goldheartmountaintop

I don't know about editing docs, but regarding writing samples you should ask yourself whether or not you're wasting the adcom's time. Do you really need three distinct writing samples to show your writing/research skills? Assume that someone will spend time seriously reading all of these papers (because it's true, if you're a strong applicant) -- do they all represent you equally well? Are you applying to work on the syntax/phonology interface and would like to be noticed by both kinds of faculty? Or is one paper much better and the other one(s) won't really make a good impression? You want to make the strongest case possible for your acceptance.

Just heard back from MIT!!!! :)
 
Best of luck to the other MIT applicants; hope you guys hear back too! 

I definitely wouldn't look outside of my department for jobs, as I'm not sure doing so would make you a stronger candidate for research-based PhD programs. I'd probably continue my current research assistantship (or get a new one), and maybe get some TA-ships too if possible. The MA program I'm in is thesis-based and a lot of the MA students are encouraged to rework their theses so that they could get published, so I'd aim for that, and meanwhile I'd try to go to a lot of conferences and maybe continue working on my thesis topic. Essentially, I'd be looking to bulk up my CV more than anything else (ie grades). 

Really though, would you want to go anywhere with the banana slug as a mascot anyway? They chew their own penises off while mating!


{just kidding. I've heard nothing but good about their ling program )