Need advice in Syntax PHD programs

[XiaoMeng]

Hello everyone, I am going to apply for 2020 Fall linguistics PHD programs in US. My research interest is theoretical syntax and Chinese linguistics. I really need your advice on which universities are providing this kind of program and how competitive these universities are.

My background:

I obtained my B.A. in linguistics in Beihang Univerisity in China (one of China's top polytechnical universities, specializing in aeronautics and national defense technology.), which is not a traditionally-acknowledged prestigious university in Modern languages(Subject Ranking around 200 worldwide), yet the English linguistics of my university is famous in China with several principal investigators.

I continue to pursue my M.A. in Linguistics in University College London (UCL). But it is only a one-year program and I will graduate at the end of August, 2019.

I also applied for the second master degree in UCL and the program is named “Linguistics with a specialization in Syntax”. It is also a one-year program and I will be enrolled in September, 2019 and will graduate in August, 2020.

Actually, my research focus is not always about syntax. My BA thesis is about corpus-based sociolinguistics. But my first MA thesis (I am working on it) is about theoretical syntax especially the Chinese syntax. The topic is “The structure of V-V constructions in Mandarin”. (Of course, my second MA thesis will also focus on theoretical syntax.)

 

My advantages:

1.   GPA: GPA for BA: 3.75 

      GPA for first MA: 67.8 (Merit)

     [In UK, average score above 70 is distinct. 60-69 is merit. 50-59 is pass.]

2.   GRE: 151V+170Q+4.5AW

       IELTS: Overall: 8 ( R: 8.5, L: 8.5, W:7.5, S:6.5) 

3.   Honors: Received a third prize of “Fengru” cup

(Fengru cup is one of famous prize in Beihang University, which encourages student to invent something. This is especially designed for the science student. As for art student, we have to submit the paper. The paper is in Chinese)

 Also received some other prizes.

4.   Second master degree?? (I am not sure whether it is an advantage)

 

My disadvantages:

1. No papers: I am still working with my supervisor on my thesis. I would try to publish it.

2. My verbal score of GRE is only 151. It is too bad. I don’t know whether my AW score 4.5 can make up for it. So sad.

 

Dream Universities:

UCB, the most desired school. But I know it is too competitive and I don’t think that I can succeed. But I think that I will still try to contact my dream professor.

University of Southern California. Also my dream school !!! There are three professors whose research focus on Chinese linguistics and theoretical syntax.But I wish to know more about the detail of this program like whether it is so competitive that I don’t even have a chance. More advice on this program is highly suggested!].

Purdue. I also found one dream professor. But I fail to search enough information about the linguistics program in this university. So I would really appreciate if you guys can provide me with more details.

Rutgers. I also found one dream professor. But like Purdue, I do not know much about the program in this university. Also, I don’t know whether this program is competitive.

If you know more about the linguistics program especially with a focus on theoretical syntax and Chinese linguistics, just leave a message for me! I would really appreciate it! Thank you guys~

[lnik]

Hi, I went to Purdue for my BA, and I know the professors there pretty well (I completed nearly all of the MA courses for fun). Only two profs really are into theoretical syntax there, but both have worked on Chinese... Which were you thinking of working with? I know one absolutely wants no grad students and the other would LOVE to have a new one. What else exactly would you like to know about the program in general? 

Separately, I think you might also want to consider Maryland and NYU.

[XiaoMeng]

21 hours ago, lnik said:

Hi, I went to Purdue for my BA, and I know the professors there pretty well (I completed nearly all of the MA courses for fun). Only two profs really are into theoretical syntax there, but both have worked on Chinese... Which were you thinking of working with? I know one absolutely wants no grad students and the other would LOVE to have a new one. What else exactly would you like to know about the program in general? 

Separately, I think you might also want to consider Maryland and NYU.

Hi. Thank you so much for all the information you provided! I browsed the website and I found that Prof. Elaine Francis and Prof. Elena Benedicto are bot into theoretical syntax, but I think that my researching area probably matches Prof. Elaine Francis's interests. Do you know whether Prof. Francis would love to have a new grad students? Plus, I would like to know whether it is competitive to apply for the Phd program in Purdue University (So sorry to ask such a stupid question, but my background is not so good. I am really worried about my application.). BTW, I will check the website of Maryland and NYU. Thank you so much!

[lnik]

Ah, I forgot about Benedicto. (She's, uh... crazy. She's nice, but you absolutely don't want her as an advisor. Especially if you're a man.) Dr. Ronnie Wilbur also does theoretical syntax and semantics (primarily of sign languages, but she's also worked on Chinese languages); but she wants no more students atm. Elaine Francis is SUPER sweet though, and I'm like 95% sure she'd love to have a new graduate student. She currently only has one student. Email her and ask if she'd be willing to talk over Skype! ? I think your interests are very similar. (And your background with corpus ling would be up her alley too!) Do you have any experience with experimental syntax? Elaine loves working both with experimental and theoretical— so much so that she's writing a book on it!

Almost all accredited ling programs are competetive now, but Purdue's ling PhD program would definitely be less competitive than most of the other schools you have listed! Plus, your background fits well with a lot of the other international grad students at Purdue. I think you might have a good chance.

[XiaoMeng]

19 hours ago, lnik said:

Ah, I forgot about Benedicto. (She's, uh... crazy. She's nice, but you absolutely don't want her as an advisor. Especially if you're a man.) Dr. Ronnie Wilbur also does theoretical syntax and semantics (primarily of sign languages, but she's also worked on Chinese languages); but she wants no more students atm. Elaine Francis is SUPER sweet though, and I'm like 95% sure she'd love to have a new graduate student. She currently only has one student. Email her and ask if she'd be willing to talk over Skype! ? I think your interests are very similar. (And your background with corpus ling would be up her alley too!) Do you have any experience with experimental syntax? Elaine loves working both with experimental and theoretical— so much so that she's writing a book on it!

Almost all accredited ling programs are competetive now, but Purdue's ling PhD program would definitely be less competitive than most of the other schools you have listed! Plus, your background fits well with a lot of the other international grad students at Purdue. I think you might have a good chance.

Thank you so so so so so much! Your advice is very helpful for me. I will contact Prof. Francis as soon as possible! I do not have any experience with experimental syntax. But since I will be enrolled in my second MA program in September, it means that I will have another one year before my Phd program begins and maybe I can try the experimental syntax in my thesis. 

I also browsed the website of NYU. Do you know something about Prof. Gary Thoms or Prof. Stephanie Harves？ They both focus on theoretical syntax. They do not list Chinese linguistics in their websites though, I think that maybe I can switch to the comparative syntax (English and Chinese) that is listed in their websites.

Thank you so much!

[Missy29]

On ‎8‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 1:43 AM, lnik said:

Ah, I forgot about Benedicto. (She's, uh... crazy. She's nice, but you absolutely don't want her as an advisor. Especially if you're a man.) Dr. Ronnie Wilbur also does theoretical syntax and semantics (primarily of sign languages, but she's also worked on Chinese languages); but she wants no more students atm. Elaine Francis is SUPER sweet though, and I'm like 95% sure she'd love to have a new graduate student. She currently only has one student. Email her and ask if she'd be willing to talk over Skype! ? I think your interests are very similar. (And your background with corpus ling would be up her alley too!) Do you have any experience with experimental syntax? Elaine loves working both with experimental and theoretical— so much so that she's writing a book on it!

Almost all accredited ling programs are competetive now, but Purdue's ling PhD program would definitely be less competitive than most of the other schools you have listed! Plus, your background fits well with a lot of the other international grad students at Purdue. I think you might have a good chance.

Hello

does mean you will not be admitted in Purdue phd if you do not contact any of the lecturers to find out if their background relates with your interest?

does it also mean contacting a lecturer who share the same interest will increase your chance of getting admission ?

Please help me I am yet to apply I really love Purdue

I think my interest in linguistics is in line with that of Prof. Benedicto could you please tell me something about her? I will be very grateful if you will advice me before I start.