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TheNewMrsS

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  • Location
    New Jersey
  • Application Season
    2013 Fall
  • Program
    English Literature

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  1. Haha! It certainly sounds like we used similar SOP approaches, and I've realized the same thing you have: I can't stand out TOO much, or else they won't have anywhere to put me! If you don't mind my asking, who is the author you focused on in your SOP? I wrote my MA Thesis on D.H. Lawrence, and I mentioned him in my SOP, but i'm not sure if mentioning a specific author at all was a good way to go... I'm not sure yet. Obviously, there are tons of other authors I'm interested in writing on. And I also completely agree with you about the WAY they choose people. I really think that if all the identical apps were sent in again this year, different people might be chosen because some of the things they are looking for will have changed and the adcomms will have different opinions and interests from year to year.. That's why I'm also afraid to completely change the way I applied last time, because who knows if I'm what somebody else is looking for at another university? This is all so stressful... yes, even though it's only August!!
  2. Really?! I was looking into the UC schools, but I haven't gotten to that point in my research where I started looking at faculty. Thank you SO much for the recommendation, because I am absolutely going to look into it now. Like I said, finding someone who actually lists "war literature" as a research interest is pretty rare! You are going to be starting there in the fall I see? Congratulations!
  3. Thanks for your input everyone. Last year, I applied to 15 schools and was wait listed on only one. I was the next person to get into the program if anybody declined their admission, but shockingly NOBODY did, so I didn't make it in. This year I will be reapplying to the school that I got wait listed for since the DGS encouraged me to, and am applying to 15 schools again. However, I am completely re-thinking the way that I choose the schools that I will apply to. Last year, I did not pay too much attention to fit because I didn't fully understand where I fit best. My specialty is 20th century British with a focus in war literature and trauma theory. Last year, I completely catered my SOP to British war literature, and I thought at the time that it would make me seem unique versus the many other people who are interested in 20th century British. However, I now realized that I pigeon-holed myself into something that not many people specialize in. This year, I am certainly re-thinking the way that I approach my SOP. I need them to know that I specialize in war literature, but I am thinking about expanding a bit to explain my interest from a trauma theory perspective and to explain how this fits in to my interest in the modernist period in general. As far as improving my "fit," I am actually looking for faculty that lists "war literature" as an interest. As it turns out, it's a difficult thing to find, but it's something I wasn't looking for last time around; I was really focused on finding who specialized in 20th century British, and was hoping I peaked their interest. I am also working hard to raise my GRE general and GRE lit scores from where I was last year. I had good scores, but I know that for a couple of programs that I applied to, I was a couple points below where I needed to be to look great compared with other applicants. Last year, I feel that I put every ounce of time and effort into the application process that I could have, but it still wasn't enough and I really think that has a lot to do with how many things I had on my plate: teaching, school work, my MA thesis, my other job, and wedding planning. This year, I am working as an adjunct at my MA University and teaching 3 courses, which is going to be the only other thing I have to focus on besides studying to retake my GREs and the applications overall. I really hope that this means I will have a clearer mind and will be more motivation to give the second time around all that I've got!
  4. Hello all! I just graduated from my MA program this May, and will be reapplying again for English Lit Ph.D. programs for Fall 2013. In my MA program, I was also a Teaching Assistant, so needless to say I was pulling my hair out for the last year of my program trying to balance school work, teaching, and 15 Ph.D. applications. Oh yeah, and I just got married in July too! I just think I was taking on SO much in one year. Despite my hardest efforts, I didn't make it in to any programs for this fall, but I'm looking forward to the opportunity to do it all over again having learned what I did the first time around. Who else is re-applying? What mistakes do you feel you made the first time around that you will do differently this time?
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