PhD English - 2025 Application Cycle

[TheDigitalHumanist]

With the fall semester quickly approaching, who else is gearing up for the 2025 PhD application cycle?

This is my second cycle. I got accepted into a program in 2022, but it was not the right fit. Here's to hoping for a better outcome this time around! 

Best of luck, everyone!

[gagne]

50/50 on whether I’ll reapply. Still considering with opportunities available and whether now is the time (wanting to do it close to finishing my Master’s but already adjunct teaching).

[bgt28]

I'm in the thick of the waiting game 

[Wordy Tart]

Working on my applications currently. I'd love to hear what everyone's interests are and the schools you're applying to!

[bgt28]

@Wordy Tart Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies/African American Studies here. Wbu?

[gagne]

@Wordy Tart I’m studying archives, poetics, and communities particularly since WWII but open to doing throughout the 20th century to now and how poetics and communities and their archives have evolved

[bgt28]

How's everyone feeling as we move into November? 

[bgt28]

🦇Happy Halloween to All! 🦇

[Northman]

Hi all, I'm applying for this upcoming cycle. As I'm more used to putting together the British 'proposal' for PhD applications, I have a question re citations. Are they expected in the US statement of purpose? A lot of advice I'm seeing online is pointing towards 'avoid citations', but I wondered what the general consensus is. Cheers! 

Edited November 8 by Northman

[bgt28]

12 hours ago, Northman said:

Hi all, I'm applying for this upcoming cycle. As I'm more used to putting together the British 'proposal' for PhD applications, I have a question re citations. Are they expected in the US statement of purpose? A lot of advice I'm seeing online is pointing towards 'avoid citations', but I wondered what the general consensus is. Cheers! 

I would say the consensus mirrors the advice you've come upon thus far. I think it's ok to cite specific texts that are relevant to your research interests in the body of the SOP by name, but it's not customary to include a formal bibliography, nor is it a requirement to include in-text citations. The general assumption is that quotes are superfluous in the context of an SOP because you can safely assume that Admissions Committees are intimately familiar with whatever text you may be moved to pull from.

Ultimately, the SOP requires you to be specific in terms of the broad strokes, like your academic and research interests, why you're applying to the program(s) you've chosen, faculty whose work resonates and who are able to support your journey to the end of your degree, and how you intend on actively participating in/contributing to any given university community. You can get away with leaving citations out because the SOP is your opportunity to use your own voice to be clear and specific, rather than quotations. 

[Northman]

8 hours ago, bgt28 said:

I would say the consensus mirrors the advice you've come upon thus far. I think it's ok to cite specific texts that are relevant to your research interests in the body of the SOP by name, but it's not customary to include a formal bibliography, nor is it a requirement to include in-text citations. The general assumption is that quotes are superfluous in the context of an SOP because you can safely assume that Admissions Committees are intimately familiar with whatever text you may be moved to pull from.

Ultimately, the SOP requires you to be specific in terms of the broad strokes, like your academic and research interests, why you're applying to the program(s) you've chosen, faculty whose work resonates and who are able to support your journey to the end of your degree, and how you intend on actively participating in/contributing to any given university community. You can get away with leaving citations out because the SOP is your opportunity to use your own voice to be clear and specific, rather than quotations. 

Thanks for your detailed reply! This definitely makes sense. In that case, I think (I hope) I'm on the right lines. All the best for your applications!

[bgt28]

On 11/9/2024 at 6:13 AM, Northman said:

Thanks for your detailed reply! This definitely makes sense. In that case, I think (I hope) I'm on the right lines. All the best for your applications!

Thank you for the opportunity. Happy to help. Good luck to us all! 

[gagne]

I am barreling toward deadlines. Turned in one’s for the 1st, 2nd, and 13th of December. Been so busy as an instructor and working full time in retail that I’m using what “free time” I have to complete everything. Thankful for some mentors and university writing center fellows who I’ve worked with for feedback.

[gagne]

Tomorrow is Dec 1st. I know one of mine is due then and last year so was Cornell. How are we feeling?

[bgt28]

At this point, I have done what I can, I think we all have, and am personally trying to be ok with not being perfect, not just in this context but in general. Best wishes to all of us! 

[TheDigitalHumanist]

Hi everyone! Sorry for the hiatus. I was teaching four courses and doing research this semester on top of balancing my applications. It's definitely been a journey! But, now we wait. Does anyone have any January deadlines? I miss when the majority of schools had January 1st or 15th deadlines. I feel like they push them earlier and earlier every year. 

[gagne]

All early or mid December for me. Last year, my only January deadlines were Québécois (McGill and Concordia), though didn’t reapply mostly due to funding concerns.

[bgt28]

To all who observed, happy belated Christmas!