xolo

Francophile, I'm unsure why your post has elicited some of these asinine responses (exponentialdecay wins first place with telkanuru coming in a close second). I suspect the usual mix of insecurity and pedantry endemic to academia. What they're unable to admit is that any good writer struggles with the problems you've outlined; however, many graduate students fail to acknowledge the problems in the first place. Successful essays are a struggle and a long journey comprised of obstacles, discoveries, sorrows, and joys. Good essays undergo countless major revisions, and they usually have many readers before they ever reach an editor. This has certainly been my experience with publication. The fact that you care about your prose already contradicts any notion that you're a sloppy writer. You want to develop your craft, and that's far more ambitious than most of the graduate writing I've read. You're asking the right questions, and you might want to check out Cook's Line by Line. I've also found it's helpful to identify an academic writer whose prose you admire. Emulation can be a useful step in the difficult work of discovering your own style and voice. 

This comment just makes me laugh as I was not writing this question to have someone correct my grammar. This is not a sample of my work. I don't know who you are or what kind of education you have but any normal person should have figured that much! I don't need anyone to tell me how to write emails or short paragraphs that ask for advice. If you cannot provide advice about my question, then just don't reply. Lol let me guess you will attempt to analyze these sentences as well. Guess what? Of course I do not edit my writing here!

Well, I don't know about ILR, but since EU is not North America, I would think you are just fine. Because, here again, you are tying back to your work experience. Even better!
 
I am super non-traditional and I think what helped me the most to get into a top 30 school was the consistency of message and telling my story. You obviously have a good story. Good luck!

Are there commonalities to the things your professors are identifying? If so, are they more issues with the nitty-gritty mechanics of your writing, or broader things having more to do with what sort of argument you're making, and how you're making it? Either way, rising_star's advice is really excellent. Exchanging works-in-progress with colleagues is, sure, often a humbling experience, but it's also a little thrilling--I've found it really helpful!
 
I would also, though, ask if in these papers you're researching topics that interest you? That's certainly an issue I've had in writing research papers. It can be extraordinarily difficult to come up with interesting, compelling, argumentative theses for things you don't care about, and it's even harder to then fill the twenty-five pages of that seminar paper with trenchant argument when you could really just sum up your thoughts with "meh." Yes, there are writers out there who are talented enough to be able keep you wanting to turn the page (which is still what a good piece of academic writing should do) while forcefully arguing for something they don't care one whit about; I know I'm not one of them.

That is why we do it.  But I think some people get lost along the way and think that they are smarter and know better than everyone else because of the knowledge they have.  We have to realize that we aren't the end-all be-all, and no matter what new and exciting discoveries we make, someone else may come behind us and invalidate them.

I won't claim to be particularly knowledgable regarding these topics, considering that I'm an international and haven't started the program yet. However, I have some comments based on the impressions I got during the graduate student visitation weekends and my own situation as an international.

I experienced that a large fraction of the incoming graduate students had, at least in my perspective, unrealistic expectations and ways of reasoning regarding their life choices. It was not uncommon to hear comments along the line of "It is reasonable to give up all my interests and suffer for the coming 5-6 years, because that will prepare me for a wonderfull TT position". I find this disturbing for many reasons, but in particular because realistically only a few will actually go on to TT positions. In addition, I had the impression that there was a general feeling, projected from both students and professors, that the academic path is the only truly honorable path.

I think these attitudes are different from what I'm use to from home. At my undergraduate university, I feel that most people who go into PhDs do it mainly out of interest, and that there are no particular "rules" regarding what you should or shouldn't do after graduation. Even though the TT job market is probably worse than in the U.S., I don't feel that people have the same level of concer regarding their future prospects. There are probably many reasons for this, one surely being that the general environment here is not nearly as competetive; however, I would not be surprised if the attitudes play a large part. Students know what they're getting into and plan their PhDs according to their personal desires and needs, and faculty tend to be supportive. That said, there is a fair bit of uncertainty and job market anxiety here as well, but it doesn't seem to be on the scale scale.

I got the impression that many students in America are going into programs with rather uncompromising attitudes, putting all their focus working towards an academic position without seriously considering other options. Additionally, faculty may be fueling this by portraying academia as the only acceptable path. Driven by these kinds of attitudes, students might be tailoring themselves for jobs that they likely won't ever get. I'm thinking that the biggest issue is that graduate studies are covered in a sort of lie, claiming that the purpose of the studies is to pursue an academic career, while in reality only a fraction of the students follow that path. If so, the attitudes need to change. Students need to know what their prospects are, and the programs need to adapt so that the students get appropriate training in regards to where they will be going after graduation.


On another topic, I've read a number of comments regarding implementing tougher quals/proposals/whatevertheymaybecalled to weed out a large fraction of the students after the first year. I'd just like to add that from and international student perspective this would be horrenderous. Starting graduate studies as an international often involves uprooting your whole life and moving to another continent, which is not trivial to say the least. Coupling this with possibly getting thrown out after a year would be nerve wrecking. The relocation process is hardly reversible; for example, if I had to move back after a year I would not be able to get a decent appartment, I would have lost a large sum of money and I would have to rebuild my whole life again. In addition, I might not be able to find a job/get into a new program for a while. I won't make any claims regarding whether such implementations would be good or bad when considering a greater picture, but I hope you will consider the situations of international students when discussing such suggestions.



As mentioned, I hardly have the experience to be an authority on these topics, and I'm just presenting my own highly speculative ideas.

yeaaah.... good luck with that one. but if we're being honest here, i wouldn't hold my breath with that happening anytime soon. ergo, we try to look around for more practical solutions?
 
and in a relatively tangential argument, i'm almost sure there are a few articles here and there where it was mentioned that millennials (who i guess are most of us) were using graduate school as some sort of "diversionary tactic" while waiting for the job market to look better? the jump from potential unemployment to a  (hopefully regular) stipend/fellowship sounds like a really smart move to me. but then again it probably sounded like a smart move to hundreds of other students and now we have more PhDs graduating than society can absorb (unless you look for alternative/industry options)

Since joining a graduate program is the first step toward doing professional academic work, adcoms almost always prefer academic LORs. You might include one non-academic recommendation if the recommender can speak to specific skills that might assist or enrich your academic work, but I would have no more than one at most. It would be even better to get three academic references, one of which should be the professor who taught your upper level literature course. 

Also, this:
I'd urge you to worry about the statement of interest. Ok, not worry, but put lots of time and effort into. As someone who can write lots of BS on the fly, I can tell you that the SoP (statement of purpose, another name for the statement of interest) is not something you can just crap out. It's a very specific genre that requires lots of thought and revision. I spent months writing mine. 

1) Write every day. Set aside a dedicated block of time for writing. Turn off the internet, your phone, the TV, etc. during that time and just write.
2) Break down what you need to do into the smallest tasks possible. If you need to say, write the introductory chapter, break that down into each of its components. And then break those components/sections into subsections. 
3) Write with a goal in mind. That could be finishing one of those subsections, writing a certain number of words, etc. 
4) Take at least one day a week where you don't write or even look at the dissertation. 

Hi all,
 
I've received some excellent advice on The Grad Cafe regarding my difficulties with my social sciences/humanities PhD program and interest in non-academic work.  After several years of struggling, I'm trying to finish my dissertation and move on.  I have a few rough chapters under my belt and a rough schedule of what drafts and revisions I need to get done in order to progress as planned.
 
My question is: what tips or work-arounds have you used to ease the difficulty of actually finishing your dissertation?  I'm particularly interested in help from those who weren't feeling so in love with their project by the time they got to the writing phase, or those who overcame the psychological aspects of producing what feels like mediocre work.  I can force myself to get a certain amount done every day.  But, I still feel pretty bad about myself and my work at the end of the day.  Did anyone find a solution to the sense of despair, lack of accomplishment, or loss of confidence from finishing something that you don't feel great about?
 
Thank you for any ideas.

I oscillate between really excited and really panicked. But definitely looking forward to this major life change!
 
rainbowpink is so right, the application feels like a distant memory now. Those were crazy ups and downs!

The dirty secret is that most people in the field can't define it either. I think that's a good thing (it becomes a "big tent" rather than the niche/hyper-focused nature of most Lit scholars), and allows more people and topics into the conversation. I do get what you are saying though, I came out with a BS that included 0 comp/rhet courses and only learned about the field the summer before I sent out my MA applications.

Hi rchd25, I'm not the Prof, but I have little academic background in my field. I feel I did have a good research oriented SOP, good LORs, and a consistent, original writing sample. I got into a well ranked research university, so don't let your academic background per se limit you. I don't know about India, but I feel like compared to, say, Spain, the US is more flexible and open. It depends on how you can present yourself and your ideas. BTW, the Prof gave me excellent advise, he's great!

Hi guys,
 
it's been a while but now that we are approaching the Beginning (I just received my TA assignment for next Fall! ) I just wanted to Thank you all for the support and company you all provided during the crazy months known as "application season".
 
Seriously, my mental health owes you big time!

It's unfortunate that religion and ignorance are being conflated as it is completely irrelevant to the argument. The principal might have just been caught off guard, otherwise what a basket-case, and they might even have an Ed. D. (if we are going to conflate arguments, let's throw doctorates under the bus)
 
Actually, one can say that Spanish is a modern version of Latin.

Use of the passive voice to indirectly address criticism is something one should not do.
 
It is in fact incredibly relevant to the argument, particularly since I'm not accusing anyone of ignorance. I'm accusing them of having their own agenda inspired by faith.
 
In my experience (I have a MA degree from a divinity school) self-described fundamentalists, who are otherwise obsessed with ancient languages (Greek, Hebrew) as they constitute core mechanics for their theology, are extremely negative towards Latin because of its association with that greatest of evils, the Catholic Church.

It's unfortunate that religion and ignorance are being conflated as it is completely irrelevant to the argument. The principal might have just been caught off guard, otherwise what a basket-case, and they might even have an Ed. D. (if we are going to conflate arguments, let's throw doctorates under the bus)
 
Actually, one can say that Spanish is a modern version of Latin.

First, thanks to eyepod for the kind works. Second, I usually advise students in your position to apply to approx. 10 PhD programs that offer full funding, with a few being top places, and then a few safer options where you'd fit well and where you'd be willing to go if it were your best option.
 
Regarding MAPSS, a close friend of mine went that route 15+ years ago and it did help get him admitted to a top-5 sociology department. The money would've been a big issue for me though, and a better bet might be to be a big fish in a smaller (and cheaper) pond someplace else such as your local state university. Many of my students have gone the cheap MA/MS to PhD route and have emerged without crushing debt loads.
 
Best of luck in any case. Hope to see you at a conference down the road some time.
 
Gabe

Helloooooo 2016ers! After an unsuccessful (and expensive) 2015 season, I'm still trying to decide if I want to apply again this season or if I should wait it out for a few years. I'm waiting to hear back about a few jobs, and the more I learn about community college positions, the less I actually want to do a PhD for anything other than personal fulfillment. With an MA under my belt, I'm really feeling the reality of the job struggle. Sorry to be such a downer so soon, but this decision is going to be hard for me!

Hi schoggi, I don't think anything you listed will hurt you per se (I don't know if your intended school is exotic like an Ivy League school, maybe then it might matter). I agree with mvlchicago. I can see a number of ways you can use your European second degree and language skills to differentiate yourself - which can be big plus. So I think you are doing a great program. 
 
BTW, B2 in 3 months is fantastic! But, attending a university with B2, even though possibly it was a univ requirement to attend, is a bit problematic, at least the first semester.

eyepod, that depends on how many credit hours the teaching practicums are. If they're only 1 credit hour, then you should be fine. I'm also not sure why you'd want or need to do two different ones in the same semester. Teaching practicums and teaching courses will be available throughout your graduate career so there's no reason to rush into them and possibly be overloaded. 

Hi rchd25, I'm not the Prof, but I have little academic background in my field. I feel I did have a good research oriented SOP, good LORs, and a consistent, original writing sample. I got into a well ranked research university, so don't let your academic background per se limit you. I don't know about India, but I feel like compared to, say, Spain, the US is more flexible and open. It depends on how you can present yourself and your ideas. BTW, the Prof gave me excellent advise, he's great!

The graduate advisor suggested that you only take 2 because at the PhD level, your focus shouldn't be on course work anymore. Taking too much won't make you look impressive, it will make you look like you don't understand the focus of grad school. I suggest you take the least amount of coursework you can while meeting your requirements so that you can impress your advisor with your research.

This isn't quite true in the humanities. Our seminars are designed to introduce us to graduate level research and publishable papers for the current state of the field. There are reading groups and such that one is expected to join, but these are supplementary rather than the main show. At the coursework level of a humanities PhD oftentimes seminars ARE our research, rather than something apart from it, if that helps.