Branwen daughter of Llyr

I've applied to 4 English PhD programs and have yet to hear a word (aside from "we've received your application and it is under review". All of them stated in advance that there is no interview process. I wasn't really expecting to hear anything until late March - but with all the acceptances / rejections ppl have been getting... I've been checking the results search daily *blush* (despite being positive I haven't gotten in anywhere).

Indeed. While researching schools for next year's round of applications, I discovered that only one of the programs I applied to this year is actually a really good fit for me, while I found the perfect professor in a University I never even considered (U of Illinois). I don't know how it works in other fields, but it seems that in English, if it's a top-fifty school, they have decent-to-very good tenure track / postdoc placement. So it doesn't necessarily have to be a brand name. I found another perfect prof in Idaho State (and I never thought about Idaho State in my life).

I don't know anything about the Hispanics Studies PhD, but I've heard that Durham was voted as "best place to Live" recently. Relatively low prices, nice area, overall nice climate, and nice people (also, decent job market, for those of us who need some supplemental income)

I applied to 4 - But as I'm pretty sure I don't have a chance in hell of getting in this year (not enough time to prep for the process, grad school was only decided upon in early November), I'm already researching schools for next year's applications, and currently have a list of about 30 schools that I'm researching, and will probably narrow it down to about 13-15 program (at least I hope I'll find that many that "fit" what I want to do). Hell, 16 is great - better safe than sorry, I say I've already started saving up for next year's round of applications (those $75 fees really add up). One thing for sure - researching the schools is paramount. This time around, I WON'T be applying to schools that have no Medievalist profs (or only 1, unless that particular prof has extensive Anglo-Celtic research under his/her belt), and of those, I have to find programs that also have someone who writes on Children's / Fantasy.

Oh, I already know my summers at grad school are all about the languages - Intensive Latin, for sure. I'm just trying to prep in advance as much as possible - get some vocab, basic grammar, etc., so i won't be shocked silly. I'm lucky that I actually love the language, and because I'm bilingual, I have a pretty easy time learning new languages, especially reading (I'm worse at speaking, I can never remember the right word. Luckily, that isn't required for a PhD hhahahah)

Heh. Well, serves me right for quoting my profs One of my Renaissance profs hated being "lumped with Early Modern" as she said.

That's actually a good idea - I was wondering how to prove the new Latin skills since they won't be on any transcript anywhere. I also scoped out a few books in Amazon, for self study, and found a few basic classes, and I also found one website promoting itself as teaching "Latin of the Vulgate Bible" which might be appropriate for Medieval Latin. However, all the places I've applied to this year have intensive summer Latin, and if not this year, then the ones I'll chose for next year will have the same. I just want to enter the program with a basic grasp of the language (I actually recognize a lot of stuff from studying Latin roots in English, and from my basic French). Anyhow, the more I read up on stuff, the more it seems that I will remain a happy Medievalist. After all, how many Israelis are out there who love Latin and Middle English, as well as having an ardent desire to read The Red Book of Hergest and The White Book of Rhydderch in Welsh? As much as I love Shakespeare and the Renaissance, I think I love Medieval more. Especially since so much of the folklore that I love either originated or was first written down then... it's also my best way to push for a semester abroad in Wales

That's awful. I've been out of UG for over 8 years, and all my profs remembered me. I sent them all the papers I wrote in their classes, and got 3 LORs within 10 days. I did make sure to write long emails, reminding them when I took their classes, the grades I got, and the actual work I did. I was lucky, and they remembered me well. I'd say write the profs you were closest to, that you did something significant with - I took 2 classes with one of my profs, one an independent honors study, a thesis writing honors seminar with another, and two intense classes with the third. Make sure you emphasize your achievements in their classes. Impress them by remembering things you studied with them. Send them every single scrap of work you did in their class. If all else fails, take the advice written above, and enroll in some classes, do brilliantly, and get your new profs to write LORs. (you can use the same 3 for both programs, as far as I know...)

Renaissance is definitely not Early Modern in the lit genres. Early Modern is generally post 1660 (post Restoration), While Renaissance is pretty much from 1450 up to Cromwell's revolution (historical period wise), and encompasses Shakespeare, Spencer, Marlowe, Johnson and others of the period. Early Modern is much more affected by an influx of "fashionable French" - especially in Drama (Comedy of Manners began around this time). Early Modern lasts until the very early 18th Century, and includes many a heroic couplet (Dryden, Pope, etc.) Milton is also considered Early Modern. I'm not sure what you mean by "premodern" - I've actually never come across the term. Maybe it's a different word for Medieval and Renaissance?

Hmm, this is actually encouraging. I'm into Late Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern, and am a complete anglophile. American lit just never did it for me (although one of my honors seminars was Women's Life Writing, and was all American, pretty much). My only interest in modern lit and 20th century stuff is children's books (usually trying to incorporate older themes and re-writes of Medieval legends). Although I don't have Latin yet, I can read in Middle English, and I even remember it pretty well, despite the 8.5 years since graduation. Oh my. I may be esoteric and weird enough to get in

I got the Yale emails too, but nothing from Cornell or UVA. I did get an email from Brown saying my application was under review. However - all these schools had relatively late deadlines - Cornell was Dec. 20th (with a grace period until January 15th to complete LOR's, GRE scores, Transcripts, etc.), and Yale, Brown, and UVA were all Jan. 2nd. I sent out all my materials by Dec. 24th, but I don't really think that made a difference. The waiting game continues (even though I'm not particularly hopeful about this year, it's still nerve-wracking, especially when job hunting at the same time...)

yah, I know. I've committed to language study for three summers during the program - Latin and French. I have basic French already, and I'm bi-lingual Hebrew/English (unfortunately Hebrew means crap for an English PhD, except for maybe Old Testament stuff). In anticipation of another round of applications for 2011, I'm looking into taking some Latin classes online, and brushing up my French. Luckily, I don't have to speak them, just read and understand and be able to translate - something that's much easier for me. Latin is easy for me - I can read Middle English pretty well, after all, and I'm really good with languages overall, but between changing majors in UG from theater to English, and other considerations, I ended up testing out of languages with Hebrew. And my SOP may be better than I think - but as stated, I didn't have much time to work on it, and figure out exactly what I wanted (I'm still wavering between Medieval and Renaissance / Early Modern, and I'm still trying to figure out how to incorporate children's lit / fantasy into the whole thing). I'm hoping that the shock of an Israeli applying for a PhD in English lit and who can read Middle English and is in love with Chaucer will be enough for them to consider me seriously Ahh well, there's always next year. I already know that I need some serious thinking and revising time for my SOP, and to narrow my focus. And of course, prepping for Latin and French can only help.

Oh, I'll play this game!! I've applied to 4 top-tier English PhD programs. I have a great GPA, 3.66 overall, 3.78 in the major. (and the B's were from the toughest grader in the entire department). Dean's List 6 out of 7 semesters. Only one C in my entire transcript (damn that Psych 101 class). National Golden Key Honors society member. My GRE second time around is 720V, 670Q (don't know the AWA yet, only took the GRE again yesterday, since the first wasn't too great). I was in the honors program, and wrote an honors thesis (45 pp long), which I got an A- on. I can read Middle English. I lectured an overview of the Arthurian Cycle (from Geoffry of Monmouth to Monty Python and the Holy Grail) for a Sci-Fi / Fantasy convention. My profs remembered me after 8 years and fondly, and were extremely happy to write me letters of recommendation. My writing samples kick ass (every single one of them a strong A paper). I'm 38 and applying with the ultimate, grown up realization that what I want to do is research, publish, and teach in my field (English Lit). I can recognize Chaucer, Shakespeare, Spenser, Dryden, Pope, and Swift in the pitch black, when you wake me up out of a deep sleep. I'm a dual citizen - American / Israeli and bi-cultural and bilingual. Teaching experience (ESL). I'm currently working on a children's novel. I taught myself to read when I was 4 from Sesame Street and the Electric company, because I loved books so much (and I made sure I mentioned that on my SOPs). (I hope that's enough, compared to the other posts here...)

1. Yes I do. Just finished a book on medieval history and got muddled, since there is also a Bernard of Cluny (testy bastard). 2. I've already had 8 years off (I graduated in 2001). And I'm planning on taking some Latin online (I found some interesting free classes), to prep for 3 very intensive summers of languages (Latin, French, and Italian). 3. Ahh, we'll see. I'll probably start focusing and narrowing the storm in my brain over the next few months. I've also thought of concentrating specifically on Medieval Welsh stuff (which means learning Welsh, too hahhahaha).

Hi all. I've applied to 4 grad programs this year, and due to several very... hrmmm... disparaging and discouraging remarks from several forums out there, I've pretty much resigned myself to not getting in to any of them (they're all top-tier - Yale, Cornell, Brown, and UVA, and my first general GRE scores weren't that hot - only 600 on the verbal). I have strong writing samples, and strong letters of recommendation, since my profs remembered me after 8 years, and remembered me well and positively. I have an overall 3.66 GPA, and a 3.78 in the major (English - Medieval and Renaissance concentration, w. honors + honors thesis), but because the "going to grad school" decision came about only this past November, I didn't really have time to prep for the general GRE or even write a super-strong SOP. I missed the subject test, and am taking it in April. Since I know that UVA, Yale, and Cornell require it, I don't have much hope for 2010. After being convinced by a number of people that to get into the top-tier programs I want (I'm almost 38, and I won't have time to dick around looking for a tenure track professorship post-dissertation) I need higher test scores, I went and did the general GRE again, this time scoring 720 (98th percentile) on the verbal, and had an added bonus of raising my quant to 670. I did send the scores to the schools I've applied to. I'm now studying like mad so I can get above a 700 on the subject test (and yes, I'm cramming the theory - I have a lot of remembering to do). So basically, I'm getting a lot of conflicting advice. One person even told me that applications with less than a 650 on the verbal get thrown out immediately at Yale and Stanford (I desperately want to go to Yale, but my top 4 are Yale, Cornell, Brown, and Duke), while others say that the tests count for much less than the writing samples, SOP, and recommendations. Luckily, I'm not interested in living in a big city (so Columbia and U of Chicago are out). My dad, who's a prof at Brown (but not in my field), is very discouraging about my chances of getting in to where I want to go, being on the Adcomm for his field. I've also been completely out of the field for over 8 years, since my graduation in 2001, and I haven't published, unfortunately. After this very long, rambling intro - I know I have it in me to do brilliantly well at Yale or Cornell. There is nothing in the world I'm more passionate about than English lit. I am widening the search for applications next year, and including schools like Brandeis, WUSTL, Emory, and Northwestern. Be honest - what are the chances I can actually get into Yale / Cornell / Duke / Brown? Any advice for increasing the chances (aside from the scores, I have that bit covered), and ARE they that important? Do you know anyone who got into a top-tier with a 600 verbal?

Got it as well, a few weeks ago. Although I don't have high hopes for this year, I do for next year, when I'll be going through this process all over again, unless by some miracle, Brown, Yale, or Cornell will forgive me for my bad verbal GRE and rely on my strong GPA, letters of recommendation (I took it as a good sign that my profs remembered me after 8 years), and writing sample. Ahh, the wait is terrible.

Absolutely not too old. I'm almost 38 and finally applying to grad school. It took me nearly 9 years to figure out that what I really love is English lit, and that no job in the world makes me as happy as studying, researching, writing, and teaching what I love.

Don't knock Princeton's "Cracking the GRE" please. I raised my Verbal from 600 to 720, and my Math from 560 to 670, although I didn't use it exclusively. Since my main concern was the verbal, I also got Kaplan's Advanced Verbal, Barron's 800 Essential words, and used Vocoboly every day to beef up on esoteric GRE vocab. Considering the fact that I'm planning to apply to top-tier English PhD programs, I needed a SUPERB verbal. But the math going up was a nice bonus (since I'm a doofus at math, and barely remember any geometry at all, since the last math class I took was in High school, 20 years ago). Overall, GRE math is comparatively easy. The Verbal is a BITCH, and tricky, even for people with superb language skills. So, yes, use the book, but don't solely rely on it, if you're aiming for above a 700 in the verbal (I can't say for math, that was a fluke).

Oh boy, am I ever a medievalist. I took one full semester of Chaucer in college, and another of Medieval lit (including the Arthurian cycles, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Morte d'Artur, etc.), and my honors thesis was based on Welsh medieval legends in modern children's lit. I also took a fabulous class called "12th century writers and lovers" that concentrated on the writings of Eloise and Ableard, and Hildegard, as well as Bernard of Cluny. And boy, was my professor tough. However, my overall concentration was Medieval and Renaissance. I'm waiting for answers from 4 grad schools for fall 2010 (although I have very little expectations of getting in this time around, my first GRE general scores were pretty abysmal, compared to my second round - which was yesterday, a bit too late for this round of applications, so I'm gearing up for a second round next year), and right now I'm teetering between Medieval and Renaissance, or delving into Early Modern (I have a thing for the Restoration period, and of course, for the 18th century satirists). I'm also still trying to figure out how to incorporate my favorite periods into other stuff that I love - like children's lit and sci-fi / fantasy. So Nighthob - I'm with you on crossing periods. Since I figure I have some time to solidify my ideas for the field of study, I've decided to take advantage of the intense review I have to do for the Subject GRE (after all, I haven't been studying English lit for over 8 years...), and remember what I love, where my interests lie, and what moves me passionately. If I do decide to go for the Medieval lit - I'm considering programs that enable a double PhD with Medieval Studies. On the other hand, I'm also hoping to get into Cornell's Creative Writing MFA / English Lit PhD program. Oh my, I can't wait to go to grad school....