I'm a 2nd semester junior set on starting the application process this summer/fall (I'm taking the GRE early to have buffer room to retake if need be) and have some serious anxieties about applying. I'm mostly interested in Comp Lit/Critical Theory, but my program (large SEC school) doesn't really offer courses directly dealing with those very often. Besides designing an independent study course, how do I deal with that going forward?
Also worrying to me is that my college career was very rocky for a few years, including a two year period off to pay back a loan and move to a new area. Since coming back I've earned my AA with a 4.0 and have a 4.0 at my current institution. Will a continuing upward path offset the two-ish years that weren't so great? Do I even need to address this in an SOP? (Barring extreme personal details, obviously.)
I'm a 2nd semester junior set on starting the application process this summer/fall (I'm taking the GRE early to have buffer room to retake if need be) and have some serious anxieties about applying. I'm mostly interested in Comp Lit/Critical Theory, but my program (large SEC school) doesn't really offer courses directly dealing with those very often. Besides designing an independent study course, how do I deal with that going forward? Also worrying to me is that my college career was very rocky for a few years, including a two year period off to pay back a loan and move to a new area. Since coming back I've earned my AA with a 4.0 and have a 4.0 at my current institution. Will a continuing upward path offset the two-ish years that weren't so great? Do I even need to address this in an SOP? (Barring extreme personal details, obviously.)