ProfLorax

Not at all. Just do so with plenty of notice! And perhaps do not disclose the actual reason if you decline for a more appealing offer.

I have two sets of grad school friends: the circle that shares my academic interests (the rhetoric folks within a largely lit-focused department) and the circle that shares my life interests. This wasn't an intentional split, and there is some overlap. I love hanging out with my rhetoric peeps because we can bounce ideas off each other, and I get to learn so much from their expertise. But my cohort besties? They are the ones who share my values, hobbies, and sense of humor. It mostly happens in conversation, when someone says something like, "Last Friday at Nats Park," then I'd interrupt, "Oh! You like baseball?" Then, we'd make plans to go to a baseball game. BOOM. FRIENDSHIP ACHIEVED. Also, it took me a year or so to locate and solidify the kinds of friendships you're craving. It will happen! Just listen in for cues that you have more in common than just grad school and make your move!* *Also relevant: no one ever told me that making friends as an adult post-college would be like dating. It so is! Asking someone to hang out for the first time solo can be pretty nerve-wrecking. My strategy is to usually just joke about the awkwardness of making new friends because I have found it's something that most people can relate to!

It's so tempting to try to read interactions with POI's like tea leaves to get an idea of where you'll get in, but there's really no use. The only point you'll know if you have been accepted or not is when you're reading the decision email/letter. I've mentioned this before, maybe on this very thread: I was rejected from a program in which I had Skyped with a POI and the DGS looked at my LinkedIn program, and I was accepted into a couple programs with which I had no contact with POI's whatsoever! I think POI interest is a good sign that you are an overall strong applicant, but because they haven't looked at all the applications yet and because you need more than one "yes" vote for an acceptance, it's impossible to know what these interactions really mean in terms of your chances at a specific program. All that being said, holy shit did I do the same thing! So feel free to ignore my words of caution and freak out accordingly.

Your first question: There are always a few posts in here about the same topic, and my mind always boggles! You have a solid background in English, letters of rec speaking to your analytical abilities, and a writing sample. The engineering degree, then, isn't a blip but potentially an asset. If you happen to be studying science in literature or the digital humanities, your engineering undergrad degree could be a huge boost to your application. Even if you're not interested in those fields, most adcomms will focus on your most recent degree. Even those of us with both an BA and MA in English focused mostly on our MA experience in our applications. Your second question: my SOP reads like an intellectual biography, so after a few sentences defining myself as an applicant, I launch into my background. My academic bio provides the context for my current research interests.

If you were an undergrad, I'd be as optimistic at Wyatt's Torch. But at the MA level? I really don't know. When you look at PhD program websites, you'll often see that the average MA GPA for accepted students is pretty close to 4.0. I've been told that a B is a warning grade for MA students, and honestly, I have never heard of an MA student earning an F in a graduate class. Have you talked to the professor about turning the paper in late? What do your advisors say? Gosh, I hate to be so pessimistic. I really would urge you to talk to your professor. Good luck! I hope you can work something out.

If you do this, I suggest submitting your paper as a PDF file. I'm currently grading a bunch of 101 papers, and I can tell very quickly if things have been tempered. If I can't tell just be looking at the document (though I usually can), I can tell because when I download a file onto Word, I can see what margins, fonts, and line spacing the students chose. Y'all know my stance (there's always fluff to cut!), but if you find yourself adjusting and playing around with the layout, consider uploading a PDF.

MA programs tend to be more general than specific, so it's hard to recommend specific MA programs for specific interests. However, here's a great place to start: We've been compiling a list of funded MA programs for a few years. See if any of these programs spike your interest! And you're absolutely right: many writers throughout history speak to the themes you are interested in studying. However, when you get to applying for PhD programs, you'll want to locate a period, nation, and (possibly) genre in addition to the theories and frameworks that interest you. At the PhD level (and job market), applications are often split up my area groups and given to faculty in that area group. So, for example, any applicants that are interested in Romantic poetry will eventually be sent off to the Romanticists within the department. One of the most challenging aspects of applying to the PhD level is both branding yourself as the [specific theory within specific period] applicant while also standing out. However, you don't necessarily have to worry about this at the MA level. An MA program will certainly help you figure out which of the traditional area groups you fit into and what new ideas you offer to that area group (or groups, as some overlap!).

In addition to Wyatt's Torch's on point feedback, I can't help but wonder if you meant to post this in the Philosophy forum? You don't state any literary interests, like a period, genre, or nation-specific body of literature with which you want to work.

Oh I never considered the possibility that the secondary would contact the primary! Though maybe s/he did so to also express their condolences and then moved onto the conversation about letters. Either way, good call on contacting the primary first. And most importantly, I'm so happy that your crisis is resolved!

First of all, ALL THE SNAPS. This should be everyone's mantra these next few months (and honestly, throughout grad school and while on the market). I just wanted to add two more suggestions to my original post: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT re-read your materials after you have sent them out. You will find a typo. One typo will not keep you out of grad school, but it's hard not to stress about it once you've found it! Once you hit "submit," just let it all go. If the stress is really getting to you and starting to impact your relationships and your body, there ain't nothing wrong with finding a professional to talk to. I went to a talk on the job market two days ago, and both of the recently hired TT professors who spoke mentioned getting outside support while on the market. (The job market, I learned, is this process again but times a million. Sending you positive thoughts, ComeBackZinc!) One started therapy; another hired a life coach. I really appreciated their honesty regarding the stress of the job market and the fact they needed an extra shoulder during this time. Their presentations reminded me that it's okay to need some extra support from time to time!

Not the case at all! My program encouraged all of us to apply for federal financial aid, and there are a handful of need-based fellowships at the university-level that require applicants to have filled out the FAFSA. You can fill it out as you are waiting to hear back, but you can also wait until you know where you'll be going. The March 2 deadline is a priority deadline, so you can submit the application after March 2 has passed.

Here are a few that worked for me: Take time off. An afternoon, a day, or even a full weekend. Do zero work on applications or grad coursework. Surround yourself with supportive people who won't say "you'll get into all the schools!" Those people are the worst. If you can, get your applications in a bit early. That way, you won't have to deal with the added stress of the impending deadline. Have small, tangible tasks to complete on a daily (except for your day/days off) basis: Tuesday: revise SoP for University Y; Wednesday: fill out app form for University X; Thursday: send GRE scores. If you can, plan a trip in January. It doesn't have to be somewhere fancy! Just something to take your mind off waiting to hear back. If you can't plan a trip, still have something fun planned in the Winter Break to look forward to! Allow yourself to get excited about the prospect of starting graduate school. Have a Plan B. I had a pretty solid Plan B in mind. I knew that if I did get rejected across the board, I'd be initially very sad but my life wouldn't be over. This helped negate some stress. If you don't have a dog, see if you can volunteer to take a shelter dog for a hike one afternoon: exercise and puppy cuddles FTW! Remind yourself that this is just the beginning of a long and arduous journey! Or maybe don't remind yourself that... LIMIT YOUR TIME ON GRADCAFE ONCE RESPONSES START COMING IN. Most importantly, self-care, self-care, self-care. As Donna and Tom say:

If the survey is still open in a month or two, I'll be happy to help out! Signed, 34 weeks pregnant doctoral student

Meeeeeeeeee! Did you submit a proposal to Computers and Writing? Or do you plan to since the deadline was extended?

Way way back in 2008, I applied to PhD programs in literature that didn't require the subject test. It didn't go well, though I consider it a blessing because I ended up doing a great MA program and discovering rhetoric and composition (which, as a field, never requires the GRE subject test!). To add to your list, Emory, UC Santa Cruz, Syracuse, and Ohio State also do not require the GRE subject test.

There are many reasons to attend conferences. I've presented at small, frankly shitty, conferences because friends from my alma mater would also be presenting there; it was a super fun mini-reunion. I have presented at regional conferences to practice my presenting skills. I have presented at unknown but very applicable to my interests conferences to brainstorm ideas with other nerds who care deeply about my interests. I've applied to and been accepted at conferences that are taking place in cities I want to visit. I've presented at conferences because they are nearby and easy to get to. I've presented at major national conferences because they've given me an opportunity to network with the experts in my field and add a sexy spot to my CV. I've presented at smaller national conferences that speak to my interests and provide a community of scholarly support and a well-regarded line on my CV. tl;dr version: there are a ton of legit reasons to present at a conference, and the appropriateness of the conference will depend on your reason!

Here's what I'd do. First, I'd contact another possible letter writer ASAP, a professor who may not be as familiar with my work but knows me as a person, and frankly explain the situation. My email and/or in-person conversation would be longer, but this would be the core of my ask: I had a letter writer lined up, but he has had a death in the family. If he can't write my remaining letters, could you write up a letter on my behalf for X number of schools? I will know within a week if my original letter writer is unable to commit. Then, I'd contact my original letter writer. I'd express my sympathy, and because I had already gotten a commitment from someone else, I can let him off the hook without him feeling guilty. The pitch would sound/read something like this (after initially expressing sympathy for his loss): I would love to have you write a letter for me for these three schools I've added to my list, but I can't imagine what you are going through right now. I have lined up Professor Jane Doe to write a letter in your place if you decide to take time off from work. I already so appreciate what you've contributed to my application. You and your family are in my thoughts at this time. If the professor responds saying he won't be submitting any extra letters, I'd ask him to forward the letter he's already written to my new letter writer (if they are acquainted). That way, the new letter writer could potentially touch upon some of the themes of the original letter without knowing my work as thoroughly. With a back-up plan in place, the original letter can either affirm he'll write you the letter (and you'll know that he really does want to write you the letter at this time rather than feeling like he has to out of duty) or back out without feeling like he's ruining your chances.

I did an unranked, unfunded MA and did just fine as a PhD applicant. Similarly, I didn't think it was worth moving across the country for an MA, so I chose the program that was close by. I also think funded MA's are great, but going to a university close to home may actually be cheaper than relocating for a funded MA. Use your time as an MA student to make strong connections with faculty, write excellent seminar papers that could be writing samples, discover your research interests, and get involved with your department and field. If you do those things, you'll be fine once/if you decide to apply to PhD programs afterwards.

Nahis, welcome! I'm not in Comp Lit, but I wanted to draw attention to this part of your post. UC funding greatly depends on campus and even applicant, but you have the additional burden of being an international student. The good news about the UC system is that most campuses won't accept doctoral students if they can't fund them. That being said, I have also heard rumors that some public universities tend to not admit as many international students because of the high cost of funding an international student. These are mostly rumors, though. If you do contact departments to inquire about funding, be sure to note that you are an international applicant. Here's a recent thread that may be useful:

First, do a little dance! Second, re-read the decision letter. Usually it will detail the next steps. If not, respond and ask what the next steps are. Even for an unconditionally accepted paper, there are often some notes from the editor and reviewers regarding minor revisions.

Here are some titles I think you all should use: From Squalor to Baller: The Meteoric Rise of the Best Student You've Never Met Say Yes to the Best: Why I'm the Smartest Decision You'll Make Today #FuckYes

Double-post. If you want to respond, please go to this post:

I agree with the others. It isn't impossible, but it will be a hard sell. If you were able to get all A's your second semester, you would be able to highlight your improvement over time. But to be under a 3.0 after a full year? That's tricky to explain. You say that you are better at time management now, but any adcomms will want to see the evidence. Could you take grad classes as a non-matriculating student? Find a way to score a straight A semester at the grad-level at some institution? Some universities have post-bachelor programs in the sciences, right?

How far along were you in your former PhD program? At any point, did you start to turn things around? Can you show the adcomms that, while Fall semester was a tough adjustment period, you figured things out in Spring? I ask these questions because most PhD programs in the US will have the same format: coursework in the first few years, and oftentimes, you will have to take some courses that are only tangentially related to your interests. If you didn't like this structure in your former program, do you think you'll do better in a different program that still follows the same structure?

Hell, I'm married with our first kid on the way, and I think your advice is stellar and applies widely. I really appreciated the three years I took off; by the time I made the decision to apply, both my partner and I were sure that a PhD program was the only avenue for my ideal career.