andie45

@uraniborg hi, i pmed you, but i'll repost the questions here. -i'm also wondering about funding--what is it based on? academic record or teaching experience, etc.? -how specific of a proposal of study/investigation did you propose in your SOP? i have a fairly specific project, but don't know if should be more general, since projects inevitably change. -did you mention specific profs with whom you wanted to work? -as a current student, what are the pro's/cons of the program? thanks!

has anyone been through the program or applied? does anyone know anything about aid/fellowships offered? thanks!

Thanks!

Thank for the responses. Funding is definitely a consideration. I was under the impression that the program offers need-based financial aid?

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Dartmouth's Comp Lit MA program. What did you like/not like about the program? Do you feel it helped you get into Comp Lit or Language PhD programs? Also, if anyone has any experience applying to the program, that would be helpful too. Thanks!

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Middlebury Language School MA. I am particularly interested in the Spanish school. Thanks!

thanks so much!

lyonessrampant: Would the age factor be a disadvantage if you started your MA later, but applied to PhD programs immediately after? Is the number of years spent outside of academia more of an issue than age per se? Thanks!

Thanks so much for all of the helpful responses! Another question: how much does age play a role in admissions? (i.e. if you are in your late 20's when applying to PhD programs).

Again, take all of this with a grain of salt. I'm only relaying other things I've heard elsewhere. Getting a degree in the UK would be a phenomenal experience, and I'm sure the quality of education would be superb. And I'm only trying to offer some thoughts; I don't, by any means, wish to persuade people one way or the other ^^I didn't feel you were trying to persuade me at all--I appreciate the honesty! I am new to this whole process, so any additional knowledge will allow me to make more informed decisions! Also, if you are accepted to a terminal MA program, can you defer enrollment for a year? I ask because I will also be applying to fellowships , and should I be offered one, will postpone grad school until the following year. I also think it might be easier to apply for fellowships and grad school at the same time.

rems: haha, okay thanks!

yxnstat: your comment about comp lit students not coming straight from undergrad is really interesting, and actually makes sense. I attend a LAC, so I haven't been able to take any graduate level language courses, but I have taken upper-level literature courses in both of my FLs (1 course in each--I'd like to take more, but I'm having a hard time fitting in more with my other requirements. I do have a more general application question. How do adcoms look upon gaps in your undergrad education? I transferred, and took two semesters off (non-consecutively), and was wondering if this will negatively impact my applications. Should I include a brief statement regarding these gaps? I also have the opportunity to graduate a semester later (in fall 2013, as opposed to spring). Would it be unfavorable if I took the extra semester, given that I already have several gaps in my record? Or would it be beneficial to use the extra time to take more classes, gain more language experience, and further develop my interests? I also plan to travel/teach abroad the year following graduation, and was wondering how this might help/hinder (or have no impact at all!) on my application. Thanks for everyone's insightful comments!

Thanks, Why Lion. Do you have any more specific info on Dartmouth's program? What about Boston College's English MA? Stately Plump: Do you mean that it is much harder to find a job at a research university in the UK, or only in the US? Right now I am more interested in research than teaching, which is why I ask. rems: your responses were really informative. I've definitely noticed UK programs' expectations for theoretical background, which I admit does intimidate me quite a bit. The University of Edinburgh has a taught MSc in Literature and Modernity that looks like it is less focused on theory. Does anyone know about this program (or Edinburgh)? Also, what is the difference between UK "taught" vs. "research" programs? Oh, and what do you mean by "instant street cred?" (among peers, or adcoms?)

Thanks so much! These responses have been very helpful. I am also seriously considering doing master's level work in the UK, and possibly continuing there for the PhD. Is it true that if I wish to continue my studies in the U.S. that I'll have difficulty getting into a program? What are the main pros/cons of graduate work in the UK vs. the U.S.? Also, does anyone have any experience with UK programs? thanks!!

I'm currently an English undergrad at a top LA college, and want to pursue graduate study in either English or Comp Lit. From what I understand, it seems that CL is much more competitive, especially if you are not a major. My concern is that doing a general English program will not allow me to do interdisciplinary work. I'm a junior and only realized this year that I am more interested in CL. I have two foreign languages, and plan to have a third by the time I graduate, but I'm not sure that this will allow me to compete with CL majors. I also read somewhere that graduate schools look at upper level foreign language classes to assess your language skills, but I'm not sure if that's true--if not, how DO they assess these skills (recs, etc?). My senior thesis will be on translation, and my main concentration is poetry, especially modern and contemporary. I'm also a philosophy minor, and am interested in phil and lit. Does anyone know any English programs that allow interdisciplinary work? I've researched MA programs in the UK, and Cambridge has a Culture and Criticism MA that advertises an interdisciplinary focus. Dartmouth also has a CL MA, but I can't find any info about its reputation (I know unfunded MAs in the U.S. are not well regarded). My other concern is that my school's dept does not have a very structured major that requires you to take a very many specific courses, or courses in historical sequence. Do you think this will hurt my chances of being accepted to a more traditional Eng program? I've realized that my course selection probably looks very scattered (with the exception of a clear interest in poetry). Are there any courses that I should definitely take for grad school (i.e. Lit Crit)? Sry for the long post, but I want to plan accordingly for my senior courses!