augustquail

I'm now not worried about length at all...I got the same score for my issue essay as my argument essay, and the former was twice as long as the latter, but the grader comments were "overall length is good." I'm mostly worried about having enough time on the argument essay to proofread and organize. I wonder why the don't give you 45 minutes for both essays?

This is such good news! I am *really* hoping that they identify the experimental section on my test on thurday (23rd). Although if it's verbal or writing, and they offer cash, i'll probably do it.

I the test thursday, so i will have only spent 5 weeks studying total. I took a princeton review practice test a week ago, did really terribly (like, below a 1200) and I took one yesterday after studying my weakness areas and got a combined score of 1300. So you definatley have enough time. If you can figure out what type of questions you get wrong, working on those is the most helpful. And studying vocab for the verbal is important too.

I just took a princeton review practice test, and I got a 790 Verbal and a 510 Quantitative. So, that math score is pretty bad. I wondering if the adcoms will look down upon this kind of discrepancy, assuming that my test scores are something like this on the real test? I mean, I would be thrilled if I got a 790 on the Verbal, and even though the math is low the combined score is still a 1300. I'm just worried that these committees that filter applications will see that low score and flinch.

How 'early' is the early american lit you want to study? My field is 18th/19th american lit, and from what i've seen on faculty profiles, americanists are often divided into American lit before 1900, and american lit after 1900. The colonialists are obviously in the first category, even though their interests don't span into the 19th century. What are you going to write about for your writing sample?

The way I'm organizing is a little bit of both methods (I know this is kind of a paradox). My list is almost finished (I'm just waiting to hear back from one of my professors about one school), and I have about 11 schools. Every single one has a program that I fit with, is a place I could move, and somewhere I'd be happy to go. That being said, there are 6 in particular that are superb fits for me and are the hubs of the most interesting research in my field. Those six schools are the most important to me, and I'll spending the longest amount of time on them.

I do not understand how they can rationalize asking old english translation questions. Am I right when I say that Old English is a language that must be studied in order to be understood, like german or french? And who learns old English in undergrad, unless you are doing some kind of medievalist honors thesis? ETS folks are a bunch of bastards.

I'm applying to Ph.D programs in English this fall too, and my proposed field of study is 18th/19th century american with a strong focus on the transatlantic. I took french in high school, got a 98 on the nys regents, and the a few years later in college, i took beginning II and Intermediate I (got A's in both). Do you think that it will make any difference to the dept. if I am currently enrolled in an Intermediate II at a local language center? The course starts in november, so I would be enrolled by the time I sent my apps out. Also, I studied abroad for about 1 month in Guatemala in 2005. For two weeks I took intensive spanish lessons (1 on 1), but had no prior experience. It was five years ago, so can I state that I'm beginner's level?

Definately message me if you want to know more about the program. I had a really great experience there, and I could probably help you figure out some faculty that would match your interests (i know some of them!) There are a number of transnational/culturalists, and I know of one guy who specifically does carribbean studies in the English dept. Also, Ualbany does have a Latin American & Carribbean studies dept, so even if you applied to the English Ph.D you could take up to 3 courses in LAC.

The princeton review for 2010 says that essays are graded mostly on length...which seems crazy to me. I mean, if it's long and you don't answer the question, then you won't get a 6, but if you answer the question AND it's long, then I guess you might do very well? I don't know. It seems weird.

Yes, Intextrovert! Also- Just to put my stats in: 5 out of the 12 schools I'm applying to require the lit test, and 1 "recommends" it. I think the lit test requirment is fading somewhat, but traditional programs will probably require it forever. When are you guys taking it? (my test date is oct. 9) I haven't studied too much yet since I have to take the general test in five days. What kind of study methods are you using?

It's been a while since this was posted...but what the heck. I just want to underscore the general awesomeness of Albany's program. I got my BA and my MA through a combined program there, and some of the professors I had were so brilliant and helpful. It is a very theory oriented dept, and they have a great constellation of Americanists, Feminists, and Marxists, and also scholars who do work with biopolitics. My advisor told me the other day that they get about 200 applications and admitt 7 funded, but they do offer unfunded spots as well.

I wonder if there is any info/resources for people like us about academic publishing in English. (By 'people like us' I mean PhD applicants, w or w/o Ma's, who are trying to figure out what/and most importantly WHERE to publish). I can see how it would be intimidating trying to figure out which journals are 'quality' journals; a lot of texts call themselves 'peer reviewed' after all. Anyone know of any info like this?

wow...if you guys are correct, and the general consensus is that 20th/early modern subfield is the most competitive, then you have made my day! I'm not sure why I thought this, but I was deeply afraid that my (kind of inchoate, at this point) subfield had become outrageously popular. I think this fear emerged from the fact that my favorite professors/the young and cool professors mostly work in this area (which is 18th/19th century transatlantic/american)

I just finished a combined BA/MA that in theory-focused department; it's so strange--I really thought that everyone had to read lacan, foucault, zizek, marx, derrida, etc. throughout their undergrad career...but a lot of people take one 'lit theory course.' Anyway, if you are interested in Marxism, and not "marxian" philosophy, and you like Eagleton, I would suggest looking into Teresa Ebert's work (one book is "the culture of class," I believe). I took three courses with her and I swear, no one quite understands Marx the way she does. I've always been a fan of Etienne Balibar, who wrote "Race, Nation & Class" with (i think?) immanuel wallerstein. Balibar also wrote some good stuff with Pierre Macherey.