generic31290

This is almost the exact opposite of what has been my experience. I'm finishing my MFA and starting a PhD in comparative literature at a theory-centric program. Throughout my MFA, whenever I was in seminars, the professors and PhD students were always keen on hearing any insights I had from the point of view of a practicing writer. Of course, I didn't want to be pigeon-holed, so I always made an effort to show I was critically engaged as well. I never had people look down on me; if anything, there was a weird reverence that literature people (including professors) had for the MFAs.

Go to law school.

Regarding language proficiency for comparative literature programs: most programs will want you to have a primary foreign language and one or two secondary foreign languages. For the primary foreign language, the best evidence of preparedness is having already done course work (preferably graduate-level) in the language. For the secondary languages, all you need at the time of application is reading ability. Comp lit programs receive fewer applicants per spot than English programs do, which might suggest that English is more competitive. However, there is a self-selecting process. Per my experience, comp lit applicants are less likely to be coming straight from undergrad.

Stipends are taxed like regular income. With an $18,000 stipend, less than 5% will go to federal tax. Use this tool: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96196,00.html Get a roommate or roommates, don't have car payments, make a budget. There are a lot of personal finance blogs and sites out there. Making do is not actually that difficult unless you have previous debt obligations, children, etc.

Check out the websites for Verano Place and Palo Verde. The rents are good (they're subsidized). Factor in the lack of commute and those two complexes are cheaper than anything else you'll find.

UCI is incredibly diverse. Around half of the undergraduate population is Asian, including many Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian . . . I mean, 60% of the world population is Asian. So maybe you have a skewed perception of what is diverse. Three-fourths of the undergrad population at UCI speak a language other than English at home, which speaks to its cultural and economic diversity. What graduate housing are you talking about? If you're at Verano Place or Palo Verde, Albertson's is right across the street and Trader Joe's is a block over. I haven't had a car for a year and I have no shortages of events, readings, screenings and parties to go to. Anyway, I'm mostly reacting to the denigration of Irvine as a sterile and soulless place. You admit that it has its own culture; you're saying you don't appreciate it. How is it fair to demean Irvine's culture in a way that would be impossible if one were talking about New Orleans, per se?

Hi, My undergrad GPA was 3.08. Major GPA (English) was even lower. But my masters GPA is 4.0. So far I'm in at one top 20 program and a few others.

Many (most?) language/literature students get the opportunity to teach their own sections, mostly for one reason: freshman comp. I'm at a UC and taught three terms of it. Lots of freedom, great fun. From what I hear, few of the other departments at my school have that opportunity (the grads just TA or research).

Teaching Composition and Rhetoric has been by far the best job I have ever had.

UCI just started one: http://uci.edu/features/2011/11/feature_interdisciplinary_111107.php