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I got into my top choice program but I have two offers from schools that indicated they would match all other offers. My favorite program ranks significantly higher than the other two, so I'm not sure how serious they would take the competition. Plus, they are already offering me slightly more than seems to be the rule so I'm not sure how far I can push it. Any thoughts?

Thank you, Lorax!

Hey, quick question: How are you guys approaching negotiating? I got into my top choice program but I have two offers from schools that indicated they would match all other offers. My favorite program ranks significantly higher than the other two, so I'm not sure how serious they would take the competition. Plus, they are already offering me slightly more than seems to be the rule so I'm not sure how far I can push it. Any thoughts?

Oof, sorry to hear, ThisIsDog. Just goes to show how strange this whole process is -- get waitlisted at Harvard but rejected everywhere else. Did they tell you what your chances are?

Sorry to hear, dog. To what other schools have you applied?

Hello, HelloThisIsDog (best username) -- Did you apply for Comp Lit or English at UChicago?

Has anyone heard from the University of Chicago?

Thank you, everyone, for your advice. My meeting was postponed so I have no answers other than what I have found out looking into the whole matter myself. Poliscar, I think you are correct, especially regarding describing my research interest in a way that really pulls together my main theory area and both of my major languages. This is what I'll be working on for the next week. Regarding the application to both English and Comp Lit programs, I was planning on doing that but then wondered how to make my research interest legibe to an English program if I am aiming to present it convincingly to a Comp Lit department, emphasizing the connection between the languages etc. Essentially, won't I be arguing that English is no longer the right area for me and that my interest in several languages/literatures has led me to Comp Lit? Do you think it would be best to have two different statements of purpose, each describing a slightly different research interest? Also, I have now read several times that Comp Lit departments are much more theory heavy, could anyone confirm this and possibly talk a little about programs like Duke and Irvine and how much theory focus they allow? Also, please feel free to recommend schools, I am not really that interested in the language aspect, even though it would be nice to incorporate some German lit. What matters most to me is a quality education in (Marxist, postcolonial etc) theory. Thanks everyone!

Rose Egypt is right. And from what I've heard even domestic ad EU students often don't get funding.

One of my professors recently suggested that I look into Comp Lit programs, as I am a native German speaker, have written my honors thesis on a German writer, and am very interested in German thought and theory (especially Marxism, Frankfurt School etc). I have made an appointment with another professor whose background is in Comp Lit but wanted to go into the meeting as prepared as possible. I feel a bit confused about the job market for Comp Lit. I am not quite sure where I got this idea but it seems that people have indicated to me that it is a highly competitive field that doesn't really seem to be in high demand. My professor today, however, suggested that going into Comp Lit would increase my job chances as it would allow me to teach in German or English. Also, if I were to go into English, my area of interest would be 20th century American lit which seems to be overrun. Plus I've heard universities aren't really hiring Americanists right now. Do you guys think my job chances would be better if I went into Comp Lit or if I stayed with English? Also, how competitive are Comp Lit PhD programs? Is it harder to get into an English program or a Comp Lit program? As I said, I'm a native German speaker with a working reading knowledge of Spanish (which could be brushed up to fluent within a semester) but both my French and Latin are in need of considerable polishing. I know language requirements for Comp Lit differ from program to program but I was thinking my language background probably gives me an edge for English while being utterly unimpressive for Comp Lit, thus making me more competitive for English programs. Any help would be very much appreciated. Please excuse all typos, this day has been insane. Thanks!

Hey guys, I'm still busy adding schools to my list . I can't believe how anxiety-inducing researching schools is. Anyway, can anyone tell me anything about the doctoral program at UIC? Their faculty seems pretty impressive.

Uh oh. I already registered for October 19th. Most of my deadlines are on Dec 15th, one is on Dec 5th. Datatape, is this the date for which you registered when your scores didn't arrive on time? I'll email the DGS but uuurrrggghhhh.

Ah, I see, makes sense. I'm asking because I noticed that the page requirements for the writing sample differ dramatically from school to school. What do you guys do if you have one writing sample to work with and one school asks for 10 pages and another asks for 20?

How is everyone addressing the different page requirements? Are you editing your paper down to different lengths?

Lycidas, How long is the chapter that you are revising? I am thinking of submitting the first 20 pages of my undergrad thesis but am wondering if I should work on another paper as well. Are you guys planning on submitting different WS to different schools depending on what fits their department best?

Hey everyone, I just graduated with a degree in English. During the last year I realized that my main interest is really exclusively 'theory' and that I find the process of applying theoretical concepts to literature a bit forced. Now, I am not talking about literary theory here, which I actually quite like. I mean writing a paper in which I want to talk about, say, neoliberalism or Lacan or Foucault, and having to always bring that back to doing a reading of a literary work. As application deadlines are in a few months and I still have a lot of research to do, I'm getting worried about changing direction, though. For most schools, an undergrad in sociology is not required to get into a sociology grad program but I'm wondering what my chances are. I might want to add that I have changed my major and university several times during my undergrad career and I am worried about seeming unfocused. English will be my third area of study, but I have maintained a 4.0 GPA during my entire academic career. As of now, I think I have relatively good chances of getting into an English PhD or MA program but I'm not sure how a fourth change of direction would look. Do you guys think it's possible to apply for Sociology programs at some schools and for English at others? Do I have to ask for 2 different versions of my letters of recommendation? Would you guys recommend I switch majors? Do you think it would be more fulfilling to me than English?

Thanks, guys! This is great advice. I didn't know about taking courses outside of the department. This helps immensely.

Hi Jeremy, You sound a lot like me! I am also looking at grad schools with a strong Marxist department. I already got some good advice but maybe more people could share anything about Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, or UPenn? I'd like to second that Duke has a fantastic department. If it wasn't for the fact that they do not offer MAs I would be applying there myself.

Hi guys, I know this is a common request but thought I'd give it a try. Could anyone possibly recommend any top 20 programs that fit my research interest? I am mainly interested in Marxism, 20th century American lit, and 20th century German lit. I am looking for universities that have a strong (Marxist) theory department. I know that university rankings do not say much about ranking in certain fields but I'm specifically looking for places ranked top 20 nationally such as Columbia, Yale, Berkeley, UPenn etc. I've been reading a lot about Duke but they only offer PhDs and don't grant an MA as part of their PhD track. I am by no means certain that I will get in anywhere but I thought I'd include one or two of those schools to my list of applications just to give it a shot. I will be applying for Fall 2014. Thanks so much!