ProfLorax

Hi feraleyes, Much has been writing about GRE scores, including their importance in admissions decisions, on this forum. I suggest searching "GRE" in the search box above. Also, the fairly recent thread "Damn you, ETS!" has a lot of discussion about this very topic. You'll find a ton of helpful information!

About language requirements: my MA program (San Francisco State) did not require a second language. In fact, I believe most of the CSU's do not have any language requirements; they may be worth looking into!

When looking at the awesome UPenn list serve, check for graduate student conferences nearby your school. I am really happy that my first conference was a conference specifically for grad students; I was able to practice writing an abstract and presenting a paper in a very supportive atmosphere of peers. Then, when I presented at larger conferences, like PAMLA and MLA, I felt much more comfortable with the whole process.

Warning: beware of autopilot mode! I almost send my health insurance bill to Ohio State with the rest of my official transcripts. Oy vey.

In an offensively bad French accent ETS, we fart in your general direction!

P.S. I followed my lit professor's advice and simply selected B on all math questions... That resulted in a resounding 2%. Ha!

I thought I'd resurrect the DAMN YOU ETS thread because I just got back my GRE scores... and they are bad. I studied, and on all the practice tests, I got above 160 on the Verbal. However, on the official test day, I got 157 on the Verbal (73%). However, I did okay on the AW portion with a 5.5 (96%), so that helps alleviate some of the pain. Having read this forum and a ton of admissions websites, I know that the GRE isn't the most important part of the application. Still, I didn't want to have any weakness; I didn't want to give them any reason to say no, and now that I have "meh" scores, I'm feeling my insecurity creep back. I would retake the test, but all weekend slots are full until December. I signed up for the December 1 GRE, but then about two schools I'm applying to won't get the new scores in time. Part of me wants to retake it to prove to myself that I can do better, and the other part wants me to say DAMN YOU ETS and not give them another dime. At least I have some time to think about it. Thank you, Grad Cafe, for giving us applicants a space for the occasional sad ramble! I needed it.

Hi AmandaC! I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone. I graduated with my MA in 2010, but I was miserable my first semester. I was plagued with imposture syndrome as I noticed how much smarter everyone else seemed to be, and I was drowning in reading that I hated. I even spoke to the Women's Studies department about the application process, and I had planned to apply to the WS MA program the next semester. I was certain that an MA in English was not the right road for me. That was until I checked my grades a few weeks after my first semester ended. I got a 4.0. My scariest professor told me that my paper was the best from the class. I'm not sharing this to brag; I promise! But it was such a relief to realize that my self-doubt was based on my anxiety-- not my actual skill level. I stayed in my MA program, and I thrived. I found out later that EVERYONE felt the same way about the first semester, which is hilarious, because I thought that everyone else had such a firmer handle on the coursework than I did. But we were all lost! So yes, I remember that first semester. It's rough. But it could be the start of an amazing journey for you! My (unsolicited) advice is to get involved with the grad lit association if your program has one. I know that my MA cohort wasn't super close, but mostly because most MA students had families, commuted, or had full-time jobs. Fortunately, the rest of us got together and created an awesome support system that helped us get through the program. You got this!

Hey guys! Since you are both presenting/attenting conferences for the first time, I thought I'd share this awesome resource with you. I asked the writers at ProfHacker for some tips about presenting at a conference, and they devoted a whole post to the topic. Here's another post they wrote about how to get the most at an academic conference. I hope they are helpful!

Hi sunshan! Check out the link I posted above (labeled "This is exactly what a CV is for!"). It's from OWL Purdue, a website that I go to for all of my writing needs! If you are interested, you can PM me to check out my CV. I don't know if it's perfect, but it's helped me land some teaching positions!

It's been claimed!

Just popping on here to say that I feel your pain. I got in the high 150's after getting 162+ on all the practice tests. Boo. (Sorry to make it all about me. I'm just really bummed out. Still totally applying though.)

Ah yes, comp12 beat me to the punch! This is why I should refresh the page before posting.

This is exactly what a CV is for. If you look at the CV's of tenured professors, they often include information about professional affiliations, committee experience, and other campus-related activities. However, I'm not actually sure if extracurricular activities will help you get into a grad program. That being said, I am confident that being able to speak to how your extracurricular experiences have prepared you for teaching may help you get teaching gigs, whether as an adjunct or graduate teaching assistant. When I got my first community college teaching job, post-MA, I had no classroom teaching experience, but I was able to explain how tutoring and a variety of other activities shaped my teaching philosophy and prepared me for working with students from different cultures and with different needs. I've been teaching for two years now, and I love it.

Hello to fellow applicants! I was trying to do a little cleaning, and I found a never used copy of the Princeton Review's Cracking the Literature in English Subject Test. It's from 2010, 6th edition, so I imagine it's still relevant. I don't need it since I'm applying to rhet/comp programs, so I'd like to donate it to a happy home. Let me know if you want it, and I'll ship it to you this week. I'd prefer to ship within the US to avoid international rates. P.S. I'm not sure how many people will want it, so let's just do a first-come, first-served thing.

Hi zanmato, You and I have similar experiences. My undergrad was solid, but not exceptional, due to mental health issues (yay depression and anxiety!). I also have a 4.0 GPA for my MA program, which sounds more awesome than it really is; most MA programs simply expect straight A's. I doubt my GRE scores will be as high as yours, but who knows? I am taking the test this Saturday. Miracles can happen! So while I can empathize with your plight, the reality is that no one here can really answer your question. I know this post is titled as "Beating the Odds Stories," but in reality, this is a "what are my chances?" post. Unfortunately, we have no idea. We are all in the same boat as you: stressed out, hypercritical of ourselves, and nonplussed by this entire process. And if you read through the posts over the past year, you'll realize a trend: there is no universal truth to PhD applications, so there really is no way to say whether someone is "beating the odds" or not. In reality, with how competitive these programs are, anyone who gets in has beaten the odds. You'll find people in this community with exceptional numbers and bright minds who have been rejected multiple years in a row. You'll find people with lower than average numbers who were accepted with full-funding into Ivy League programs. If the selection criteria was clear and predictable, we wouldn't need this forum to rip our hair out and cry out to the academic gods "WHY IS THIS SO HARD?!?!" So my advice to anyone who is wondering what their chances is to talk to their professors. When I decided to apply, I had the same fears. I was especially nervous because I have a BA and MA in literature, and I am making the switch to rhet/comp. I emailed my comp professor from my MA program; it was a very honest email detailing my anxieties about my chances and about how I would fit into a rhet/comp program. He responded with encouragement, enthusiasm, and most importantly, some specific advice on how to go about this process. Then, I emailed other profs (including some from my undergrad years), and they have all given me the pat on my back and guidance that I need to navigate this application season. And while I receive very grounded and helpful advice from the academics in my life, I am using this forum to gripe about the GRE, connect with fellow applicants, and build a support system for this application cycle. And really, this community is FANTASTIC for that.

Glad to know that I'm not alone in this GRE cramming! The good news is that studying for the GRE has given me a Plan B: if I don't get into any PhD programs, I'm going to create GRE vocabulary flash cards with geek-themed sentences. Here's a sampling: The Game of Thrones Deck Even Ned Stark, Robert's oldest and closest friend, was starting to doubt Robert's ability to rule because of the king's increasing obstreperous behavior. The Buffy Deck Because Angel had a soul and practiced humane eating practices, he was an anomaly in the vampire community. The Doctor Who Deck The Daleks' arrival to a new planet is always pernicious, as they only crave destruction. A total moneymaker, right?! And nhswrestle, thanks for the offer! I'll let you know if any questions pop up; if I actually get in, I'm sure I'll harass you thoroughly about the department, the campus, and the community!

Studying for the verbal section of the GRE has made me realize something: Despite my love of the English language, there are FAR too many words in the English language.* Oy vey... back to the hit parade! *Not really. Just GRE-fatigued.

Hi rems! I had a great experience talking with POI's about aspects of the program that are not included on the department's website: grad student culture, collaboration opportunities with faculty and other students, attitude towards interdisciplinary research, etc. While I doubt it will have any effect on my chances of getting in (which is fine because that wasn't my motivation), it certainly helped me narrow down my list of schools. Here are some tips from my own experience. First, I always followed the POI's lead in terms of tone. If the professor was friendly and casual, so was I (of course, I don't mean "u R so gr8 for talking 2 me!!" casual). If the professor signed the email with his/her title and full time ("Sincerely, Dr. Professor Pants"), I replied in a more formal tone. Like Stately Plump suggests, don't ask questions that are easily answered on the website. If you find that you do have a ton of questions, and the POI seems eager to help, ask him/her if s/he would prefer to talk via email or phone during office hours. I talked with one POI over phone and another over Skype, and both chats were really productive, and probably less time-consuming for them than me emailing a list of questions. A note: another one of my POI's is deaf, and I am not quite fluent at ASL or TTY technology, so we kept our communication to email. Lastly, it's important to remember that these emails will most likely not affect your chances of getting in (unless someone really does write ""u R so gr8 for talking 2 me!!" I can't imagine that would go well). These POI's are professors who work with students, and you are a student. They communicate with students all the time! This is a big part of their gig. S/he responded because s/he wants to meet you, not judge you. (This was my mantra.) You'll be fine.

There has been a lot of discussion on these boards about whether or not contacting professors before the application process will help an applicant's chances or not; however, everyone seems to agree that it is wise to contact professors to ask thoughtful and purposeful questions about their program. This, in my mind, is a great opportunity to email a POI and ask about how your interests would fit into the department. Something like: "I'm also interested in the intersection of postmodern literature and various pop culture and subculture texts. Are other scholars working with pop culture texts in your department?" Their response should give you a good indication about whether or not you will actually be able to pursue the research you want. You don't want to get stuck in a program that only treats canonical works as literature, and this attitude is rarely advertised on their website. Also, you could look at the class listings for the schools to which you are applying. If you see cultural studies courses offered, especially if they have a focus on some sort of subculture, that could be a good sign that other students and faculty are doing similar types of research.

I don't know about American Studies, but for a long time I was interested in pursuing a PhD in Women's Studies, another interdisciplinary field. Every single Women's Studies professor advised me to not; rather, they said, I should focus on Women's Studies within a traditional field. For me, that's English. I found the same advice online. To test this theory for myself, I looked at the faculty directories for Women's Studies departments, and I found that none of these professors had a PhD in Women's Studies. They all had their degrees in English, history, or the sciences, and they often taught in multiple departments. So now, I am applying to PhD programs in rhetoric and composition that encourage interdisciplinary study. I'm not sure if the same advice holds true for American Studies. What I would do is look at American Studies departments and programs and see what degrees their professors have. That should illustrate to you the hireability of an American Studies PhD. Good luck!

The internet was down at the writing center today, so I was able to focus on my writing sample. I revised my sample while also cutting down the length to meet the page requirements... and you know what? It is so much better now. Seriously, I didn't realize how much fluff I had in that paper until I was forced to shorten it. Not a very exciting update, but the internet has returned, and I wanted to tell SOMEBODY about my accomplishment!

Please drag politics into this! The crisis of higher education is deeply political. How we spend money as a nation reflects our values, and higher education and the humanities specifically are being quickly tossed aside as bourgeois frivolities rather than social necessities. And as the infographic illustrates, this is about so much more than our employment prospects; adjunctification and decreased education spending affects students. Unfortunately, no one, at any level in education, is able to just teach anymore; now, we must also be lobbyists and advocates, each year desperately proving the worth of our programs and positions in the face of budget cuts.

Ha! Your response made me snort. I wish I were such an evil genius, but alas, I am not! Plus, I think I may be the sole applicant for Rhet/Comp PhD programs starting Fall 2013 on these boards. TakeruK, I really appreciated your honesty with your response! Like you, I have a long-term partner (we just got married a few weeks ago!), so I also have other people to think about in this process. It sounds like you have an optimistic, but also very pragmatic, approach to the academic insanity, so kudos and good luck to you!

I thought I'd share this colorful infographic about the current job market for PhD's. I'm not sharing it to be a downer, but as a conversation starter. I know all of this information, and yet, I am still applying. I'm still hopeful that the academic landscape will be different in 5-6 years. Also, ironically enough, I'm applying to PhD programs to get out of the adjunct game. I am going onto my third year as an adjunct, and I'm already over the low pay, lack of benefits, and job instability. Jeez, I just applied for a temporary full-time English instructor position at a local community college, for which I am incredibly qualified, and I didn't even get an interview. Also, as an adjunct, I am given no resources for my own research, so a PhD program will give me an opportunity to pursue research and writing while mastering my teaching practice. Will I be leaving one adjunct chase for another? Sigh, I'm not sure, but I'm still going for it-- and going for it full throttle. Am I crazy? Probably. It seems like a little bit of crazy is necessary to survive the application process alone, let alone the classwork, dissertation, and job search. So I say, let's all hold hands, take the leap, and see where we land (while also bugging our lawmakers and administrators to direct more funding towards higher education, of course).