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What programs did you apply to? If you applied to a good range already, I think it's unlikely that throwing in more at this point will help. Especially since fit is of the utmost importance.

I am not doing Fulbright, but I am currently teaching English in a small (less than 6,000 people) and very isolated town in France where there are no Americans and very few people my age. I often spend whole weekends without seeing anyone. I am having a hard time as well, but I would still say that unless you are close to suicidal--stay! Part of being abroad is learning to adjust to such circumstances, and you can still gain a lot even if not all of it is fun. Plus, I think quitting would look very bad to employers unless you are doing it because of serious, diagnosed mental health issues. Are there any clubs or organizations you can join? Can you take language classes? Have you tried to reach out to people, even if they are not your age or don't speak your language? Do you have hobbies you can do on your own? PM me if you want to talk.

Done with all 13 applications! And not dead!

I just started Duolingua as well, both to perfect my french and to begin learning German. It seems excellent, especially since it's free. I personally think it helps to be able to speak the language at least a little when trying to gain reading knowledge, but that might not be the case for everyone.

I read it if you still want opinions! PM me.

Me three! Two errors in fact...one in WS and one in SOP!

I have been dreading working on the Berkeley Personal History so I just finished a draft now. I'd really like someone in English/humanities to take a look. It's short, I just want general impressions, and I'd be happy to read anything of yours. Thanks!

I had the same formatting problem!! drove me crazy last night. I just ended up submitting with wonky formatting and emailing the school about it, but haven't heard back.

I would strongly recommend submitting a literature paper. A sociology study does not say much about your potential to do carry out literary analysis--they are completely different skills sets, although of course it's possible to do interdisciplinary work.

Wait, the differences between footnotes and endnotes is simply that the footnotes are printed at the end of the paper rather than the footers of each page, right? Other than that, they are the same? Then why would I worry about footnotes but not endnotes?

Does anyone have a large number of Endnotes in their writing sample? Do you think this annoying to the admissions people? Mine are mostly elaborations and explanations of the theory I use and some references to further reading. I figure they can skip it if they want to, but I'm also worried because with the endnotes I am about a page over the limit (without the Works Cited pages).

I would send the programs an email just in case. It shouldn't matter, but sometimes it does for funding reasons.

I personally would recommend against it. I think it might indicate to the admissions committee that you are not serious about your studies or that you don't understand the nature of an SOP.

I'm pretty stressed. My writing sample feel close to finished, but my SOPs don't feel done at all. I keep second guessing them, and I still have to write most of the fit paragraphs. Also, the tedious work of filling out the online apps is not appealing right now. The weather here has been terrible and all I want to do is stay in bed all day and read good books.

I'm not quite done but will be ready to switch tomorrow. I'm in English. Anyone up else for it?

I'm so sorry you're going through that; in the midst of my own applications, just reading about it made me panic inside. I"m not in a grad program yet clearly, but I'll for sure read you're SOP if you don't find someone more qualified (or even if you do and want another pair of eyes).

Thanks everyone! Everything about this process is making me paranoid, but I feel a little better now.

I assume you're trolling, Loric, so I won't spend too long on a response, but I advise you not to belittle other people's experiences just because they do not match your own. If you feel you've been through worse than standardized tests, good for you. But other people find the idea of standardized testing uniquely stressful, more so than even than being sick, have dozens of pages to write in a single night, and dealing with nasty advisers. As for what kind of college didn't have multiple choice scantron tests--that's easy. A good one that doesn't waste time on bullshit like that. I wrote several article length research papers every semester and when I did have tests they were in depth oral exams or occasionally essay tests. You know, the stuff that helped me build the skills academics actually use, rather than perfecting my ability to bubble in scantrons .

I, for one, really do get bad test anxiety in timed situations, especially with certain material that I know I'm not good at, such as math. I do not use it as an excuse for bad scores, but it is true that it works against me, and I could study much less if it weren't for the anxiety. In high school, I took a lot of standardized tests, and I did learn to cope with it, although I did this mostly by over-studying. In college, though, I had NO standardized tests until the GRE. I also had very few exams in general. I was an English major at a SLAC and out final assessments were almost always papers or oral exams. I was terrified when I took the GRE because I was so out of practice with multiple choice test taking. So no, not everyone in college "at the bare minimum, faced some standardized tests at the midpoint and end of every semester for 4 years." I took a math class, a science class, and a psych class--and those were the only 3 classes I ever had regular exams in.

I feel so unready to apply. Have been struggling with my SOP all day after receiving comments from a professor. Can't squeeze everything I want to say into the word/page limits and still make it eloquent. Also, Berkeley personal history. Oh, why does it exist? Just had to vent.

It is absolutely not true. Many successful applicants do not have an MA.

Hey all, Anyone know whether I send GRE subject test scores separately from the General Test --as in, do I have to pay for both separately? Please say no... Also, I am conflicted about sending my Subject Test score to places that don't require it. I scored a 670 (87%). I am happy with my score (meaning I don't think it will keep me out), but not sure it's good enough to impress anyone either. I should note that my education in canonical English lit is lacking (not my specialty), so I was hoping a good Subject test score would prove I'm prepared...is it good enough?

Good luck to you too! (And I'm sure Derrida wouldn't hate you, as long as you keep an open mind).

I don't know what to tell you, except that I have the exact same GPA and verbal score as you and an even lower math score than you (148), and I am applying to Yale and Berkeley as well. I am not retaking. My impression from talking to profs and graduate program directors is that it won't "spoil" my chances by any stretch of the imagination, but that it is sometimes taken into account, but really more because of the graduate school than the department. I am applying to 12 schools total, but I don't consider any PhD program to be "safe." Where else are you applying besides those 3 schools? What do you specialize in?

Generally, an SOP an English program should details your academic past and how it has led you to your current interests, then discuss future projects and questions you wish to address in your work, and, of course, explain how the faculty and resources of the target university will help you achieve your goals. There are no "rules" but there are things you should not do ie talk about how much you love literature. I have no found any examples online, but I have reached out to a few current grad students that I know and asked for theirs. Perhaps you could do the same? I can read your statement if you wish. I am also an English applicant.