Appppplication

Specialization definitely helped me, not only for my own writing now but also for the future of my teaching and research. Although I had a few interests, they all overlapped and supported my primary theoretical approach. Your SOP looks ambitious and interesting, but it could be a lifetime's work, and would that work be mostly historical or literary or linguistic? Here's an example of how that interest could be narrowed down: For your area, for example (and by no means am I an expert on sonnets OR statements of purpose), you could be interested in the evolution of the sonnet form, which requires a broad knowledge of the history of sonnets, but you would then focus specifically on Wyatt's anglicization of the form. This would require an interest in and knowledge of cultural studies of 16thC Britain and early Renaissance, but also a knowledge of say late 15th and early16th C poetry in general so as to understand how Wyatt's adaptation of the form fit into lit and culture of the period. You could then write your dissertation on, say, romantic love in Wyatt's sonnets. Such a topic could address the need to adapt the form, thematic influences from other writers of the era, and Wyatt's place or non-place in the literary culture of his era. This could even lead you to argue that Wyatt's addressing of romantic love necessitated the adaptation of the sonnet form or whatever based on how poetry was written at the time and how he needed to break from it to relay a new conception of romance or whatever. This topic itself could be a huge huge book and may still be too general. I hope this doesn't come off as a critique, but IMO this type of broad interest broken down into specifics that all blatantly connect can really unify not only your writing but your teaching abilities and your future work. Hope this helps.

So for all of you that have had your campus visits how did they go and were they what you expected? Also did they impact or solidify your decisions?

Im more interested in the placement records of the other 7000 universities that were left out of this study.

Better Call Saul and Empire and Looking....that's about it

that's great! good luck with that decision.

Wow Congrats!!! Which way are you leaning? Towards the creative side or towards the Lit depts?

I will be attending complit PhD program in the fall, but I didn't major in complit as an undergrad. I always loved literature and took many literature courses, but I also loved philosophy and theory. I was heavily influenced by French theory as an undergrad. I knew my favorite thinkers weren't studied in philosophy, and I had a strong distaste for the type of work done in many philosophy departments. However, I also didn't want a strictly literature (or strictly English literature) program. My interests were more about how literature did philosophy, or how philosophy took on literature (to be broad). I also really appreciate and enjoy languages. So complit always seemed like the most logical place for me.

do you think most people will make decisions long before the April 15th deadline?

congrats fauxlita!!!

Yes @greenmt I would absolutely like to see some more info. We have such limited data, although we seem to have many first-person experiences on blogs, websites, etc. about the situation. I think the issue that I, and I'm sure others, worry about is whether these potential positions will be filled by tenure track faculty or by adjuncts.

Im so popular on this Thread! it feels good to finally be acknowledged for my contributions to the gc forum. I want to thank my agent, my partner for all the support, and all the anon lurkers for keeping it real. *takes a bow*

I think djb is trolling you all...

That dress has so much white (and gold) privilege.

If you can get full funding for tuition costs then you should seriously consider it. They do seem to have some GAs and tuition scholarships but I'm not sure how far they go. Private school tuition payment would be the pits.

that's all I know. Look at all the courses for both depths and the other depts the complit program shares courses with and ask lots of questions. They wouldn't have accepted you if they didn't think you'd fit. Both programs are worth investigating thoroughly.

You have two great options.dartmouthbis a one year program so to get a strong boost out of it and to get to know your profs well enough to write great letter you will need the whole year before you can reapply. You will have to probably take a gap year between MA completion and beginning your Phd. If you are into theory and philosophy Purdues philosophy dept is well known for its strengths in continental philosophy, which is a huge theoretical reference point for comp lit, and ibimagine there's Lots of overlap into the comp lit dept....If you're into the theory side of things for your comp lit studies.

If you go comp lit you will need to learn at least one other language and there will be a strong Lit component even at the most theory heavy programs. If you go for philosophy, unless you find a strong continental MA program, which is difficult, you may have to do analytic phil which usually does not even acknowledge Foucault or derrIda or even Sartre. also know that the interdisciplinary PhD programs are super competitive, sometimes admitting 3 of 150 applicants, so you may want to find other disciplinary depts and focus on those. Also philosophy PhD programs are often super duper competitive As well. If I were you I'd figure out what area of literature I could specialize in that gels with theoretical interests (20th c French or modernism or 19thc American or whatever) and search for and apply to a mix of MAs and PhDs in comp lit, english, and Phil. make sure you do lots of researcH on programs, and tailor your sop for each one. Programs: comp lit at suny buffalo MA. Phil at Loyola marymount MA. Phil at Louisiana state U MA. Phil at cal sTate LA or calstate Long beach. literary and cultural studies at Carnegie Mellon. And there are probably a few English MAs too thatch dont know about. Check your local state schools and privates for MA programs. And remember you need some disciplinary basis to jump off from.

whoa whoa whoa, I NEVER have and never will dismiss adjunct labor by somehow thinking it sufficient for the PhD workforce. If anything adjunct labor is unjust. Especially considering I too have PhD offers and will be (already am) facing the consequences of the adjunct predicament for PhD holders.

Lol. I do strongly believe we all need to check our privilege as we type out all our PhD-related problems, and I was coming from more of a provocative reality check this is the vibe I'm getting kinda serious rather than a quote-driven, research paper type of serious. So yes I did enjoy pushing the buttons, but yes I am seriously committed to social change. That being said, I can't stand Camille Paglia. She's the worst.

I know I'm privileged in that I'm able to own and pay for a smart phone with internet access so I can type this, but I already established that I was going to acknowledge my privilege at the beginning of every post in the post just before yours.

I'm gonna start every post from now on with "I know I"m privileged in _____X____ way, but....." Watch. I'll stick by my word.

Carrying it out quite far may be useful. But yes privilege is complex and different networks have different implications.

everyone aggrees it's all connected And of course these are good points. But sometimes reading this site I wish everyone would start every sentence that refers to a TT job or a PhD program acceptance or admission with "i know I'm privileged, but....."

Lol. i dont do frenemies. But This is good fun.

The one on waitlists.