ProfLorax

With placement and employment rates the way they are, most PhD students would consider themselves incredibly fortunate to be hired as tenure-track faculty at any nonprofit higher education institution, regardless of ivy status.

All great advice! I would add just one thing; if you do email "random" profs for feedback on your SoP, I wouldn't ask them to "proofread" it. When I think of proofreading, I think of a grad student at a local campus writing lab finding comma splices. Since these are professors, I would instead ask them specific questions about the content. For example: "Do I address my interests specifically enough?" "Should I add more about my past research experience?" "Do you think I should mention specific theorists in paragraph four?" This will yield, I imagine, more specific, positive, and productive responses from the professors you are contacting.

How exciting, and congrats! My hubby (well, fiance, but we get married in a few days, so I'm making the switch now) and I plan on popping out ze babies in two years or so, right when I'll be in the middle of coursework (hopefully, at least!). So, in a few years, expect a frantic message from me with "HOW DO YOU DO IT?!?!" as its central theme.

Agreed and agreed. I searched through the department website, the graduate school website, the faculty bios, and the class listings before I contacted any schools (and even then, I only contacted the schools for which I actually had questions). We want to impress them with our stellar reading comprehension skills!

Oh boo, ponponpon! Out of state tuition is no fun! I wish you the best in getting some funding. That is one thing the CSUs lack: $. Also, make sure you apply for the CSU Pre-Doctoral Program. It's a highly competitive program that provides extra funds and guidance for CSU students who want to pursue a PhD: http://www.calstate.edu/PreDoc/.

I know that contacting professors during the application process is a constant debate on this forum, so I don't want to start that up. Also, I haven't applied to any PhD programs yet, so I can't speak to whether or not contacting faculty members beforehand is helpful in getting accepted. But I can say that contacting faculty members was incredibly important to my research. I emailed a handful of faculty members, and several of them invited me to call them during office hours. I even Skyped with one professor for almost an hour! The key for me is that I didn't approach these professors with "how do I get in? How do I impress you over the phone?" Instead, I approached it as research. I always prepared a list of questions I genuinely wanted answers to about the culture of the program, job search preparation, etc. One school on my "maybe" list shot up to my top choice after Skyping with the professor; she was able to talk about aspects of the program that weren't mentioned on the website (the collaborative environment, the school's weekly farmer's market, the preparation for the job market, etc). So I agree that contacting faculty members beforehand will most likely have zero effect on one's acceptance rate, but it can provide valuable information about the program and whether or not it's a good fit!

Hmmm... perhaps I am being unclear. I think that all students with MAs (well, all students, period) have to work hard to get accepted into PhD programs. I imagine--this is all conjecture-- that ad-comms expect students with MAs to have experience presenting at conferences and writing seminar papers because those opportunities are available to us. I think this is true of students from all MA programs, not just state universities. Are you interested in UC Berkeley and UCLA because they fit your interests? If you can demonstrate that you are a strong candidate, that you fit well into their programs, and that you can write and analyze like a pro, then you will be in the running. To answer your question about whether the highest tier schools accept MA students from state schools, look at the the schools that I listed above. They are all highly ranked PhD programs, especially in the subfields that my friends are studying (digital humanities, rhet/comp, performance studies, etc). No one in my program went to UCB or UCLA, but that's only because no one applied to those schools because they didn't fit their interests. As you'll read on this forum, fit is everything! You can always contact the English departments at the schools to which are you applying and ask them about what schools their graduates attend for PhD programs. I hope that you don't see going to a CSU as a handicap. I am so happy that I chose a CSU over the private schools that accepted me; I never had to compete with PhD students for guidance and my student debt is minimal because of in-state tuition. I was surrounded by brilliant faculty that were frequently publishing and presenting, and students who were thoughtful, intellectual, and engaging. When I presented at MLA a few years ago, I never noticed a stigma based on my school affiliation; all I noticed was genuine interest in the paper I was presenting. I imagine if this attitude is present at MLA, it is present at most schools in our field.

Hi ponponpon! I'm a proud product of the CSU system. I earned my MA from SFSU in 2010 (and my BA from Cal Poly). I am currently in the Phd application phase (I took some time off to teach), so I don't have any personal experience with being accepted into a PhD program. However, all of my friends who applied to PhD programs from SFSU were accepted into schools like University of Arizona, Brandeis, USC, and Northwestern-- most, if not all, with full-funding. Those of us who know we would be applying to PhD programs worked our little tushies off: presenting at conferences, writing and re-writing seminar papers (potential writing samples!), gaining teaching experience, and making connections with faculty. It's doable, and you're saving lots of money by going to a state school for your MA, rather than a private university! Also, I see that you are applying to CSULA. I attended my first ever conference there; they host an annual grad student conference called Significations for CSU grad students. It was a great experience, and I could tell that they had a strong program with a cohesive cohort. Good luck with applications!

My interests are feminist disability studies, new media, and rhetoric and composition. It's been a fun, challenge coming up with my list because there are no rankings for rhet/comp, so my criteria was based on fit, placement rates, and location. These schools are on my definitely list: UNC--Chapel Hill Purdue University Ohio State University University of Arizona University of Maryland UT Austin Penn State UMass--Amherst These schools are on my maybe list: Arizona State Miami University UI--Urbana-Champaign University of Michigan, Ann-Arbor I'm trying to decide if it's too risky to just apply to the first eight schools, the ones I really want, or if I should aplpy to all twelve schools to see what happens.

Also, THIS. For your first semester, you can always find samples online or use some from your own undergrad days. But authentic student papers are always the best!

Claire56 gave you a ton of fantastic general teaching advice, so I'll respond to your question about textbooks. Here are a bunch of scattered notes to consider: What kind of book do you want? Do you want an anthology with loads of classic and contemporary essays, but no writing instruction? Do you want a book that features both writing instruction and essays? Do you want a workbook to go along with an anthology? Your teaching style will direct this. For example, I dislike direct writing instruction. I prefer students practice and discover their own writing techniques, rather than me prescribe them, so I typically find an anthology with essays and minimal writing instruction. Will your class have a theme? If your class will center around a theme, you'll want a textbook that offers essays on said theme. Cost. I urge you to consider the cost of the textbooks. Most publishers have fantastic "budget" books that feature similar material as the more expensive books. Don't be afraid to supplement. If you can't find the perfect book, that's fine. Pick one that's close, and then supplement with articles, songs, videos, etc. You can post them on a class website or hand them copies in class. I try to find a textbook that features some classics but also some more contemporary essays that students can relate to. Also, I always select textbooks that feature authors from diverse backgrounds. It's important that my students see themselves in at least one essay that we read. Contact a representative from a textbook publisher. If you tell them what you are looking for, typically they will send you free instructor copies. It's nice to peruse through them when creating a class. Have fun with it, and know that you can change the book next semester. My whole first year was an incredibly valuable learning experience. I am so glad that I took (educated) risks in my classroom. I've learned just as much from my failures as I have from my successes. Oh! Lastly, a good textbook will should have a clear table of contents, index, author bios, and organization. This should be a given, but sadly, it isn't!

A few schools, such as San Jose State University, have online Masters in Library Science programs; it could be something you pursue during the summer or very very part-time. Of course, you'd want to check to make sure that you aren't violating any policies with your PhD program. It wouldn't be worth risking your funding!

ktwho, we are definitely in the same boat! I have given the future husband full veto rights on location; he's actually been pretty flexible. He's vetoed a few schools, but I was pretty ambivalent about those schools and he knew it. He's a software engineer, so we hope he'd be able to find work wherever we go. I think it's great you are able to apply locally! I'm going for rhet/comp programs, and they are mostly in the midwest and east coast, so we are going to have to relocate (we live in California currently). Good luck with everything!

Are we getting emotionally real right now? I'm in. My biggest hurdle with this application process is TIME. How do I get extra time? I'm teaching full-time this summer and fall; I have a break in August, but that month is devoted to my wedding and honeymoon (which is a good thing, don't get me wrong!). Every time I think to myself, "It's okay. You can start focusing on applications next month," I remember that I will have [insert important commitment] on my plate then. I already have a working draft of my SoP, and it's currently going through the rounds of my professors and friends, so at least I'm ahead on that front. But what about everything else? The CV, the (stupid) GRE's, and the logistics of it all? What about the tailored final paragraph for each university that explains why I am a good fit for ____ University specifically?! The closest GRE test center is an hour and a half away from here, so I'm tempted to keep my scores from four years ago. Those scores are AWFUL. What if I don't get it? Will I hate myself for not re-taking the GRE? Or should I just suck it up and create a five hour window on some Saturday dedicated to retaking the (stupid) GRE? Thank god I don't have to take the GRE subject test; I really think I would just give up. What scares me the most is that this is the year for me. If I don't get in anywhere, I am not going to re-apply the next year. I can't have my future husband-- who has a career of his own-- wait around each year to see if I am going to uproot our lives to chase a dream. It's this year, or it's no year. No pressure.

I recommend spending some time combing through this forum and the result board. You'll quickly find that there is no hard and fast rule for contacting applicants, even within a department. When I first joined this forum, I spent a few days reading the threads that were directly related to the schools to which I am applying. It was so helpful! I discovered that one of my top choices also requires a full-on teaching application, separate from the PhD program application, so now I know to set aside time for that. I also searched the results board for my top choices; it helped me get an idea of when those schools send out decisions and how. Even then, I noticed that within departments, the timeline and method of contact isn't across the board.

I can't answer all of your questions, but one of the professors I talked to said that assistant professors do not typically serve on dissertation committees (I'm not sure if this is a universal policy, but it makes sense to me that it would be). Because of that, I am sticking to professors and associate professors in my SoP.

In order to answer your question, allow me to reenact an actual phone conversation that took place yesterday: "No, ma'am, you never enrolled in KwikPay." "Yes, I did. Three months ago. That's what the website told me." "That is not what the system is telling me." "But I promise! I swear! I enrolled in KwikPay." "Ma'am, you are three months behind on your student loan payments. Would you like to settle that now?" "But... but... but... I ENROLLED IN KWIKPAY!" Fortunately, I had the money to pay it and they hadn't reported my delinquency to the credit bureau. Still, I can only imagine how liberating life can be without the burden of student debt. So, I say, go with the funding.

First, a disclaimer: I am by no means an expert; these are just my observations from researching several programs in lit and rhet/comp. Claire56, I have noticed that most faculty members and PhD candidates have multiple academic interests listed on the department website. It seems like most Lit folks focus on a specific time period and a theoretical perspective within that time period. That being said, I think the most important thing is how you present your interests. If you simply list a bunch of genres, I imagine you'll come off as scattered and not prepared for a PhD program. But if you spend time in your SoP discussing how your interests have evolved and how they overlap, you might really excite the admissions committee with fresh thinking.

Hi there! I am also applying to PhD programs in rhet/comp. I am only applying to English programs because they have stellar placement rates, and ultimately, I want to end up teaching in an English department. I would be interested in knowing where rhet/comp graduates from communications departments end up: English or Communications departments? Even if the coursework is similar between the departments, job placement may vary.

Antoinette, Just out of curiosity, is San Francisco State on your list? I did my MA in lit there, and it was where I was introduced to rhet/comp as a field. It features fantastic faculty, opportunities for teaching, and dynamic and down-to-earth student population. Their rhet/comp program is a huge reason I'm making the switch from lit to rhet/comp for my PhD applications. As for your question about preparation: I also went to a weak undergrad institution for my BA (they didn't even require a lit theory class. I entered grad school in literature with no knowledge of Derrida, Barthes, or Bloom), and for the first few weeks, I definitely felt like I was behind in my MA classes. My solution? I chose classes that reflected my interests, developed close relationships with my professors, and wrote seminar papers that really revved my engine. I put the extra effort to connect with my classmates (cohort cohesion seems to be more of a given in PhD programs), and we built a fabulous support system for each other. I ended up kicking my MA's ass, so it's possible to do well, even when starting with a weak foundation. Also, from what I observed at SF State, rhet/comp programs tend to be incredibly student-focused and often require an Introduction-type class that brings all entering MA students to the same page. So that's helpful! Lastly, if you're still anxious about preparation, I remember seeing a thread in this fora about great books that provide an overview of rhet/comp. It certainly wouldn't hurt to check those out. I know I will be doing some summer reading in hopes of catching up with the rhet/comp field!

Ah, that makes sense, aeplo! I wonder if you heard different advice because you are pursuing lit and not rhet/comp.

Hi aeplo! Thanks for chiming in with your experience. It's good to hear from lots of perspectives in this process! Out of curiosity: are you pursuing graduate study in literature or rhet/comp?

Well said! I feel the same way; additionally, I'm attracted to the field because of its seamless fusion of theory and practice. My BA and MA are both in literature, and while I loved literary study, I realized that I wanted to have more discussions about pedagogical practice and rhetoric outside of the academy. Then, I started teaching writing and reading at a community college. I discovered that I freakin' love teaching. Unfortunately, at the community college level, there aren't many opportunities for theory or research here. So, a rhet/comp program seems like the perfect place for me! My academic interests are feminist theory, disability studies, and new media studies. I'm interested in the body's relationship to the act of writing, especially in online spaces and in the classroom. When I started compiling my list, I first looked at places my fiance and I would want to live and schools that are driving distance to an airport. (Since he's coming along with me, I want to make sure we don't end up in a place where he's miserable!) Then, I looked for faculty I'd want to work with. I spoke with a few POI's over the phone and Skype, and they answered questions I had about the culture of the institution and the department. And wa-la! I had a list. Funding and placement rates were also, of course, major factors as well. Let's be friends and keep each other motivated through this process! And thanks to you and ComeBackZinc for the book recommendations! My reading list keeps growing and growing and growing and growing...

Hey KendraA! It's nice to find another rhet/comp applicant on this board. It's also nice to hear that we are receiving consistent advice! Like you, I've started early. I already have a SoP draft and have my LOR writers ready to go. It does seem like we are going into a growing and in-demand field (especially when schools like Purdue have a 100% job placement rate!), so that's reassuring! Still, I have a feeling this process is going to make me more and more neurotic as the deadlines start approaching. Yay? I have a working list: UNC--Chapel Hill, Purdue, University of Arizona, Penn State, Arizona State, Ohio State, UT Austin, University of Maryland, Miami University, and a few others on my maybe list. What about you? I imagine some of our schools will overlap! Also, what are your interests in rhet/comp?

But I don't wanna! *stomps feet, sticks out tongue* Something about standardized tests makes me revert back to my whiny toddler years. Still, that's really good advice, so I'm going to have to push past my thumb-sucking inner child and register for the stupid test. (Seriously though, thanks for the advice!)