theinforat

Well, the third phone call to Baylor (after two ignored emails and two unhelpful phone calls), Baylor finally decided to let me know that I had been rejected back in February, but they failed to send any sort of formal rejection until yesterday afternoon. That wraps my cycle up at long last. Thanks to you guys for all your support! I’ve enjoyed it. For better or worse, University of Southern Mississippi here I come!

I sound like a broken record, but does anyone have any information on Baylor? I have emailed twice, both last week and this week, with no response. I called yesterday and the lady I spoke with had no information at all (at least that she was willing to reveal). After the strange post-deadline request for writing samples back in January, I’d have thought they would be more informative. In any event, they’re the last school I’m waiting from, and my patience is wearing thin (as is everyone’s).

Well, gang, I was one of the UVA rejects issued yesterday. Hopefully the rest of you will hear something soon!

Make that 6 (does that make me Scrappy-Doo?) although I’m calling it implied rejection at this point. Also, does anyone have a vague idea about Baylor?

Me! Also, I feel that last line so much... So far my only acceptance is a fairly local acceptance, and it is by no means a bad program, but it definitely wasn’t my top choice either.

I haven't heard anything from them. I'm trying to decide if this is an implied rejection, or if they are notifying in waves. At this point, I'm mostly assuming the former.

I, too, am chalking Vanderbilt up to implied rejection. It stings because it was one of my top choices, but life goes on. Hopefully more results will soon soften the blow.

This is my existence right now. Also, I have a ton of papers to write, but every time I open Word, I feel the need to check all the things... It's going to be a long two months.

Are you guys finding out via email or through the app portal? This is one of my top choices, and I may or may not be obsessing...

I’m also awaiting a response from them! *obsessively refreshes email* Congrats @FriendlyNeighborhoodWolf! I also hope there’s movement for you!

After the Duke rejection, Vanderbilt is next up on my list. Do any of you have an approximation on Baylor's notification? Based on what I've seen they seem to be within the next couple of weeks.

I've been lurking for some time back here. I too received my first rejection. I am also a fated Duke rejection (though I almost expected it). Congrats to those accepted!

Hi, everyone! Some if you may have seen my other posts on the Literature section (and perhaps this topic belongs there, though I’m sure I’ll find out soon). Anyhow, I’ve been struggling with how to proceed with grad school. I’m a Biblical Studies and English double major (History minor) at a small, private university in the Deep South with a 4.0 major and cumulative GPA; 163V, 149Q, 5.5 AWA GRE. I’m currently doing an undergraduate honors thesis on Biblical Inversion in Flannery O’Connor, and I have two papers sent off for consideration for presentation/publication. I recently completed a seminar in Walker Percy this past summer, and I am about to start an Independent Study on C.S. Lewis. I also just completed a Literary Analysis of women in the Book of Revelation. As my thesis and courseload reveal, I sit comfortably at the intersection of Christian theology and modern and contemporary literature. It had been my plan to pursue a PhD in English. However, upon review of my past coursework and conversation with my advising professors, it seems that the majority of my work has been at the interdisciplinary crossroads. My Biblical Studies advisor and thesis advisor both suggested I look into Religion/Theology and Modernity/Society/Culture/the Arts, etc. Programs. I was curious about any advice you folks might have about these types of programs. I should add that I have considered the MTS over the MDiv (as it relates to Masters) given that I don’t feel a call to preaching, though if entry from the BA into the PhD is possible, that would be preferred. So far I have looked at PTS - Religion and Modernity UVA - Theology, Ethics, and Culture Vanderbilt - Religion and the Arts (MTS/MDiv; doesn’t seem like there’s much funding) Baylor - Religion and Literature Yale - MAR Religion and the Arts Duke was suggested by a colleague as well. I’m sure there are others. Given the late date of all this, I’ve been absorbing quite a lot of info, but I don’t know how well I processed any of it. Perhaps I’m looking the wrong direction, but I’m hoping you all can steer me from the edge of the cliff if need be. Thanks!

Fellow applicant here as well! I’ll graduate in May with a BA double major in English and Religion with a minor in History. I currently have a 4.0. I’m hoping to go into a PhD program if possible. I’m also struggling to study for the GRE (standardized tests are a bit difficult for me, especially given the weight of this one). I’ll begin writing my Senior honors thesis in the Fall. I have interests all over the proverbial map, but I’m particularly interested in 20th Century American Lit. I also have a keen love for the American South (just wrapping up a summer seminar on Walker Percy, actually). Still have yet to work on SOP, though I hope to use either my capstone paper or a part of my honors thesis for my writing sample. I’m looking at both traditional Lit programs and American Studies programs. Any advice is greatly appreciated! I’m relatively terrified.

Thanks for all your comments so far! I spoke with my advisor today, and he gave me some good things to ponder going forward. When I addressed my sort of dual pronged interests in literature but also my love for theory, he advised that I might look at programs like UNC-Chapel Hill or Duke which have strong faculties in both areas but maintain a sort of "cross-over" nature between the two departments. He threw LSU in as a good fit for both Southern Lit and theory as well. He also urged me to look at faculty, not necessarily just for names, but for work that they have done that might align with my interests. He noted my work with Southern authors, such as my current research on Flannery O'Connor, but also pointed out my strengths in Contemporary Lit and Culture with my past research on Margaret Atwood and feminism. As ignorant as it seems, I had been under the impression that my work in the past wasn't so important when considering this part, but he has shown me otherwise. He seemed to believe that I shouldn't spend time on an MA, but to continue on, though that seemed to be largely from a financial perspective as @heysickah pointed out. So, the process continues... Thank you all, again!

Hello, everyone! I suppose you might consider this a new thread by an indecisive, overly paranoid, undergrad senior, but here it goes: the quest for the "perfect" PhD program. As I said, I'm a senior in my undergrad coursework for English Lit at a small Christian university in the Southern US. I'll graduate with a double major in Religious Studies and English and a minor in Spanish. I currently have a 4.0 GPA. On to my interests (I suppose this is where I become a mixed bag of indecision). Perhaps its because of my proximity, but I absolutely adore 20th century Southern Lit despite not being a cult worshipper of Faulkner. However, I also love British Romanticism - specifically Coleridge. Of course, as given by my other major, Religion is another area of interest. Finally, I am taken with theory, particularly the application of continental philosophy and psychoanalysis. That said, I owe more of my theoretical knowledge to personal study beyond a basic course - that is, my university is very traditional in its approach to traditional English lit. Perhaps it is a bit too soon to be incredibly concerned, but December deadlines don't seem that far away to me. I've begun looking around, and the University of MS, UNC-Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt, UVA, and LSU (maybe University of Alabama) all seem to fit the bill of Southern Lit, adding Emory and Duke and some others for the theory side, UPenn and Columbia for British Lit, and there is Baylor with its interdisciplinary Literature and Religion Certificate program. I've also toyed with the idea of an MA in Comp Lit or Theory and then going on the PhD, but I've had several folks advise against that. So, I guess to my questions, 1) Does it make more sense to look at grad schools with 20th century American Literature programs and use that as a gateway for Southern lit. 2) Do I look at more "well-rounded" universities and attempt to encompass my Southern Lit and Romanticism interests? or 3) Do I look at Comp Lit programs with less emphasis on a specific tradition of English lit? Or perhaps you all read this and think I should go back to the drawing board since this all seems wild and varied, even to me. I haven't the slightest clue of how to effectively narrow down this list by schools, interest, or any other metric, really. Any advice you have there would also be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your feedback, and I appreciate your time! Thank you so much!