lovinliterature

For what it's worth, I am currently getting my M.A. at a top 10 school. When I asked my professors whether I should go with the funded offer from a fairly high-ranked program, or a very well-funded offer from a school that's lesser ranked (and I'm using the US News and World Report rankings, btw), their answers were unanimous: go with the better ranked program.

That's awful. That actually makes me think very terribly of Harold Bloom rather than the student. As for the first question, what made us a successful applicant, I think it varies whether the school is a state school or a private school. I believe that many state schools do have less-flexible standards for GRE scores and your GPA. I think this is especially true for giving university-wide awards such as fellowships. While writing samples and personal statements are still the most important element, I don't believe you can be given a big financial award without strong GREs and GPAs at a state school. I recently received a big university-wide fellowship at a state school, and my award letter said something like this: "We were very impressed with your writing sample which showed a deft handling of Novel X. Combined with your decisive GPA and GRE scores, you have been awarded Gigantic Big Fellowship." While good scores and GPAs do not get you in the door, I do believe they can keep you out of the door. For example, two years ago I applied for PhD programs, and I was soundly rejected. I still had a strong GPA and test scores, but my writing sample was less impressive, and my statement of purpose was unfocused. Additionally, my LOR's were from professors at a small liberal arts college, which was problematic. For me, I believe that every part of my application was strong this time. Regardless, I still received quite a bit of rejection this time, too. You also have to apply very widely because luck is a major determining factor. This is a tough process, and I think applications need to have as many strong points as they can.

Hey, semicolon2013. I second what everybody else has said, and I think you'll be fine. My overall GPA from undergrad was 3.75, and I had two grades in the "C" range. In fact, one of them was a C+ in yoga! I was really upset, and I thought it would look like I'd skipped class all the time because, really, what do you have to do to get a C+ in yoga?! (in my case, the answer was have a teacher who never took attendance and who, I am sure of it, mistook me for a girl with a similar name who looked similar who skipped class right and left . . . however, the teacher never answered any of my emails as to why I received my grade--(incidentally, the class grade was entirely based on attendance and participation--and since it was spring of my senior year, I then moved out of town). Anyway, I had two grades in the "C" range (the other was in a music composition class, and frankly, my music just wasn't aurally pleasing), and I don't think it hurt me. Right now, I have several offers, and one of them includes a 5 year presidential fellowship at a top 3 university. English departments care much, much more about your overall GPA and your grades in your English classes. I hope this gives you some ease of mind. Good luck.

Ditto! And I second your question: how do we respond to the email?

Hey, guys. I have a question: if you are waitlisted, and ultimately accepted, can you negotiate funding at all? Or can you not because you were only waitlisted in the first place? I've been waitlisted at a school that I really like, but I have an outright acceptance at another school that's quite a bit more lucrative. If I do get accepted at the other school, do I have a chance of negotiating a better financial package?

Hello, Rose Egypt. So, to qualify my thoughts, I'm not exactly kicking ass and taking names, but I have been admitted and waitlisted at a couple of decent programs. Personally, I am a little upset that I'm not doing better, but here are some things that I know that I did right: I have a great G.P.A. and GRE scores, good recommendations, and professionalization in the field (read: conferences and teaching experience). Additionally, my SOP and my writing sample both concerned the same field. Unfortunately, I don't have any cool "hook" (really cool and trendy research interests or interesting life story and background), and I do think that hurts me a bit, but I think I have showed a couple of programs that I am a solid candidate. Additionally, I applied to a lot of programs. I see that you applied to three; no matter how good or qualified you are, I think that's just too few. I hope my 2 cents helps.

Thank you. I appreciate it. That's actually a really good idea. Thanks.

Hey, Pericles. I totally agree with your approach, but how do you find out about placement records? I have asked some schools, but it's pretty hard to figure out. They all say things like, "We have alumni at University X, University, Y, and University B" rather than "80% of our graduates in the last three years are working tenure track jobs." How are you getting your information?

Did your advisor say why it would be "trouble" to ask about health insurance? That seems like a fairly normal question to me . . .

Hi, guys. I have an interview at a school coming up, and I was wondering if any of you had any experience with interviews. Does anyone know what sort of questions they might ask? Any helpful pointers? Thanks.

Hi, guys. I'm going to offer you a slightly different perspective: I don't know what you could do to be a "better" candidate, and I truly believe that a lot of this process is luck. I am currently getting an M.A. from quite a famous and respected school, and I and many of my colleagues are also experiencing some disappointment this season. While some of us have been admitted to good programs, others have not yet heard anything positive. Even for those of us who have been admitted, we've also been rejected by many programs. Most of my colleagues applied to at least fifteen programs. By and large, we all have good grades, great GRE scores, strong recommendations, conferences, and in some cases, publications. Some of us even having teaching experience. Still, we are experiencing a lot of rejection. I don't know how or why admissions committees make their decisions, but I do believe there is a strong element of luck. If this is something you really want, I would not give up hope. Ditto as well. Don't give up hope. Also, as for publications, I think most people google search respected journals and then follow the submission information. Most journals have a fairly clear process for submission, and anyone can submit their article for publication.

I sort of agree with this statement, but I also think it's important to say that what makes a good writing sample and statement of purpose is incredibly subjective. I think you could have really good writing samples and SOPs, strong test scores, a rocking cv, good grades and still get rejected by many programs. Personally, I think many programs should care more about things like conferences, publications, and teaching experience because it demonstrates a commitment to the field. I know what I'm saying will be considered controversial by many people, but it is my personal opinion. Considering that most of us desire to go into teaching, I think the components that bear on our ability to teach are overlooked far too much. I don't mean to be offensive, but I think what makes outstanding and interesting writings samples and statements of purpose is simply too subjective--and to subject to the whims of trendiness--to be the only factor that should bear on our applications. I am NOT saying that they're not important, but I am suggesting that they bear too much weight and that the rest of the application should also matter. I fell for you. A lot. I also agree with your advice. Keep your chin up!

Does anybody have any idea if UCLA is done with its rejections? Or are they just slowly and methodically doing them? I've checked my account, and it says that I don't have a decision yet.