Butitwaslaundryday

Hello, good luck with the application process! I applied to several MA programs, and these were the ones that offered funding. University of Chicago for their MAPH program (one year), but the most funding they ever give to anyone is half-tuition, so I turned them down. Dartmouth--they offer full funding.

Hello, Basically I am juggling three different options--yes, it is past the April 15th deadline, but I have deadline extensions from all schools due to waitlisting circumstances. Essentially, here is my problem: I could go to Dartmouth for a fully funded MA and then reapply to hopefully get into top Comp Lit PhD Programs. Or, I could go to UC Davis or NC Chapel Hill for a PhD in Comp Lit. If you were me, what would you do? Assuming you think it's a better idea to just dive in for a PhD, which school has a better comparative literature program? In terms of fit, they're about the same for me. Thank you so much.

Hello, I hope I can visit, but I don't think I will since I haven't been invited! I am on the waitlist (there are only two others on the waitlist), and I was told that it's not unlikely I will ultimately be admitted. I hope to visit before I make my decision, but since I'm not sure that's a possibility until I'm formally accepted, I am just playing all the options out in my head first. Good luck with your decision! If you could, I'd love to know what you think of your visit when you get back. Congrats on your acceptances, too!

Hello--yes, I got into the program with a fully funded MA. Hope that helps!

Not to be a contrarian, but I haven't heard only bad things about University of Chicago. For example, a lot of intellectual output comes from there--specifically from the U of Chicago Press. There are a lot of great professors you would get a chance to work with, and the U of Chicago's literary intellectual output is really well-respected in the literary community. Some friends of mine went to the MAPH program and really enjoyed the experience. I would recommend visiting and asking the questions you are most concerned about (for example, would you get the chance to work with those great professors? can you get involved with the university of chicago press? what resources are open to you? and again, can they tell you their PhD placements after the MAPH program?) I think that's what I'll do. As for funding, this is what I would recommend you do, if you have the guts to do it! I know that they give out some funding (at most half-funding) to some MAPH students. That means that when those students reject the MAPH program, some of that money will be open to other MAPH students. I would suggest emailing them and asking very politely if it would be possible to be considered for funding, if and when the opportunity arises, since you already have fully funded offers from other universities. What's the worst that could happen? They won't take back your acceptance. G'luck with your decision.

I wish I could help, but I'm wondering exactly the same thing! I also was accepted to MAPH (is that the program you were accepted into too?) I think if it's a good stepping stone for good PhD programs after, it would be worth the expense. However, I'm not sure if there is aw ay to know that for sure. I think it would probably be a good idea to ask about their PhD placement after the program. Good luck with your decisions!

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I think you bring up an interesting point, greekdaph. I guess that's something I have to decide for myself--whether I want to live in a big city or a college town. I just visited a college which was located in a very small town and I really got the sense that all the grad students there knew each other really well and spent a lot of time together--somethingI would enjoy. I came from a commuter-type campus and did not particularly enjoy it. Additionally, I don't have any ties whatsoever to New York at the moment, so it would suck to not have a more welcoming social setting to work with at school. On the other hand, the slow rhythm of a small town did throw me off somewhat, since I grew up in LA. Actually, now that I am writing this, I have to say that I am leaning more towards big city. I just can't study for hours on end if, for example, I know that there won't be anything exciting to occupy my off time with. Hmm, thank you so much! I think I will make my decision within the next few days, but I'm leaning away from NC Chapel Hill at this point.

Hello, I have been accepted into several very competitive masters programs (with full funding). At the PhD level, however, CUNY Graduate Center and NC Chapel Hill are my only two chances. I was wondering if anyone could help me make my decision by letting me know what they think about these schools, any experiences they've had there, or what it's like to live in Brooklyn or NC Chapel Hill. Thanks.

Hmm...well I applied for Comparative Literature, which is a separate department, so maybe the English department hasn't sent out notifications yet. Good luck!

Hello, I'm just curious since I applied to MAPH and haven't heard back yet--do you know if it sounds as if everyone who got a spot has already been notified? Thanks!

Hello Kursty, I wish you the best of luck! I don't think they will be making decisions too too soon, because I only just had my phone interview today. The interview was fine--it was maybe two or three minutes long, so I stayed up until 4 am studying for nothing. All they asked me was why I applied to the MA instead of the PhD program, what other schools I applied to, and whether or not I'd be willing to do an unfunded MA (I said no). They said they would rather take me as a PhD applicant rather than for a MA, so they are trying to transfer my file to the PhD program. Good luck!

Hey, thank you so much for the support--I really feel better. Okay, so to break it down and reiterate, I should prepare more research interests of mine (go more in depth), what I plan to do as a graduate, re-read my writing sample (although actually my writing sample wasn't particularly relevant to my proposed plan of study), look up professors and their work to show how I'm a good fit and how their work has informed my own interests, and another thing I thought of--prepare to explain how I became interested in my research interests, initially. Also, look up professors' classes and seminars that they have taught in the past (and classes they will be teaching in the future, if available!) Thanks enormously!

I have an interview coming up (only on the phone), and I am extremely nervous. Not only do I feel like I don't know anything, but like I also won't know how to answer when under such pressure. What kinds of questions do you folks think interviewers are likely to ask in general? My concentration is the cross-section between music and French/Russian/English literature, in the 19th/20th century. I cited Joyce, Kuprin, Mallarme, Verlaine, Tolstoy, and cited my interest in theory as stemming from Bakhtin and Voloshinov, in addition to Adorno, Pater, and (J) Goethe. Is there anything else anyone can think of I could also read up on or review to prepare on my interview? Any ESSENTIAL critics I might be asked about for French/Russian literature--especially that might have to do with music? What do they really ask during an interview, anyway? Is it to grill me? Will they test my Russian and French? (I didn't lie about my level of fluency, but I'm still worried!) Thanks so much ahead of time for the advice! God knows I need it. Tell me about your experiences with interviews--please please please!

Can someone possibly rank these schools for comp lit? Which ones are generally recognized as better programs? Just wondering since I applied to some of these. University of Oregon, Dartmouth, CUNY, Washington University in St. Louis, San Francisco State University, Princeton University

Hello! Cool to find someone into Russian lit. Actually, I am not a boy, but I love to read anything about love--especially first love--so I'm really excited to read it. Also no, I have not read his short story "White Nights"--but you know what? I'll just read it right now! Also thanks for the film suggestions! I'm always looking for good things to read and see. I have read Summer in Baden-Baden and loved it, but it could definitely use a re-read. I read sometimes in the original, and sometimes in the translation--and sometimes both. It really depends--certain texts are easier than others. Chekhov, for instance, is very easy to read in Russian. How about you?

Hey, thanks so much for your opinion. Actually, Dartmouth doesn't even have a PhD program for Comparative Literature--a MA is as far up as they go. What your professor told you seems to make sense to me, and I've definitely thought about what you said, too--that is, having to apply again for a PhD. I'm hoping that after I get my MA though, I would be more competitive? I mean, how could I be less competitive than I was before I got it? That's my hope, at least, hahaha. I guess I'm just wondering how competitive Oregon is!

My focus is on Russian, so obviously a lot of my to-read list is Russian literature! The Garnet Bracelet--Kuprin. Dostoyevsky--Notes from Underground, The Double. Who Will Run The Frog Hospital?--Lorrie Moore First Love and A Fire at Sea--Ivan Turgenev. Prismatic Thought--Adorno Dead Souls--Gogol Dubliners--James Joyce Sons and Lovers--D.H. Lawrence

Hello, congratulations on your acceptance! I am still waiting to hear back from UC Davis for comp. lit, and I was just wondering--when did you hear about your acceptance? Thanks! Also, can you see who the other accepted people are since you say "reportedly small potential cohort"?

I thought about it, but to be completely honest, I never thought I would be accepted to any of the places I applied, so I didn't imagine I would be making any decisions at all. I thought I'd be lucky to get into just one school. University of Oregon would be a great fit for me, which is why I chose to apply there, besides it being a great school. However, I can't help but think that the name of the school really does matter, because when I look at Comp Lit professors at Columbia or other good schools, I literally see "PhD from harvard, PhD from Yale..." and on and on, you get the point. I'm not saying that the name of a school is the only important thing--I'm sure that the credentials on my CV are more important. That being said, though, it seems as if it definitely wouldn't hurt to go to a name school. Maybe I feel this way particularly because I just graduated from a no-name state school that I was itching to get out of. Anyway, I'm very sorry you weren't accepted--good luck with the rest of your schools that haven't notified yet! I have not yet seen anything about a Dartmouth or Oregon waitlist, but I do keep that in mind. I'm visiting Oregon this week, so hopefully that will speed up my decision. P.S. Not sure about the "fierce competitor" part, but thank you all the same. Good luck with your 3rd school.

Well, my focus is Russian and French literature, but I think that it seemed evident from my personal statement that I am currently more entrenched in Russian literature than in French, since my background is Russian and I am a native Russian speaker. However, I did not apply through the Slavic department, and I wonder if that's what I should have done! Thank you so much, again, for the info. Congratulations!

Hello, thank you so much for replying! You have no idea how much I am dying to hear anything about Columbia Comp Lit. If you would be so good, can you tell me when you were notified that you'll be receiving a call? Thanks again.

I saw on the gradcafe results forum that 5 very lucky people have been accepted for Comparative Literature at Columbia. They are posted under different headings, however, and not just "Comparative Literature." Most of them say "French and Comparative Literature." Does that mean they applied through the French department or something? Maybe it's just my wishful thinking, but does that mean there are potentially still spots available for the Comp Lit department? Does anyone else know about Columbia comp lit decisions? Has anyone heard back from them that's on here? I doubt I'd ever get in, but it's my dream school and a girl can still hope.

Ohh dear, that's something I didn't even think of--having only known the professors for a few months before asking for letters of rec! Good luck with the rest of your schools. I do hear that the UCs are having a bit of a fiscal crisis. Would you go if funding were provided? My subfields are music, French, and Russian literature (19th and 20th centuries), but I'm not as focused as you seem to be! Nice to meet you, too!

Hello, has anyone heard about any Cornell acceptances for Comp Lit? Thanks!