a_sort_of_fractious_angel

Thanks, @fuzzylogician - I'll be very clear that it was run by my university and was a summer study abroad. I appreciate it!

Hey, all - I did a shorter study abroad program, run by my undergrad university, during the summer. Where should I put it on my CV? I don't have a coursework section, as I've been told that isn't necessary for my field (English) and I agree - my BA and MA transcripts are clear about what I have studied. My thought was to slip it under the undergrad info at the "Education" section at the top - I'm overthinking this, I'm sure - it is very far from being a make-or-break thing (no adcom will likely care) but I'd like to include it if I can. Thanks in advance!

Hahah, that's the way that goes, right? And yes, lol. I did my MA in Virginia and realized that having friends/family within a reasonable distance is key to my overall well-being. Plus, for what I study, I think there are a lot of departments that range from "superstar" to "excellent" to "very good," all within the Philly area and at which I would be happy, so I wanted to take advantage of that. I'm also open to alt-ac and non-ac paths (depending on the strengths of the program I attend) and, if I end up pursuing one of those career paths, I'd rather establish that professional identity near Philly / in-state.

You're right - straightforward never hurt anyone and it is far better than seeming like I read on the internet that it was good to have a personal quote-hook, so I just threw one in. And sup Philly friend! Are you applying to schools in and around Philly?

Thanks, @Pezpoet - your advice is good and I think it's exactly what I'd give to someone asking this question. At this point, I think I'm going to drop the quote. It may be more boring to read "I am applying at University X to study TIME PERIOD/AREA. I aim to study STUFF" but the personal aspect just isn't flowing in an authentic way and my gut says it's safer/better to be straightforward. Thanks! And I, too, would be thrilled to hear the opinions of others!

Can I ask the group: what are opinions on the "hook" for the SOP. I'm not gifted in the art of gab and most of my SOPs have tight word limits that I'm already meeting. As my SOP stands now, I have an opening statement about what time periods/areas I'm interested, including a relevant quote to add some personality to it. A professor and a peer have suggested however that I either flesh out the use of that quote or cut it. In looking at it, they're right - I just kind of throw it in there. So - would you all lean toward crafting a short/succinct "personal touch" narrative at the beginning? Or would you be OK with just stating what you're interested in studying and moving into an explanation of how you've developed those areas academically (not personally.)

Congrats, @snickus! You're at the homestretch now! I'm behind on revising my WS and tailoring my SOP, too - I think it's part of the process. I hope your work goes smoothly and you're feeling good over the weekend!

Internet hugs, @WildeThing. I'm positive your project is not pointless, but instead thoughtful and interesting. I think @unicornsarereal's advice about trying to explain how/why your angle is spot-on. Also, I think it's very normal to enter a PhD program and have your projects expand outward (and sometimes change outright) - so, could you, in your SOP, perhaps touch on how the programs you are considering will help you expand your work? Positioning yourself that way may help your LW better understand how your project "fits" within larger conversations being had at your prospective departments. Re: shooting too high - most programs are, I think, shooting to high, in the sense that there are no real safeties. So, if you are excited about the programs to which you're applying and excited about the opportunities to work with certain scholars and resources, you should apply. It's my two cents but "fit" really trumps, like, a lot of other stuff, so if you can explain why your work would be enhanced by / good for a department, that's always in your favor.

Hi! I'd be super down to swap - would you want to pick a date (maybe in a week or so) at which point we can exchange what we've got? As a lit person, I'm editing/rewriting a graduate seminar paper on two contemporary Caribbean novels (by the same author) that address white Creole anxiety, history, and Carnival. I've got some good feedback from profs on it, but I'd love a second pair of eyes to catch wonky sentences/spots needing clarification as I expand it from 12-18 pages. Shoot me a PM if you'd like to swap!

That sounds so cool! And that's odd, haha. I'll email my friends and ask them. Unless something has changed, it should be a good offer.

That's awesome! What is your novel about (if, of course, you don't mind sharing) - this is just so cool! And have you looked at Bucknell University's MA program? I did my undergrad there and had two friends do the MA - those friends are now currently attending two excellent PhD programs. The program is fully-funded, in rural PA (State College is about 45 minutes away, Harrisburg is about an hour away, and the Philly 'burbs are about 2 1/2 hours, so you can certainly find more populated places if you need to) and the cost of living is seriously low. I'd be happy to talk to you about the program or any questions about the department you may have - just shoot me a PM.

Congrats, @katie64! If you don't mind me asking, what is your publication on? That's awesome it's been accepted for publication! And I'm applying to Maryland, Michigan, PSU, UPenn, Temple, Lehigh, UPitt, Carnegie Mellon, Rutgers, Princeton, Delaware, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Virginia. Yourself?

Adding my two grains/pennies to this.

@snickus, that makes a lot of sense - I'm not quite sure how the field-to-field transition is best accomplished. However, I do know what it is like to have super busy LWs who you don't want to bug. For what it is worth, I sent my full WS to the LW who led the course that prompted the paper and I sent the intro pages to the other two. The first 4-5 pages gave them a sense of what I'd be arguing (it gave them a "road map," as lame as that term is) and, since they're already familiar with my writing style & interests, kept them from getting bogged down by 18+ pages. This might be an option for you? They shouldn't need to read the whole thing really closely to get a sense of what paper is doing - the first 4-5 pages should be enough to them figure out what paper makes more sense for the programs to which you're applying. I hope that makes sense!

Hi! From my understanding (friends currently in PhDs, my application experiences, and internet-lurks), an "average" score is fine and is certainly not what will stop you from getting through the door. So, I'd send it - if nothing else, it demonstrates that you're willing to submit something the department strongly recommends submitting (I always envision that phrase as someone waggling their eyebrows while maintaining very strong eye contact.) FWIW, I'm submitting to any departments that mention accepting/recommending the subject test. That may or may not make you feel better, haha.

Contemporary transnational Caribbean-American literature, framed by 20th century American when it is relevant/interesting.

It goes! I've got a few tweaks to my SOP to make, but - other than that - it is just revising/polishing the WS. Sort of a weird feeling but, also, a good one. I think.

Have you shown your papers to your letter writers? They may be able to offer the best advice on which paper is the better option.

I think contacting OSU is your best bet. I can't recall (from my past application attempts) how long my scores took to send or if I was even given that info. Moreover, since some schools offer to let you know if the scores are missing and others suggest a "take-by" date to ensure the scores get there on time, I don't know if a generalization can/should be made about their stance on it.

Hi, to agree with @darcyt, I believe that is true of Penn State and not UPenn - my "knowledge" is hearsay, but I also have a friend at UPenn who has an MA and, having met her cohort, she is not the only one.

Thanks! @WildeThing - sounds like a solid plan

Can we send multiple GRE scores to English PhD programs? I can't find anything for or against it on department pages and I'm happy to email programs to ask, but I wanted to check here in case the group knows (and I've just been in the dark).

I tend to fall into this school of thought - I did my MA at UVA and, while I didn't enjoy living in Charlottesville and don't agree with Sullivan's/The University's statements on recent events, that's not my reasoning for not applying to UVA again. "Fit," as @cowgirlsdontcry notes, is key - if a department is misaligned enough with my academic or personal requirements, I'll pass on them. Looking past that and toward the university at-large is, while certainly worthwhile, definitely challenging - I'd guess many big policies are problematic in some sense. It's a good thing to be aware and to be ready to demand change, though.

This is a great point - I need to think more about my metaphor, because @Doll Tearsheet - you're spot on. I think the SOP can be brought down swiftly by too much Intellectual Stuff (if that makes sense) and the WS absolutely needs to be at a professional level of scholarship. I perhaps meant more that the WS shows "hey, I can produce the kind of professional scholarship that is required at the doctoral level" and, for me, that more how I envision work versus show, but this is also totally semantics and not important. The important points are, as @Doll Tearsheet notes, the SOP should speak plainly and clearly on its goals and the WS should prove your academic abilities.

Hi! I hope your MA experience is amazing and best of luck with your first semester! If I could sum up some of the things that I learned from my MA (in a way that is hopefully helpful to you), I would say - (1) Be open and engaged with professors; they're (obviously) some of your strongest allies in the application process. Getting to know them and asking their opinions on best practices towards applying during that first semester will (a) give you a network of awesome LWs and advisers and (2) help you figure out what adviser style works for you. Hitching your wagon to a superstar is great, but you risk detaching somewhere in the troposphere if the adviser is misaligned with you in a holistic way. It's a weird way to put it, but I hope I'm at least sort of clear. (2) Be open and engaged with your peers; they're your second line of defense in PhD apps. Finding good friends means (usually) good and honest eyes who can read your SOP and WS. Moreover, I've some of my best app/scholarship practices from friends (and from reading their work.) (3) Focus on creating a great WS by keeping things simple. There are many opinions on what the WS is; I would say that the WS is the "workhorse" of your application - its primary goal is to prove that you can create and sustain an intelligent and engaged academic argument for 18ish pages. It's also good to explore a bit in your field, but the WS doesn't need to be the "showhorse" that the SOP (with all its ambition and intellectual acrobatics) needs to be. I learned this in a lovely convo with a peer today, so - hey - friends are key. (4) Reach out for help if you need it - there are lovely folks on here willing to talk. There are lovely folks at your program (in the English department and elsewhere) likely willing to help. It sounds like a platitude because it is, but it takes a village (in some sense) to make this whole PhD app thing work. FWIW, I haven't stuck the landing yet in terms of apps, so please - take my advice with a lot of salt (well-intended, not Salty Salt), ignore whatever doesn't work for you, and PM if something does stick out. Best!