katanianQ

yeah I would also love to see some stats that prob have no relevance because it's something to do! I just finished my apps yesterday and already I can't sleep at night because I am obsessing over them...

The January panic is starting to set in.. Do you think it's bad practice to submit applications for both a research Ph.D and an M.Phil at the same school? I already have an M.Phil but am worried about not getting in anywhere.. and would hate to be left with no options (The M.Phil would obviously be in a different concentration and fits in with my interests etc). I'm just worried that the adcom (if it's even the same one) would think, 'why the hell is she applying to both.' I realize some schools will consider you for both but this is for the UK schools I'm applying to, and I haven't seen any options like this on the apps. Thanks in advance!

here's my list: columbia stony brook duke wustl penn state university of florida queen's university belfast cambridge oxford university of london st. andrews I'm into 20-21st c fiction with a focus on British/Irish/some Scottish. It's crazy to think about what a huge impact these decision letters will have on all of our lives.. i could end up in sunny Florida, freezing (but beautiful) Scotland, or sitting exactly where I am right now. In a basement apt. Oh dear.

Happy New Year! I've been lurking around for awhile but have decided to introduce myself I'm applying to PhD programs now- a 4 year break since I completed my M.Phil at a very good school in the UK. After graduating, I came back to the US and have been teaching a crazy load as an assistant prof at a very small college in the northeast. In addition to teaching, I've presented a few papers and have 2 upcoming publications that go to press this spring- one is a book and the other is a chapter. I've got (what I feel to be) a very strong writing sample, SOP, LORs, etc, but feel like I need something extra to 'help' my applications.. would including my department chair's observations of my teaching really be the 'kiss of death' ? I've heard that you are supposed to present yourself as a kind of research robot machine that will, of course, teach upon completion of the degree but isn't supposed to express any sort of passion or ability for it in the application. This sounds crazy to me though and I would be very grateful for any opinions on this. (also, to somewhat explain why I feel like I need to add something to my applications- despite the publishing and presenting and teaching, my Master's dissertation did not go that well- my advisor left the college right after our first meeting and didn't notify me. It took 2 months to track him down and at that point the college wouldn't replace him so I wrote the whole thing with no guidance or second pair of eyes at all. Needless to say, it was not great (it did pass though) but I hope I can redeem myself with the fact that this crap dissertation has been turned into one of my future publications with a reputable press). thanks in advance!