ExileFromAFutureTime

Received my official rejection from Yale today. Haven't heard anything from Rutgers (English) or NYU (English) but assume both are rejections. If so, that's a wrap for me.

I suppose I should give up all hope for a positive answer from Yale.

@ekat97 I completed my MA in English Studies at Freie Universität Berlin this year and applied to mainly US-PhD programs (English/American Studies). In this cycle, I have been accepted into two programs and waitlisted at two programs. While I'm thrilled with the results, I probably would have had more success had I applied to more interdisciplinary programs that obviously fit with my interests (literary left history and transnational modernisms). Instead, I mostly applied to English lit programs, thinking that I had to continue in the discipline due to my MA. Anyway, back to your question: I think your Ph.D. prospects will be fine if you do your MA abroad. Most important is demonstrating that you're capable of PhD-level work and have defined areas of interest that overlap with that of faculty at your school of interest. If I may pitch Germany: University is tuition-free regardless of nationality, and I even received a scholarship from the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, which paid for my living expenses for three years. The English Studies program at Freie isn't the most robust (in comparison to programs you would find in an English-language speaking country) but it did allow me the space to explore my interests with little financial pressure - and no debt! There are other perks: I learned German in university language courses. Cafeteria food is subsidized, and it's easy to get cheap ballet and opera tickets. The only cost is a semester registration fee which amounts to 600 euros/year; this includes a city-wide transportation pass. In comparison to the US educational system, the German system is unstructured. No one is looking over your shoulder to make sure you're progressing and it's very easy to be a student for years on end. You're not required to complete courses you start - you can drop a course by simply not writing the term paper. This forced me to be disciplined with my time and organize myself, which I believe will help with the Ph.D. Happy to answer any other questions about my specific experience.

What a day: rejected at Penn (not a surprise) but accepted to the University of Houston.

Here is what an acquaintance had to say about the Rutgers Am Studies program when I asked them back in the autumn. "I would also say that in my time at Rutgers Newark, the program was very poorly run. Of the three of us to graduate from it, one is now an uber driver, I'm in another phd program, and one is a professor in Jersey. I understand their success rate has grown somewhat since then, and they even placed someone at Duke a few years ago. But I would definitely want to spend a lot of time talking to current late-career PhD students in the program to get a feel for how it's doing these days." Of course, things may have changed as they were in an early cohort.

FYI to those who applied to Purdue: Earlier this week I emailed the DGS of American Studies inquiring into my status (assuming rejection) and was informed that I had been waitlisted for the program. So if you haven't heard anything, do follow up.

Also waitlisted at Emory. All the best to you and I hope you get in.

Yes, American Culture it is. The official letter should arrive next week, according to the DGS email I received.

Yesterday I was informed that I was rejected at the University of Minnesota (English). Today I was informed that I was accepted at the University of Michigan (American Studies).

Exciting stuff- was accepted to the University of Michigan for American Studies. Just found out this morning.

This thread has some useful tips for interviews:

I'm interviewing at Emory next week - any advice or suggestions, particularly from those who have interviewed at programs recently? Thanks in advance.

Congrats to the UCSD admits! Sadly, I learned about the program the day after its deadline, and so couldn't apply. I was impressed with the program's transnational focus and can't wait to see what you all do there.

I've taken the meatiest paragraph to unpack. The more I examine your statement, the more it becomes clear that there are major gaps in your understanding and application of deconstructivism. I suggest you re-read foundational deconstructivist theory, as I'm not convinced it's the approach you want to take. "To facilitate better communication and understanding of people with strikingly different experiences I will first use Deconstruction to break down axiomatic views of other groups so they can be replaced with more inclusive ways of discussing our experiences. Deconstructivism has nothing to do with facilitating "better communication and understanding of people," but rather approaches literary texts in order to note tensions and contradictions within a (perceived) unified text. It demonstrates that meanings are multiple and unstable and points out where 'slippage' occurs. I will do this through the use of American Modernist writers and their fascination with internal thought processes and the exceptional variance within every human life. Authors that I am interested in include: Sherwood Anderson, Gertrude Stein, Hemingway, and Faulkner. I take this to mean you have authors whose work you'd like to 'deconstruct.' Yet deconstructivism has been around since the 1970s; surely this has already been done. Drop what you're doing and go read how scholars have deconstructed particular works so that you can participate in this conversation. You need to know what others have done in order to make a convincing case as to what you'll contribute. These authors pushed for something new in their writing and this extends to how they represent thought. This is not very clear. What is new about their writing and thinking? And how does deconstructivism apply? This highlights the differences in not just what we think but also what leads someone to having that thought. I don't understand this sentence. This time period and group of writers is an important resource for those trying to build relationships and strengthen communication." Are you saying that modernist texts offer insight into human relationships and behavior? If so, what insight? And how does deconstructivism help us understand that? Stepping away from your statement, can you give me your elevator pitch? What is it that you hope to learn, and why is it urgent and important?

I've read the statement a few times, but I'm afraid I don't really understand your statement of purpose. Could you summarize, in two or three sentences, what it is you want to study? Start from there to build the 'kernel' of your motivation, from which you can add past experiences or your specific qualifications. Once you have the body of your statement, go back and write a catchy introductory sentence or two - but only after you know what you want to say. Check your details: you use the first and last names of certain authors, but not consistently. Sentence structure: every paragraph begins with "I". Mix it up. Finally, the last paragraph isn't very convincing. I doubt the work of the professor echoes your own; it's probably the other way around. Further, if you could succeed at any university, why should you be accepted at this one?