ProfLorax

I can't imagine this will be a problem. We all did stupid shit as a 15 year old! I'd be shocked if they were all that concerned about an online class you took during your high school years. I think your advising is absolutely right. It doesn't hurt to ask. A couple of folks last year were very grateful that they did. You can simply shoot the administrative assistant for the grad department an email: "I wanted to double-check that you received my GRE scores [and any other supplemental materials sent by postal service.] When you have a chance, please confirm that my application is complete. Thank you!" However, most of my applications had a status page where I could see which materials they had received, so check that before emailing anyone. I can't imagine nine minutes late would be a problem. I doubt anyone was up last night, automatically deleting applications that came in after 11:59PM PST! After all, we West Coastians like our sleep. But you can always call the department today to ask! Deep breaths! You're nearing the finish line! YOU GOT THIS!

RoseEgypt, MLA format is one inch margins. Check out OWL Purdue's website on MLA formatting for more specifics.

I'd suggest to not use a size 11 font. Faculty members notice all the tricks to meet paper length requirements: font sizes, margin sizes, Courier New. Every time a student attempts to bypass a length requirement by changing the format, I am instantly annoyed. Do they really think I don't notice?, I wonder. I've talked to enough professors and instructors to know I'm not alone. Don't give them a reason to roll their eyes before they even start reading your writing sample! Either cut it down to the page requirement or be honest about the fact that your paper is, indeed, 18 pages.

Miami of Ohio's English PhD program does not require the General GRE.

I did some digging, and I found this thread from last year's applicants about whether or not to name POIs. I did name, and I got into 5/9 programs. But I don't think my success had anything to do with naming. Also, I am working closely with one of the professors I named at Maryland, but I am also working closely with a handful of professors who weren't even on my radar. I think departments know this will happen; your interests will shift, and you'll make new discoveries and new connections while a student. No one said to me, "You can't work with Professor X! You didn't even mention her on your SoP!" So, while mentioning specific professors may help applicants to frame their SoP, once you're in, it won't affect you either way.

Sending you all the good vibes! Let us know what happens.

That is... a really good question. No, seriously, I can see the pros and cons of each option. Since the writing sample is one of the most important parts of your application, I'd go straight to the source. Ask the DGS or any POI's you've had contact with at the schools where you are applying. Really, you don't want to mess around with the writing sample. Plus, some schools may have different answers.

Since there are very few interdisciplinary undergrad degrees, my perception is that many of the interdisciplinary programs aren't adamant about applicants having a specific undergrad degree. If you can show that the work you did as a literature major pertains to your research interests within East Asian Studies, I'd say go for the PhD (if that is your end goal). Also, some applications have a box you can check indicating that you are applying for the PhD program, but if you are not accepted, you would like to be considered for the MA program. Check and see if UCLA, Oregon, and/or Berkeley have that option, and then you won't have to make the choice; they'll do it for you!

Hi id quid. The situation you are in sucks! I really don't think you should have to shell out more time, and more importantly, more money because of one faculty member's disappearing act. It's just not fair. Have you contacted the chair of the department or the dean of the college where this professor works? They could help you track this person down or put pressure on her/him. As for Plan B, could you have one of your letter writers explain the F?

I don't know much about the program, so hopefully someone else can give you some specific info. Until then, I suggest looking at the bios of current grad students and their interests. Looking at current students' interests, my immediate impression is that MTL truly is interdisciplinary and not primarily literary focused. http://www.stanford.edu/dept/MTL/cgi-bin/drupal/mtlstudents

It's great to see y'all here again! Me? I'm plugging along, reading everything that has ever been written. The fun thing is that I am still in that stage where I feel inspired by every single new thing I learn... I hope that doesn't go away any time soon! Also, I recently discovered I need glasses for reading. Turns out, I have the most minor of minor eye issues. But since I read all the time, the minor eye issue led to headaches and fatigue. Now, I have my first pair of glasses and my reading is so much faster and painfree. I'm a cyborg! And an adorable one, at that.

Thanks, MisterMister, for answering! Your response gives us more insight into your question. A few things: the great thing about the field of rhetoric and composition is that everyone's interests are varied, so the danger of being pigeonholed is low. I am working on research projects on a zine, on Twitter, and on accommodation statements on the syllabus. I am not yet choosing between rhetoric and composition, and my professors have been encouraging me to pursue multiple interests to see if I can find connections. The first two years of a PhD program are really about exploration. At the same time, the odd reality is that even though you don't want to be pigeonholed, you will definitely construct an identity in your application materials. You do want to have a tagline, of sorts. You don't have to choose just one field or subfield, but it's good to point to an underlying question in your research interests. In my application materials, I talked about feminist theory, disability studies, and access to higher education; I illustrated how social justice was an underlying concern for me in both rhetoric and composition. So, it's great to have varied interests, but it's even better if you can articulate the connections between them. Interestingly, I just had a conversation yesterday with one of my mentors about the division between rhetoric and composition. I noted how so many scholars seem to identify with one or the other in their research (I'd assert that all rhet/comp folks identify as compositionists in their teaching practice, but research interests tend to be one or the other). He explained that that does seem to be case, but many scholars shift throughout their careers depending on their research questions. Plus, both fields have a shared interest in writing. Long story short, don't feel like you have to choose, especially this early in your career! I am equally passionate about rhetoric and composition, and I am motivated to find ways to merge the two in my research; even better, my professors are supportive of this. In terms of your writing sample, select the piece of writing you think best represents your research, analytical, and writing skills. Bonus points if it aligns with your stated research interests. The conference you attended sounds like it was a great experience! Own it. You are not an impostor but a raising star. You can do this!

MisterMister, could explain more about why you would rather send another paper and/or what your fears are about being pigeonholed?

I am at Maryland, and I chose Maryland over a top-20 school. I would do it again! Why? In addition to great funding, resources, faculty, and job placement, I just felt like I belong here. I haven't looked back. Of course, being in rhet/comp, I have a different relationship to the rankings (none), so it was an easy choice to make. In terms of specific admissions numbers, last year, Maryland accepted nine students out of 200 applicants. Eight of the nine accepted Maryland's offer, and they decided to not move to the wait list. Ranking matters, sure, but I don't think the difference between #20 and #32 matters significantly. If you want to see how graduates fare on the job market, google the names of recent graduates and see where they have ended up. That is a stronger indicator of a program's job placement power than the ranking alone.

If that theology paper is centered on literature and shows the work you want to do in a literature program, that could work. However, if it does not, I would revise that literature paper until it's at the same skill as the theology paper! I know, sounds like a lot of work, but it's THE most important part of your application (that and the SoP). You want to feel like you're turning in a great piece of literary scholarship that represents the best you can do.

Yes, some MA programs do allow students to fulfill undergrad course requirements at their universities. SF State, I believe, is one school that offers provisional acceptances. I would also suggest taking a literature course at a community college or local university next semester. Loving to read literature is different than loving to study literature. I imagine Classics and 19th century British literature have overlapping methodologies, but there are bound to be differences. Make sure you really know what you are getting yourself into before applying. Plus, it could help your application. In a class, you'll be introduced to critical and theoretical perspectives on Dickens, which you can incorporate into your writing sample. Since you are unfamiliar with scholarship surrounding Dickens, I'd also suggest searching for articles on Dickens via Google Scholar and seeing what kind of work people are doing with his texts. For better or for worse, it isn't enough to love the literature; to succeed as a grad student, you also have to love (or at least be engaged in) the critical discussions that surround your period.

Awesome! Since you have a solid English background, I think your M.Div will actually be an asset in your application. In your SoP, demonstrate how your experience at Vanderbilt has shaped your research questions within literary studies. Good luck!

Not really. I did re-read some sections of the Princeton Review GRE study book. But for me, going in knowing what to expect AND knowing that I at least already had a GRE score really relieved the pressure. I think it was more of an emotional state I needed to achieve, rather than memorizing more vocab words. The only other difference is I actually tried on the math section, which I didn't before. I think keeping my brain engaged the whole testing time also helped increase my verbal score. Good luck!

Re: Re-taking GRE tests: If you have the time and money, and re-taking the test will make you feel better about your application, then do it. Think less about what ad comms want (it's too hard to predict what they will prioritize anyway) and focus on what will make you feel more confident about your application. I got a 157V my first time. I tried to tell myself I was okay with the score, but it kept eating away at me. Once I signed up to re-take the test, I immediately felt better. My second attempt, I scored a 161V, which isn't anything special but I felt so much better about my application. Of course, it's impossible for me to know if that made an impact on my application season, but I do know that re-taking the test helped me sleep better-- that alone was worth the time and money.

What is your undergrad degree in? I ask because an M.Div won't necessarily be a problem-- in fact, it could be an asset depending on the program and how you frame the experience; however, if you have only taken one or two English courses in your entire academic career, I'd imagine that could be a setback.

Rose Egypt, that CFP is amazing! Thank you for sharing; my project would fit perfectly into that collection! Internet High Five!

WOW! I can't believe you haven't started classes yet. I don't know if I'm jealous or not, ha! I am in Week 4 of classes, and I am so in love with my program. The professors are all incredibly generous with their time, and my peers are supportive and welcoming. However, like girlwhowearsglasses, I am tired. Constantly! It took me a few weeks to get back into the swing of things, especially after a three year hiatus of reading mostly student writing. I have had to retrain myself how to read academic prose both thoroughly and efficiently. Still working on it, but I feel myself getting quicker each week. Also, I had forgotten how physically exhausting deep thinking can really be! But overall, I'm loving it. I will be writing three seminar papers this semester: one on Twitter hashtags, the second on an online zine, and the third on community college policies. I am really stunned that I am able-- nay, encouraged-- to explore topics I find fascinating, no matter how obscure they may be, as long as I can articulate my theoretical framework and the relevance to the field. My PhD program is so much freer than my MA program was. I am drunk with nerdy giddiness!

That's it! Thanks, champagne.