Hugh_

These all look good to me, except maybe #2 since any student should have explored these opportunities prior to applying. One question that is very important to ask would be about professional development opportunities: do they provide workshops on applying for tenure-track positions? Do they offer help with job search? You could also ask questions about the alumni network (is there one at all?). Another important question to ask is their employment stats. Where are recent grad students? How many land tenure-track jobs? How many are working outside academia? Do they offer professional development opportunities for people who end up working in "industry"? Finally, I would be very candid about finding out how long people stay in the program and what happens if you extend your stay beyond the available time frame for funding. MANY students take more than 5 years before graduating, so it's important to know if there is any additional funding beyond the existing funding structure.

Most programs have very solid 20th c British literature, as far as cinema studies are concerned these would be mostly housed outside the English Department...I suggest on looking for programs with a specialization on your research interests instead (topic, approach, etc.)

I would not worry too much about GRE scores- if they are still required. If they are optional, I wouldn't worry about it and apply.

No need to contact professors once you have submitted the application. The admissions committee will contact you once that have met to make a decision.

It really depends what programs you are applying to and where. If you are applying to a PhD program in Europe, you can expect a real formal interview with a few faculty members. In the US, it can vary depending on the program. In any case, these interviews should not be taken lightly. If you get an interview, you should definitely celebrate because this means that the department is interested in you. But you should practice, practice, practice!

Three is always a good number. You want to provide authentic answers: stay away from humble brag (I work too hard, etc.) Good strengths to talk about: ability to work on your own, to meet deadlines, ability to take feedback, rigor, analytical/critical thinking skills, etc. Hope this helps!

You should definitely go for a paper you wrote in one of your classes in your target field. If you don't have one, then I would choose a research that demonstrates your skills: ability to conduct an argument, excellent writing, and demonstrated ability to manage the research protocol/apparatus: footnotes, bibliography, etc.

You have a lot of different choices here. It all depends on where you want to be, your career goals, what area of focus you would like to pursue, etc. There are great MPPs at Georgetown, HKS, Princeton, Yale, etc. The list is long! Your profile seems strong. I suggest applying to 5- or 6 to make sure that you do not go through the entire process for nothing. Some strategy is always useful: 1-2 stretch schools, 1-2 where you stand a good chance but competitive, and 1-2 where you will very likely be admitted.

Many companies have expertise in a variety of fields. wink wink

All across the board, the minimal GPA is a 3.3 to be considered by a graduate program in Canada. It may be higher depending on various elements (and it varies greatly from year to year): the number of applicants, the quality of applicants, funding from the university, etc. While the GPA is important, there are other factors that can mitigate it, and letters of recommendations play a huge role in getting admitted.

It depends on your GPA, the quality of your application (personal statement and writing sample if required), and especially the quality of your letters of recommendations. There is no real existing way to assess the degree of competitiveness for these programs. All that can be said is the admissions committee will take a careful look at all components of your application

The minimum requirement for GPA at the graduate level is 3.3. If funding is provided, it will very likely be partial. As for your chances of acceptance (and funding), it will all depends on the quality of your essays (very important), your letters of recommendations (also very important), and your GRE score. Without much information about your internships, it is hard to tell but if you have worked with government organizations it will look very good.

Yes, in general, in the US, it is easier to get fully funding for PhDs than Master`s programs. You might be able to get partial funding for a master`s degree at best. What programs are you considering?

There are a lot of different of choices of schools depending on what you want to do post-graduation. Why no letters from faculty? Who will be your recs?

With your profile, I don't see the point of going for an MA. Enrolling in one will only slow you down in reaching your research goals. PhD programs in the Humanities very rarely transfer all the credits earned in a master's program from another school: they might ask you to retake some classes or pass an exam. Who wants to do that? While it is indeed hard to get into top graduate programs, the best route to take is to have a very strong SOP and LORS and to pick the RIGHT school. These three elements are frankly what will decide if you're in or not next year.