havemybloodchild

Now that all of our application materials are done (I hope, but bless ya'll who may still be working), I'm wondering if anyone would like to swap their SoP? Considering how much of our lives we've spent crafting these, I thought it would be fun to compare, compliment, and commiserate. I'll go first! Here's my SoP for UChicago (my top choice). Can't include my UIC one because I used the word "additionally" twice, which I will probably never forgive myself for. Kendall Dinniene Meador Personal Statement “Look for where women try to wrest control from others to tell their own stories, to tell what has not yet been told.” It’s a note on page 41 of my densely highlighted, underlined, and scrawled on copy of Ana Castillo’s So Far from God, a book which has influenced my development as a student of literature, and illuminated the intersectional interests which propel me toward graduate study. All of my work engages with a feminist lens, however in researching for the paper I ultimately wrote on Castillo’s novel, I found that complicating my initial responses to the text with Indigenous, queer, and differently-abled perspectives was crucial. In my paper, I argue for the faithfulness of Fe, a character rarely mentioned in existing published scholarly work on the novel, and never described as living up to her namesake. My argument relies on considering the various layers of marginalization this character faces, and in understanding her methods for working within, and attempting to escape, those oppressions. Intersectionality has always been important to me, particularly as a queer woman from a rural, working class background. However, the experience of interacting with Castillo’s work further cemented my desire to look to where marginalized people are telling their own stories, with an emphasis on the layered identities from which those stories emerge. Since then, my papers have consistently returned to representations of people on the fringes and their negotiations of power. I have explored how Edith Johnstone’s impoverished Irish twins in A Sunless Heart use classist ideology and gender role swapping to combat their status as racialized Other within Victorian Britain. I have written about Marge Piercy’s Chicana mother in Woman on the Edge of Time, specifically how that character creates a complex identity through her experiences with Catholicism, pain, and disability. My senior capstone project on James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room argues that the novel’s central figure partners with darker-skinned men, and uses transactional heterosexual encounters, in order to recuperate masculinity and abate a femininity which threatens to swallow him. These multi-faceted investigations provoked and enthralled me throughout my time as an undergraduate, and I plan to continue this work as a graduate student. I am eager to begin the next phase of my academic career. I would like to continue to focus on texts which examine the experiences and contributions of those within marginalized communities, particularly women, and people of color. Expanding my understanding of cooperating oppressions is one goal that I hold for graduate study. However, while I have always enjoyed learning for the sake of learning, my ultimate goal is to gain the knowledge and skills I will need as a professor of English literature. I am therefore intent on acquiring teaching experience, and began doing so as a college senior. At Southern Oregon University, I served as a Teaching Assistant to my advisor and Chair of the English department, Dr. Alma Rosa Alvarez. This position allowed me initial practice grading papers, developing lesson plans, working with students in the writing process, and leading class discussion about topics that I would like to teach one day. For instance, I asked the class not only to question elements of Euripides’ Medea, but also to query how Luis Alfaro’s gender and sexual identities may have impacted his contemporary Chicano reimagining of that play, titled Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles. Observing how intersectional discussions of texts led to deeper understanding of the material, and increased engagement amongst students from many backgrounds, was remarkably impactful. It reminded me of my first day as a student in an English Literature classroom, when I realized how much my professor cared about the subject, and what an opportunity I was going to have to discuss and learn. I want to spend my future giving students that same opportunity. The University of Chicago’s English program appeals to me for several reasons, particularly its commitment to creating excellent teachers and researchers from incoming PhD students. Furthermore, I am very excited at the prospect of learning from U Chicago’s own exemplary faculty, specifically Dr. Kenneth Warren, whose publications on African American literature I admire, and Dr. Lauren Berlant, whose work on gender, sexuality, and embodiment in culture fascinates and inspires me. I feel that my interest in layers of marginalization with a focus on a feminist perspective make me a good fit for your existing program. Additionally, I believe that U Chicago will provide the challenging and invigorating academic environment I am looking for, in order to achieve my purpose as a scholar, and to prepare me for my next steps.

I'm having a hard time not panic applying to a few more programs. Anyone else having this issue? Like, why didn't I apply to any schools in Canada? I love Canada! Why did I disregard the entire South (US)? Humidity isn't that bad! You'd think 20 programs would be enough, but apparently not. I'm terrified that I won't get in anywhere and then I'll be 31 reevaluating everything. AAAAAAAAAAA.

I'm interested in intersections of marginalization (mostly) in modern literature, with a focus on feminism and women's writing. I think the novel that best sums up my interests is Ana Castillo's So Far from God, in which she discusses feminist issues and queerness, alongside Chicana identity and disability, amongst other topics. I'm also fascinated by disability poetics, which is why I'm hoping I actually get into Ohio State this year (was wait listed last year)- they have a seminar on disability studies that I would be so happy to attend.

I'm sorry I didn't see this yesterday! For my SoPs I simply named the author in the sentence along with whichever text I was mentioning. Last year I did include a footnote in reference to a quote from an interview that I used. My advisor said more formal citations were not necessary. Good luck! I'm sure however you did it will be just fine.

I know Oregon State's English MA program is fully funded. Not sure about the degree requirements, but your friend may want to check the program out. The app deadline is 1/1.

The only school I applied to that mentioned the Lit test as far as score expectations go was UT Austin, which said: "Questions about an applicant’s preparation and readiness tend to be raised when the GRE Subject Test in Literature score is below the 60th percentile." I took the test last year and scored in the 54th percentile, I believe. I didn't include the results in any application that didn't require them based on Austin's statement, but my advisor said the test is ridiculous and and my score wasn't a terrible one. Especially since my areas of interest are not old white guys, which 99.8 % of the questions on the test pertained to. But...who knows? I'm sure every school weighs the scores differently. Anyways, that's all the info I could find, I hope it helps!

I'm picking up shifts at work, reading a book every couple of days, and working on my novel. Sounds like it'd be enough to distract me from the low level panic I'm feeling every day about my applications but, sadly, it is not.

That is such a good idea, kgras13! Last year I made a gift basket of cheetos and wine for my advisor, who helped me with an LOR, my SoP, and my WS. Cheetos are her favorite snack, haha. This year I think I'll do the pen idea...provided I get into a program!

Absolutely! I'm trying not to think about it but not having much success ?

I would have the conversation with your current faculty and ask their advice. You've built trust with them, so show them you trust them by asking them for their input. These people obviously do what they do to help students like you succeed. They should be open to your concerns and willing to help you through them. Good luck!

I had similar worries- I'm thirty and I just graduated with my BA last spring, although I started college fifteen years ago. I took a lot of time off to work full time, as well as to pursue creative projects. I decided not to address this in my SoP, and only to do so for programs that asked specifically for a separate statement of personal achievements/diversity statement, etc. My professors all thought this was the way to go, especially since I don't really feel I have anything to explain for living life outside of academia, and I thought any such explanation would take away from much more interesting information I could include in my SoP that would be far more indicative of my interests and potential in grad school. I know I'm late in replying but I hope hearing from someone with a similar experience makes you feel better. Good luck!

Hey, I'm also applying to SMU and I'm just curious what you thought about the optional interview video? I think I'm going to go ahead and do it but I thought it was a little odd, definitely not a component of any of my other apps. It's one of those things where I'm like will doing this actually bring something to me application or should I just leave it as is? Just wanted to commiserate, haha.

Only applied to 5 programs last year, 4 PhD and 1 MA. Got into the MA and waitlisted at top choice PhD...decided to retry this year since the MA I got into (Denver) was only 50% funded and I'd rather not bother with a terminal MA program when I could potentially go straight into a PhD program. Applied to 19 PhDs this year and 1 fully funded MA (OSU). I am terrified it's not going to work out this year and I'm going to have to find something else to do with my life. Also pretty hopeful something will work out! My areas of interest are very intersectional, focusing on GSWS but also interested in Ethnic lit, especially Chicana lit. Also interested in Disability Poetics. Wishing everyone here the best of luck!