Hecate

Super frustrated from waiting as well. I had high hopes for today, for whatever reason, but... crickets. This needs to come to an end because I am stress-eating absolutely everything and don't have the focus to do anything productive. Basically surviving on ice-cream and binge-watching Buffy. I agree that it's better not to rely too much on the results page date, but it's hard not to. And yes, happy March everyone!

Oops, I suppose my message was super confusing. I'm actually not applying to MCC this time around. I'm an international and I just can't afford to do an MA in the US. Sticking to Québec and its low tuition for my MA. But I'm already planning my list of schools for PhDs in a couple years, and it's definitely up there! Either way good luck to you! Good luck to everybody else also! It's getting closer, hopefully we should hear very soon. Stay strong guys!

MCC looks like a such a great program! It's definitely on my list for when I apply to PhD programs in a couple years. Waiting on Masters for now.... And I'm right there with you in the crippling anxiety boat. Best of luck to you!

Still nothing on my end either and I'm reaching breaking point haha. I'm so anxious to hear! I only applied to 2 programs - I could not apply to more, for many reasons, but I wish I could have. Not really liking my odds, there. I know Canadian schools take longer to notify, and it seems like things are starting to happen, both my schools have been sending out decisions. Nothing from the departments I applied to as of yet though... Besides wanting to know whether or not I got in, I need to organize so many things that will depend on whether or not I get in anywhere and, if I do, on where I am accepted. My life is basically on hold at the moment. Stalking this forum and living vicariously through everybody that has received acceptances (also genuinely happy for those people, way to go guys!! ). I hope y'all hear soon! Hang in there.

Hey everyone! Anyone waiting on Canadian universities? I've applied to two MA programs in Montreal and anxiously awaiting to hear back, although I'm not expecting any news until March. Good luck to you all!

Hello everyone! I do hope this is the appropriate place to post this, but I've seen others ask similar questions, so I' m assuming it's all right. If not, I apologize. I am currently a Masters student in Translation Studies in Canada, but I have finally decided to take the plunge and apply to other Masters because Translation isn't what I want and won't afford me the same opportunities when I apply to PhD programs in the future. So I'm in the process of applying to MA's in other fields and I have a question concerning GPA. I did my undergrad in France and my overall GPA translates to about 3.3 to 3.5, according to the website of the school I'm interested in (which I think is a bit low comparatively, as I found the grading system much more severe in France than it is here in Canada). Their minimum required GPA *is* 3.3, so I' m not overly worried, but they do say that successful applicants usually have higher GPAs, which is a little upsetting. My undergrad is extremely interdisciplinary, and I lost a lot of points because of subjects that weren't my forte. I however did very good (A and A+ equivalents) in subjects that are relevant to the MA I'm applying to. I also did everything through distance learning, which is honestly an added difficulty, and also means that 100% of my grade in every single subject was just one final exam. So it's a very hit or miss kind of situation. My question is this: should I mention this in my SOP or does it just sound like I'm making excuses? I' m wondering if it's necessary also, since I feel the rest of my application is fairly strong. I have a 3.85 GPA in my current MA program and will have strong recommendation letters from my professors. Thank you!

Thank you! You're absolutely right, I know that. I'm very prone to freaking out - and turning to Grad Café with my doubts before doing proper research. Sorry about that, I just panicked a little bit after seeing my score. After doing some research though, my understanding is that the AW is not that big of a deal, and that a poor score can be offset by an excellent TOEFL score for international applicants. I do have an excellent TOEFL score and a very good Verbal score, so I will try to relax about this and instead focus on the more important parts of my application.

I just got my scores back and only got a 4.0 in AW. I'm super disappointed in myself and I don't know what to do... So my final scores are 162V, 151Q, 4.0 AW. Is it a bit naive to hope that I can still get into a top program? Is the fact that English is a second language going to somewhat "excuse" this poor score in AW? I can write papers in flawless, beautiful English. But I do make little mistakes when I don't have sufficient time to check and re-read. I'm very confused. Should I retake the test? Problem is, I did pick 4 schools on test day and they are gonna see those scores either way. I'm really worried and would love some opinions on this. Thank you very much.

All departments do a program overview and talk about requirements, as far as how many courses I'll need to take, language requirements, and yes, every other thing that students are expected to do in order to complete their degree. But generally not much, if anything at all, is said about choosing advisors on such websites. I feel like they focus a lot on students that are already attending, not much is said about how to actually get there. Grad Café is super helpful for that part though! I have thoroughly explored the websites of all programs I'm interested in, and some departments do have detailed Graduate Handbooks, but some don't. It's frustrating how little information some schools give... but it's the minority, and like I said there's contact information that I can use if need be so I'll be okay.

Thank you very much rising_star, that's all really helpful! Unfortunately, not all American Studies departments have Graduate Handbooks, and the websites aren't always particularly well-made - I suppose this has to do with the interdisciplinary nature of such programs. Most do have have contact information and urge prospective students to ask any additional questions they may have, so I always have that option if the information I'm looking for isn't on the website. I did not know that about postdocs and lecturers, I definitely won't list any of them as POI's then. Thanks again for taking the time to enlighten me on those admittedly rather obvious points.

Hi everyone, I will be applying to a range of American Studies PhD programs for Fall 2016, and I have a few questions about potential advisors. Some schools don't actually list the faculty of the American Studies department but instead list all other affiliated departments (English, History, Sociology....). Does that mean that any professor in any of those listed departments could become an advisor to students in American Studies programs? Also, are teachers who specifically teach only Undergrad courses off limits, or do they also take on PhD students? What about lecturers and postdocs - can I voice my interest in working with them or is that just " not done"? Sorry if that all sounds a little naive, but as an international student I'm not exactly sure how the US system works and I can't really find any specific information anywhere. Thanks so much!

Oh wow, that's amazing, good for you! You're absolutely right. I figure, as long as I'm not being rude or harassing anybody, I have nothing to lose by writing to POI's. And I suppose that if they don't want to write me back, well then they won't, and no harm done. I will most definitely reach out to some professors as soon as possible.

Thank you very much, that does help a lot! I've also stalked the Internet and found out that many people in the Humanities also have weak Quant scores - and got into top programs regardless- so I feel a little better about my own scores. My GPA in my MA is good so far, 3.85 I believe. If I keep this up this year I should be just fine. I did an interdisciplinary program for my Undergrad and had excellent grades in all subjects that matter most for American Studies (overall GPA is really good as well, I do have a couple embarrassing grades but they didn't really affect my overall GPA - can't give any real numbers since I did it in France and the conversion is a little confusing, but I was in the top 10 to 5% of a very large class - I'll have to have my transcripts translated, that's on my to do list, although I don't think my grades need to be converted, adcoms understand our grading system. Well, hopefully they do because it's a lot more severe than US/Canada, and a lesser number is actually an amazing grade - sorry, rambling). I'm not overly worried about my grades, that part should be okay. I'm a little worried that I may not be able to swing publication, but that is very good advice and I will try! I am lucky to have amazing teachers with whom I have built good relationships, and I know they will want to help me any way that they can. I will be meeting with them to discuss all of this in the next couple weeks when school starts up again. That link is great. I can't believe some people actually write things like "Hi please help me. Thanks, bye" to professors. I would never think of doing that, but it's helpful to have a template nonetheless. I was a little shy about writing professors, but I actually wrote a Department head the other day because I thought I may want to apply to 2 fairly similar PhD programs at the same school and I wanted to make sure that this wouldn't be deemed inconsistent by admissions. She replied straight away and was really nice and helpful and urged me to apply to both programs. She was pleased that I had researched both programs thoroughly and was asking "the right questions". So that really boosted my confidence and I think I will definitely be writing to some of my POI's in the next month! Thanks so much for all your help and best of luck to you!

Once again, sorry for the terribly late answer! I've been studying hard for the GRE and have tried to stay away from message boards and any other distractions! Just took it this morning so I'm free to roam Grad Café this afternoon - and reply to the people who have been kind enough to offer their help. So, thank you for your input, it is truly reassuring how many people are saying that there are a great many ways to acquire funding these days. I've lived on minimum wage my entire life -not complaining, I've always managed pretty well with low income- and so I'm pretty low maintenance. I'm sure I'll find ways to pay for my studies.

Hi all, I just got back from taking the GRE and I'm not really sure how I feel about it. My unofficial score is 162 V, 151 Q. I was shooting for a 165 Verbal and 155 Quantitative, as it was pretty much my average on every practice test I've taken. I'm a little disappointed with my 162 but, objectively, I think it is a good score. I wasn't expecting much as far as my Quantitative score. I'm not good with Maths but I worked really hard and managed to grasp a lot of the basics, but the time limit gets me every time... I had to guess on a lot of questions that I could have answered correctly with a bit more time. :/ I will be applying to a range of American Studies/Cultural Studies programs at top schools, mostly 10-100 schools and two "top ten" schools. I've been looking through the Magoosh GRE blog, and my Verbal score is just fine, but apparently top ten schools want you to have at least 153 on your Quant section, which I'm shy off by just 2 points. I'm not really sure if I should trust this data completely though, and I'm hoping that Quant doesn't matter that much for American Studies. I've looked for additional sources online, but norms for American Studies are extremely difficult to find, as it is such an interdisciplinary program. No school I'm applying to is giving any information on minimum scores, but most say that there's no minimum score required. Not sure how much to trust that either. I also got a 116/120 on the TOEFL, which I'm hoping will further attest to my verbal ability (even though I know it is a completely different approach, and nearly not as hard as the GRE Verbal Section). Not sure how relevant that is, but it might save my application from ending up on the "not good enough" pile based solely on test scores. Should I retake it or are my scores okay as they are? I'm not sure what to do. I'm a little worried over my Quant score but I'm not positive that I could get a much better score if I took it again. And I can't exactly afford the money, and especially not the time, to take it again. I was hoping to dedicate all of my time to other aspects of my application starting tomorrow. In any case, whether or not I retake it may largely depend on how well I did on the AW. If my score there is also bad, I will retake it. I think I did all right but I honestly have no idea. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Thank you everyone, and sorry for the terribly late answer, I've been very busy, taking the TOEFL test, studying for the GRE and doing a ton of research. sarabethke, thank you, that's very reassuring, and I know you're right, I was also lucky enough to get the chance to be a research assistant to a professor at my current university, so I know there are options. I've emailed one school, and I will email a few more, to ask about my options as far as funding if I do a Masters. echo and bhr, I've ultimately decided against an online program as it is way too costly (financial aid only applies to US residents, which I'm not), but thank you for your input nonetheless. I should add that after a looot of thinking, I have decided to drop English and go into Interdisciplinary studies. I was very worried that my limited background in English would put me at a big disadvantage, and after doing lots of research, I have found programs that are exactly what I'm looking for. I'm actually very excited and much more confident that I can get into some good schools. An interdisciplinary program in the humanities is exactly right for what I'm hoping to do, and I would still be able to dabble in literature (I've emailed a couple schools to confirm that I could tie in various disciplines into my project and have received very positive answers). So it's a win win, really. I want to thank you guys for all the help and advice you've given me and for making me think. I do think that I've made the absolute best decision for me, it feels right. And there's no going back now since my TOEFL scores will be going out to those programs. So, thanks.

Thanks for the extra information, ProfLorax. Always reassuring to see that not all students take the traditional route and that they are just as successful as those who do! I think I will apply to 5 PhD programs, and maybe 6 or 7 MAs. I have seen some good options, even though the funding can be competitive. I was looking at SF State myself, as I am admittedly completely in love with this city, but I suppose it was a bit naive of me to hope that a state university would offer financial aid to international students (and it is completely fair that they don't). Ah well, I am perfectly happy to keep to the North East, although a couple of schools in Washington and Oregon may be good fits for me. Eyepod, thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing your experience (congratulations on getting into an amazing program!), makes me feel a lot better! The panic-inducing, sinking feeling of inadequacy is starting to recede. Especially since I am sure that my teachers will do everything they can to help me and write me great recommendation letters. The rest is in my hands and I'm already spending every minute of the day working towards this goal. I will do my best, shoot for the stars, and no regrets. Why do I want to do a PhD in English... Well I was one of those kids who always had her nose in the books, always loved and excelled at literature courses all through my high school career... But I also always assumed that a degree in Literature would never get me a job - because that is what the world tells you and sometimes when you're 18 years old you don't really know any better. Also because I didn't think I would ever want to teach or remain in the academic world. Long story short I chose Translation Studies because I genuinely love languages and because I thought it would, you know, get me job. After all, there's always gonna be a need for translators, and it's a tough world we live in. I never really thought I would like it, it was a means to an end, and I told myself that i would do literary translation and that should be somewhat fun. But it turns out, I love academia and I loathe literary translation. Don't get me wrong, I think it's AMAZING that literature gets translated, that so much material is made available to so many people. I still think it's a noble profession but... I hate having to translate literature. I like a text the way it is and I'm such a perfectionist that I'm never satisfied with my work. It really bothers me that what I do will NEVER be as good as the original. I want to produce original work, something that is mine and doesn't have to measure up to the impossible standard of the original text. I want to do a PhD in English because I love literature, and I wand the opportunity to study it more in depth, both through courses and through my own research. In English because I am most interested in British and American literature and, to be quite honest, I have never had a particular affinity with French literature (although I know that some of it is extremely important and that I will have to refer to it at some point. It's all right, I do enjoy *some* French literature). And I really want to teach. I am lucky enough to have amazing professors who are brilliant, and supportive, and I think that this is something to aspire to. But fear not, I'm not quite as naive as I may appear, and I am aware that a PhD is hard work and that finding a teaching job after that is even harder. I am fully prepared to tackle whatever comes my way though. UGH. I talk way too much, I'm sorry. But there you have it, this is why I'm doing all of this! Also, another question for all of you, I am looking at English MAs online, which I could do this year (assuming I find one that offer financial support, but most of them do I think). Do you think this is worth looking into? It seems like a good way to get coursework in English Lit.

Thank you both very much for taking the time to answer - and for your honesty. I' m a little worried now but at least I know what I' m getting into and have a better idea of what to do to maximize my chances of getting in. ProfLorax, do you mind if I ask you what academic path you took? So my understanding is that you did an MA in English after your graduated from your BA, and then moved on to a PhD (English, Comp Lit., Rhetoric and Composition?), is that right? Either way it's good to know that it is indeed possible to study literature from a range of different angles at PhD level. That, "feminist theory, new media studies, and writing pedagogy", really speaks to me! And you're right of course, Comp Lit is definitely a field devoted to the study of literature, that was a bit short-sighted of me to oppose it to English like that, I didn't mean it like that. I'am actually a little familiar with Comp Lit as my Department offers an MA in it, but it's still pretty obscure to me so I have some research to do. In any case you have given me a lot to think about and I will devote today to thoroughly researching Comp Lit programs and compare and contrast! I still have a few days to change my score recipients for my TOEFL test next Saturday.... And I will follow through with my idea of applying to a couple of MA programs. Random_grad, yes, I'm only looking at private universities, who usually say that they fund all grad students, international students included. I just read somewhere on here that being an International student could sometimes be a drawback, although it may have been in regards to public universities and I just didn't read said post thoroughly enough. Either way I think looking at external funding is a great idea. I was actually looking at the Fullbright fellowship yesterday (and they indeed have a Harvard-specific award listed) and I think I'm going to apply. The only problem is that I won't know if I've gotten the fellowship until March or April so I'm not sure how that's going to affect my applications, since most decisions are made before then. :/ I suppose it could help in case I get waitlisted. But I will definitely look at all my options, I'm sure there are lots of fellowships out there that I don't know about. And although the UK would be a good idea in itself, I really do want to stay in North America, I've always felt more at home here than I have in Europe. That is an excellent idea about publications and conferences, I know my university does hold a few of those, especially my department, as translation is extremely important in Québec. I will ask my teachers about that as soon as I can. And I see what you mean about how it's hard to stay motivated as an auditor but honestly after 3 years of distance learning, I have a good handle on staying motivated without much incentive! And also I am actually extremely motivated because I think it could help my application and that will definitely keep me interested. Being bilingual is in itself not that uncommon, that's true. So maybe it's not a major selling point, but I suppose I could mention it in passing - although it is probably unnecessary as it is fairly obvious that I would have a good command of my first language. But I thought it might give me an advantage, however tiny, that I've already fulfilled the language requirements of the program. I know picking a period of specialization is very important in an English graduate degree, and I'm definitely most interested in contemporary/20th century American literature. Now I have to work from there and come up with a solid project... Back to work for me! And thanks again for all your help and advice.

Thank you very much for your answer! After reading your comment, I looked up a few Comparative Literature programs and they all look very interesting, and I think you're right in the sense that it would be more attainable for someone with my academic background, but my heart is still pretty set on English. I can honestly say that my Literature classes were the only ones (besides British and American history) that I actually enjoyed during my Undergrad program and I genuinely want to study Literature, although I am indeed pretty rusty and have some serious work to do to get up to speed - but I'm pretty confident that I can do it, at least I'll do my very best! Now whether or not this will get me into any PhDs is another story... which is why I'm looking at MAs. Are they generally "easier" (for lack of a better word) to get into? Another reason I feel that Comp Lit might not be right for me is that, although I am good with languages and am hoping to learn new ones at some point, learning a language in an academic setting is something that I really do not enjoy. I have particularly painful memories of my Grammar and Phonetics classes. I can safely say that did not learn the English language in a classroom. And yes, I do know that English PhDs also require languages, but like you said, they are not AS important as in Comp Lit and my understanding is that, as I am fluent in French already, if I were to study a third language having a reading knowledge of said language would suffice. But you're absolutely right, my "project" is still very vague. That's the big thing that I have to work on. I have been so busy researching schools and preparing for all those tests that I haven't yet tackled the main issue. I think that, being in Translation Studies, my brain is just wired that way at the moment, looking at everything from a transcultural point of view, and I am looking at this the wrong way. I'm hoping my teachers will be able to help me somewhat when I go back to school in September - but hopefully by then I'll have a better idea of what I want to do. I probably should have mentioned that my program is what they call a "Research degree" ( there is also a "Practical degree"in the Translation Studies department where they study, for example, how to translate scientific texts or texts in economics and practice the actual craft of translation a lot more) and I do very little actual translating. My courses are mostly about contemporary translation theory, history of translation, methodology.... Most papers I turn in are research papers, and the only actual translating I do is literary. And this semester I will be taking a Tutorial in Literature as part of my degree. Hopefully this might help... Also, I might be wrong in this, but from my research, I might not be completely off track. A lot of English departments boast of their close ties with various other departments and encourage Graduates to pursue interdisciplinary studies. Some programs even have "Cultural Studies" in the name of the degree. Many faculty members list Cultural Studies, Gender studies, Queer theory, etc.... as research interests. So if I pick schools that have this approach to Literature I might be able to work something out. * side note: UGH I just realized there's a horrifying mistake in the title of my post, apologies for that!

Hello everyone, This is my first post on this forum, but I have been reading through it extensively and it has been extremely helpful. Many things are much clearer to me now and I feel like the application process is slightly less scary at this point… so thank you! So I want to go to grad school. Starting in the fall of 2016, hopefully. I want to do a PhD in English and become a researcher and hopefully a teacher one day. I am extremely motivated and extremely certain that this is what I want. I am ever so slightly terrified though and I do have a few questions, as I feel like I am a somewhat “irregular” student and I am worrying about whether I even stand a chance (I actually alternate between boasting confidence and blind panic). Yes, yes, I know, another one of THOSE posts… but I would be very grateful for any sort of help or tips that you can give me. First things first, let’s talk about my academic career. I am originally from France and I did a Licence (pretty much what we call a BA in France, except it lasts 3 years, not 4) in the field of English. But, as you may suspect, a degree in English in a non-Anglophone country is very different from one in the English-speaking world. The degree is a lot broader, and I have had courses in Literature, British and American History, Translation, Grammar and Phonetics – as well as a range of very diverse optional courses. I think it also bears mentioning that I did all of this through distance learning, as I lived roughly 700 km from my school in Paris. I nonetheless achieved excellent grades (I have an average of 14/20, which, according to virtually every conversion chart I’ve seen is roughly an A/A- equivalent, ; it is extremely rare to get anything above 16/20 in France, and 16 is usually considered as one of the highest grades you can achieve). I’m hoping it will say something about my ability to achieve great results with very little structure and a “day-job” to maintain, and that it will help rather than hinder my application. I’m really not sure how an admissions committee would feel about distance learning though, but I have seen that many universities offer online courses so I’m assuming it’s not that outlandish. I am currently attending an MA in Translation Studies in Canada (Québec, to be exact). I started this program last January so I have only done one semester so far. I still have 3 courses to take this fall, including one that is very much literature-oriented, and then I will move on to my thesis (more on that later). Even though I’ve been there for a very short time, I’ve already managed to form solid relationships with two of my professors by making myself available to them in many ways and by vocally expressing my interest in the program, the school and academics in general. I am working as a research assistant for one of those professors, and the other is my thesis director. I am sure that both of them will write me excellent recommendation letters and help me in any way that they can. I am very much hoping to find my third letter writer in the fall, when I will be meeting new professors. So, this is virtually the first time I’m actually physically attending University and… I absolutely love it! I never expected that I would love it so much, and pretty much the minute I set foot in my school -which I love-, I knew I would continue on to a PhD. But truth be told, I, unfortunately, don’t really enjoy Translation Studies, but I do love Literature so I am looking at doing a PhD in English. Also, not sure if that’s important, but I am 30 years old, so a little older than the “traditional” student. Although I guess there isn't really a norm anymore, I just thought I'd mention it. This is where I’m at so far: - I’ve made appointments for the various tests that I have to take (TOEFL next week, GRE General in 2 weeks, and GRE Subject Test mid-September). I am studying hard for the GRE General as of now and will move on to the next step in a couple of weeks. - I’ve made a list of about 12 potential schools and thoroughly researched 4 of those which I feel would be a good fit for me. I have taken books out of my University library written by some of the faculty of those schools. Obviously, I still need to research more schools and ideally end up with at least 10 that I will apply to. - I have compiled many free online courses on subjects that could be helpful and have started taking one on Literary Theory that has indeed proved to be very useful. I am lucky enough that I don’t have to work this summer and I spend almost every minute of the day researching schools, studying, brainstorming about what it is exactly that I want to research at a PhD level… - I have 2 out of 3 of my recommendation letter writers. Now let’s move on to the “questions” part of this post: - Do I stand a chance in spite of my admittedly limited coursework in Literature? Well, that's not entirely true, I took a total of 6 Litareture courses (1 per semester during my 3 years Licence) and 2 courses in Literary Translation so far in my Translations Studies MA. But I'm assuming that's still pretty limited. I should also mention that my thesis in my current MA will be on a subject deemed “literary”. In a nutshell, I am thinking of exploring taboo and censorship in translation, how different books are received in different parts of the worlds, what is censored or tweaked in certain translations and focus mostly of Nabokov’s works. I will look especially at France versus the English-speaking world, particularly North America. North America (at least some parts of it), contrary to popular belief, is a LOT more liberal than France, that is a country that is still very traditional in many ways. - I have gotten the impression, while browsing this forum, that applying as an International student will limit my chances of getting in, is that true? - Is the fact that I speak two languages fluently (English and French) an advantage and should I make it a “selling-point”? - I am thinking of taking an Undergraduate or Graduate course in Literature as an independent student at my school's English department this fall. Do you think that it is a good idea and that it could potentially help? - I am unsure as to how to pinpoint exactly what I want to study. I know what I want but it is still pretty vague at this point and I’m having a hard time putting it into words. I am interested, like I said, in observing the social impact that literature has, or has had, in different places of the world (again, most like in a France vs North America framework). I would like to look at contemporary fiction and argue that authors have a lot more power than they think they do and that their voice matters. That literature can be a catalyst for social awareness and ultimately social change. In this respect, I am interested in gender studies, queer theory and sexuality studies. I know that this possibly sounds a little cliché, and I am open to suggestions and constructive criticism. - I have been looking at funded MAs (funding is ESSENTIAL, I will not be able to go unless my degree is fully funded) and there are a couple that caught my eye. Do you think it would be wise to apply to a few MAs, just to be on the safe side? - Any program recommendations based on my profile? I was initially looking at schools only in the North East due to the need to be staying somewhat close to Québec during my first year as I will still have loose ends to tie up as far as my current MA goes, but I am thinking of broadening my search. I am basically willing to do anything that could help. This got very long, I apologize! Thank you for reading all of that and for those of you who also wish to apply for 2016, good luck! I know how nerve-wracking this process can be… but it’s also kind of exciting, isn’t it?