ProfLorax

HA! I noticed that hours after I posted, and I was too embarrassed to post a correction/bring attention to it. In my defense, I wrote that after taking the GRE, so I had already used my allotted math skills for the day year.

I think this depends on location. I am an adjunct where I teach, but I would say that 85% of the English full-time instructors only have an MA. I teach in an incredibly diverse area in California. My department chair has told me that she automatically tosses out applicants with PhD's in literature because, while they may know how lust is represented in Romantic poetry, they often have no idea how to teach Generation 1.5 students how to write essays at an open-access institution. There are things you can do to make yourself more marketable. An MA in composition rather than literature is definitely more likely to appeal to community college hiring committees. If your program does not offer an emphasis in rhet/comp, you can take composition courses, TA, and/or tutor in the writing lab. Fullerton State offers a certificate in Postsecondary Reading and Learning completely online. In CA, this certificate is required to teach reading courses at the college level. But even if you have no interest in teaching reading, the courses include information about adult intellectual development and teaching strategies that can be helpful in any classroom (well, some of the courses do this. It's far from a perfect program!). But of course, no matter how qualified you are, how much experience you have, or what degrees you've earned, none of this matters if there is no funding. No full-timers have been hired at my community college in FIVE YEARS, despite the fact that we have had two vacancies. And this affects all levels of higher education, sadly. The more that colleges depend on the cheap labor of adjuncts, the less likely they are to splurge for full-time instructors, to the detriment of the students, the institution, and the faculty.

Great question! Did your undergrad supply you with a thorough background in literary theory? Mine did not, and I was totally lost during my first semester as an MA student. I wish I had read this book, which was recommended to me by my classmates: The Routledge Companion to Critical Theory. Other than that, take this pre-MA time to just enjoy reading. I haven read so few books for pleasure since I started my MA program in 2008; now that I'm teaching, I still rarely have time to read! So make sure to throw some Hunger Games, Southern Vampire Mystery series, Dave Eggers, or whatever other non-canon books float your boat on your reading list as well!

The Monterey Institute of International School offers an intensive summer language program; it's quite expensive, but they do give out scholarships. I've never been through the program, but some of my friends have; they all seemed to enjoy it! http://www.miis.edu/academics/language/summer

Hi Swagato! I posted just yesterday that I am doing the same thing. I mentioned my MA thesis briefly in my SoP, but I only wrote about a small portion that is actually relevant to the programs to which I am applying. Something to note is that many MA programs do not require a thesis, so I don't think PhD programs will be automatically suspisious if you do not submit a portion of your thesis with your application. From what I have learned from my advisors, POI's, department websites, and this forum, the writing sample is key and it should absolutely reflect the interests stated in your SoP, so I say go with a paper that demonstrates your strengths in your field rather than your MA thesis. But, like sebastiansteddy advises, you should check with your advisor before deciding anything!

Is anyone else applying to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? They require not one but TWO writing samples. So, that's fun.

My MA thesis was pure literary and cultural studies, and I am applying to Rhet/Comp programs. Therefore, submitting a chapter from my thesis isn't really an option for me. I still will be submitting a paper from a literature seminar, but it addresses writing studies, feminist theory, and disability studies, so it's much closer to what I am describing in my SoP. Also, I presented the paper at MLA in 2011, so I can gracefully bring that up in my SoP! The original paper was 23 pages, so I had to cut stuff out. I now have two versions of the paper--18 pages and 15 pages-- to submit to PhD applications depending on the length of paper the program is requesting. I'm actually really happy that I trimmed the paper down; after cutting away all of the fluff, I feel like my revised essay is much stronger.

rems: I have nothing to add to this conversation... I just wanted to say that Leslie Knope makes me very very happy.

I have lots of thoughts, and I'm too lazy to organize them into a coherent paragraph. Thank god for bullet points! As I was reading your post, the first thing that popped into my mind was, "Man, my biggest regret in life is not living abroad when it was easy to do." I hear what you are saying about going abroad after earning a PhD, and it's definitely an option with opportunities like the Fulbright, but it gets much much harder as life goes on. For example, your loan payments will be higher in five years than they are right now. You might have a partner, a dog, and/or kids. So much can happen in five years that could prevent you from pursuing this dream. Like alseepawake says, I'm sure there are a handful of other programs that offer teaching abroad opportunities, perhaps even in France. Consider researching and applying to more than one program. Teaching abroad in France, especially if that is your second language, will also look pretty awesome on a PhD application, and it could also open the doors to TA funding once you are in a PhD program. Are your loans from the federal government? They have some pretty reasonable repayment plans that are contingent upon income. Two years ago, I was so poor, my monthly loan payment was $5/month. No, I didn't leave out any zeroes. I only owed five dollars a month, and I paid more when I could. It was fantastic. If you did apply to both, would you have to put the application fees on a credit card? Is it worth going into debt right now for applications? PhD programs will always be here. I am applying after three years in the workforce. My enthusiasm about academia has not decreased over time, and I am more committed than ever. Plus, POI's at the schools to which I am applying all tell me that my teaching experience is a big plus in my application. Take everything I've said with a grain of salt. I mean it when I say that I truly regret not living abroad during or after college, so I might be projecting that on your situation. Good luck with this decision-making process!

Such great advice! The Princeton Review really helped breakdown the reading comp questions, and it also stresses that there is no deduction for guessing. In fact, they suggest that at the 2:00 mark, you stop whatever you are working on and guess on all remaining questions. Sorry to sound like a sales rep, but the Princeton Review really did help me approach the test. Oh yes, and Happy Birthday!

Isn't that feeling the BEST?! Boo! I know how you feel. Something to consider before signing up again: can you pinpoint a specific way you can change your approach to the test? Preparation, day of ritual, emotional status, etc? If you can figure out what you can specifically change to improve your scores, retaking the GRE may be worthwhile. However, this is really hard since ETS doesn't provide detailed reports of the scores. Did you take the old test (with the score in the 700's) within the past five years? If so, could you send that one instead? In my post-GRE fatigue (four hours of testing plus four hours of travel to and from test center), I swore you wrote the Game of Thrones tagline (in the game of admissions, you either win or you die), and my first thought was: SHIT JUST GOT REAL WITH PHD APPS. But then I re-read it and accurately comprehended your meaning, and your post is a terrific analogy. I need a nap.

I just got out of my second time taking the General GRE, and I wanted to quickly thank thestage and Two Expressos for gently, yet justifiably, chiding me for guessing on the math section. I actually tried on the math section today, and although my score isn't amazing (150), it's a hell of a lot higher than my old score. But the coolest part is that my Verbal increased too! I really think that forcing my brain to work on the math questions actually helped my mind stay active and alert for the Verbal section. So, thanks friends for pushing me to break out some old school math techniques. I will now never (god I hope I'm not jinxing myself) have to face another exponent or square root or area problem again!

From my MA in English graduating class, I would say that 40% went into PhD programs, 40% went into teaching, and 10% went into various other fields (publishing, administrative work, etc). As for teaching, many of us now teach in the community college system (mostly on an adjunct basis), while some have fulltime teaching positions at private high schools. For all of us, our out-of-class experience (tutoring, interning) was as valuable as our MA degree in the job market. I hope this helps!

I just emailed UMass--Amherst to ask whether or not I should staple or paperclip my application materials. I realized just how overwhelming this process really is after I spent nearly 30 minutes conducting an internal debate about the pros and cons of staples and paperclips before deciding to contact the grad department. And for those of you who are also conflicted about grand paper clip vs. staples debate (I can't be alone, can I?!), Barbara with UMass suggested paper clips because the department ends up scanning all materials as soon as they receive them.

I just have to vent for a split second. Why do so many different English programs have slightly different requirements for supplemental materials?! Well, I actually understand why they do; each school is looking for a different type of applicant. But still-- it's driving me bonkers! For example, University of Illinois wants a 300-500 word SoP, whereas other programs want no more than 1,000 words or 3-6 pages. Cutting down my SoP for U of I was so challenging that I had to start from scratch. Then, I just read that University of Maryland's SoP is more than simply an intellectual statement; they actually want to know about my life as well. I mean, I'm glad that they acknowledge that I am more than just my academic interests, but now I have to seamlessly add a whole new paragraph. And then, UNC Chapel Hill wants a one page teaching statement in addition to the SoP, and Purdue requires a diversity essay for university-wide fellowships. Fortunately, I only have three applications left, but I am already so over reading and revising my own SoP; I am actually tired of myself! /rant

Another Rhet/Comp applicant on the boards! How exciting! I don't have answers to all of your questions, but if you peruse through these boards, you'll find a beginner's kit for rhet/comp folks that answers most of your questions. If you have questions about the job market, perhaps www.chronicle.com would have that data. I will say that the measure of a job market shouldn't be how well it does compared to another field. Rather, ask about job placements at each school to which you are applying. You'll find that many rhet/comp programs (Purdue, Arizona, Miami) boast of a 95% or higher job placement rate in tenure-track positions. As of ranking, you'll quickly discover that there are no official rankings for rhet/comp programs, just opinions among rhet/comp scholars about which are better. The best advice I received is to look for programs that fit my interests and have a high job placement rate. These websites can help you start: Doctoral Consortium in Rhetoric and Composition: This lists pretty much all programs that offer rhet/comp degrees, emphases, and minors at the PhD level. 2007 Rhetoric Review Survey of Rhetoric and Composition: This list was critical in my research. It includes information about program strengths, challenges, recent dissertations (this will be of interest to you to see what programs encourage interdisciplinary dissertations and such), admissions rates, and more. Lastly, it seems that all rhet/comp programs have a strong pedagogical emphasis. All of the programs to which I am applying offer GTA's to ALL of their PhD students, as well as coursework and mentorship to help grad students develop their teaching craft. Hope that helps!

I'm a little nervous about jumping into the fray, but here it goes: queenbee, I felt very similarly during my first semester in a literature MA program. Frankly, I simply chose the wrong classes; the texts didn't speak to me, and I started to feel disillusioned with literary study as a whole. However, during my second semester in my MA program, it clicked for me. I found a niche that I felt profoundly passionate about (feminist disability studies), and I saw the real world applications on a daily basis. At the same time, I realized that all of my professors felt the same way about their chosen field of study; they were able to see how it connected to the material world. For example, one of my professors is a Spenser scholar. I took her seminar, and we spent about twelve weeks reading The Fairie Queene. Through those weeks, my professor revealed that she was fascinated with postcolonial themes in the text, specifically allusions to Ireland. This professor is from a postcolonial culture, and she often expressed that she was drawn to Spenser because she saw how his writing relates to the everyday struggles of postcolonial peoples. If you truly love the Humanities, once you find your niche, you'll instantly begin to see how that field has real world repercussions. I was amazed at how quickly I fell back into love with literature once I discovered my academic interests, and then I began to see how all sorts of studies in the humanities are deeply connected to the material world. Even though I am attempting to switch to rhetoric and composition, I will always carry with me the analytical, critical thinking, and rhetorical tools I developed as an undergraduate and graduate student in literature.

Ain't that the truth! I've received wildly different feedback from the same professor!

Awesome! I am applying to the Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy PhD program. Last May, I spoke with Professor Brenda Jo Brueggemann over email, and now I head-over-heels for that program.

Look into Ohio State! They have a thriving Disability Studies program and ASL program. I imagine they would be happy to allow sign language as an option. I know that I am sticking with ASL; since my main interest is feminist disability studies, I feel like it's the language most applicable to my field.

I'm taking the GRE a second time in a few weeks, and I'm trying to not let it get to me. I'm stoked you're hanging in the race; at this point, no matter what my score is, I plan on doing the same. I have put too much time and effort into the elements of my application that really matter: writing sample, statement of purpose, and the letters of recommendation. We shall not let the standardized testing industrial complex* bring us down! *I'm not comparing the GRE to prison or the military. Just noting how privatization has taken over student assessment and evaluation.

Oh dear god, all of the time. The GRE's are a real obstacle for me; I am just not a test-taker, and I have some ethical issues with high-stakes standardized testing. I also sometimes get super insecure about my application. What if I am not awesome enough for a PhD program? What if my professors are too nice to admit that I was only a mediocre student? I was rejected before from PhD programs before. Honestly, it was the best thing to happen to me; I went into an MA program, and my interests completely changed, my writing evolved, and my passion for teaching grew (also, I started dating my husband while an MA student, so I'm pretty happy about that!). At the same time, I remember the heartache of rejection. It sucked, and I am not ready to revisit that mental state again. Also, I have a pretty fantastic life right now. I like where I work (although I am tired of being a part-timer just waiting for a full-time position to open). My husband has a secure job that pays well. My parents live about 2.5 hours away, and my partner and I want to start having kids within the next few years. I can't imagine raising kids without my parents living nearby. Sometimes I can't believe I am possibly throwing away this comfortable life for a risky dream. At the same time, I am not ready to settle or settle down. Life should not end at 28! And I am certainly not ready to give up on my dreams because of I sometimes feel insecure or because I have a comfortable life right now. So I'm plugging forth, full throttle.

Me! I submitted my very first application this week! But I should explain. I started writing my SoP last April. By June, my advisors had all read my drafts and given me tons of feedback. I had a crazy busy summer-- teaching full-time, getting married, going on a honeymoon, prepping for fall-- so I knew I wouldn't have time to work on it then. Also, with finals grading in December, the holidays, and a trip to Europe in January, I am trying to have all my apps in by November. Hence, I got started ridiculously early. I am still tweaking my SoP for individual schools (stupid University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and its 500 word maximum!), but the framework is in place. Also, I'm lucky enough to work at a writing lab in addition to teaching classes, so I have trained proofreaders at my disposal 18 hours a week. I'm grateful that I'm done with the important stuff; now, I can spend my free time prepping for the GRE: Take Two. So true! I actually have a confession; I check this page multiple times a day. If I ever have a break, I am here. Making your way in the academy today takes everything you got. Taking a break at GradCafe sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes I want to go... where everybody knows my user name! ETA: I am just now realizing how big of a dork I really am.

Oops-- accidentally double-posted!

Yeah, I agree. I have already signed up to retake the test on October 26. Turns out, my lit professor's advice was sadly out of date. I'm now looking at that first GRE as a (very expensive) practice test, and using the time until the 26th to do everything I can to improve both scores. I'm glad to hear that the math section isn't as daunting as I expected. ETA: It's funny. Yesterday, I did an activity in my developmental reading class to prompt students to reframe their past failures as moments of learning. They reflected on the failure, and then what wisdom they gained from it. This lesson encouraged me to do the same about my recent GRE bomb. My wisdom? That I really want this. And I can't let my disgust of standardized tests get in the way. I don't think I realized how badly I wanted this until I saw how low my Verbal and Math scores were. I am now super re-focused on this whole process, and I'm spending every awake minute that I'm not grading or working on strengthening my application.