rainy_day

Is it relevant to what you want to study? If so, then include some. If it is not relevant, then I would ask my mentor/adviser. Perhaps it would be appropriate to include a handful of prestigious events, but definitely don't list all of them if it is not relevant.

The thing I've found the most frustrating is how different each application is. Some want everything online. Some want half of it mailed in. Some want it postmarked by x date, and some want to receive it by that date. This process is so demanding, and I think the application part could be a lot easier. I honestly spent 4 hours one day organizing a checklist for each school.

Someone commented that Providence, RI is a good city without a car. I live here now and I completely disagree. If you go to Brown, you could get be for maybe a year living close to school and biking to the grocery store in the warm weather, but RI is definitely set up around people with cars. While it's not the worst city, it is far from one of the best.

Hey George, I have a 1/1 deadline and my online application is already in, though I would imagine I have until Midnight on January 1 to turn everything in online. (I hear things tend to get backed up around midnight, though, so safe guard against that.) Unfortunately, I just couldn't get my writing sample re-typed for the 5pm deadline. (Lost any electronic copies and editing and retyping based on the print out I (thankfully!!) still have.) Anyway, I am putting my supplemental materials in the mail tomorrow. So be it! I was venting to a friend about this and she had the most brilliant idea of all time. She said to go online and print out a FedEx shipping label tonight. I might be dropping it in the mail tomorrow, but it will be post dated for January 1! Hope that helps. Good luck. It will all be over soon enough.

Seriously, you have incredible stats. And you know that. I've never heard anyone on these boards suggest that you need a 1400 to even be considered; that is the exact opposite of the common wisdom I have heard. I think a lot of people on these boards would kill for GRE score like that, and at a time when people are feeling incredibly insecure about this process, the tone of this post, to be honest, is kind of insulting. Sorry at the cranky response. I've been up until 5 am every night this week working on applications, and I just don't have much patience.

Oh, Jacib, I'm quite surprised that sharing is a concern of people's. My "There, that wasn't so bad" was definitely facetious. You're research sounds really interesting!! Now if only I can find a way to incorporate that random bit of Turkish I don't understand into this writing sample I'm sending out today.

Sometimes I'll drink some wine in the evening, while I work on it. It figure I might trick myself into thinking I'm doing something *fun.* Other than that, I drink a lot of tea.

I find people's hesitation to discuss their research interesting, and also surprising. It never would have occurred to me to be hush-hush! I study English, with a primary interest in gender studies. The thing I really like about English is the way you can incorporate history, cultural artifacts, and theory into one field. It's like the catch-all for everything I find fascinating. While I really love modernism/contemporary stuff, it's damn near impossible to get a job in that specialty, so my hope in grad school is to develop some expertise in something, well, older. My objective in my research is to challenge assumed ways of thinking (both my own and others). There. That wasn't so bad!

I'll second the Norton Lit Theory book. I actually have it sitting open next to me, as I type this! (Revising the writing sample from hell.) It has great introductory sections on theoretical movements and individual authors, that I find a really excellent resource again and again. It's not an inexpensive book, but I think it is definitely a worthwhile investment for someone invested in lit theory.

This is an interesting question! I'm going for an English PhD, after being an English major in undergrad. I love it, obviously. I also really love history and religious studies, and sometimes I wish I had spent more time studying them. The good thing about English is that, perhaps easier than most disciplines, I can bring history and religious studies into my research.

Wow, that is an amazing dream, victorianna. I had a dream the other day that I couldn't get to my office (aka the desk in the corner of my bedroom) because there were too many clothes and books and chairs around it, and it smelled. My boyfriend was so upset that our room smelled like rotting food, but I couldn't find the source! On second thought, that might not be grad-app stress, but stress over how damn messy my bedroom is!

@tarski, He is going to include something in the letter, about us not being related, thankfully. I know he'll write a great letter, so it's worth it, but the name + not being a professor anymore details are a bit awkward. Thank you for your advice.

I think you just said it. I would still have that follow up interview with her, and definitely show your enthusiasm. Congrats! This is great news!

One of my letter writers was an Assistant Professor during my time in college. He left my senior year, and is a freelance writer and stay-at-home dad. No real title and no institution to which he belongs. I've been writing Formerly: Assistant Prof, Formerly: Undergrad Institution. Does that seem like a good stand-in? We also have the same last name, so I want it to be very clear that he was my instructor, and I'm not having my brother write me a letter of recommendation.

USPS will give you a tracking number if you are overnighting the package (as will UPS and FedEx). The tracking number will show when it was mailed, it's current location, when a delivery attempt was made, and we delivery was successfully made. So just hold onto that tracking number, and you should be all set! Good luck!

I'm planning on sending my CV to all of my schools, whether they ask for it or not. I figure it is only a two page document, and easy enough to ignore if that is their preference.

Thank you both! That would have been my guess, and it's so helpful to have peace of mind!

1 GRE : $150 1 GRE Lit: $140 GRE score reports: $100 Application fees: $335 TOTAL: $725 Ugh. That is depressing.

Does works cited count towards page length? Thanks!!

I got a 540 and I'm celebrating over it, personally. Every program I have read either says the scores are all but insignificant or it says that over 500 is considered a good score.

Anyone else's say "Absent or not available"? I'm assuming this means my scores are not available yet, but part of me is concerned my scores are somehow invalid.

Ah, I see. I would recommend going to the website and creating an account, then. It only takes a few minutes and then you can print it out yourself. I'd post a screenshot, if any socres were listed of mine.

People regularly post their SoP here: http://community.livejournal.com/applyingtograd/ and get a fair amount of feedback.

Marvin, I am a little confused. Didn't you receive your scores right away when you took the GRE? I don't think the "my gre" would be any different. In fact, my GRE scores don't even show up in it and I took the test over a month ago.

Anyone else take it in November, but not have any score/info up on the website?