skybythelight

I actually had this exact strike of paranoia tonight. I'm applying to nine programs and my funds are tight, so I'm having score reports sent when I can (i.e. on paydays) rather than doing them all at once... much less overwhelming to spend $25 a week than to spend $225 in a single go. But yes, I am nervous about the schools that are getting my GRE scores now-ish and won't get my application for another month.

My final list: PhDs: Minnesota Michigan Maryland WUSTL Vanderbilt MAs: University of Washington Wisconsin Milwaukee Penn State Colorado

I'm applying to nine total: five PhDs and four MAs. I was originally aiming for ten, but I knocked a few from my list because of fit/location/financial factors.

So, somehow I've managed to make it to this point in my academic career without ever having to put together a CV or resume. A few of my applications this year ask for one, and I want to make sure I don't leave it for the absolute last minute. Does anyone have any suggestions of places to look for formatting ideas? Any particular websites that you used and liked? Any of your own tips and tricks? Thanks

I was accepted to a few low ranking MA programs last year... WSU, OSU, and the like... I'd be happy to share my statement, just keep in mind that it was written with MA programs in mind, not PhDs. However, the professor I'm working with on my application round this year (which does include five PhD programs), seems to think it needs only minor tweaking.

For what it's worth: I have the exact same verbal score, but a lower quant and a high analytical writing (96th), and am applying to a few top programs... Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland. Definitely don't let it stop you.

I'll check it out, thanks.

I apologize if this thread already exists: I looked back a bit and didn't see anything, so I thought I would ask. I'm planning on applying to a mix of MA and PhD programs this application season. I realize this is rather broad, but my general interests are in post-colonial, feminist and gender studies, with a special interest in African literature and how the female body is used as both an ideological battleground and a site of subversion. Currently on my definitely applying list are: UWashington U Michigan (this is a definite reach school for me) WUSTL Penn State U Wisconsin Milwaukee Three of these are "must apply to the MA first" schools, so I could use some suggestions for other PhD programs that may be well suited to my interests. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks a lot for any help.

It's usually stated on the website, though I don't think I've actually seen any official school websites that use the word "feeder." I know that UIC and University of Washington's site makes it clear. This is what it says for University of Washington, for example: Continuation to the Ph.D. Program Our M.A./Ph.D. program is fully integrated. Students wishing to continue to the Ph.D. can do so internally and non-competitively, given satisfactory academic progress and completion of the Master's Essay.

I'm applying for a Masters.

For Ph.D, yes. I'm applying to their MA program... which I realize is still very competitive. Real talk: my best friend in the world was accepted to the MA program there last year and is starting this week. I'll probably apply solely because I miss her so damn much. Haha, I'm the worst academic of all the academics.

I also struggled with how to start, and what I settled on drew praise from some of my profs and criticism from others. My academic narrative basically centers around the fact that I was an average student who felt lost as to where she was going with her degree, so decided to take some time off. When I returned to school with a newly invigorated sense of passion, blah blah blah I did tremendously better and I have a 4.0 for my final two years. Anyway, basically I begin my SOP (as it currently stands) by talking, albeit briefly, about a D- that I received in an American Lit survey about five years ago, and how that grade was the catalyst for my deciding to drop out, which led to my figuring out that, hey I really DO want to do this, and coming back and doing infinitely better. Without all the flowery and cliche language, of course. I had one professor who vehemently argued that I should not call attention to that poor grade in such a blatant way. The majority of the others, including my department chair, thought it was eye-catching and creative without being over the top: an unexpected way to begin a personal statement that they thought would work in my favor. I only applied to a few lower tier state universities last year, and I was accepted into three out of four, for what that's worth. I don't know if that's helpful at all... just my own personal experience.

Yikes, that sounds horrifying. I slaved enough over my one, I can't imagine. Best of luck!

I hope so! And don't worry about the embarrassing phase... we're all going through the same thing!

The only schools on my definitely applying list so far are: UIC and University of Washington. It's very likely that I'll be applying to Carnegie Mellon. Also considering U of Minnesota and U of New Mexico... I'm planning on applying to 5-6 total. Oh, and this is for MA. My interests are somewhat broad as of now (which is why I'm starting with an MA), but I would like to focus on queer/gender theory as well as post-colonial theory and African literature in particular.

I know it's a bit early in the application season, but I'm willing to bet there are more of y'all out there for whom this will be round two and may already have a working draft of your Statement of Purpose completed. I did apply and was accepted to a few state universities last fall but decided to take a year off for various reasons. This time, I plan on applying to a wider variety of schools both location and ranking-wise, and I'm nervous that the statement I wrote last time may not be quite up to par. I plan on doing a bit of revising, obviously, to account for the year off and such, but I was wondering if any of you who have some experience writing them/feel like you have a pretty good handle on what adcoms are looking for, would be willing to give it a read and a few comments? Ideally, I think it would be really great/productive/fun if there were a few of us who would be interested in exchanging SOPs back and forth as we go through the revision process. I got plenty of feedback from my profs last year, but not much at all from my peers, and I think that would be incredibly helpful.

Hello, everyone! I'm making my official comeback to the forums as a fellow Fall 2013 applicant. I applied to four MA programs last season and was accepted to three, one with funding. However, it was on the complete opposite side of the country, and I found that I was unprepared for that kind of life uprooting move for various reasons. This time! I am planning on applying to more schools, more diverse locations (last year all of my choices were in the Pacific NW), more! more! more! ... which is kind of terrifying. My areas of interest include queer and post-colonial theory, primarily. I'm looking specifically at MA programs that offer funding, which certainly narrows my choices a bit. I'm also in a similar situation to the one some of you have described in terms of my significant other: it's a fairly new relationship (six months or so), but has moved steadily along and he is planning on coming with me wherever I may go. I've been trying to explain to him the importance of starting the list compiling process NOW, even though the actual move won't happen for nearly a year... sounds obvious to us that get it, but he isn't familiar with the insanity that is The Academy. He's also one of those "sure, sounds fine" types... which can be frustrating.

Has anyone else heard yet, now that it's officially PAST the deadline?

Completely ridiculous and unprofessional at this point, honestly.

I haven't heard anything, and I keep checking the website. Nothing.

There's an acceptance up on the results board... anyone claiming it?

Wow.

Nothing yet. This is getting frustrating.

I e-mailed him again today asking for an update on timeframe: no response yet.

Congratulations! I haven't heard anything about the GTA, no. I'm fairly certain (okay, absolutely certain) I'm not going to be attending, anyway.