Jbarks

I'm a medievalist. My writing sample is on a science fiction novel written in 1992, which invovles time travel and the Black Death. But it fits with my research interests, and it's a revised portion of my MA thesis. Yes, it makes me a little nervous.

Half Baked Fro Yo is the best! I also want to try the new Shweddy Balls flavor-- mainly due to my love of Alec Baldwin and SNL.

I have a secondary interest in psychoanalytic theory. My primary interest is medieval literature, which makes for a fun combination. I know SUNY Buffalo has a strong program; the Center for Psychoanalysis and Culture is affiliated with the English Department. UCSB and BC are also good options.

I completely agree. When I began college, I was the reticent type. As I became more confident in my abilities, I participated much more; it was definitely a process of growth for me. However, I always try to find a balance between listening and speaking. Sometimes active listening is the best form of participation. I also have found that I learn more from my classmates who rarely speak than those who speak often. The former take time to listen and then formulate a compelling and well articulated argument. I'm not saying that the latter don't, but in my experience, their active listening to others comments and opinions is sometimes lacking.

I second runonsentence; it really depends on fit. When I applied to first time around, I was naive when it came to choosing a program. I applied to all top twenties, received an acceptance to an MA program as a consolation prize, and ultimately accepted. It was a really good decision because I now understand how the whole system works. I also have a much clearer research focus. It looks like you have a good selection of schools-- a few from each tier-- which is a great way to start. Also, take a look at this thread:

I have The Lexicographer's Dilemma sitting on my bookshelf; I've been meaning to read it for the longest time. Right now I'm reading Getting Medieval (more for academic purposes), but on my commute to work, I just finished The End of Alice by AM Homes, and I've started State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. I thought I'd give it a chance because I thoroughly enjoyed Bel Canto.

Ha! Yes, Morte is a lot to handle. I often find myself more interested in Malory himself rather than the text. I've read the Morte, and I've read criticism on it, but nothing ever serious. The various editions and convoluted contextual information is enough to drive me crazy. I am actually more interested in a 14th alliterative poem--The Alliterative Morte Arthure. It is not very well known, but wonderful to read. Arthur is portrayed as a tragic, epic hero rather than a romantic figure. Malory used the AMA as one of his sources, as well. I did my undergraduate thesis on the AMA and plan to continue working on it if I enter into a PhD program. You should give it a read... On a side note, I see that your from Tennessee. Just commenting because I grew up in Chattanooga, and my family is still there.

Thanks for your response. I will definitely check these out. I'm drawn to U of Rochester because of their practice of combining traditional approaches to medieval literature with cultural studies and contemporary theory. The work of every medieval faculty member somehow aligns with my interests, and I am really excited about the work they're doing. I'd like to work with Sarah Higley because of her work in the medieval notions of magic and monstrosity, as well as science fiction. In my MA thesis, I used Freud's deferred action as a way to analyze the relationship between medieval and modern accounts of the Black Death, specifically through its representation in a science fiction novel on the subject. Also, Alan Lupack, who works on Arthurian legends and their modern representations. I like to look at the connections between past and present and the temporalities involved in these manifestations. Also, if you don't mind, I'd like to PM you at some point and get your opinions on the program. It's definitely my number one choice! Thanks, again.

I, too, plan on applying to GWU. The program would be a great fit for me, especially since they have JJ Cohen. I'm a medievalist with interestests in temporality, divination, medievalism, and psychoanalysis / historicism. A friend from my MA cohort is attending this fall, and she appears really excited / optimistic about it. I haven't talked to her about funding, however. Lucky for her, she doesn't have to worry either way. I have heard mixed things about their funding. According to the NRC data table for English doctoral program, GWU funds 33% of their first year students. However, even though just released, the data dates from 2006-2007, so it's not wholly accurate. I would also like to get some more insight on GWU's program. I would really like to apply, but I don't want it to be a waste.

I'm taking the subject test in October. I'm using my general score from my MA program. My writing sample is about 98 percent revised, and I have a very rough draft of my SOP. Two professors have already agreed to write LORs, and one said she speak with me in September when she gets back to the city. I have twelve schools on my list, but I'm looking for three more; I was told to apply to at least fifteen. Anyway, I'm also submitting to a conference--deadline September 15th. I've started researching...so much to do...Plus, I work 45+ hours a week. Needless to say, I'll have a really exciting life for the next several months. Hopefully, in the end, it will all pay off.

I began with a little over $50K from my MA program. Thanks to a lucrative albeit soul-sucking job, I've been able to pay off over $30K since my graduation in May. My goal is to pay off the rest by December. I can't imagine having $100K in loans, especially in the field of English. I hope to start a PhD next fall, and I will never ever take out student loans again! The burden is way too much. I imagine what that $30K could have allowed me to do...like travel extensively for the next year or buy several insanely expensive and impractical pairs of shoes. Oh, the possibilities....

Thanks for the insight. I know that UCSB would make for a great fit, and I would like to go there. What are your general impressions of the program? Any advice on effectively applying there? Thanks!

Thanks for the responses so far! WashU may be a possibility. Joe Loewenstein is there. He does a lot more with Spenser, Milton and Shakespeare. I agree with lyoness about ND. I looked at the program initially, but I found it too traditional for my taste. And, yes, I'm applying to UCSB b/c of Fradenburg. I'm a little concerned about funding, though.

I've perused this forum along with several others, and I'm still in need of some assistance. I'm applying to PhD programs this fall. I just graduated with my MA. My areas of interest are the late Middle Ages (a little of the Early Modern period) and psychoanalysis (mainly Freud). Generally, I'm interested in exploring the relationship between past and present through deferred action and how time is experienced in both medieval works and contemporary representations of the Middle Ages. Furthermore, I hope to explore the literary structure of Freud's writing in terms of temporal arrangements. In a nutshell, I like medieval lit, Freud, and temporality. So far, I have a list of 13 schools, but I would like to apply to a minimum of 15 in order to help my chances. In addition, a few of the schools on my list, I'm still questioning (funding, fit, etc.). 1. GWU 2. SUNY Buffalo 3. Boston College (? fit) 4. Boston University 5. UT Austin 6. UT Knoxville 7. Purdue 8. UNCG 9. U Missouri 10. Kent State 11. UCSB (? funding, even though it would be a great fit) 12. UCONN 13. OU I would welcome any other suggestions of programs I can explore. I'm trying to be practical here, and I'm not looking to apply only to top 15 schools. I just graduated from a reputable program in NYC, but I'm not looking to attend the Harvards and Yales. I want to find a place where I can perform great research, earn invaluable teaching experience, and live happily for the next 5 years of my life. Thanks, everyone!

literary theory, psychoanalysis, late medieval literature. I also considered applying for an MFA, but I leaning more towards the PhD. Thanks!

I just finished my MA at NYU. I planned to take some time off and pay back my loans. Even though I finished my MA two weeks ago, I'm ready to go back to school. I plan to apply to a few schools this year and see what happens, and if it doesn't work out, then I will apply again the following year. I am, however, more interested in PhD programs that emphasize teaching. My ultimate objective is to teach. I do enjoy the research aspect, but that is not why I want to get into higher ed. NYU was a great program, and it helped me define my focus more clearly and to become a better researcher and scholar, but teaching is not emphasized at all. Even in the PhD program, candidates are no longer required to teach as part of their funding packages. I would welcome any suggestions for programs that meet my criteria. Thanks!