[Classics 2011]

Just my two pennies from my experiences (did undergrad and MA in UK, am now going to do another MA in Toronto) that when I did the GRE in December you can actually now do it in Manchester too. Train wise would probably be quicker to go to London still, but good to keep your options open. The MA at Toronto is normally 2 years, but having done an MA here it has shaved a year off for me. And I have been told that if I was accepted onto the PhD that my MA year at Toronto would count towards the first year of my PhD, shaving another year off. I am sure it must vary from place to place though.

I didn't even realise you had to sit the GRE when I started applying as we don't need to sit them for PhD places in the UK. So learning from my mistakes, I would get a couple of revision books and start early, rather than cramming it all in 2 weeks! Posting off all my transcripts and paper materials for my applications was usually around £7 a go, so it definitely adds up if you're applying to a few places. I was also pretty shocked at how much it cost to sit the GRE. Most US places ask for a minimum of 3 references (compared to the UK, where in my experience I have had to provide 2 references max.) so start sounding people out early too.

I was totally like you and didn't have a clue about how the US system worked. So I emailed every different university posing questions to them that I still had after reading the information on their website, and eventually I understood it a lot better. Definitely one of the most complicated application processes I have gone through, but once you have done one application, a lot of it is just repetitive.

Apart from that, everything Batavi said

God the deadline is one month earlier than Oxbridge! I will start looking soon! I don't even know where i want to apply!!

[Classics 2011]

Thanks for the information batavi. I am a classicist, will be doing the MSt in Greek and Latin languages and literature.

One last question, are there deadlines like Oxbridge or are we free to apply throughout the year like the rest of the UK unis?

It seems like a very expensive process!

So since I will already have an MA when I will be applying, will I skip some years of my phd if I am accepted? I don't overly mind repeating some years if I have full funding though.

Hm about the transcripts, I do have some officially translated transcripts from my undergrad since I needed them for my MA applications but I doubt I have enough to send to all the unis I will apply to for a PhD. Would they accept simple photocopies?

[Classics 2011]

Hello everyone!

I am new to this forum and even newer to studying in America

I am thinking of applying for a PhD in 2012 but I feel completely lost because I know basically nothing about American universities and admissions....So I would appreciate it if you could answer some questions, some of which (if not all) might seem stupid...

first of all, I finished my undergraduate at the university of Athens, Greece and I have been accepted for an MSt at Oxford University for 2011. So I will be applying to America during my masters. Now, PhDs in America are generally longer than the ones in the UK/Europe, around 5-6 years...right? But do students go straight to PhD after their BA, or do they have to do an MA like in the UK?

Also, I heard that universities have application fees, but can anyone tell me around how much these fees are?

I was also told that the process is quite long and time consuming...can anyone tell me what it entails? Things like references, written work, personal statement/research interest, CV will be required for my UK applications as well, but do American universities require anything else?

And...last but not least, tuition fees. (Around) how much are they? Are there many scholarships?

Thanks in advance