Radcafe

I've sent you PMs Great to get 2nd opinions on writing!

MA is totally fine! I PMd you

Hi fellow grad cafe goers, It's fall now! And I want to actually get some perspective on how my SOPs and writing sample are looking. Let me know if you wouldn't mind doing a PM exchange of these materials and we can give advice/support! I'm happy to look over your materials too.

Thanks for the advice! Tricky to know what's appropriate, since I've had actual real life conversations with him. ...Any ideas for the subject line? Is it just me, or is it rediculously difficult to create a good subject line for an email?

Hi! I'm drafting an email to a prof and I'd love a second opinion. He's the director of graduate studies at my top choice program. I was waitlisted at the school last year, so I came to the admitted students day and met with him. We've conversed and emailed, and he was very encouraging last year ("I hope a spot opens on the waitlist!" etc). His work and classes are related to my topic of interest--19th American lit. So now I'm emailing just to indicate that I'm still *very* interested in the program. Also, I now live only a short distance from his school... should I mention that I'd be happy to come to his office for a chat? I'm also trying to ask for his advice on getting in, without putting pressure on him. If you wouldn't mind helping me, PM me please? Thanks!

Thanks all! I decided not to go, especially because it would be really hard to apply to PhD programs for 2015 while doing the Masters, and I don't want to take off that many years before entering a PhD program! Plus... money... Thank you everyone for your input!

Hi! So I'm a 2014 English PhD applicant, applied to 10 schools (many top tier...too many) and was rejected from most programs, waitlisted then rejected from one wonderful one, and accepted to UW's masters without funding. I turned down UW so I could do a gap year, pursue other interests (intern at a publishing co now, training as a ballroom dance pre-professional), and work on my new apps. Getting my PhD is my absolute life goal, despite its difficulties. Today, 9th of June, I got into Columbia's Masters English program! Woah. But no funding I'm already settling into a new year of life in Berkeley, CA, with my boyfriend who's here, and with new plans on how to improve last year's app. It'll already be stronger because I won an award for my thesis and graduated with honors. Most friends who hear I got into Columbia immediately say I should go, because of the effect that big name could have for my future apps and my career. What do you all think? It'd cost $60,000 of my and my parents' money to afford it and get housing, etc, and while I'm fortunate I wouldn't necessarily have to take out a loan, that'd be all of my savings and backup cash. Columbia has brilliant professors for my field (19th cent American/ Feminism), but I'm also worried about what academic life is like for 1 year master's students. Are they treated as inferior to the PhD's?... Help me decide!