marlowe

Only one person has the talent to truly create something special, and I am a Lesser man than he.

Yes. Just re-read this entire thread. SO MUCH AWESOME NOSTALGIA: Fiona, Ophelia, aeplo, Guate -- even that asshole dokkeynot! GREATEST cohort ever. PARTY AT OPHELIA's TOMORROW NIGHT!!! I feel that we have a significant responsibility to create the greatest future cohorts ever. Antecedent, you are next.

I agree (Guate is my girl). There are essentially only two required courses, and some people are (on occasion) exempted from at least one of them. There is nobody pigeon-holing you once you're here, and although my specialty was already pre-determined, I don't think anybody else feels like they are being pushed one way or the other. I don't feel like it is like that at all.

Unfortunately, doing a PhD won't really improve your score either. The test is pretty silly.

Go to Texas. It is incredible. That is all.

Looks like I should clarify my earlier post. My private undergraduate university cost something like $50,000 a year, which I was fortunate not to pay. My UK MA, which was only a year in length, cost about 12,000 GBP, or $20,000 -- thus, my entire masters degree cost less than a semester at my undergrad would have cost. I paid for it myself, and I am certain that it had everything to do with my getting into a solid PhD program. I worked very closely with the faculty in my area, I met loads of traveling scholars, I got a job at the best museum in the world, presented at some great conferences, lived in one of the coolest cities in the world, and most importantly, I learned a great deal about my field and what I want to do. It may not be for everybody, but I don't regret it in the least.

For my UK MA, I only paid the equivalent of a single semester (tuition only) at my undergraduate university (for which I was fortunate enough to attend for free) -- it was only a year. Quite a bargain, actually, I think.

You most certainly won't be handed a bibliography. Part of the challenge of the dissertation, as your first major project, is learning your way around your field, research methods, and the critical 'conversation'. It's tough (and especially so in the UK, where you are expected very much to be a self-starter), but the challenge will make you a better researcher and a better scholar.

Whoa, your school gives "A+'s"??? That is badass.

Notre Dame is just coming through a recent hiring phase in Medieval English, specifically, but they are extremely strong (and put a great deal of money and resources) into medieval studies. Toronto also has some excellent people -- I just met Fabienne Michelet a couple of weeks ago, and she was wonderful. Andy Orchard is an absolutely huge name in Anglo-Saxon, but I have heard that most of his students come out with excellent, but very 'similar' dissertations.

If you want any tips about Carolina, feel free to ask. Most people that were raised in NC spent a great deal of time in Chapel Hill, one time or another.

I miss NC terribly already.

Many of them are quite large, and they are much easier to access, certainly. I took the GREs near London Bridge somewhere, but took the Subject test in the States to avoid going all the way to Kent.

If it makes you feel any better, it is only offered three times a year in the states: October, November, and April, I think.

We did it for the year when I was in the UK and she was in the states -- you can do it! Then she came and lived there with me for 4 months.

Oldest English department in the world, it is.

My girlfriend will be in a program approximately 35 hours away by car. I am not looking forward to this aspect of the next five years.

Awesome. I went for the Near East -- not terribly expensive and walkable or cycle-able in the dead of winter.

Fiona and Guate, in which area of the town are you guys going to be living? Also, forget this impostor syndrome stuff: I just got back from hanging out at an important conference in my field, and there were PLENTY of mediocre papers, even from faculty. Have some confidence in yourself and your ability to produce solid work!

Thanks for sharing. The subsequent drafts are much, much better than the earlier ones (in terms of what admissions committees apparently want to see). In fact, it wasn't until the third draft that I realized that we actually share several specific interests. You are a very good writer, but unfortunately these SOPs are severely limited by space. I think the best advice that I can give to people preparing their stuff now, is keep it very focused -- try to construct a single narrative: how your undergradate work informed your MA work (if applicable), and how that work will inform the work that you will do as a doctoral student.

Jesus. I don't do anything, and I barely feel like I have time to read. But hey, I'll be at Leeds!

I will be sure that you will be baking and mixing a lot next year. As for SOPs, I'd be incredibly curious to read someone's. I have never really read anybody else's SOP before. They are so intensely personal, though, it would seem like some sort of violation or something.

I did the MA at King's, and I definitely think that it improved my prospects for doctoral applications. Feel free to send me any questions that you have via PM.

HOW WILL I KNOW YOU WHEN I SEE YOU IN AUGUST!? EDIT: ARE YOU A CAT?

I had a terrible dream last night about my second place school. I feel really good about my choice now, after that.