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I have two versions of my writing sample; one is seventeen pages and the other is fifteen pages. My advisor recommended that I submit the shorter version because the professors will already have a huge amount to read. How do I indicate that I am sending a slightly abridged version of a longer essay? Should I add a note after the bibliography? Should I add a footnote somewhere? What is the protocol for this? The applications do not offer any space for "additional information" or any other place where I could say "My writing sample is an abridged version of a slightly longer essay." (The writing sample is for a foreign literature phd program.) Thank you!

Thank you for your reply! Actually, that was not the case. The program has not read my application yet. They just asked all prospective students to visit at some point in the fall, so I scheduled a visit. I do not know if my writing will make the cut.

This week I attended an interview for a doctoral program in another national literature department, and they told me that they choose candidates solely based on the writing sample. I also applied to Spanish literature PhD programs, and this is making me very nervous, because I thought that grades and letters of recommendation also came into play. Is this the case for Spanish lit PhD programs as well? Is the writing sample the deciding factor? Thank you!

After getting my BA in Spanish I decided to get my MA abroad before returning to the US for a Spanish literature phd program. I am at a large public university in Latin America, and today I found out that the MA program takes 4 years to complete- at minimum. Previously I had thought that this would only take two years, because the course website said 2 years + thesis, but professors explained tonight that students cannot take the "taller de tesis" until the third year, and that students spend the year (or two) following the third year writing the thesis. I would prefer to stay for just a semester or two, return to the US and apply to phd programs for fall 2017 admission. Will programs hold it against me if I do not stay here for 4 years and finish this degree? I cannot imagine spending 4-5 years so far away from my family. My undergraduate GPA was high, I spent a semester in Spain during my junior year, and I have my DELE C2 certification. My professors from undergrad have written letters of recommendation for me and are holding them until I apply to phd programs, so I am terrified of disappointing them. What are my options? I have wanted to be a professor of Spanish literature for as long as I can remember, and I do not want to make a decision that will hurt my chances of getting into a US phd program. Thank you for your advice.

Gracias! ¿Ustedes tienen algun consejo sobre donde debo estudiar? Me gusta el programa de Middlebury en Logroño, España, pero mi universidad sólo tiene un programa en Madrid.

Hola! Estoy en mi segundo año de los años de carrera en los Estados Unidos. Tengo una doble concenctración en ruso y en español. Sé que quiero estudiar para mi doctorado en español después de graduar de los años de carrera. Hablé con mi consejero hoy sobre como prepararme para la escuela graduada, y recomendó que tomara muchos cursos de literatura en español y también que estudiara en el exterior por un semestre. Tengo alergías a mucha comida, así que tengo una dieta muy restringida, y por eso pensé que sería mejor para mí sólo estudiar en el exterior por un verano. Además, prefiero lo del verano en vez de un semestre entero porque sigo aprendiendo ruso, y dejar de tomar ruso por un semestre entero sería malo para mis esfuerzos de aprender el idioma. Pues, lo que pregunto es, sería malo para mis aplicaciones a la escuela graduada sólo haber estudiado en el exterior por un verano? Debo estudiar en el exterior por un semester a pesar de lo que prefiero? Gracias por su ayuda.