Comparative Literature Masters -- Do I have a chance?

[inkli_11]

I am wondering if I have a chance at getting into a Comparative Literature MA program (I am looking at WashU, Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Wisconsin, UC Boulder, UChicago and a few others).

I am concerned mostly because I have been out of school for three years and never formed any close relationships with professors, so I am going to have a hard time securing any recommendations at all, let alone very personalized and strong ones.

I went to a good four-year college and majored in History, although I took several literature courses and also took German and Russian language courses throughout college. My undergrad GPA was 3.75. I took the GRE last fall and got a 1340 (670 M, 670 V), but I plan on taking it again this fall and I am almost positive that I can do better, as I was very distracted and kind of sick when I took them last fall.

I am at an intermediate level in both Russian and Spanish, and I am at an advanced, though not fluent, level in German. I would, of course, work hard to strengthen my language skills before commencing an MA program, and I also hope to begin studying French.

I don't have a clear notion at this point of exactly where I want to focus my studies, but I am very interested in psychoanalysis, literary theory, post-structuralism, feminism, and themes in literature of madness, memory, and time. Although my strongest foreign language is German (which is probably good since I want to focus heavily on psychoanalysis), I am really interested in many French theorists and writers.

Do you think I have a chance of getting into a Masters program in Comparative Literature? Do applicants often apply without being exactly sure of what their theses will focus on? Would it make more sense for me to spend this year taking classes and trying to build relationships with possible recommendation writers, or even enrolling in a program like St. John's College MA in Liberal Arts so that I can make connections with professors who will later write letters of recommendation? Do I need to learn French before I apply, since I am so interested in so many French thinkers and writers, or is that something I can do while in the program or the spring/summer before I commence a program?

I basically want to start school as soon as possible, but I have this dismal feeling that I will not be accepted into any programs due to:

1) lack of strong letters of recommendation

2) lack of an idea for a specific focus/concentration for a thesis (only vague notion of general interests)

3) possible deficiency in knowledge of languages

I am very new to all of this and just want to get some idea of where I stand and whether it even makes sense for me to apply to a program at this stage. I appreciate any and all comments/advice.

Thank you in advance!

[rising_star]

Don't retake the GRE! Your scores are plenty high enough to get you into MA programs!! Save the money and time and use it on your applications.