tinapickles

That's what I've been doing as well. I feel good about everything BUT the theory stuff.... I'm also taking it on Saturday, which is T-minus 17 hours for me (I'm in India).

Well hello there! Where are you applying to? I'm applying to both PhD in Lit AND PhD CW/Lit (I call this hedging my bets. Others call it crazy)! So nice to meet you! I'm technically a creative non-fiction writer, but there are very few programs that offer non-fiction as an option so I'm also submitting as a fiction student (I write both). I've taught, published (only a TINY bit), and am interested in teaching non-comp classes... hence the PhD. The GREs really chap my a$$. I'm taking the regular one this Thursday, and the Lit. November 13th. Aside from the stuff they sent me (for the Lit. test), I've checked out a few websites. This one, http://www.duke.edu/~tmw15/index.html, has by far been the most helpful. Starting Saturday it's all read, read, read, to try to re-familiarize myself with literature from my undergrad (which seems eons ago now...). While I'm hoping to do well, I'm kinda of the opinion (at this point) that they're a touch superfluous. That being said, I don't want to give adcoms a reason to reject me so... study, study, study! As for SOPs (I'd be interested to know how you plan to attack your SOP for the creative writing programs), personal statements, and analytical essays---working on it. Most are in some state of revising right now so we'll see how it works out I suppose!

Most definitely. May I send it to you towards the end of next week? I revised extensively since this post AND I'm in the final 4 days of review prior to taking the GREs. I would be more than willing to look over your SOP as well.

I'm experiencing a bit of a quandary. I know that it's advisable NOT to mention teaching experience in an SOP. However, my teaching experience, and specifically one class that I created, led directly to my current research interests. What I thought was a passing "Hey I want to use this book cause I love it!" turned into "Huh, there's a lot more going on here than I thought." In that regards, is is "safe" to mention the class--specifically in the context to "while researching/preparing for this class I stumbled upon X which led me to start questioning Y" or is this still a big no-no?

I'm PMing you my SOP. Please feel free to send me yours! T.

Sure! Send it on over! Mine is on its way to you as we speak... er, type.

I finally have what I think is a decent working rough draft of my SOP. However, it's a bit lengthy (889 words) and I haven't yet fleshed out the "fit" paragraph yet. I need some suggestions on what and where to cut and/or how to make it more concise. If you're available/interested, let me know and I'll PM it to you. I'm applying to PhD English Lit programs for what it's worth. This is my first time applying so if things are... wonky please let me know!

fuzzylogician, thank you for the input. I'm working on drafting the whole SOP; every once in awhile I hit a bit of a wall. It helps me (believe it or not--it's my crazy "writing process") to go back and obsess over parts I've already written. Beginnings have always been the most difficult for me to write--false starts and everything. However, your advice is excellent. I think, for now, I'll stop obsessing over the beginning and move on to the middle.

Okay... Here's a different, more direct approach. I kinda feel like it lacks a little "spice" and might be too broad (in terms of defining my interest)...but it's shorter and to the point. I'd appreciate thoughts on this one. My current research interests lie in narratives depicting science (real or imagined) and the subsequent technologies effect on identity in the 19th and early 20th centuries. More specifically, I am interested in the metaphorical and literal representations of science/technology in texts and the ways these depictions address and construct social, cultural, national, and gendered identity.

Not harsh at all--honest... and I appreciate honesty. My intent from here was to discuss how my interest has backtracked a bit to the 19th century ESPECIALLY because the 19th century saw a lot of innovations in science and technology. This reflects in more "genre based" novels of the time (starting with Mary Shelley, and including Verne and Wells) but is also evident in novels about the every day. However, if it's not working, it's not working. It's a rough draft anyways and thus quite changeable! And I so hate passive voice. It's a f**ker that sneaks in there when you're not looking and then sticks around like a bad house guest. Thank you both for your time!

During my breaks from studying for the GREs, I've began work on my SOP. I'm wondering if anybody out there (particularly individuals interested in Lit.) could take a quick look at it. I'm wondering if it's too long, too (or inadequately) wordy, if I'm on the right track or way off my rocker, etc. Thank you in advance for the help In my first semester of college teaching, I was challenged to create a class that fulfilled the institution’s requirements for an introductory research based writing course. Given license to construct the course around a theme of my choice, brainstorming and researching produced a course I titled “Virtual Realities, Virtual Bodies: Technology And Identity.” While the curriculum focused primarily on 20th century texts (the first assignment centered on William Gibson’s Neuromancer), students were encouraged to reflect on the effects of technology in a larger historical sense. My current interest in narratives depicting science (real or imagined) and its effect on identity in the 19th and early 20th centuries continues along (or in?) this vein.

This. This is more along the lines of what I was thinking...

I did read both of those threads. What I hoped to accomplish was to reach-out/see if there were any other individuals already holding an MFA considering a PhD as I wanted to commiserate a little bit regarding their application experience. Specifically, I was wondering how others were going about the task of writing their SOP and polishing writing samples (both creative and analytical) as I'm finding this challenging. In essence, I was searching for not only answers, but perhaps a little bit of a support community. If this seemed redundant in any way, my apologies.

So I'm just curious. How many of you out there are former MFA students applying for PhDs? (Or were MFAs who are now PhD students?) Perhaps ironically, I'm finding it difficult to put into eloquent words why I want a PhD and to justify taking a chance on me as a potential PhD student when I have little to no research experience under my belt That said, I can research, and I have an area that I'd like to focus on FOR research at the PhD level but... Thoughts? Suggestions? General comments?

I took the original post to mean/imply that specific and highly detailed questions were not asked in the prompt. Rather, all of them seem to be worded some-what loosely and similar manner.

I haven't seen any prompts either--most just ask the generic "tell us about you and how our department may be the right fit for you" kind of question. I had another question. I've been teaching freshman comp for 3.5 years now. I was thinking of talking about that in my intro--specifically how I didn't think that teaching was something I'd ever want to do, but took a chance and now I love it--especially at the college level where the instructor-student interaction is more of an exchange of ideas. However, I don't want to teach freshman comp forever, hence the PhD in either Literature or Creative Writing. Second paragraph I would talk about my research interests (19th-21st Century British and American Lit, with a Women/Gender Studies slant OR Fiction/Non-Fiction writing), and how I could benefit from specific programs resources. Lastly I intend to discuss a potential project and how my previous studies have helped me prepare for this challenge. I'm going for a FOCUS, FIT, FUTURE model of SOP. I'm not certain if my description is very clear... Is this a bad approach? It would, of course, be finessed for the final version.

Hello! After much researching, I've narrowed my search down to 13 schools. I'm thinking I'm going to try to whittle even further to 10--5 in Creative Writing, 5 in Literature. Either way, ALL ask for a SOP. I'm wondering what are considered strong attributes of a SOP? Aside from the normal (grammar, syntax, sentence structure, word choice), what are elements that should be, at the very least, considered for the SOP? What works, what doesn't work, etc. Thank you for your time!

Hi, new here. Gearing up to apply for PhDs (both in Lit and Creative Writing) this year--maybe. The more I read and re-read about the various programs I'm interested, the more I freak out about stuff. Today's freak out: language requirements. My undergraduate college required only a semester of language... which I fulfilled when I went abroad to India. The last time I took an "academically accepted Language" was in high school... which was thirteen years ago. Some of the schools I'm interested in applying to (Yale, Penn) require proficiency in TWO languages. Now I get, proficiency is a loosely used term, but this, as far as I can tell, means I'll have to take some sort of summer immersion course BEFORE attending (we're assuming I apply and am granted access to one of these fine institutions hallowed halls) and then work my tail off learning to, at the very least, READ a second language. What the heck? Is this par for the course, or just one of those things that "prestigious" institutions make you do? And am I crazy to apply to these programs, or should I just focus on the programs that require only one language? Second freak out of the day: applying for PhDs in Literature when I have an MFA. Is this done? Is it done successfully? Additionally, my MFA focused on writing (I believe I took a total of 4 literature classes), not literary studies. As such, most of my potential recommendations are going to come from my writing mentors... is that going to harm me? Right now, about the only thing I think I have going for me is dedication to teaching (I've been doing it for a little over 4 years now)... and I'm not even certain that's really going to "work" for me. *sigh*