frthrow

I realize this is probably a bizarre situation and I apologize if I'm not the first to experience this, but I felt as though I might as well post... Basically, I had committed to give a decision (via e-mail) on a PhD program in the Humanities (specifically in the languages) by yesterday, April 7; I was deciding between two programs, and ultimately accepted an offer given that, over the weekend, I was informed that I had received a first-year fellowship worth +4,000 which relieves me of any obligation to teach over that first year. However, since sending the e-mail I strongly feel that I've made the wrong decision (I agonize over such things anyway, but I've never felt so badly about a decision I've made). Essentially, I've looked again at course offerings and haven't found that those at the institution I've accepted are more broad/have greater breadth than the ones at the other program (despite my whole argument when deciding being 'well, this program is more traditional, will offer me a better foundation, etc.'); the program I haven't notified yet has had two recent placements in prestigious institutions compared to the program I accepted, which has had fairly modest placements; and the offerings in terms of work outside the department/graduate minors aren't as impressive. My logic was that the program I accepted didn't have the one professor I wanted to work with in the other program, but had two more faculty (including one in my period of interest) and would therefore offer me a broader grounding. Yet course offerings are fairly standard, and I'm not impressed by what's offered outside the department. I realize it's ridiculous that I've just now thought of all of this but I feel physically ill - as if the only reason I decided on the program in question was because they offered me the first-year fellowship, which, while a huge help in terms of not having to teach for a year, shouldn't have been what I based my decision on. Given that I've accepted via e-mail but not yet signed any documents, and only a day has elapsed, could I withdraw my acceptance without coming across as utterly unprofessional? Obviously I don't want to give details on a public forum but if someone wants to talk via PM I could give more information. Many thanks.

Hello, as there isn't an existing thread for French applicants for 2014 I thought I might as well ask here - basically, although I've started looking into French M.A. programs that fit my interests, I'm not having much luck...so, I was wondering if anyone currently enrolled in grad school or applying knew of programs/faculty that specialize in such areas as: 20th-century French theater/representations of violence in the theater (Artaud, the surrealists), surrealism in general as well as the absurd and the grotesque (e.g. the "Panic" movement in literature and the visual arts), and supernatural and Gothic fiction (though this is something that I've only studied in relation to my English degree, and have only read Potocki as far as French is concerned). Apologies if this is too specific/should have been posted somewhere else - I almost feel as though I'm limiting my options too much for an M.A. program, but as I don't want to teach at a university level/work towards a PhD (at the moment, anyway), I really was hoping to find programs that above all else filled gaps in my areas of interest. ...also, as an aside, does anyone know how related to research interests a writing sample should be? At the moment it seems like I'm going to have to write an entirely new paper, and was hoping others had experience with this. Thanks in advance...if anyone replies I'll be sure to follow up/reply back!

@fuzzylogician and Monochrome Spring - thanks for the replies. Normally I would ask professors at my home institution...really my main concern was that I'm applying to MA programs in French literature, and I'd only taken one upper-level, non-survey course in literature before studying abroad (where I only took upper-level courses in lit). So, really, I wasn't sure that I would want a professor who only taught a 'survey of French lit.' course or a French civilization course to write me a recommendation, even if it would be a bit more personal, since the material studied wasn't as in-depth as a more focused course (e.g., modern French lit., or whatever). I can only think of one professor who would be able to write me a more personalized LoR, but she teaches Russian lit...! Anyway, I'll keep all this in mind - so, again, thanks a ton!

Hello, I realize this is probably a bit specific, but I was hoping someone might have some advice...I'm considering asking for letters of recommendation from two professors whose courses I took while on an exchange in France. However, I didn't think to ask them in person while I was there in the spring (I hesistated because both courses involved minimal student interaction and I wasn't sure they'd be able to write me a positive LOR only based on exams and papers submitted) - would it be considered impolite to ask for a LOR via e-mail given the circumstances? Is there a difference in etiquette between this sort of thing in the United States as opposed to in Europe? Thanks in advance.