anonacademic

If you don't have an author when using MLA (as you don't with the Bible), then wouldn't that go first in your listings? In other words, it would look something like: "____. The Holy Bible. New York: Holy P, 2007. Print," and would go before your authored, alphabetized listings. If you have more than one item without an author, then you would alphabetize by taking "Holy," not "the." However, I work in very secular topics, so I could stand corrected. Edited for clarity.

Mine were reported to my schools today, too. This is terrifying, as it means they'll know (or anyway, will know) sooner than I. And it's a double dose of BS - if the reports can be sent out now to schools, then why not to me, who forked over the $400?!?!? I'm glad I didn't double-report my general scores, though. Got you there, ETS!

Yes, absolutely this. Sure, schools don't care too much about scores, but I think there is a threshold (1000) that they like to see. However, you might want to root around and see if you can't find a school that really doesn't care (and is also a good fit, of course). Beyond this, what was your undergrad GPA like? Why was your master's a 3.8? Not that everything can be determined by numbers, but it seems relevant to note. Best of luck this cycle. Worst comes to worst, start studying for the GRE for next cycle and take it again - but much earlier (August or September). But don't retake it until you're confident that you'll score significantly higher. I don't know how you studied, but make flashcards with vocabulary, take notes for math (the Barron's guide was really extensive for both the verbal and math sections - I'd recommend it), then start drilling yourself. This will build your confidence, which I think will help just as much as knowing more words when it comes time to take the test. Take practice tests online that mimic the CAT, and create the test environment (you can even turn your pockets inside out if you want to go all the way ). Make your test sessions timed, so you can start getting over your anxiety. But again, that's worst case scenario, and this cycle has barely begun. Good luck

I additionally think that the date the scores should be received is part of this scheme: December 24, aka Christmas Eve? Yes, why not release scores on a very popular holiday, one where - ever so incidentally - people, especially the college-aged, often travel and are thus parted from their mailboxes. Besides, who wants potentially bad news on a holiday? ETS, we are, like, so over.

I did copy/paste into Word but the results were so poor that there was nothing salvageable about the document. I finally had some sort of success - the quality is probably about the equivalent of a kindergartner's first attempts with scissors - so it's not great but it'll have to do. I think it's legible, and that's the main thing. And I totally cosign your last sentence. I had great files (well, kinda) but when I attempted to upload them of courser they were too big. What do you want from me?!?!

a-ha! Apparently I have a sixth sense for this. I'm not dishing out any more money (simply can't), but the end is in sight. The last time this happened, I looked at my scores and laughed at myself (they were atrocious). Here's hoping they'll be higher this time Thanks!

I should know this, but don't. When will those of us who took the November exam receive our scores? I'm morbidly curious.

Not all departments are created equal University of Washington English wants two official transcripts, sealed with the registrar's seal, collected and sent by the applicant to the department. My vote for most annoying application would be any that requires everything to be sent online, particularly scanned transcripts. This vote is cast after wrestling with one of these for about four hours today, after an hour commute just to get the damn things scanned in the first place. (I'm in a very rural area - my library doesn't even have WIFI, much less an OCR!) Blurg.

Yes - this - a hundred times over. Do not put anything but Dr. or Professor!!! Think about it this way, too : would you address a professor in the classroom as Assistant Professor Smith? I think not. (Well, you'd probably call them by their first name, but you get my point )

Also keep in mind that departments are getting between 200 to 600+ applications - they do not want to field these kinds of questions from each of those applicants! I'd lay low; they'll contact you. Also remember that it's probably the last week or two of the semester, and everyone is most likely swamped in non-admissions work. Hang in there, grab a beer, and put on some mind-numbing TV Don't sweat it.

Thank you! I'll try that.

OK, so I found a way to delete pages without being permitted to use the "delete" or "cut" buttons (I cropped the unneeded pages as far down as I could), but now I'm having the exact same problem as the original poster. My file is too large, much too large, and even when I saved it as black and white it was still way over the limit. (Saving it in Preview under the "Compress file size" option rendered it unreadable.) So my question is, is it a bad idea to contact the school and ask if I can send it as an email attachment instead?

Thank you both This is certainly the fussiest application (for more reasons than this issue). I think I'll check off everything except the federal funding (good call there!). This of course has nothing to do with anything, but I think that's state-dependent. I know in the state where I live now, I cannot teach secondary school (K-12) even with a master's; there are very strict certification loops you have to jump through and most teachers major in Education, not their subject. (This seems - and is - a recipe for disaster, but oh well.) Obviously you live in a more enlightened state

Thanks for all of your helpful suggestions! Just one of my schools wants scans - and it's turned into a bigger headache than the one that wanted 2 sealed official copies I had Staples scan my 3 transcripts (the man who helped me did it for free! So nice.) The problem now is that I have them all in the same file and I can't delete pages to create 3 separate files for each of my schools. Of course there are separate Upload buttons for each school on the application. I've tried everything, including downloading Adobe, saving them as a JPEG, and using Word/TextEdit. I don't understand why I can't delete pages and I am getting frustrated! If anyone has helpful suggestions, I'd be very much obliged. EDIT: I'm on a Mac, and Preview has been my standby until this point.

I'm sure this is not a big issue, but I've hit a snag in one of my applications. A question asks me to "indicate the type of financial assistance prefer: U of Awesome Research Fellowship, RA, Federally Financed Fellowship or Traineeship, TA, Teaching Fellowship, or No Preference." Should I just check off "No Preference"? I'm not entirely clear on some things, like the difference between a TA and a Teaching Fellowship, or what a Federally Financed Fellowship is. Thanks! I think you can tell it's t-minus 7 days and I'm having a hard time seeing the obvious

You'll probably have to become a resident of New York immediately upon enrollment if you want a complete (in-state) tuition waiver. I think that's the normal practice, although I think I read that on the SUNY Buffalo website (the only transparent website out there!). So I really don't know - hopefully someone else with more information will pipe up

I'm at the beginning of my graduate career, so I can't speak to this from personal experience. Just the same, being in the humanities, I have heard more than my fair share of doom and gloom around job prospects for those of us foolish enough to pursue work in English, languages, History, etc. However, the link you posted was the first I had heard of this problem impacting the hard sciences. I suddenly feel as though the prejudices surrounding my field have withered in the face of a more global academic crisis. Thanks for sharing.

1. Your statement I might address your age - and I think it may work to your benefit (there aren't many 18 year olds with a BA already in hand!). But don't dwell on it; spend a sentence (or maybe just half of one) to give the reasons why you went to college early. Aside from that, follow the old adage, Show, don't tell. The rest of your statement should read just as anyone else's. Answers to two questions - what have you worked on? Where do you see your work going? - will make up the bulk of the statement. 2. Your resume 18 or not, adcomms realize that you're just out of your BA and they don't expect a huge C.V. with tons of publications and presentations. Just put whatever is directly relevant to your pursuit of an MFA. You may also have a "Relevant Coursework" section that lists appropriate classes with short descriptions of what you did and read, and what your wrote for that class. Good luck!

I certainly wouldn't let this keep you from applying to any school you want to - you should do that anyway. However - and I know this is an informal internet forum, not a research paper - make sure your writing sample, C.V., and statement of purpose are free from the grammar and mechanics errors that I see in your post. In other words, demonstrate a contradictory writing ability through the WS and SOP and they won't be as tied to the scores. Good luck!

There is a program mentioned on the ETS site that allows for a limited amount of discounted tests. You'll pay half the purchase price. The page is here. I tried to get into the program, since I make next to nothing and had to take both the general and the subject tests. However, I'm also out of my undergrad (it sounds like you are too). Their instructions are very unclear; I went to my last degree granting institution's financial aid office, like they instructed, but they were singularly unhelpful. The woman I spoke to (at my MA granting university) said that I should contact the schools I'm applying to, not them, to pay the difference! Yeah right! However, in your case, if you do get into this school and you have until January to pass everything in, that school may vouch for you. I'm not sure if my experience with the fee reduction program was negative simply because of incompetence at my MA granting university, or if it's a conscious (and conniving) dead end, but it's worth a look. Good luck.

Ditto - can't believe I made the list Perhaps I've spent too much time here? Nah

Oh boy! I'm starting to feel nerves too... hang in there! Does your undergrad institution have a substantial graduate program? I ask because I think that makes a difference in the advice received from undergrad advisers. Mine were undoubtedly intelligent and helpful, but I had the sense that they might be a little disconnected from the realm of graduate studies and admissions, given that we had only a small, underfunded MFA program. I'd be tempted to point out how you've grown and improved since the last round in your SOP - but perhaps you're already doing this by showing not telling? I imagine that you are (beyond your SOP, I think this would be demonstrated in your writing sample too). I think it's a good idea to discuss why any one program is a perfect fit, simply because it shows your interest and commitment to that program. Yes, the adcomms already know all that stuff, but I think they want to see that you know. If your fit section is longer than a paragraph (150~ words), then yes, probably you should skim that down and use that space to write more about yourself. Or integrate more of yourself into the fit paragraph - discuss your (recent) accomplishments in conjunction with the school's resources. Of course this is all coming from a very unsubstantiated place - blind leading the blind and all - but I hope this helps!

I would say go for it! Taking into consideration two things: 1. I'd only go if it were fully funded - tuition waiver + stipend. 2. You mentioned teaching after the degree - but do you have a solid backup plan? If it doesn't work out, can you return to the job you have now? (I know, impossible question to answer!) I guess a better question would be: would you be satisfied to return to the job you have now? You sound like you've been a successful independent artist - so I think that you would be remiss not to apply!

Let me start by saying that I don't. However, I have a couple of thoughts: 1. Ask your professors. They'll know if Duquesne often accepts students from your program, and they might know recent graduates and/or current students. Ask for their emails and shoot them some questions. I did this with several schools; sometimes no one responded, but often my questions were answered and gave me a good idea of what to expect from that program. 2. I might apply anyway to the PhD. If you get accepted, go, but don't like it, you can gracefully exit with an MA in two years. I hear that it's rare that students who complete the MA then apply for the PhD in the same program get in. I'd consider applying to terminal, funded MAs elsewhere. (I'm going to assume that MAs in a PhD program often go unfunded?) 3. Failing #1, you could see if they list TA emails on the department page and contact people that way. But hopefully someone else will come along with more specific help!

I have two, and I'm leaving them in Then again, I discuss both of them extensively throughout my essay (one right away, the other comes in later). If it has nothing to do with anything, I might consider deleting it (if it reads gratuitously).