. Do you think it would be unreasonable to send them an 18-19 page writing sample (the one I'm sending to everybody else). Now, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge how absolutely insane and discouraging this process is.

I took the GRE Subject Test last year and got a 590. Some of my advisors have told me a 600 is the cut off for many programs. What do you make of that? I've heard that for most programs the test is just a formality and other aspects of the application are far more important. Yet it seems reasonable that there would be some sort of baseline regarding the test scores. Also, if there is a 600 cut off, is a 590 or even a 580 too far off the mark? Basically, what constitutes a "good" GRE Subject Test score?

NowMoreSerious your post gives me some hope. Like you, I'm an MA at an "unranked state school." I'm applying to UPENN but other than that ivy type programs aren't for me. Do you mind sharing your application info? Where did you apply? Where did you get in etc?

Nice thread all. Great perspectives all around. I'm still unclear about the perceived value of the MA thesis. Its true that a master's thesis could never serve as a writing sample, yet can't an impressive writing sample be sourced from/honed by the thesis project? Or perhaps its easier just to work up a seminar paper, try to publish it, and use that as a writing sample? Though personal threads can be annoyingly unhelpful to readers, I'm gonna go ahead and provide some personal context that may help focus our discussion. I'm currently in a funded MA, teaching freshman comp, 4.0 gpa. I think I want to apply to PhDs for Fall 2015. I'm gonna be on the older side of things (33 at the age of application). My undergrad GPA is awful. For me, and others like me, is the MA my academic ceiling or is it a springboard to the next level?

I keep hearing mixed messages regarding applicants applying to PhD English programs who already hold an MA. Some say the best programs want you right out of undergrad. Others say the MA is supposed to train you for PhD work and programs recruit from MA programs heavily. Should an MA in English write a thesis or is that just a waste of time? What else can an MA do to strengthen an application to PhD programs in English? Perhaps you are currently thriving in a top PhD program and your MA was the difference maker? Or maybe you now languish in academic obscurity, your MA gathering dust? Tell me augurs of graduate destiny... what is the MA?

I am very wary of doing a first year unfunded. My understanding is that the GTAs provide 4 years of full support with a liveable stipend. A fifth year is granted to those students who make reasonable progress. Thus, it may not be unreasonable to expect funding to go to continuing students and for that support to be steady for additional years. Still, it's a risk. The department has shared some details regarding my position on the funding wait list. Maybe you can help me read the tea leaves on this one? I was told there is one student who has yet to accept or decline his/her funding offer, in fact, it sounds as if the student hasn't been communicative with the department at all. The director advised me to forego making a decision until this matter has been resolved, even if it unresolved by the April 15th deadline. I read this to say that if the student doesn't respond by April 15th or declines the funding offer, it would then roll to me. Certainly, this is open to interpretation. I have many theories about this mysterious stranger and I feel odd about how my life's trajectory has become dependent on the whimsy of the deadline funding dance.

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, the school I was accepted for the MA does not offer a PhD in English. The impression I get regarding funding at the school I am currently wait listed for the GTA is that most students do receive funding, however they offer a few more admits each year than they can fund for some reason. One other option I am considering if funding isn't offered is to inquire about funding in the 2nd year. Is this course of action reasonable?

Though accepted to a PhD program in English, I'm sweating it out on a waitlist for funding via a graduate teaching assistantship. It seems like these are awarded competitively. What should I do if NO funding rolls my way? This is my only admit for a PhD though I do have an admit for a funded MA. IF there's no funding for me, which of the following courses of action seems reasonable? 1. Try to defer my acceptance, enroll in the funded MA for a year, hope that there is funding at the PhD program for me the next year, hope that my MA credits transfer. 2. Decline the un-funded offer, stick it out at the funded MA for two years, reapply to a breadth of PhD programs (Just wanna point out I'm 32 and getting long in the tooth so time is a factor) Also, if you have any arcane knowledge of how a funding waitlist works and have any predictions (grad cafe's favorite passtime) please post.

My visit went really well. I was really impressed with the students I observed in the seminar and the faculty I met were super smart. I was informed I'm on a wait list for a TAship, I'm guessing one similar to the one accepted by CastineGrrl and turned down by KTownCubbie. Hopefully, the funding rolls my way soon... this is the program I want hands down.

I'm arranging for a visit to temple on april 1st. Hopefully, there will be some more clarity about the funding situation after that. I've been emailing with a current grad student. It seems there are three ways to get funding. 1. Fellowship (No teaching, full tuition, generous stipend) 2. TA (Teaching, full tuition, stipend) 3. Teaching first year writing (?) The impression I get is very few students get the fellowship, some students get a GTA and some teach FYW. While it seems that funding at Temple is limited and somewhat competitive, it is reassuring to know that the many of their PhDs receive some kind of departmental support. I really like this program so I don't mind waiting while funding decisions are being made. Let's all try to stay positive and ignore the horror stories on grad cafe about temple funding anxiety.

Hey I just got an acceptance to the PhD English program at temple. They said the same thing regarding funding decisions in two or three weeks. Is this departmental code for "no funding"?

Will they always tell you if you are on the wait list? I applied to schools with a December 15th deadline and I haven't hear ANYTHING from 2 programs. Is that an implied rejection or an unsaid waitlisting or what?

As a form of self-punishment, I log on to the results search everyday and see the acceptances roll in at my top programs while my mailbox remains empty. Reading the tea leaves, this is probably a bad sign. Then again, I haven't recieved a rejection from anywhere yet.... My question is 2 parts: 1. Is there a specific saint to pray to in instances such as these? Being a non-believer, would this prayer even work? 2. Do rejections come later in the application season? Do acceptances? Is there any good or bad way to read this situation? Not that anything anyone would say in answer to this idiotic line of reasoning would at all clarify my situation. Nonetheless, typing this silly missive on a chat forum seems better than whatever anxiety ridden self-destructive behavior (chain smoking, compulsive gambling, discover card) I might take up to deflect my anxiety. Thank you chat forum.

My Verbal is 91%. I'd rather not say my quantitative scores. Writing scores haven't posted yet but I'm pretty sure I nailed it. Also waiting in English Lit Subject test scores but I feel good about those too. I addressed the GPA disaster in the SOP. I tried to be reflective about it...

Hello Grad Cafe Forum, I'm a long time follower and first time poster. All aspects of my PhD English application are strong, except my undergrad GPA. My grad GPA is a 3.9 but my undergrad is a 2.9! From what I gather from the grad cafe discussion forums, English PhD programs are highly selective. So often I read about the importance of personal statement, writing sample and reference letters. Yet, I'm fairly convinced that my underwhelming undergrad performance will eliminate me from contention before an adcomm can even get to my (IMHO) dazzlingly original and well-researched writing sample. If you think I'm a dead duck, tell me so and save me the extortionary application fees.