charles mingus

This thread from the Chronicle of Higher Education forums evolves into a good discussion of the placement tendencies of cultural studies and other interdisciplinary programs: http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,58306.0.html There are many similar discussions on those boards, too, if you feel like digging in a bit. Best of luck! CM

Most programs have deadlines on April 15th.

Congrats on your UW interview, aem88! Keep us posted! CM

Or, at least, whatever stats may "mean" (oof) varies too much by applicant to be represented on the aggregate. This data doesn't seem to me rule out the propensity of top notch GRE scores, for example, to enhance a particular application. It does, though, suggest that admits are not simply chosen from some elite statistical band, and are most likely evaluated (as admissions websites always insist) holistically and on a case by case basis. This thinking, I imagine, stems from my desire to regain some agency in this episode of intense, sustained deferral. I like to think that the specific app narrative that I constructed (which--ok, you got me--includes a kickin' GRE score) will get some traction in the black box. CM

The results board indicates that interview invitations have been sent out by: USC's Cinematic Arts / Critical Studies MA/PhD UC-Irvine's Visual Studies PhD Northwestern's Screen Cultures PhD Any other details I'm missing? Congrats to those invited! Anyone want to claim some glory and let us know about your research interests? -CM

"Welcome to UC" was the leading text on a large admissions mailer that I received in early January, and has subsequently become a household catchphrase.

Indiana's policy of sending requests to LOR-writers only after the entire app is submitted vexes me greatly. UChicago's streamlined, functional system wins for my favorite, so far.

Anybody here interested in exchanging feedback on SOPs for film & media studies programs? If so, PM me. -CM

Along these lines, does anybody know about the expectation for degree of polish in a writing sample? Would an adcomm excuse minor mechanical and technical blemishes to appreciate the originality and sophistication in a rougher draft of an independent study paper? Is it better to omit sections which might show strong scholarly promise yet haven't undergone meticulous formatting/editing? I realize that one answer to this is that I need to work extensively to make my WS as polished and professional. I am asking also, though, to get a sense of how I should distribute my efforts across my remaining applications--i.e. whether I obsess over an already solid SOP's minutiae or get the proofreading pen out for the WS. Thanks to everyone for their terrific and perennially enlightening advice on these boards; your suggestions have been very helpful to my application process, logistically and psychologically. -CM

Here's a question that I don't see on these boards (I cross-posted this in the Applications thread, so sorry if you've seen it there): Is it awkward/otherwise detrimental to quote terms directly from a department's website in one's SOP for that department? I'm having a hard time describing my (excellent) fit with an interdisciplinary program in the humanities without drawing from the program's own language to describe its strengths. Thanks in advance for advice and thoughts! -CM *UGH, should read "style question" in title.

Here's a question that I don't see on these boards: Is it awkward/otherwise detrimental to quote terms directly from a department's website in one's SOP for that department? I'm having a hard time describing my (excellent) fit with an interdisciplinary program in the humanities without drawing from the program's own language to describe its strengths. Thanks in advance for advice and thoughts! -CM

This is what I was trying to suggest--that tenured and tenure-track profs are those to whom we ought to look for LORs. A new assistant professor who has not yet received tenure is most likely a different case than an adjuncter.

FWIW, my research indicates that an untenured connection is not a terribly useful one for those of us in the 'stepping-stone' game. LORs, it seems, have much more weight when they're from a tenured professor--and especially a well respected tenured professor. Maybe, then, you should try and find other programs that have an approach/research interests similar to this prof's.

I'm in a situation very similar to the OP's and am very thankful to circumfession and rainy_day for their excellent, thoughtful advice.

The Brown Modern Culture and Media website indicates that they offer only a PhD. With regards to eleanor's "second tier" question--what do you mean? Up a tier or down a tier from Iowa, UT-Austin, UC-Irvine? Also, from what I've found, 'tiers' in this field are elusive because of the heterogeneity of the programs--some are within English departments, some with theatre, some in comm, etc--and because of the lack of any extant USNews-style rankings. As far as I can tell, out of those mentioned above, Oregon's film-friendly English department and Georgia State's Moving Image Studies are less blisteringly competitive than the very very elite schools like Brown, NYU, UCLA, USC, Columbia, and Wisconsin. You might check out U of Kansas' Film & Media Studies as well. They have MA and PhD tracks and some good faculty, depending on your interests.

Thanks for this tip. The website says that while Doctoral students are prioritized, MA students do receive research assistanships which have a tuition waiver and at least a $5,500 stipend.

i agree that freerice words are more gamey-obscure and less actual vocab words. i've found the vocab builder at number2.com to be more in the vein of GRE type words.

UFlorida also has particular strengths in film and critical theory. ETA: their english program, that is.

Yes, you all are right. I've been convinced. I will spend the bulk of my time between now and my application season (Fall '10) working on my SoP and writing sample. Perhaps I got caught up in the GRE whirlwind because it seems like more of a tangible, measurable goal to work towards. Also, memorizing vocab requires a much different level of intellectual engagement -- and one that I'm able to offer more often after (read: during) work, as a break from school work, or before bed -- than does jumping in the ring with the critical literature of my field or distilling my academic personality into 2 immaculate pages. I'm thinking that I'll casually review vocab and do practice tests when I'm feeling too burnt out to browse jstor or redraft my ws/sop. Thanks everyone for nudging me back on track! cm

HisRoyalHighness: I didn't write that a high score would dramatically increase my chances of getting in to my top choice. Rather, I said that it might enhance my application. Of course I know that no scores will get me in anywhere by themselves and that the SoP and writing sample are the must crucial aspects of the app. elenlin & shai: Points well taken. twocosmicfish: I have taken two practice tests (though not CATs) and scored 720 and 730. I seemed to be missing a few analogies and antonyms. I feel very confident on comprehension questions.

the iPhone app is the Oxford American College Dictionary and Thesaurus. It costs $20 but is a massive step up from the many free dictionary apps in terms of content and interface. Thanks for the suggestions. 20 words per week is very minimal; I've actually been doing closer to 100 and badly misestimated in my original post.

Hello all. I have around a year to prepare for the GRE and want to get a very high score (750+) on the verbal section. My circumstances (no-name UG school, only 3.4 GPA) mean that a very high score might dramatically enhance my application. I know, of course, that my LORs and especially SOP and writing sample are the most essential elements in my app, but feel that excellent test results will push AdComms at top-tier programs in English literature/film studies to allow these items to overwhelm my negatives as an applicant. With regards to reading comprehension questions, I've read Harper's and the NY Review of Books nearly cover-to-cover for a few months and am frequently engaged with very difficult academic writing (I'm the founding president of a critical theory reading group at my school.) As for vocabulary, I have Barron's High Frequency list down pat and have been making flashcards for Barron's Master List words that I don't know, aiming to learn 20 per week. Also, I've launched a campaign to look up every unknown word I encounter in whatever novel or newspaper I'm reading (thank God for my outstanding iPhone OED app.) Any other ideas for long term, ambitious studying techniques?