Branwen daughter of Llyr

If UVA or Cornell actually accept me this year, first, I'd faint. Then, I'd cry out of frustration (since I've already lined up 3 great jobs, and have all my ducks lined up in a row for the 2011 app process LOL). Then, I'd faint again. Chances are VERY VERY slim - I don't think my apps were focused enough this round. So I'm all emotionally prepared to do it properly next time!

You don't sound snobby or elitist at all. Placement is a MAJOR factor in my choices. I'm already 38, and getting a tenure track position when I get my PhD (or at least a highly lucrative post-grad position) is imperative to my decision. Although I'm not incredibly picky about the location of the school I end up teaching in (at least at this point), and it doesn't necessarily have to be an ivy or similar, or even R1 - I do want to teach at a good school, with a thriving English department, that places a great deal of emphasis on scholarship. So for me, at least, placement record is paramount (right after fit).

I agree with intextrovert. actually - quite a few top-twenty programs aren't a good fit for me. Stanford, UPenn, Duke, Johns Hopkins - all in the top 20 - none are a good fit for me. On the other hand, Harvard is a perfect fit (due to their "secondary" subject in Celtic languages and literature), Yale is a good fit(strong medievalists), UCLA is an excellent fit academically (welsh and celtic studies, again), U Michigan, and a few more. I'm personally planning on sending about 10-12 applications. about half will be top-twenty. The other half will be other excellent programs with good fit. (CU Boulder, Ohio State, Illinois U-C, Washington University in St. Louis, and maybe UMass Amherst) I trust that I'll get in to where I'm supposed to go to - top-tier or not. I think you should try - at least to those you'd LOVE TO GO TO. You know, those schools whose programs provide endless wet dreams at night . You have the stats, trust that. It's just a matter of SOP and writing sample!

I'm hoping you mean GRE verbal - 640 . Yes, it is VERY common to be rejected and apply again next year (I'm doing the same). You can do the GRE's again (a 700V and above can definitely help for top-tier programs), sure, but focus most of your attention on writing a KILLER SOP, and making sure your writing sample is publishable (or published). Getting in to a PhD program in literature is mostly about fit - meaning your SOP has to be perfect for the school, engaging, compelling, and reflect your research interests and why you want to pursue your PhD at that particular school, as well as why you wish to pursue a PhD in general. This has been a VERY tough year for English Lit applicants. Many extremely qualified individuals got rejected from schools just because they were bombarded with 500+ applications, and had the pick of the litter. There is NO problem in applying again next year - quite a few of us on the Literature board are doing so

Indeed - right here . (must be in virtual space, no?)

OMG - the footnotes!! I LOVED the footnotes! I wished all the books in the footnotes existed!

Of course... I meant HAROLD Bloom, not Howard. Silly Branwen! Silly! Misspelling her favorite popular critical theorist!

Woolfie - we're forming a support group for the 2011 apps !! Don't give up! We'll get in next year!

Oh my, did I ever open up a can of worms with this post!! Regardless of nationality, my idea of a friend is someone who is supportive of your dreams, whether they understand them or not. I feel the same way about family. Family members who are not supportive, as far as I'm concerned, don't get much attention from me. I'm super super lucky - I have an INCREDIBLY supportive family overall (give and take a few little quirks - but even my extremely picky grandfather - the Irish Catholic one, is very very supportive of my grad school goals, as is my dad, and my mom, and my extended family, even if they don't quite understand why). And my American friends that I've kept up with over the years were absolutely THRILLED for me when i started talking about pursuing a PhD. Basically, the people who know me well, and know that I'm happiest with my nose stuck in a book, or teaching the book ("you should really be a teacher / college professor" is the most common comment I get from close friends and family), are supportive. I think I was shocked by the conversation with my friend this morning, since I thought she knew me well, but obviously, she doesn't. re the cultural thing - my ex-bf, who's British, never really took my academic "bent" seriously. Whenever I would blather on about going to school in the UK (I was planning to move there at one time), he was supportive, but not gung-ho about it. Meaning - he would make the supportive sounds, but I could tell his heart wasn't in it, really, and that he'd much rather I become a brood mare and produce loads of children with him, while my mind atrophies. He barely finished high-school (although he is extremely smart), and I always suspected that he was extremely intimidated by my academic goals (i.e. get into Oxford and then teach). Obviously, his attitude doesn't reflect the British in any way, but it's extremely varied. In Israel - we have five VERY respected universities. We have a few Nobel prize winners in the sciences, in economics, and Israelis are always very proud of them. But here's an anecdote, not related to my own experiences - a few years ago, I had a friend who was pursuing a PhD in History, here in Tel Aviv University. She was getting the "raised eyebrow" from just about everyone - her ex-husband, her friends, her parents. On the other hand, every single person I know that has gone to study law, medicine, or get an MBA has been wholeheartedly approved of. Not to say that there aren't brilliant academics here. But there is a prevalent underlying cultural attitude in which advanced studies in the humanities (science is ok, because you can get a GREAT hi-tech or bio-tech job) is considered to be a waste of time. Or at least... not a practical way to go through life. Personally, I don't expect everyone to love the same stuff and want to do the same things. I respect my friend's enjoyment of her steady, calm job, watching and discussing the Israeli version of "Survivor" and "Big Brother" (think the US and UK versions and multiply the atrocities by a thousand), and never picking up a book. Dude, do what ever rocks your boat. Seriously. I don't tell her that I don't get why she DOESN'T use her brain for anything more complicated than analyzing the latest reality show. I don't go and tell her that I think "Big Brother" is a waste of time (although I do). I respect her choices. She's happy, I'm happy. For me, that's what friendship is all about. It's tough for me sometimes, not having people to discuss the things I love with, yet another reason I can't wait to go to grad school. But the least I expect from my close friends and family is enthusiasm for MY enthusiasm, if you guys know what I mean (I'm sure you do). For all of you who share these feelings of semi-alienation - we will make new friends. Our families will see how happy we are, and lay off the criticism. And everyone else who isn't supportive... well... they can go to hell in a handbasket . Thanks for sharing everyone! I really appreciate it!

I just had an odd messenger conversation with a friend of mine (whom I am considering revising status to "acquaintance" after this conversation). It was one of those "cacth-up" conversations - we haven't spoken in a while. She is Israeli, so maybe it's a cultural thing (very few people here seem to value PhD's), but still. I was blabbering about taking online Latin and prepping for my 2011 apps, (as well as working 4 jobs and climbing out of debt - not even close to as exciting, in my mind), and then said that the grad school thing is very thrilling. Not waiting for answers, but the process, the hope, the desire to go. You all know what I mean... otherwise we wouldn't be here. She said something like "all new beginnings are exciting." And THEN, she says "I don't understand why you want to go back to school anyway" - which nearly floored me. So I answered that I want to teach college level English (and later graduate level), I want to research and publish, and that in my entire long life there hasn't been anything that thrilled me as much as studying / writing about / discussing English lit (and god knows I've done plenty of other things). So it seems obvious to go for a PhD. She didn't get it, gave me an "I guess..." answer, and then said that she thinks that going to graduate school is a waste of time, especially since I now have a well-paying job, etc. My jaw dropped (and then she went off to lunch). How can LEARNING be a waste of time? How can pursuing your dreams be a waste of time? The one thing, I think, that the past 8-9 years have been signified by, was my brain going to waste. I have such an active mind, that I actually get depressed when I'm NOT learning, studying, and so forth. Most jobs, even in technical writing (which I do enjoy, overall), don't challenge my mind for more than 6 months (once I'm done learning the system). After that, it's just routine and deadline stress. Maybe it is a cultural thing. I don't know. I've known that I would pursue graduate school at some point in my life since I was in college (maybe being the daughter of two academics had something to do with that), and maybe the Israeli attitude (except going to get your MBA so you can get a better job, better car, etc.) is what is coloring her opinion. I just CANNOT understand how learning - any learning - can be considered a waste of time. Overall, I'm lucky. My parents, being academics themselves, are extremely understanding and supportive (although my dad is the doom-and-gloom type that keeps saying stuff about how hard it is to get a job afterward, which I already know...). My siblings understand, as well. But most of my friends JUST DON'T get it. It's SO different than what they do and think about, it's almost like they have no reference point. It's so odd. So at the end of this long, rambling post - let me just add one last thing - THANK YOU GradCafe posters. Thank you for providing me with a community that understands my drive to go do this. Thank you for the support, the encouragement, and for sharing your knowledge. Thank you for being aspiring academics like myself, and providing me with a community of like-minded people!

Yay! Alan Garner! Wasn't The Owl Service amazing? I nearly analyzed it in my honors thesis, but ended up using only series - the Garner's single volume story had to be cut (don't you HATE cutting out amazing books?). And Stella Gibbons - Cold Comfort Farm was one of my favorite books - one of the few books i read AFTER watching the movie (which was actually very very very good, tongue in cheek, kept to the spirit of the book, and has Rufus Seawell in it, whom I somewhat lust after LOL), and I enjoyed it immensely. If you like fairy tales, of any kind, I recommend Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. it is SO good. And has a LOT of fairies in it (not very nice ones, mind you...). Lord Byron shows up as a character along the way, as well (as does mad King George, and his physicians).

Hrm. That is a good question. Analysis can be just "close reading" and such (i.e. analyzing text, subtext, etc.). Critical Theory is more of a framework using other fields (i.e. psychological theory - the leading theorists based their ideas on Freud and Jung, and of course, Marxist theory - the leading theorists based their ideas on Marx, class struggle, etc.). so Theory is something already "developed" that you use to analyze a text. However - even "close reading" has evolved from literary theory (although you don't use "outside" references for it) - New Criticism is all about close reading. For example, in Anatomy of Criticism, Frye uses a few theories to analyze several passages of The Faerie Queene. (and yes, he developed some theories on his own, as well). The borders get somewhat blurry when you develop a theory and then use it to analyze a text (Howard Bloom does that). It can get confusing. so don't worry to much about the distinction between the two, and just get the terminology straight Plenty of time to delve into the nuances in a literary theory class!

Well, this: Northrop Frye's Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays is a good survey of the methods applied until 1957 (and he is an EXCELLENT writer). Also, Critical theory since Plato by Hazard Adams and Leroy Searle is a good book for a general survey of the most influential critical literary theories in western civ. Doesn't go deep, but goes wide - excellent for a first time exposure. For my subject GRE studies, I'm using Penguin's Dictionary of Literary Terms and Theory - they also have a Dictionary of critical theory - worth a buy - very comprehensive

Thanks to all who made suggestions - I just found my winning ticket! UMass Online has an upper division UG medieval lit class this summer, AND has online Latin classes (meaning I don't have to take the trouble to actually GO to a class, I can study at home! yay!) so I'm contacting them in April to see how I can work out registering for the medieval lit summer session, and the Latin summer session (meaning I can take Latin II in the fall, and maybe even an Intensive Intermediate Latin in the spring - just to be ready for my first year in grad school ). Yay UMass!!

I know you weren't commenting on my taste I was just protesting in mock indignation. I know my reading is HEAVILY tilted towards the fantastical / children's. (despite reading a lot of modern stuff, as well. After all, Michael Chabon is modern, and I've recently developed a bit of an obsession about him). But I will take your suggestion and add Skylight Confessions to my list. Although I'm planning on doing my PhD on medieval lit mostly, I know I'll end up researching children's lit later on. My honors thesis was on children's lit, and I know I'll go back to that at some point. His Dark Materials - discovered it as an adult, but read it MANY MANY times since. Was extremely disappointed in the movie. I LOVE Phillip Pullman - he's the kind of children's writer I aspire to be one day.

I'll keep looking as well - I just posted a request for National to call me about registering for a single class in their English MA program (I think they have medieval at least once a year). I'll also keep looking at other state schools that offer online classes. Of course, I'll try to write the paper on my own. I may even beg one of my LOR writers to review it. They know me as a student (albeit YEARS ago), they remember me, and they may feel inclined to help. On the other hand, they may not... This is turning out to be a LOT more complicated than I thought it would be. stupid, stupid economy increasing competition...

I looked at those - my main problem is that I need a MEDIEVAL lit class. All the modern writer classes won't help me with a medieval writing sample. ARRRGH. (I liked the Minnesota state stuff - it was just a shame I couldn't find a medieval class there)

Thank you all! I will definitely look at all the options. I'm less concerned about transcript - and more with having a prof to help me with a writing sample (i.e. someone to BUG ENDLESSLY ABOUT THE WRITING SAMPLE) - but the Harvard names sound great (ooh boy! a Harvard class long distance! I wonder if it would actually HELP me get in there next year... ) I don't even mind taking a medieval survey class again - just to sharpen my Middle English skills up, and be able to write a research paper "on-topic." This may save me the need to go get an MA - since the writing sample, at this point, is probably my main snafu in my application (grades good, GRE good, SOP will be awesome). And yes, MM - I love you (but you knew that already!!) (and btw - Georgetown is now heading the MA list - a separate "just-in-case" list (although much shorter than THE LIST, they have a great program and an excellent PhD placement record at AMAZING schools - UCLA, Harvard, Yale, WashU etc. And it looks like I can get a good teaching job at a DC charter or VA / Maryland private...)).

Ok - so most of you know my situation - 9 years out of school, living out of the country (and not in an English speaking country), need to write a killer writing sample for next year's app round. Meaning - need access to a professor . I've been toying with the idea of registering for an online graduate class somewhere (or at the very least, and advanced UG upper division online class) - has anyone heard of universities offering online classes? (aside from Union, Mercy, etc.). I'm great at doing work on my own - I just need a sounding board for the sample and SOP!! Ideas, suggestions, recommendations, welcome

Ok - question here! I've been out of school for 9 years. I've decided to revise my writing sample for all of the above mentioned reasons. My LOR writers are my profs from back then (they remember me, and remember me well), they were very happy to send out LORs this year, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind sending off another letter for the next round, as well. HOWEVER I have NO resources to rely on for the revised writing sample. I feel extremely uncomfortable asking my LOR writers, since they are no longer current profs, to review what I've done. I live in Israel, so I have NO ONE I can approach about this (not even to take a grad class in the university in the fall or something, just to have a prof review a paper). I'm a good writer, I have no doubt about that, and I was a very gifted researcher in college, but it's been a while. I've ordered the books I need to revise my close reading of Gawain and the Green Knight into a research paper using some sophisticated critical reasoning and methodology, but my main concern is that I have no one to help critique and give notes. Anyone have any suggestions?

I protest! I read modern lit as well! I love Nick Hornby, Neal Stephenson, and Iain Banks too!! Just... I don't have a LOT of time right now, so I go back to reading what's easiest (like re-reading Harry Potter), or what's related to stuff I need to do...

Ennzedd accents aren't as funny as South African accents, just so you know (and they're not HALF as funny as Scottish accents... sorry, Glasgow folks!). I've never been to NZ - but a really good friend of mine moved there a few years ago, and I've been dying to go. Do you feel so comfortable in Boulder due to the similarity to the Southern Alps or something? (just teasing LOL). Welcome!

I know what you mean. As far as reading goes, I love a LOT of stuff. I'm not much into modern stuff (unless you consider Oscar Wilde modern) in scholarship (except for children's literature and modern fantasy), but as a reader? Oh my. When I switched to English from Theater, it was mostly to study drama from the "academic" side of things. I decided to concentrate on renaissance (for Shakespeare and Marlowe mostly), and ended up taking a Medieval literature class. And then a Chaucer class. And a 12th Century lovers and writers class (topics in medieval literature). So although I AIMED for Shakespeare (and did, indeed take 2 Shakespeare classes), I fell in love with the medieval stuff. Especially the Arthurian scholarship and stories. Take a wide range of classes, and see what works for you. You get hooked on something - a genre, a period, a writer - with the help of a professor who teaches a great class that you just LOVE. Of course, some things won't change much - for me, anything American didn't really stick, post-romantic poetry didn't really stick, and excluding Beckett and Stoppard, modern drama didn't really stick (I ABHOR Brecht, for example. Don't know why. Can't STAND Mother Courage for some inexplicable reason). Yes, "literature" is a HUGE field. But you'll find your place! (in fact, it's very possible that if I end up in an MA program, my interests will shift somewhat, yet again...).