Boston College MA experience

[kerrbear8183]

Hi all-

So I have been attempting to apply for English Lit Ph.D.s for two years now with no luck (my statement wasn't very good, but have good experience teaching, with a couple conferences, and my GRE scores are OK etc). I received my MA in September from the CUNY Graduate Center (NYC). Boston College offered me an M.A. program, and they say though they don't accept many into their Ph.D. program (1 or 2 kids each year max) they do help place M.A. students into Ph.D. programs. They offered me a fellowship for one year..and I can transfer two courses. So I could get it done in a year, year and a half, without paying a whole lot of money. It would mean moving to Boston though.

Is this a really stupid idea? Should I just forget the M.A. and keep applying for Ph.D. programs? I've been in the CUNY community for a while, and while it's a good school, there's not much in the way of support and community and they've rejected me twice also (my own school!)..so maybe I need the BC private school atmosphere, get to know some of the professors, and maybe work my way into their Ph.D. program? It's my only option right now.

Otherwise I stay put and just try and fix my application and try again, applying to schools that better fit my interests (which I didn't do well before).

Thoughts, anyone? Anyone in the BC MA program that can speak to their experience there and the profs?

My interests are in the psychoanalysis/gender/modern lit area.

Any comments are much appreciated..thanks!