ahembree

The ETS does give a ballpark based on the old test scoring system. I took the new test about a week and a half ago and they gave me a score range for verbal and quantitative. It's a bit frustrating because they gave me a 70 point range for verbal and a 50 point range in quantitative, but it's better than nothing. It does suck to wait until November to know for sure, but I guess that's the only way for them to norm the scoring system.

I'm inclined to agree about the novel version of Everything is Illuminated. I couldn't get to the second half. The story lends itself very well to film and was actually fairly moving at the end. I was pleasantly surprised.

I recently read Jonathan Saffran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which I very much enjoyed. I also liked the film version of Everything is Illuminated. I need a few more great contemporary reads to pull my head out of the dust on occasion, so I'll definitely be checking this thread as days go by.

I wouldn't be surprised if WUSTL made a little jump in the next 5-6 years. They seem to be getting a good rep as a smaller, "up-and-coming" program. Maybe I'm biased as a prospective applicant...

I'd never heard of something like that happening, qbt, but that's pretty wild. Another way to avoid the like would be to download software like Calibre to maintain your digital library (and backup all of those ebook files in case of Amazonian invasion). It's like iTunes for your Kindle. I'd also highly recommend it as a source for free newspapers/magazines and paid-for works from all over the internet, as it's search feature covers all sorts of websites in addition to the Kindle store. I don't think they could/should replace a full personal library, but Kindles are definitely useful for quick access to a wide variety of pdf files or texts. If you can't let a youngster borrow a book because it's on your Kindle, hopefully there's a great big impersonal library to help them out .

I get the feeling that, if you apply to 10, applying to 15 isn't much more hassle for your profs. You are definitely right about the money though. That's a thousand dollar investment at 70 a pop. My list is looking more like 10 now, but that can/will change I'm sure. I've got recs spoken for, but 2 of the 3 asked to see an SOP as soon as possible, so that's been my task of looming terror for the last few weeks. I'm basically giving them a general version, as each school will probably be a bit different. I'm hoping they can give some feedback as well, though they are about to get busy. That's one reason I'm glad I asked earlier this summer. Has anyone been reaching out to faculty/grad students at schools? Most applications I've looked into seem to open around Sept 1st-15th, which is kind of a bummer since I was hoping to get started before heading back to work. I'm also taking the subject test in October and I'm taking the revised GRE next Tuesday. The practice test I took for the revised was easier in the Verbal dept. than the one I took for the older test ages ago. The whole scoring system is changing though, so here's hoping that was a good choice! Souslespaves, I like your style on the spreadsheet. I used to do the same thing for scheduling undergrad classes [nerd alert ].

Runon: I haven't actually contacted the library, but I will try. Also, I live down the street from a large public university now, so maybe that would be a good place to start as well, given what I have heard. I'm also taking online classes from a CC for my teaching certificate, and I'd never considered checking there as well. Lyoness: Thanks for the professor recommendations! Knowing names in advance makes the search much easier, so I really appreciate it. I haven't looked into a few of those programs yet (Utah and Minnesota in particular) , but definitely will. PHF: Thanks for the info on Kahn. Feminist criticism isn't really my bag, but if she's an important Shakespearean, I want to read her. I find it interesting that her current research concerns modern reconstructions of Shakespeare, considering I am interested in how modern writers try to exist in his wake.

First of all, thanks so much for all the responses! I'll do what I can to address questions and remedy a few errors on my part. PHF: Glad to hear we share common interests! Many of the programs I have listed or looked at do offer an MA along the way to a PHD, even if they have no co-terminal MA. I think this is fantastic, and consider it a definite mark in a given program's favor. However, when it comes to finding the perfect fit, I am more than willing to apply to a program with full professors working in my areas of interest, even if it does not offer this practical option. If I have the luxury of choosing between a program that offers it and one that doesn't, that may be a pertinent factor for my decision. In regards to my "maybes," those have already altered a bit since my original post, but your question is a good one. WashU, Duke, Northwestern and Virginia were listed as they were because, at the time of posting, I felt that the faculties were very strong in certain areas of interest (e.g. Early Modern), but not necessarily in drama or film. This is based solely on my reading of faculty interests and comparing my lists, which are changing every day. Right now, I would say UVA and WUSTL are both looking like better options to me, having dug a bit deeper. As for Vanderbilt, I definitely have looked into the program, which I like very much in many ways. Honestly, I think it was a mistake for me to leave it off of my list, as it is currently sitting on a post-it on my computer under "definitely," haha. Runon/PHF, I've looked into alumni JSTOR access, and I can't find anything of the kind through my alma mater. I went on a bit of a downloading blitz at the end of my senior year, but that's all I have at the moment. My login information expired a few months after graduating, I'm afraid. Haru: I have to say I am surprised to hear this about Rice. At the moment, I really like it as a smaller school and the faculty seems to align well to my interests. I intend to apply for sure regardless, but I appreciate the heads-up. Being more of the laid-back type myself, I know exactly what you mean about Brown, as I like basically everything about the program. Phil Sparrow: In answer to your question, I am very interested in "theory qua theory," but my more specific critical/philosophical interests currently fall in the realm of the linguistic (e.g. Derrida, Foucault), and also ideas of narratology and genre (Bergson). It was Jakobson's description of the "communication functions" that got me interested in theory, though I wouldn't call myself a formalist. As I am (always) in the exploratory stages of my critical interests, however, I would say that my areas of greatest temporal interest are Renaissance/Early Modern and 20th century American novels/poetry. Joyce, for me, is almost an anomaly. His overlap with Dante and Shakespeare (and...er...brilliance in general) means I will always be reading him, despite the fact that Irish literature as a whole is not a strength of mine. In terms of "era," I am interested now in how modern writers, particularly in America, deal with their place in literary/philosophical history. As criticism is inseparable from that history, I suppose that would make me a critical theory-heavy scholar. Incidentally, though, my most likely writing sample concerns Shakespeare and Joyce, and many schools indicate that the writing sample should be in the proposed area of study. I have to agree with you about Northwestern. It's a great program and I love the area, having visited before. It is also helpful to know that the film department has some rep, as I definitely want new exposure (no pun intended?) in that genre. My school collaborated with NWern for a Summer Shakespeare program, so I also have some exposure to their drama department. In all honesty, I put the program as a "maybe" because I have been reading the lists of professors' publications and was less-than-thrilled at the time of posting. I feel a bit more motivated to dig deeper now, though. As for UNC/Duke, Duke was once my gold standard. When I started to really flesh out my interests, I became a bit disappointed with the drama/film dimension of the program. I admit the early modern at both schools is very strong, and both are all-around good programs. I am still likely to apply to at least one, and your comment on the collaborative nature of the programs is reassuring. It just feels like I'm interested because of their "all-around" rep rather than specific fit for me. This has been extremely helpful for me! Any more information about the above programs would be appreciated. I would definitely like to learn more in particular about UCI's Critical Theory emphasis. I am also interested to learn about programs well known for strong drama, film or Italian departments that I may not have considered already. I have considered Duke's program in Literature, among other comparative programs, so I am open to any suggestions. I'm grateful for the input, and feel free to ask anything else about me here or via PM. I'm sure we can help each other.

For those interested, here are some schools I've looked at organized by sub-test/no sub-test requirements: No subtest required: UNC, Duke, Chicago, Columbia, Brown, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Rice, UCSD Subtest Required: UVA, Yale, Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, UT Austin, Notre Dame, Boston College, WUSTL, NYU, Cornell I know I've looked at others, but I don't have more info handy. It might be pretty useful to keep a running list somewhere to keep updating, though. For posterity's sake...

Greetings All, I am applying to Ph.D. programs in English this fall. The most useful knowledge I've gained from these forums thus far has been in the form of specific experiences with programs and knowledge of individual departments. I would really appreciate some input on the programs I am considering, but more importantly on other programs that I should consider. Here is my interest in a nutshell: My undergrad background is in Shakespeare, Joyce and Renaissance Italian works. I want my graduate work to focus on critical theory and the idea of authorial identity, particularly as it relates to the conveyance of a message from source to audience. I want to focus on literature, drama and film. The latter field has made program selection interesting. So far I have "definitelies," "probablies" and "maybes." Feel free to re-prioritize on my behalf and, more importantly, to suggest different schools. Definitely: U Chicago, Cornell, NYU, Brown, Rice Probably: UNC, UC Irvine Maybe: WashU, Yale, UCLA, Northwestern, Duke, UVA I am starting this as a resource for my own search, but I certainly have no problem with others using the thread to find their own "fit." I would also appreciate any advice on locations to find scholarly articles, as those tend to be great measures of "fit" with a given professor and I am a year removed from that wonderful undergrad JSTOR membership. Much obliged!