LOiseauRouge

@ayay Congrats on the Berkeley acceptance! How were your other Skype interviews? I also have the NYU one coming up next week!

Just got my first acceptance! Hoping February brings more great things!

Just received my letter of admissions to the MA in French Comparative Literature at Arizona State University, with a TA position! First acceptance!

Looks like Berkeley and UCSD have started releasing Comp Lit decisions. Congrats to those who received admissions!

Another thing you might consider would be emailing a prof from your previous institution who is in the same field (if that is an option). I had trouble finding research by a medievalist at one of the prospective schools, and my previous medieval lit prof said he could help me.

It really is!

Curious if anyone applied for/has heard from UCSB about their Comp Lit. On their website, they said applicants may hear from the department about interviews in January, and that those who are shortlisted will be invited to visit in February. So far I haven't seen any posts nor heard anything, so I'm not sure if that's a bad sign or if they just haven't emailed yet.

Worries: I had been emailing the director of one of the programs I was applying for throughout the application process, so once I submitted my app, I thanked her for her time and help. She responded back to that email, having read my writing sample, and talked about how much she enjoyed it. This was back in December. I didn't respond because I wasn't sure if I should (if that crossed some sort of boundary) and I'm thinking I probably should have and I'm worried she'll think I'm rude/disinterested in the program now. Excitement: I have an interview with NYU on Wednesday and one of my profs said my POI there called him about my app and was super interested!

I'm hoping to start hearing back from some schools within the next couple weeks! (perhaps today? But probably not)

Just heard back from NYU! Interview is set for next Wednesday! ?

I agree with layers! I grew up in Arizona/California and then moved to the East Coast for a while and had no idea even how to layer. Layering plus warm coats, thick socks, and gloves can be a life saver! (I usually preferred the fingerless gloves that also had a flap to fold over your fingers for extra warmth so I could use my phone without taking off the gloves)

@illcounsel How cool! What have you looked at in regards to landscape/environment studies? I took an Environmental Literary Criticism course in undergrad and used place studies a fair bit for that, really enjoyed it! My undergrad thesis ended up being more about animal studies and the environment, specifically in terms of science fiction literature. I put my Japanese readings on hold for a bit due to an interview request at one of my unis - been trying to prep for that! But I was reading "Modern Japanese Writers Encounter the West: The Impact of Experiences Abroad on Nagai Kafū and Arishima Takeo", a master's thesis by R. M. Groom, but I actually really enjoyed the page on About Japan's website entitled Japanese Literature and the Environment. Less academic, but very interesting. To prep for my interview I was reading "Untranslating the Anthropocene" by Phillip Usher, as he is my POI at the school I'm interviewing at. I've read some of his early modern work, but not his ecocritical writings, so it's exciting to see that side of his research!

Do you guys think that if I keep refreshing the application portal, I'll find out about the result sooner than if I just check my email? XD I'm like way too anxious right now.

This is so great to read about everyone's interests and papers! I had two writing samples. One was about André Gide, Colette, Marcel Proust, Renée Vivien, and Jean Cocteau, answering the question of which of their approaches to writing about homosexuality in a time where it was not commonly discussed seemed most efficient at changing perspectives in the late 19th, early 20th century. The other was about the importance of having students continue to read works by George Sand, René Crevel, and Violette Leduc (essentially how their writing serves as a counternarrative to narratives of dominance within society). The first one, I wrote in French, and the second I wrote in English, but my textual quotes and some of my theoretical framework quotes were in French. The director of the one of the universities I applied to emailed me about my French paper and seemed to really enjoy it! She does research on a few of the authors I was analyzing, so that was super exciting!

Thanks @trotskor! That is good to know. One of my profs told me to try to be as concise as possible in my answers since it is such a short interview and I tend to be overly talkative when nervous (or even just in general to be honest), so I'll have to work on that before the interview.

Thanks @palyndrone! Good to know! I have a couple questions that I'd like to ask them, hopefully there will be time! The program and a couple of the profs fit my research interests really well, so it would be great to be able to talk about that.

Hi, @illcounsel! I am interested in Ecocriticism and Gender Studies in Medieval and Early Modern French Lit. I really love Animal Studies as well. I've actually been reading some essays on E.M. Japanese writings on animals and perspectives that differ from the West. I read a lot of Le Roman d'Alexandre last semester and would love to read more now that I have a bit of time. Definitely interested in Voltaire as well! This is technically "Medievalism" as opposed to Medieval Studies, but I have also been reading Travels in Hyperreality by Umberto Eco. Outside of Med./E.M., I have been listening to an audiobook by Derrida called Circonfession!

Okay, thanks! Figured as much. I was talking with my mom and she was like, "You need to call them! What if they didn't get your email?" and I got nervous ^^;

@issaquah and @coucoumilou Have you guys heard back from NYU about interview times? I'm guessing they'll probably email later this week, but wanted to make sure my response to them didn't go to junk or something!

Seems to be for my school and program! ^^;

I have a 15 minute Skype interview with NYU for a PhD in French next week! I was wondering if anyone has advice. I have been reviewing my research, books/authors/topics I'm most interested in, the profs' research, and school resources that attracted me to the uni. Do you think I should also prepare for the more general questions, such as "Describe your strengths and weaknesses"? I'd love to hear about other people's experiences with Skype interviews! I'm the first person in my family to apply for a PhD and have a limited idea of what to expect.

I applied to UC Santa Barbara's Comp Lit with a Specialization in French! I'm trying not to refresh the portal every few minutes. ^^;

Hello everyone! I applied to NYU, UC Berkeley, and UC Santa Barbara. I heard from NYU yesterday, also requesting a 15 minute Skype interview. Do you suppose it will be in French? I was planning on preparing to speak in French and English just in case. I'm not certain what to expect from a shorter interview, but I am excited for it!