anonacademic

I'm using MLA citation format (of course), but as far as the format of the paper itself goes, I'm ignoring it. I've opted instead to have a header that goes something like: "Writing Sample | University of Awesome | Chum Lee | 1/25" (the last part is the page count, sorry if that's obvious!). I have a title, too, naturally. After working in academic publishing, I realize how annoying extraneous MLA information can be, so I'm trying to keep identifying info short and out of the way, but offering enough to piece together should parts of my file (or pages of the sample) drift apart... But please let me know if this is completely off base!

I second this. Even if you were applying to MFA programs in creative writing I would caution against a "creative" SOP. You need to present yourself as a professional. Even though this format is not particularly innovative, the key (and challenge) is to make yourself and your proposed research project shine through as creative and intriguing. In other words, weigh content over form. For the record, for what it's worth, I'm an American.

Do whatever is cheapest right now. Speaking generally, I think state schools usually require their funded PhDs to become state residents within the first semester in order to have tuition waived; it doesn't matter if a student isn't a state resident as long as he or she becomes one within a specified time frame. I don't believe state residency would affect their decision whatsoever.

I just stumbled upon the University of Washington's undergrad advising page. It's been very helpful to me (on par with the famous Berkeley history SOP/personal statement), with resources on SOPs, the whys and hows of graduate school in English (whether MA/PhD or MFA or MAT), and links to useful databases. Anyway, check it out here. I haven't seen it linked on the Grad Cafe; apologies if this is already a well-known resource! This makes me wonder what other universities have helpful advising pages for their undergrads that we can scope out...

You can search the AWP list here. It lets you specify many aspects of programs, including whether a program has an emphasis in nonfiction. Hope this helps! I'm not in creative writing, so I can't speak to my own success with the site.

Yes, definitely talk about what methods you intend to use - and how that school provides all the resources you need! (Thus hitting two birds with one stone ) Be brief (since you don't have a choice) but detailed enough to show an original project and reasonable ways of solving it.

I agree. Go with option 2. If you can demonstrate in your SOP that your proposed research is an outgrowth of this paper, even though it isn't directly in your field, all the better. You should demonstrate your best writing and thinking foremost.

You could also integrate the citation into your writing. For example, "As Jane Doe asserts in her book Poems, poetry is the greatest form of art..." and then continue with your discussion/paraphrase of the author's argument. Since you say this paraphrase continues for several paragraphs, it seems odd to me that you don't have any direct quotes. I might reexamine that, and revisit your source text to pull interesting quotes for your essay. The addition of a direct quote or two also eliminates awkward footnote placing. (Apologies for the lame example. I couldn't help myself )

I was going to say that you should leave off non-academic extracurricular activities, but the two you listed both have to do with teaching. In that case, I would include them, simply because they demonstrate a familiarity with an aspect of graduate/academic life. And especially if you haven't any experience teaching comp, they may help you secure a better paying TAship (compensation is sometimes based on experience).

I don't have too much to add, but I have to ask whoever gave everyone above me -1, why? (I gave you all +1s, not that it matters, but the negatives simply weren't warranted!) I assume you all have seen the sample essay posted on the Berkeley website? I'd look into the footnotes and see what that adcomm member liked about her essay - even if you're not in the same situation, the footnotes might give you some hints on how to tackle the question. Good luck!

What is your field? I know you probably want to remain as anonymous as possible, but that might help answer your question. I would say, generally, that one finds a research project by asking questions. What (unanswered) questions do you have about this research project you're on? Next, figure out a way to begin to answer these questions - discussing this with a faculty member is indispensable, because they will know about methodologies and research unknown to you. Your question doesn't have to be huge, or even shouldn't be (don't think: "How to cure cancer?" for instance!) Think about other ways to approach a topic by exposing yourself to previous research. Hope this helps! Finding a research topic requires a lot of perseverance and self-initiative, but it's worth it! (And then you have the effort of actually exploring that topic...)

If you have a strong SOP and writing sample, they probably won't look at that 4 twice, knowing the evaluation and prompts for the AW section are ridiculous. In other words, demonstrate solid grad school level writing and thinking to them and they will not care that you didn't write the overwrought 5 paragraph essay. It is odd, though, given your other numbers (not to mention that you're in English)! My condolences Foolish GRE.

Ha! A friend of mine just said that exact same thing about Foucault, aka "The F Bomb"! I'm including theorists, because they're directly related to my writing sample and my proposed project is an outgrowth of my sample. I'm heavily invested in feminist theory, so it seems natural and not as though I'm throwing a name in for the heck of it. I'm trying to be careful to distinguish between their theory and what I bring to the table, though, to make sure I don't get lost in a literature review.

I can only speak from limited personal experience, but I had the same question, SkeletonKeys. CUNY's program looks fantastic, and the faculty are incredible. I was on the fence because of the location (I'm in a very, very rural location currently - NYC would be a huge shock to the system!) but willing to give it a shot. However, my professors told me stories of their previous students who had to patch together adjunct work in order to survive at CUNY. The tough financial straits they were in, with or without the fellowship, ultimately detracted from their experience and even more worryingly, caused major setbacks in their degree process. Also, the promise of $18,000 to live in NYC for nine months seemed laughable. That, plus the huge application fee (much more than any of my other schools) made me decide not to apply. If there are other programs that are a good fit, have a more reliable and substantial financial package, and are in a better location, then it just doesn't seem like a viable option. Your mileage may vary; however, I decided CUNY was not worth it for me!

I'm going to vote that this is a bad idea! It belongs in a cover letter, not a statement of purpose! I'm coming from English, however, where a premium is placed on the writing (in form as well as content perhaps even more than other fields), so your mileage may vary.

Read the instructions provided by each school carefully. Some say that it's OK to send them two shorter papers instead of only one longer paper. Some won't accept two papers. In either case, it's always preferable (this is usually in the instructions) to send one paper, because, as the above poster noted, writing a longer paper demonstrates a much more substantial work of writing and thought than two shorter pages. In other words, it will vary from school to school, but generally they prefer one sample.

Maybe you can ask your (thesis) adviser to discuss your thesis with specific care and attention, given that you consider it your best work but won't, for the sensible reasons you give here, send it out to schools? I mean, yes, as someone who's writing a LOR for you, she will talk about your writing, but it might be a good idea to make a larger issue of it, given the situation. But I really don't know! I'm very thankful my writing sample and purposed project are directly related.

I'd ask a professor who knows your work well - s/he will be able to say, "Yes, this is an awesome piece of work that does [not] tie into your SOP [but] [and] that's fantastic." But in the meantime, is there a way to take this writing sample as a baseline for the project you outline in your SOP? In other words, can you say, "After talking about the Beats and queer theory in my paper X, I realized that technology impacts my assertions" (or a more coherent variation thereof!)? Even if the two aren't directly linked to the outside observer, I think there's something to be said for revealing your thought process.

Ah, OK, I wasn't sure! Yes absolutely, those sound like good reasons to avoid an MA! It sounds like you stand a good chance for PhD programs, in any case. Good luck!

Are your graduate classes in English? How many English classes have you taken in general? Are you thinking about a project that draws from your more substantial background in philosophy and woman's studies? For your first question - no. They won't care. For your second question - maybe. I'm not really sure, but they probably will if they're in English. For the schools you're looking at, remember that competition is particularly fierce and even with a perfect background (i.e. the "right" schools and high scores) admission is by no means guaranteed. You might have better luck applying to an English MA program first, then attempting a PhD (this may be a good idea for your sanity, also). Which reminds me: don't rush through this. Don't underestimate the value of taking some time "off." This may bolster your chances (you might have more time to develop a project, for instance) but will also, again, save your sanity. Undergrad is difficult (especially with the full plate of courses you say you're taking now) and grad school is much more so. On the other hand, I completely understand your determination to push straight through But it seems that, from what you've said, you're a strong candidate. Good luck next year!

Yikes! That sounds awful! My proctors (there were two for about seven of us?) were lovely, slightly frumpy, completely sympathetic ladies - thankfully. But your point is a good one: this was just a hoop, and it's been jumped through! So when will we find out? Six weeks - right around Christmas? Perfect

Also, I wouldn't be too worried if you do end up attending an MA program next year. I'm so, so, so glad I did that first. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, if you end up taking that degree separately. Plus, you'll have the advantage of experiencing two separate campuses, with different opportunities, faculty, and resources - there is nothing wrong with that! Frankly I think that's a huge advantage.

OK, I'm an MA holder, so take this with a grain of salt (For the record - my program was really fantastic and unique, and I didn't want to go anywhere else, including PhD programs. It was also a terminal program.) Maybe a lot of them are fresh from the BA? A lot of students in my MA program had that background - they were roundly rejected everywhere and ended up doing the MA in the interim. The thing is - that could also be your background, applying straight out of the BA. The important difference between these MA holders now, and their applications when they were BA holders only, is time and developed focus. It sounds like, from your assessment of your project, that you've had the same experience, more or less. In other words, you've also had time to develop your focus, and you've taken it. So yes, we do, in a way, have more experience (or more English classes, would be better). However, I don't think there should necessarily be a large gulf between us in regards to our chances. There seems to be wildly divergence and inconsistent opinions about the MA "problem" (with some arguing that having an MA is bad). I would say that the most significant thing is not the accumulation of degrees but rather a strong project and the background skills to accomplish that project.

Yes, I will be putting my name in the heading - as in, the top space of the page next to the page number. I'll be doing this for both my SOP and my writing sample. I'm not doing anything other than that - no title or name in the text - because all of my paper SOPs have cover forms provided by the university. How would you work your name into the body of your SOP, anyway? Talk about yourself in the third person? Write something like, "I, John Doe, want to study X..."? Just curious. Hope that helps! I think that's the simplest way - and anyway, writing an SOP is awkward and difficult as it is; no need to add another dimension of awkwardness

^ I'll second that - I like the second option better. Some of these conferences you volunteered at? Did you present at the others, or just attend? (And LOL at not being able to remember one of them - I love coming home and thinking, OK, what just happened?! Conferences can be such a blur!) Anyway - you might want to clearly differentiate. A C.V. with a header "Conferences" would seem to imply (maybe just to me - hopefully others will chime if there are dissident opinions) that you presented at each listing. I might suggest splitting up your C.V. a little more than it is now: for instance, the award currently under research would go under an "Awards and Honors" header. Along the same lines, you could make a header ("Related Experience" possibly?) and list your volunteering commitments at those conferences. Of course, if this makes your C.V. have headers with only one listing underneath, I wouldn't recommend this approach! Isolating the award highlights the actual research you have listed (which, although vague by necessity, sounds really interesting!) and highlights that it was good enough to be recognized. There's a C.V. page on the Purdue OWL site I stumbled across (and subsequently lost) awhile back, which is where I'm drawing this from, FYI. Good luck!