Dogfish Head

Is anyone else applying to Duquesne? All application materials must be submitted through Intefolio, which is quite confusing to use and you have to pay for it, and the website does not say how to direct materials through Interfolio to Duquesne. Does anyone have any insight on this?

It is looking like 8, I have four applications officially in.

That makes sense, but I have to wonder why they would not just make that explicit. This whole process is so strange, but I am half way done with it so I guess I have that going for me. I am so nervous that the tiniest mistake I make will make my application null and void.

I've officially submitted four of my applications to Brown, Maryland, Lehigh, and PSU. Feels weird to have applied, but even weirder to think that I still have four or five more programs to apply to. Also, transcripts are stressing me out--I have a general feeling that each school is very vague about what they expect in regards to sending your transcripts. For instance, one school says on their online application that they do not expect your official transcripts until you are admitted into the program, but then when you apply they send you an email telling you to mail your official transcript. What is that? I sent a request to my current university today to mail a physical copy of my transcripts, but the registrars office is going to be closed until the 2018. Basically, that university is going to be getting my transcript a day or two late and that is completely beyond my control because of a contradiction in their application instructions. Kind of miffed. Also, another program I am applying to says, "you will only need to upload one copy of each institutions official transcript(s) when completing your online application," but if you explore slightly more down the page it says, "Official transcripts will only be required by the Graduate School upon admission to the program." Like what is with the lack of consistency?

I am applying to a mix of MA and PhD programs out of my undergrad so I feel you. I am mostly applying to MA programs, though. From my understanding, most programs look at a MA favorable and there are only a few programs (like PSU) that look down on applicants who already have an MA.

I have started to begin my applications, but I am still working through how to write a proper SOP. I am nervous that everything I write will sound odd/amateur. It is tough picturing oneself as a scholar, and then painting an image of the qualifications and potential I would have in a given English department. It is weird stuff. As far as my writing sample goes, my letter writers are currently giving it a read over, but I believe it is near completion which is exciting. People keep on asking me if I have applied anywhere yet, and I keep on feeling like a bum when I say I have not. Does anyone else feel this way? My other friends who are applying to postgraduate programs in the medical field, law, student affairs, business, etc. seem to have finished their applications ages ago while I am floundering to complete mine.

What are all of your research interests? I am curious to see what people this cycle want to study while in graduate school.

I think it is because they prefer candidates with an MA from their institution. I am applying to PSU this cycle, and I had a conversation on the phone with a professor who specifically said something along those lines. I think most programs view a Master's from another institution positively, however, as long as it is from a program that you did well in.

I am applying to a solid mix of MA/PhD programs and MA programs for English/Literary and Cultural Studies. My list (as of now) for MA/PhD programs is Brown, CMU, U of Maryland, and Penn State, and for MA programs my list (as of now) is WVU, U of Vermont, Lehigh, Bucknell, and Duquesne.

Thank you both so much for the thoughtful responses! That all makes a lot of sense and I will keep it in mind!

Is anyone else experiencing issues narrowing down the programs that they are going to apply to? I am having a very tough time, especially because I was going to just apply to MA programs, but now, after some discussions with professors, I will be applying to PhD programs as well. I know that fit is vital, but I can honestly see myself enjoying most of the graduate programs I have looked at. Any recommendations?

Not at all! I got a Verbal: 160 and a Quantitative: 150. I have not gotten my score for the writing section yet, though. I wish I would have done a bit better, but from what I can tell my scores still put me in the competitive range (especially for Master's programs).

I took the GRE last week, and I think that I did pretty well. One step closer to being able to apply to programs this Fall .

Nice, have you had a good amount of luck finding online programs? Are they low residency or completely online? Also, do you plan on going on to get a PhD? Feel free to PM me.

Hello all, I was just wondering, out of the people who are applying for the Fall of 2018, who else is applying to predominantly or all MA programs?

I will look into Lynda, but that sounds super familiar so I feel that my university allows me access to it. I will PM you if I have any issues accessing it, thank you so much for the information! In regards to contacting DGS's, I can definitely relate to the fear of emailing people out of the blue, but everyone I have talked to has been super friendly. I assume they are used to getting random emails because of their position so I would say give it a shot and reach out to some of them if you have questions. I have had contact with people from Georgetown, Bucknell, Clark, and Duquesne so far, but I want to reach out to other DGS's at some other schools I am interested in as well. My questions primarily had to do with acceptance rates, amount of applicants per season, funding/GAships, and Ph.D. placement. I am especially interested about the Ph.D. placement of the schools I am applying to because that is my eventual goal, but I am most likely only applying Master's programs so that I can get some graduate school experience under my belt before the big plunge.

I am taking it on July 20th. I'm a little nervous, but I have been prepping with Kaplan books which I have found to be pretty helpful so far. Nice! Best of luck! Out of curiosity, how have been studying? On another note, I have been reaching out to the Graduate Studies Directors of programs that I am interested in which I have found incredibly helpful. Has anyone else been doing this? Have you found it helpful as well? Everyone I have contacted has been quick to respond and incredibly helpful and kind which has cemented my interest in certain programs.

Just registered to take the GRE .

Nice. Also, if you wouldn't mind, I would love to see that reading list you said you compiled. I am trying to fill in the gaps in my education as well. Feel free to message it to me if you are cool with that.

How early? I occasionally find myself dabbling in the late 19th century (Poe, Melville, Dickinson, etc.), but nothing too much earlier than that. I wish I knew more about early American literature, though, and I remember reading a lot of cool Native American folklore in a survey course I took a few years back.

Nice. What sort of theory do you usually work with?

I am also a 20th century Americanist (though, my interests bleed a bit into the 21st century).

Yo, thank you for making this. I will be applying in the next cycle and I have been thinking a ton about it. Current plans in roughly the order they will occur: * Finish writing sample for independent study project I am doing (then edit the heck out of it) * Take GRE * Have a final list of graduate programs I will be applying to (anywhere from 7-12ish schools) Then I will be starting my last year of undergrad. So, yeah. Really looking forward to going on this journey with all of y'all.