Portia

Interesting idea.

For an international student, coming from a completely different academic culture, the answers are really not simple. To give an example, I have been reading about how the SOP needs to feel personal, and even have a catchy opening phrase. That is not only unheard of, but downright frowned upon in Europe.

Not sure what subject to chose for the writing sample. Maybe I am not ready yet.

Seems I committed a faux pas. I am interested in a program, and on its site it encourages us (potential applicants) to write to the person in charge with any questions. In the contact section, it's her email address again, and only it. So I wrote asking some questions regarding their policies on people that already have a graduate degree from another country (saw that some unis really dont like that), if I can send recommandation letters from my research institute (been out of school for over 7 years, so I feel my research coordinators know me better than my professors that havent seen me in a bit), if I need my degrees evaluated by WES. I did not get any definite answer, and a friend of mine told me it is because I shouldnt have asked her, that people who are in charge of a departments do not answer such questions - but seeing the placement talk made me wonder a bit if that is the case. That and the fact that hers was the only contact on the department's website. Or maybe, I should have written to the graduate school addresses? I feel overwhelmed - not used to this academic culture and do not know what I should and shouldnt do.

I am really struggling with this decision at the moment. I have been in research/academia/teaching for most of my life, and, while I did enjoy some aspect enormously, I have also struggled with some less than perfect issues - very low pay, a general culture of networking (and I am not a brown-noser, unfortunately), a lack of structure I need, because I am lazy myself. After arriving in the US, I had my mind set on a MA in English Lit, which is something that would soothe my soul. I do feel, however, that it might not be the best idea for me - while I have knowledge, I still speak English with somewhat of an accent, and I wonder if that would not make employers not want me. I would love to go study English - but for the same amount of money and time, I could get a degree that is more marketable (like Computer Science, I was always very good at math, and I was quite proficient in STEM subjects, before deciding on humanities). I am quite torn now ...

Why is tenure so important? I mean, I get the job stability bit, but, to me it isnt that important. But then again, I will ake two years off work when I have a baby, so maybe I am lazy.

I'm "just" 30, but I do fear I will be a bit out of place among the early 20 potential collegues. Anyway, I admire you, kudos! Hope I will have enough strenght in me to go for another specialization in 10 years or so.

I was wondering, does anyone here know about a good graduae program that integrates death studies as well? Or would that be closer to anthropology than to literature?

Have you read the answer to the article? http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/roiphe/2013/04/a_literature_ph_d_is_not_a_waste_of_time.html?wpisrc=obinsite

Ah, ok, my bad. So it is the University of Louisiana which has centers in Monroe/Lafayette. I hope I like Louisiana, I don't know how I will deal with the temperatures and the dangerous fauna. Although, it is still snowing in MN and we had a blizzard a couple of days ago, so how bad can it be? I might expand a bit, thing is, my husband and I have been in a long distance relationship (read each of us on different continents), and we only managed to move in together last year. He is more or less stuck in NO, and I would like to live with him, or at least within in driving distance. I have been thinking about GRE scores, what are you hoping for? Which numbers do you think will make us competitive?

I have narrowed down the universities I will be applying to. I will be living in New Orleans, so I don' really have many options. I think applying to around 10 universities would be better, but it is what it is. Therefore: MA - English: University of New Orleans/Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge/Louisiana State University at Lafayette/Southeastern Louisiana University. PhD -English: Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge/Louisiana State University at Lafayette - Comparative Literature: Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge (not sure about this one) I would prefer to get admitted into a MA program, so I could apply later on to PhDs from more prestigious universities.

Hope she is trolling.

Thank you. I have another question. I went for a PhD in Linguistics because I got a job in a research institute, so I felt it was my duty to be as well prepared as possible. Do you think it is a bad idea to explain that I went for the Linguistics PhD because I felt it was my duty to be as good as possible at my job?

Wow, that makes me feel old. I was in your shoes ... eight years ago.

I am in the same boat. I wrote to some schools and asked them if I can get letters from professionals I have been working with (I'm a researcher), so far no one replied back answering my question clearly. I will keep an eye on this thread.