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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.

That'd be pretty awesome.

People being turned down - the scary part. Did you and your husband go to MA or PhD? Congratulations to both!

I've considered TFA myself, but after reading some feed back from people in the program, I decided I'd be better off selling shoes or smth. I am a researcher at heart, not designed for non-academic stress.

This is my first time applying, but I doubt I would re-apply if I got rejected. I have self esteem issues, lol. I think it may actually work for you, if the school sees you are that interested in their program. Are you guys going to contact the professors?

To quote myself: I actually have a minor in English and a major in Romanian, and mine was half language/half linguistics as well, there really is no "pure literature" degree in any university back home.

Count me in as well. Seems I will only apply to Louisiana unis, which really puts me on a tight leash, but that's life. Also, I am going for an MA.

Thank you for your answer, and your insight. I have chosen my subject in linguistics in such a way that it may have application in literature/theory of literature, so I am hoping that will work for my future literature research. Hope my statement of purpose will manage to communicate my background and my desire to pursue a MA, which is more than genuine, without making me sound like a pompous ass (I've been accused of that before).

To the OP: I am sort of in your shoes right now, but I feel my situation is worse, because I will already have a PhD in Linguistics by the time I apply to the MA, and that could really work against me. But I know at least 2 international students that are on a fully funded PhD program in the US.

I wonder if those MAs are more competitive as well.

Hello everyone, I am a newcomer to this whole process (and an international student/green card holder), and I would appreciate if you could help me out a bit. Briefly, my academic past is rather twisted. After the BA, I wanted to go for a MA in English lit, unfortunately, that degree is not offered in my home country from any top university (I know, baffling, they have stuff like British/American Cultural Studies, but not lit). So I did go for a Comp. Lit, masters instead. After that, I went for a Comp. Lit. PhD, but my professor died and the faculty number was so small that there was no one who could guide me afterwards (now that I write that, sound a bit SF, unfortunately, it is true). So I switched to a PhD in Linguistics, which I have almost finished (2014, final year). Coming to the US, I knew that my degrees were somewhat invalidated on the work market, so I decided to go for a MA in English. Do you think my chances will be hurt by my academic past, will having a phd by the time of the application weight it down?