skeletonkeys

So do you think if my SOP focuses on technology, critical theory and American lit a writing sample about the Beats and queer theory would be too far removed, since I don't talk about technology? Or would you suggest revising my SOP? I'm so torn! Thanks to everyone for all the feedback.

I'm interested in the 20th century, although recently I've found myself going back into the mid-late 19th cent. What about yourself?

Even if the page limit isn't specified, you're right to assume you shouldn't go past 2 pages. I'm struggling with this as well, and putting everything I told freshman writers about being concise and specific to very good use! It's just so hard to do in your own writing I've actually found reviewing writing books like Elements of Style and the like very useful, and would recommend to anyone struggling with length to read a few chapters from Style:Toward clarity and grace or something similar and then ruthlessly edit applying the principles discussed. And I'll also be messing with margins!

Augustquail: Thanks for the input...that is what my gut is saying-- that it would be best to have a coherent "aligned" app and since i have an MA I need a clear focus of how I'll contribute to my field. Sadly I think I'm going in another direction though! Most of my MA work focused on AfAm lit and Black cultural studies/interdisciplinary race theory, but I've recently become interested in technology and ideas of the city (space). Reconcilable with ideas of race, of course, but I'm still nervous. Anyway, I digress. Back to writing.

Thanks, chumlee! I also look at my SOP from 3 years ago, right out of undergrad, and I'm surprised I was even accepted to an MA program. I just cringed looking at it. Good luck to you too!

I don't think it would be necessarily dishonest to focus on antebellum AfAm lit if you really want to do early American...wouldn't the antebellum mark the end of the early period? Of course you could also mention looking at the tradition of XYZ as it transforms throughout the early and antebellum period. If you want to trade sops let me know!

Thanks for the response. I think part of my concern is that my 2 strongest papers are so interdisciplinary I feel like I have to do significant revisions to make them work, so maybe that's worrying me more than the alignment between SOP and sample. I think in your case the overarching concern with narrative theory will give your app coherence...are you mentioning early American lit in your SOP?

As I agonize over what to use as my writing sample (I've changed my mind 3 times and I know it's getting late) I go back to the question: Does it hurt you to use a sample that is different from you stated research goals? My case is that my strongest papers are on 1)Chester Himes and zoot suit riots (more interdisciplinary) and 2) The Beats and disgust. (My SOP talks about race but focuses on technology and literature). However, neither of these about what I want to pursue at the phd level, and I don't want to craft a complete lie (though admittedly not from ethical reservations but time constraints and fear of coming across as insincere). What is your experience using a writing sample not completely aligned with you SOP focus? Has anyone told you this is a bad thing? I've heard both that it's fine and that it will hurt me, so I'm hoping there's some kind of consensus. Maybe I'm over thinking this. Thanks!

I sent you a message with some feedback.

I'll read it...send me a PM.

Sure, PM me!

If you have access to a school's online databases, I think reading some dissertations and theses is useful. Because of the genre's expectations there are often nice literature reviews and outlines of methodology etc. that discuss research methods quite explicitly. This helps me, at least...I'm thinking of ProQuest Dissertations database. And like others have said, read read and read some more. Especially journals in your field. I love American Quarterly, CCC and ELH.

Thanks for everyone's feedback. I think all the advice about thinking twice before emailing the DGS was correct...I get so myopic during this process I forget faculty are rightly annoyed by random inquiries. For future reference, Rutgers does not make exceptions about the Subject test! You have to have scores from the last 3 years, no matter what the circumstances.

Hello! Would anyone be willing to swap the first few pages of your writing sample with me? I am very worried my writing sample is not that good, since I'm using the paper that corresponds to my stated interests. My 'best' paper is completely unrelated, and I've been advised to use the one that fits with my sop. I just want to know if the first few pages catch the reader's attention, and if it seems theoretically sophisticated enough...of course I'm willing to read anything of yours if you are kind enough to look at mine! I hope this isn't a silly question Thank you!

Oops, I misunderstood the post... my brain is fried from a long day and the GRE. Since you haven't yet taken the actual test, you can definitely improve the score. However, I would spend much more time focusing on the verbal part. I went from practice test score around 600 to a 750 on the real thing today just by spending 1 hour a day on vocabulary. If you have the time to devote to math great, but I decided to focus on getting my verbal score up with the limited time I had to study. Good luck on the real test, and disregard my earlier post!

I just want to reassure you...I took the GRE today, and was very disappointed to see my quantitative was 470 also! I'm applying to English phd programs. My verbal was higher, and I obviously don't know about the writing part yet. However, if you're applying to a humanities program, the quantitative doesn't matter very much at all. I frantically emailed friends in grad school and my advisor, and everyone told me not to worry. One friend is in an Ivy League phd humanities program, and they scored only a bit higher on the quantitative at 490, so there is hope for both of us! Just focus on the writing sample and sop, and try not to worry...that's what I'm doing! Best of luck!

Oh, and if anyone else wants to exchange sops as well let me know! Mine is in terrible shape, sigh.

I'm also in English, and more than happy to look at it! I know how awful these things are to write...

Have you considered applying for MA programs? I did an MA in English and taught for a year before applying this cycle, and while there is some debate about this, I feel like I'm a stronger candidate.

Thanks so much! I think I will send the DGS a brief email.

Hello, I'm new to this (fabulous) forum, and hope I'm not starting off with a ridiculous question. So Rutgers is one of the schools I (was) applying to, but I just realized they only accept GRE scores from the past 3 years according to their website. My scores are from 4 years ago (I got my MA and took a year off, so that was in fall 06). Would it be stupid to contact the DGS or someone and ask if this policy is set in stone? I don't want to be *that person* asking dumb questions, but I also don't want to have to retake those horrid tests just for one school. Has anyone ever contacted a school to ask about just how strict their weird GRE windows of validity are? Thank you!! (And please don't laugh at me