feralgrad

I agree that you'll have to address this in your SOP, but I would recommend minimizing specifics. In my opinion, the SOP is more like a professional cover letter than a college admissions essay; you shouldn't include any information you wouldn't tell a potential employer. Mentioning that you dropped out due to mental health issues (or even simply health issues), and that you've addressed them effectively, might be enough. You could also ask your LOR writers to address your reliability/persistence to show that you'll "stick with it" during your degree. Hope that helps, and good luck with apps!

One of my LOR writers asked me to do this. He was my supervisor at work, so I could understand why he felt like he needed my "expertise." I basically gave him an outline with "fill in the blank" sentences. Stuff like, "I think feralgrad will thrive in your program, because..." or "feralgrad has distinguished themselves in the workplace by..." With this method, you're giving guidance while allowing the LOR writer to give their genuine opinion.

Saw this article on writing SOPs in the Directing MFA thread (don't ask me why I was there). It's a bit long-winded, but has lots of helpful examples! https://www.creativewritingnews.com/statement-of-purpose-examples-2/

I think a good number of fully/mostly funded programs will still accept students this year. We're getting to the period when applications open, so if we were going to see mass cancellations, it probably would have happened already (it has in other disciplines, like philosophy). Keep in mind that many MFA programs fund students by having them teach gen ed courses; those students serve an essential function in the university. Take my opinion with a grain of salt -- obviously this will also be affected by undergrad admissions and subsequently gen ed course demand. I will say, though: Since this year will be more competitive, see if y'all can get out of paying those app fees. No need to deal with the financial hit on top of everything else. Plus a lot of people don't realize they qualify for fee waivers.

What a cool research area! It is a very interdisciplinary subject, so I wouldn't be shocked if you ended up applying to several programs in different disciplines. I know a lot of anthropology programs would give you the archeological training you want. Classical archeology is another place to look. That said, you're going to be dealing with a lot of eurocentrism any route you go. Your research area will make you stand out, but it may be challenging to find thesis advisors who are knowledgeable about your interests. I'd look at academic journals to see who's writing about similar topics. Find out where these people were trained and where they work now.

Like Sigaba said, you're just rewording your original post. You're not actually responding to what I said. I'm not going to write thoughtful responses to your questions if you won't think critically about them.

You may be right about that. I tend to take statements at face value; if someone told me they left their department for aesthetic reasons, I would assume that it was simply a poor creative match (i.e. that the faculty didn't have experience with the topics/genre they work in). That may not be the way adcoms view it. That said, I stand by my assertion that OP should address their transfer status in the application. As for whether transferring is worth it in the first place when racism is everywhere... I don't think any of us can say. Even if racism is rampant in academia, some departments are more inclusive than others. Not to mention that since there are only two professors, OP will most likely be interacting with this professor every single semester for three years. Frankly, if there were a couple more faculty in the program, I would have likely given different advice.

I wouldn't recommend reaching out on social media; it may feel like a bit of an imposition to some people. I'd go through someone working for the program, like an admissions counselor. Usually program websites will list someone in this role (i.e. lower-rank admin who interacts with potential students). I've done this several times with good results. Personally, I didn't research faculty that extensively. I read short stories if they were available online, but I didn't consider it a good use of my time to read a bunch of books from professors I may never interact with. I'd focus on talking to current students, and potentially sitting in on a class via Zoom (although chances are you'll only be able to do this after you've been accepted into a program). Seeing what GC users have said about the program and the city was also helpful to me, although smaller programs may not be mentioned here. Overall, though, talking to students was the most fruitful avenue for me. I'd recommend devising a few questions about your top priorities. For example, my top priorities were a sense of community, queer-friendliness, and openness to genre fiction. Happy to help! But one caveat: chances are you won't be able to apply for other sources of funding unless you've committed to the program. It can be a bit of a gamble. If you're attending an in-state public institution, however, you lessen that gamble considerably. My school is about $5k per semester for in-state grad students, so depending in your circumstances, that could be doable with a part-time job outside the institution.

If you went with medieval religious culture/history, would you be interested in a job at a religious secondary school? I'm no expert on that market, but it's an option that may be less competitive than academia while allowing you to pursue your interests.

As Warelin pointed out, this may be considered dishonest. Remember that applications usually ask for info/transcripts from /all/ universities you've attended. Failure to provide this will likely be considered a violation of the terms of the application, and schools may rescind offers as a result. So in short OP, please don't do this.

I think this is a good strategy. I'd highly recommend applying to large state institutions this round, as they'll be more financially stable than smaller/private institutions. Additionally, if you're dead set on going this year, larger schools have more "non-traditional" funding routes. My university has a ton of TA positions in other departments (for example, I know someone who covered their tuition by working as a grading TA for a business course). I'd recommend getting in touch with students in your program of interest to ask about this sort of thing -- and how supported they feel by the institution overall. This will likely be a very competitive year, and strong research will give you an edge.

I'm glad that you're feeling better about this, but I figured I'd offer my two cents: this may be less about badmouthing the university and more about badmouthing the people you work with. It seems like you and your supervisors are on the same page now, but your original comment may have sounded like you thought they were responding poorly to the crisis. And frankly, even if they are, they're humans dealing with an incredibly stressful situation. As leaders in the university, they're responsible for ensuring your safety /and/ the continued viability of the program through unprecedented times. In short, they're definitely feeling high-strung and sensitive right now. That's not to make you feel bad -- I think your comment sounds understandable. Just offering another perspective since you seem surprised by their reactions.

I know that many cultures hold up youth as the best time of your life -- or even the only one that matters -- but that simply isn't true. Each phase of your life will offer new insights, challenges, and opportunities. Each will have its pros and cons. It's not "all downhill from here" unless you /act/ like it is. Instead, consider all that you're gaining in this new stage: independence, knowledge, understanding of yourself -- I could go on. Personally, I enjoy life a lot more now than when I was in college. I was a hot mess back then! It's okay to feel a sense of loss, but that doesn't have to define your experience.

I don't think it will look like OP is trash-talking. I think it will look like they didn't do their research when applying -- which wouldn't reflect on them too favorably, I'll admit. But if they demonstrate in their SOP that they've done proper research for their latest application, they can mitigate that damage.

How's everyone's research/preparation going? Just a heads up that I'm happy to look at SOPs and such.

Out of curiosity, what's your goal in getting a PhD? I lurk on the humanities forums a lot (former history major, so I consider y'all my comrades), and from what I understand, the job market post-PhD is pretty barren. That's not to discourage you. Maybe you just really want a few years to research something you're passionate about, in which case a less prestigious program would still offer what you want. Alternatively, you may want to consider if there are other ways you can engage in your passions without going the traditional route.

Seconding Warelin. I would recommend addressing it in your SOP and giving a solid reason that doesn't denigrate your current institution. Even though it sounds like your program may deserve it, speaking ill of it will look unprofessional to adcoms. You could say something about how the faculty's aesthetics don't match with yours, or how you've realized you want a program that offers X opportunity or prepares you for X career.

I don't think you're overreacting. Mathematically speaking, 50% of the professors in your program are racist and bad at teaching. That's a huge issue. Of course, switching programs is a big decision. You managed to get funded for a 3 year program, and especially these days there's no guarantee you'll get that opportunity twice. With that in mind, here are a couple things to consider: - How do you feel about your cohort? The relationships you build with your classmates can be just as valuable and creatively informative as those you build with professors. If you feel like you're making strong connections with other students, that may balance out this awful situation. - Has anyone tried to take action against this guy? I'd investigate institutional options to address this problem. If your university has a grad student association, I might reach out to them and see if they can offer advice/point you to someone who can. I know that's scary/potentially time-consuming, but so is switching programs.

Yup. If there's no difference, maybe something's wrong.

So based on the fact that you're ignoring or brushing off like 8 people telling you the same thing, I'm wondering if you've already met an undergrad you want to date. If that's the case, no one here can stop you from doing anything. But these are the likely reactions from your cohort, so make peace with that now.

I wouldn't consider it creepy, although I think you'll find yourself quickly outpacing undergrads in maturity (hopefully). I've been out of undergrad for 2 years (24 now), and I've matured A LOT in that time. I think I'd find a college senior painfully "green." I may be biased though: my undergrad institution had a big party scene, and everyone drank a lot. That's basically poison for personal growth.

I'm glad my response was useful! I agree that there's a lot of conflicting information, which I found very frustrating when I was applying. I've heard the SOP described as "proof that people will want to work with you," and I think that's the best thing to keep in mind. This may sound strange, but when writing my statement, I wanted to demonstrate that I had strong personal boundaries -- meaning that I could bring in an incredibly personal piece of writing without making the workshop into a group therapy session. At any rate, I think it makes perfect sense to discuss your experience as a bi-racial adoptee, because you're already addressing it in your writing. And I’d be happy to look over your statement when the time comes. I’ll be popping in semi-regularly throughout application season. This semester, my program is fully online. My GTA duties will be conducted remotely as well. I'm hoping for in-person instruction on the spring. Thankfully my program is 3 years, so the sacrifice stings less.

Some time ago, I saw someone here refer to the higher ed job market as going from "barren to post-apocalyptic." I'm attending an MFA program this fall because I was offered full funding, and I would not be attending otherwise. If my funding gets cut next year, I may choose to leave the program. This is coming from someone in the literary arts, but it doesn't seem like the situation in visual arts is very different. If you're interested in teaching, I'd consider getting a teaching certificate and working at the high school level. Even with my MFA, I may take this route as well; I'm not willing to fight tooth-and-nail for tenure track positions/get used and abused in adjunct positions. Teaching high school offers better pay and benefits than an adjunct position, and it's a hell of a lot more stable. That said, I don't mind teenagers ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

An SOP should be less personal than a college admissions essay. This is a professional situation, so don't say anything you wouldn't be comfortable saying in a job interview. It's fine to mention personal struggles or marginalized status in passing, but remember that you're hoping to work with the people on the admissions committee. Keep explicit personal details to a minimum. You should differentiate yourself through your writing practice, not your life story. Here's an example: Good: "My writing draws on my personal experience confronting misogyny. It seeks to express... [insert theme drawn from lived experience]" Questionable: "My writing draws on my personal experience confronting misogyny. When I was an undergrad, I had a professor who... [insert deeply personal story here]"

Getting in off the waitlist is pretty common in my field. That said, this late in the season I wouldn't count on it. There's a chance you'll get in, but you'll want to work on a plan B.