WildeThing

As I understand it your grades and scores are good enough to not rule you out (assuming scores CAN rule you out, which is inconclusive). Beyond that there is not much anyone can advise you on as you stated a variety of interests and a lot of schools. The point is you'll have to work on selling why you fit in esch program and that will vary program to program.

I never considered gender actually and now that I think of it the 3-4 people I am leaning towards are all women (I'm not).

Hm, maybe if I simplify: What do you look at when choosing someone to write your recommendation? How do you weigh the different factors and do you give consideration to choosing people who can vouch for qualities other than your strictly academic work (e.g. Teaching ability)?

I am starting to think about who of my current and previous lecturers and advisors to ask for a recommendation. I have established a good relationship with several professors but each of them would come with advantages and disadvantages as to what they can discuss. So, what do you want your recommendations to reflect? Do you want them to be varied in what they discuss or should they all stress the same notions? Do you want a niche group or get people from different backgrounds? Do you want them from the latest institutin or a sample from each one? Should they comment on your thesis idea or on your character traits? Feel free to just answer that, but if anyone is willing to give more specific advice, I'll write below some of my options, but answering the above would probably better serve the community: - One recommender was very fond of me but he only taught me one course in my BA (two years ago, 3 by the time I apply) and has not been active in publishing or academia beyond teaching the occasional course. That said, he did write my last grant recommendation. - My BA thesis advisor with whom I got along with but we had little contact beyond that paper and is also very lethargic in academia, though he is fsmiliar with the work I want to pursue. - My MA thesis advisor who also tsught me several courses in my BA and first MA. She wrote me a glowing recommendstion for a grant but I think she wants me to return to my home country and do my PhD there with her. Also, she does not see any future in what I want to pursue. - Two of my BA and MA teachers, who I've dealt with frequently as I worked with when I was running a student group. Either of them would be able to comment on a variety of courses and on my extracurricular activities, but I have asked them for recommendations in the past and though they were vey willing, their letters were quite bland and generic. - A professor who I got along with very well and gave me glowingg recommendations but I had my course with her early in my BA and since then she moved to another institution. So I have not had academic contact with her in years even though I am sure she would write as glowing a recommendation as possible. - Program directors who I talked to frequently but who actually had little exposure to my best academic work. - Lecturers in my current, American institution (the rest were foreign). The MA I am doing is in a different field entirely but they would have the best idea of my sbility to work in an American university. - I am GA assisting in a program and will be teaching next year. Should I ask my bosses, who can discuss my work as a teacher, but in a different field and with no knowledge of my ability as a researcher. Basically, I am torn between choosing between people who will give glowing recommendations but who might not be held in high regard or those who are held in higher regard but are but like me less. Between lecturers from the past who I forged greater bonds with, or current lecturers who know the American system but who are unlikely to write as glowing reviews, and who are largely in a separate field. Between those who can discuss work on the field I want to pursue, my teaching, or extracurriculars. Ultimately, it is obviously subjective but I wonder how some of you approach getting the right blend of recommendations.

Thanks guys. Is that true about permissions appearing on the back of the booklet? Isn't that a massive help?

99 on the subject test? Any advice?

So, I've been reading a lot of threads about the exam here and there are a lot of complaints about the validity of the exam, which unfortunately is beyond our control. Also saw a lot of complaints about how the guides to the exam are outdated. I was hopng that perhaps those with experience in it can lay out what they think is a good way to approsch the exam in its current format. Personally I have the Princeton book and the Norton anthologies of English and American litm but from reading comments I understand that relying on these is not good practice.

Not intended to persuade anyone but I live in the Northeast in a county that voted heavily for Clinton and some students here have reported harrassment by Confederate flag-toting individuals. As an Americanist I had considered dropping Toronto from my list but am defnitely rethinking that. Also gonna favor northeast and big city schools even more than I intended to.

Cheers for that! It seems that no one has managed to get a working visa for a partner then?

Thanks for the response! I'll keep it in mind and ask schools about it when I apply.

If I understand correctly, a J1 visa is cosponsored by your government, which is why you must return there for 2 years. If you already have to do that, why would cosponsor you again? They would be gaining nothing from it. That said, it is definitely something I will enquire about.

Yeah, that is in-line with what I have seen. I don't think I'll be able to get another J1 visa as I currently have one. I will see when I apply if programs can get a J1 rather an F1, or if my current sponsors are willing to renew i but it is very unlikely.

Hey guys, I am currently doing an MA in the US on a J1 visa. I am planning on pursuing a PhD after that, which I believe will have to be as an F1. I want my partner to join me for the PhD but am faced with the issue that she would not be able to work as an F2, and a living stipend is unlikely to cover our joined expenses. Has anyone faced this issue? For context, she will have her PhD and some good experience by the time I start mine, so she would have a good resume for getting a job, the problem is whether anyone would actually offer her a work visa. Has anyone dealt with these issues? If so, please share your experience and advice. Thanks

Thanks for the answers! The examples were purely theoretical though.

I do not have a question to any of your questions but I feel compelled to make a comment. You have asked for help finding 3 different programs and offered very broad topics of interest. I understand that you might be interested in many different things but from my understanding graduate programs look for people who have a clear idea of what they want to do. That can and probably will change, but if you can't narrow down some specifics they will probably be able to see through that. My unsolicited advice is to have s good think about what you wsnt to do with your degree and what you want to dedicate a year or two or seven to specialize in. Creative writing (in fiction AND poetry no less), Francophone and comparative Greek, English and French encompasses too much ground. If you were to say that you want to work on Greek myths as presented in the Francophone world vs. English that would be one thing (though still quite broad), but based on your current question I don't think anyone can really help you. I really hope this isn't a bot.

I've seen a lot on UPenn CFP, but never pad much attention for obvious reasons. I'm sure that if you search for undergraduate there you'll get some results.

So, with a cautious time-line, someone wanting to have their scores in early December should take the test in August at the latest? EDIT: Just realized that that is impossible. I guess September is the way to go.

That is... disheartening. Thank you both, though!

For those of you applying now or who have applied in past cycles, how much does applying actually cost? I want to apply to several schools to give myself the best odds but I don't want to cripple myself financially so wondering where the line is. How much has applying ran you, including fees, GREs and any hidden costs that might not be obvious (like dozens of official transcripts)?

I was looking at Harvard's English program and was surprised to see only one American lit grad course on offer over two semesters. This was surprising to me but then again my current uni has the same situation. Is this normal? Do any of the top programs have a reputstion for being good with american lit (20th especially)?

Hey guys, I'm gonna be applying in next year's cycle but neurosis has me looking at things way early. So, my hope is to do my dissertation on approaching a set of literary texts (e.g. Victorian) with a certain philosophical outlook in mind (e.g. Posthumanism). Logic would dictate that a perfect environment would have faculty who are experts on both, even if the knowledge is spread out in different bodies. But let's say that that doesn't exist. Either you go somewhere that has someone on staff who knows the approach or who has done different work on the same texts. Where would you rather go? Worse still, what if the genre or philosophy or texts you hope to work with are obscure or tangenial or ignored or out of fashion, and the only scholars working on them with any dedication work in programs that you're not considering (for whatever reason, be it finances, geography, prestige, etc.)? My instinct is to look for different texts to look at, as that seems easier to adapt than your theoretical backdrop, but maybe that's wrong. Anyone have any thoughts on this or similar conundrums?

Perhaps not, but when it comes to settling down for a multi-year haul, more time to prepare can only be better.

Thanks for the response. The reasoning is that if I can know what program I'm in a year in advance my partner can focus the job hunt to that area.

Quick question. Some departments will allow you to defer your place for a year, assuming you confirm your acceptance of the spot. Some universities specify what reasons are accepted for choosing to defer whereas others don't. My question is, does anyone have an idea on whether departments will accept an application that asks to defer right off the bat? For instance, you're working and your contract end the following year, or you're in the middle of a program that won't end until the following year. I kind of assume programs will just tell you to re-apply but does anyone have any experience with such a thing? Or know of any protocol?

If I may tack on my own doubt about CV: When I finished my MA I was asked by the program directors to give a short speech at the graduation ceremony (along with another student). I'm not sure how graduation ceremonies work in the US but is this something that is considered an accomplishment? If so, is it something you would list on your CV, and how?