bfat

What does everyone think about extra documents appended to the application? For example, some schools have a section where you can upload "additional materials." If these schools haven't asked for a CV or an abstract of courses, is it okay to upload one for them? I figure if they don't want or need it, they will just delete or ignore it. But it might be helpful if there are any questions about the transcript or things that weren't addressed in the SoP. I'm sure this has been asked in previous years, but is there a general consensus about uploading (helpful) documents that weren't specifically requested?

That's actually not really what I said. I have difficulty with romantic and Victorian poetry, just because of the way my coursework has been structured (I've covered almost none of this). I studied my brains out for the test, but have a difficult time identifying individual poems from this period. While I obviously can identify some of them, it's an area that, for me, would require a lot of memorization, and also more coursework. But hey! That's what grad school is for! I never said that I couldn't tell the difference between a poem written in 1750 and one written in 1900, just that I can't identify individual poems from this period (and Jesus, have you never heard of hyperbole? I was just bitching about the test...). ... I want to address this, but I also want to remain civil. There's a difference between knowing where your weaknesses are and dismissing entire periods of literary history, which is absolutely not what I did. Again, hyperbole. It's a thing. I maintain that the test is bullshit. Anyway, thanks again for making me feel extra shitty about the holes in my knowledge. I needed to be brought down a peg during this application process.

Thank you for implying that I'm not worthy of or prepared for grad school. I'm sure you're right. I'm sure everyone who has ever been successful in a top program had absolutely no holes in their knowledge at the time they applied. I've changed my mind completely--I'm so glad that test exists so that we can make sure everyone who gets into good programs took a wide range of survey courses and is excellent at memorization. I'll just go back to eating paste now and dreaming about a good ejukashun.

FYI, I just found this on UVA's site: "Most students admitted for graduate work in English have at least two GRE scores in the ninetieth percentile or higher." Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

That's good to know, thanks. I think I'm going to cut it from my list anyway, though, because it's a little farther than I want to travel and I've already got a pretty good range of schools. What I was reading just made it seem like even if you're funded, that funding isn't necessarily guaranteed for your full 5-6 years or whatever. I'm keeping them on my "apply next year if (when) I don't get in this year" list.

Cornell's app asks if you have any dependents and their names and ages... this freaks me out too. Will I not be considered because I now have a child and therefore will be considered a liability? ACK!!

I really just don't see why this test is required at all, especially by programs that encourage applicants with backgrounds outside the field of English. Right now, my score on this test is the weakest part of my application, and I'm actually worried that it might be the thing that keeps me out of my top choice(s). I really tried my best, but for the life of me, I still cannot identify or distinguish a single goddamned poem written between 1750-1900. Nope. Just can't do it. When I (inevitably) fail to get in this year, I guess I'll sign up for a survey course on romantic/Victorian poetry over the summer...

I'll probably get one of them a nice bottle of scotch, but, you know, that's just how he rolls. Bottles of wine are also classy and slightly less remindey-of-tendency-toward-alcoholism. ETA: I realize this doesn't help with the overseas thing. Maybe something simpler/lighter like a Starbuck's gift card or a gourmet pack of coffee? (I've never met a professor that doesn't drink coffee).

Thank you!! Yes, it is completely illogical to capitalize it, unless it's the name of an official department (i.e. the Theory Department at X University), but I was just having one of those total brain disconnects, like when you can't for the life of you spell a really simple word. I kept staring at my SoP like it was an alien thing and suddenly I started questioning basic grammar and syntax... I guess I've been working on it too long.

Okay, another question. This may sound completely ridiculous, but bear with me, I have an infant and there is just not enough coffee in the world right now... We often talk about "Theory" with a capital "T," but dear lord, is it actually capitalized? I have the word about a million times in my SoP and I can't for the life of me figure out if it should be capitalized (Literary Theory vs. literary theory) or not. I'm thinking not, but then I'm like "No! It's Theory with a capital 'T'!" Help. Help me.

I've been meaning to start a thread like this for a while. Rather than posting different threads for questions about different programs, it might be nice to have a single place to ask questions about programs we're applying to as we go through the app process. I know there may be answers to these questions in previous years' threads, but I have a really hard time searching through all the old posts. So. Here are a few things that I'm wondering as I'm getting deep into the application process. CU Boulder: They don't guarantee funding to everyone, right? I'd love to live there, and they've already got my Lit score, but their ranking isn't fantastic and their funding situation doesn't seem that promising. What do others think about this? Harvard: For the LOLs? Is it such a huge long shot that I shouldn't even waste my $105 ($155 including score reports)? Of course it's an awesome program, and I have family really close by, so it would be nice and convenient to go there, but I don't know if it's worth trying to apply. My subject score is a bit below 650, which they list as a suggested cutoff (is it a hard cutoff number?) on their website. Has anyone actually inquired with this program about anything? Is it too stuffy and conservative for my (somewhat non-traditional) background? I never applied to an ivy for undergrad, and I've always wanted to throw my app out to a big name school just to see what happens, but I don't know if that's just wasteful idealism... Those are the only things really bugging me right now, but I'm sure other things will come up.

Things that are new and hip... they tend to get flooded pretty quickly. It seems to me that departments, when hiring, are going to need people who know boring old "Theory" (its history and contemporary applications). Of course, that could be me just projecting my hopes/desires. I just feel like a quasi-traditional route, with a flair of the new and hip, is the safest route. There's still plenty of poststructuralism floating around out there.

October subject scores are up. Part of me just died. I reiterate: Damn you, ETS. Damn your horrible black empty soul. (I was at least above 50%, but not nearly good enough. Augh.)

AAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!! That is to say, I just found my October score online. What is considered "good" and what is considered "abominable"? Because I think my score falls a little closer to the latter... Wondering if I should reconsider some of my apps now...

I was considering their American Studies department for a while, and they had a bit more info about the two statements (my guess is that you can substitute "English" for "American Studies" in this guide). Applicant Statements Statement 1 Statement of your relevant goals and experiences and how these would be served by a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota Name 3-5 particular faculty members with whom you wish to study Statement 2 Statement of distinctive qualities, characteristics, and life experiences you would bring to the American Studies graduate program and to the education of fellow students

Okay, my for reals final list. Only took me 2 years to narrow it down. (Listed by app deadline, since that's how all my lists are organized at this point) Duke Pittsburgh Cornell* UVA SUNY Buffalo Harvard (for the LOLs, throwing in an app) Carnegie Mellon Penn State * I would basically sell my soul to go here

Hmm, but then SUNY Buffalo says this: "Explain to the committee the reasons for your choice of field. Why pursue your intellectual interests at a graduate level? Give us a sense of the questions that you will ask and why they are important." (Italics mine.)

I just kind of assumed I did horribly, so I'm not sending it to anyone that doesn't require it.

So far I have this outline: p1: mind-blowing introduction p2: past intellectual pursuits p3: present projects p4: future goals: why X is so great p5: fit and focus/awesome conclusion ... and an SoP that does not live up to it at all. I keep wanting to bang my head on my desk and yell, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM MEEEEEE?"

Yeah, I've been half-assed working on this thing for 2 years and I'm nowhere near finished. I did some solid work for about 4 hours last night and I have ONE paragraph that I'm happy with. And about 5 really shitty ones. I'm worried that the "good" paragraph might be too personal... but the no-nonsense academic stuff just sounds so stuffy and boring and generic. I totally feel your pain. SOP why u no easy to write?!?

I met with a professor at an Ivy who has sat on grad ad-coms, and he said that the biggest mistake he saw (especially from students who already have an MA) is treating the SoP like a research proposal instead of a statement of academic philosophy. So be specific about your current interests, but not about your research/writing plans. Also, that info from Duke is awesome.

omg, this is me. I look back at my editing notes, and I'm like, "Seriously past me? That's your suggestion? Screw you for being a crappy editor AND a crappy writer."

Towson University also has Professional Writing (http://grad.towson.edu/program/master/prwr-ms/) but it's an MS, not an MA. I started out in that program after undergrad, but left it for literature. It was pretty decent though. I got a magazine article published after just 2 semesters in the program. But it's totally unfunded, unless you can scrap for one of the few assistantships. Most people just work in the area because all the classes are offered at night.

Yes. This. Also, if you are really concerned, you could call the program's administrator and ask how the applications are reviewed. I was worried that my Lit GRE score might keep me out of a top program, so I talked to the administrator (not the DGS) and she told me that they look at writing samples and SoPs first--scores only come into play at the end, I guess when they are making their final final cuts. So even if your scores are abysmally bad (which they are not), that doesn't mean your app is headed right for the trash bin. Other programs may operate differently, but it made me feel better to know the process.

Because I am now dirt poor (maternity leave = no pay check for 6+ weeks), I am contemplating dumping Yale from my list, unless I can be convinced otherwise. Does anyone know much about Yale's program, other than what's on the website? My thesis advisor told me I shouldn't bother applying because even if I got in, I'd have to live in "that shithole" New Haven, lol. I just can't tell if their program is too stodgy and traditional, or if they really encourage interdisciplinarity and work in theory/genres rather than strict periods. Also their language requirement is a mean bitch. Any advice?