Timshel

This is very true!

Yeah, I agree. You don't want to be like, oh yeah, I really like Derrida and Foucault. However, for people like me, I'm more interested in the application of certain theories and concepts to a certain type of literature, but I don't have specific authors and things like that that I want to focus on, necessarily.

I would think so. I think it is especially important to mention theorists who have coined certain terms or concepts. One of my professors sat on SUNY Buffalo's ad comm committee when she was a grad student there and she said that knowing what's being said is really important. For example, she said that there was no way they could go through all of the writing samples, so they would read the introduction, conclusion, and then look at the Works Cited page to make sure the student was citing relevant and seminal texts concerning that topic.

I don't know about this blanket statement. I think it depends on your focus. I think if your focus is theory, then of course you are going to talk about theorists. And I wouldn't say it's "academically immature" if it's woven into your idea. I know several people who mentioned theorists in their SOP that did get into good programs. I think what WOULD be wrong would be to say, "I plan on using the following theorists: A, B, and C." Again, I think whether or not you list any depends specifically on your area and focus.

No, I am not using it as my writing sample. I have changed focus a bit since then. Plus, mine was on trauma in Falling Man.

Wait, you can do the letters of recommendation online? When I looked at it, it said hard copy. I haven't started the application, though. I guess I should.

When I registered for the subject test, it asked if you wanted to send just the subject or the subject and the general.

It depends on the day. Some days I feel like "yeah, I have a chance," and then other days I'm like "I am so f-ed. This is never going to happen."

Idk. All I know is on turbo tax it asks if you are an undergraduate or graduate, and when you say graduate, and try to click on the link where you put in the amount for books, a message comes up and says only undergraduates are eligible for books deductions. It quotes something from the tax booklet stating that the deduction is only eligible for undergraduates. All I know is what the program tells me, and TurboTax is a recommended program from the IRS. It's linked on the IRS website. Again, all I know is what the program tells me.

The Crying of Lot 49 is amazing. Also, if you like Pynchon, read David Foster Wallace!

My husband and I do our taxes through TurboTax, and the form says that graduate students cannot deduct expenses like books--it specifically says it is reserved for undergraduate students.

What did you ask when you called and what did they say?

I did my Master's thesis on trauma and DeLillo.

Only two of the schools I am applying to require it: Cornell and UMass Amherst

I guess I could just tell her that I am familiar with her work, which is similar to mine, and I noticed that she hasn't taught any classes lately, and I was curious if she would be any time soon, or if she would still be working with students in the future? I don't know....I just don't want to word it wrong and give the wrong first impression.

I might be wrong, but I think it might look bad to schools that actually require it because it might make them think that you are irresponsible, unprepared, or absent-minded, which are not qualities you want an ad comm to think.

I remember reading somewhere on the website that there is a late registration, but it costs more. I definitely don't think you can just drop in because when I took mine, they only had books for people that were on their sheet.

Yeah, I've heard not to just be like "I want to work with X," but instead list examples of instructors/classes that the program offers that would work for you...I haven't decided how specific I want to be, but I really want to contact this person...... Also, that kind of info would be really beneficial to know, especially since I already have an MA. And UT Austin only had one doctorate student? That seems weird....I know people there....

How do you get to meet him?

Okay, so a professor at one of the universities I am applying to research, to a T, in the area that I am interested in. However, she has recently become the department chair, and I have noticed that she has not taught a graduate class since then. I intend to apply to that school either way, but I would like to contact her to see if she was planning on taking anyone on or teaching any more grad classes in the near future. However, I'm just not sure how to word that. I don't want it to sound like I'm not going to apply there if she isn't, but I'm also curious because I don't know if I should mention her specifically in my statement of purpose and then the readers be like "well, too bad because you won't be able to work with her," and I'll look like a total idiot. Any suggestions of what to say or how to word it?

To be honest, it sounds like CV padding. If you've taught, it's understood that you wrote syllabi. If anything, that is what I would list under the teaching assignment, like "constructed syllabi, administered all tests, etc." I have been teaching at a university for 3 years, 4 classes a semester on average, and there is no way I am going to include every syllabus I wrote.

I'm almost positive that they do not fund MAs.

I'm applying to the PhD because I already have an MA.

I met with the graduate coordinator from the university I received my MA from and she told me not to put any classes on the CV. If there are classes that influenced you, they should be in your statement of purpose.