tellitslant

Wow, thanks for all the great advice everyone. You were all incredibly helpful, and I feel much more confident in my decision now. The tip to spend this time working on languages was a good one, as right now my language background (or lack thereof) is one of the weaker spots in my application. It was wonderful to read about all of your experiences, as it really backed up what Jim said that there is no single or right path to a PhD. And Monochrome Spring: Good luck to you with your applications! I hope whichever path you choose (immediately to grad school/ Peace Corps) is a rewarding experience.

Hi All-- Just wondering if any of you took/ are planning to take a gap year. I was advised by one of my profs that to do so might register as laziness by admissions staff, which I don't know that I agree with. He said it would come across that I was merely "sick of the academy" and looking for a break... I feel like my application (since I'd otherwise be applying as a senior in undergrad) would really benefit from the extra year to edit SOPs/ study for the GRE etc. The only problem is I plan to volunteer with City Year (AmeriCorps) during this gap, and I worry that this experience is too unrelated to grad school. Would it look "bad" that I'm spending the year after college doing service work, rather than research or taking additional courses? Also, for those of you who took a gap year, how did you spend it? And do you recommend it? Thanks!

Thanks proflorax! I would have never thought to check the MLA, since I don't subscribe to the site.

Thanks for your reply! I actually have asked my thesis advisor his opinion, and he suggested Yale (his alma mater). While I obviously would love to go there, I understand that it's a reach for anyone. Your second suggestion was a good one. While it seems obvious in hindsight, I wouldn't have thought to do that on my own. It's hard (at least for me) not to simply get caught up in prestige/ rankings when considering programs.

Hi All! I've been lurking on this forum for a while, and thought I should finally join. Sorry to be a bother, but I need to expand my program search beyond the US News rankings to program fit. My research interests are primarily in women's writing, especially of the 19th century. (My honors thesis focuses on volcanoes and monstrosity in Emily Dickinson.) I'm looking for programs strong in this period and known for women's writing in general, but I've been having trouble finding rankings for anything beyond gender studies. Thanks for any and all help.