Rate My Chances: Media Studies Ph.D.

[grandstreet]

Hey everyone,

I've been spending hours on this forum lately. It's easy to scare yourself silly looking at how competetive the application process is. I'm looking into applying to Media Studies (and related) Ph.D. programs this fall (to begin Fall 2012), but I don't have a good sense of how competetive I actually am. I'm looking at UNC-CH, UT-Austin, Berkeley, UF- English, (Film & Media concentration), VCU- Media Art & Text Any thoughts on my chances of admission- even if they are zero- would be greatly appreciated. Please advise!

Undergrad at large, well respected public research university. Major: English, Philosophy, 3.8, Phi Beta Kappa,

Fulbright ETA, Colombia

2 MA degrees: 1 in Education (from an Ivy League school), 1 in Media Studies (from a more-or-less no-name school), 4.0 in both

1 publication in academic journal

Taught 1 undergrad classes- 1 interdisciplinary but focused mainly on Philosophy/English

TA for graduate level Media Theory class, 2 semesters

Waiting on GRE scores, expecting ~1450, 6 on writing

[rainy_day]

The best person to tell you if you are applying to the right schools, regarding questions of fit and competition, will be your advisors.

[JCoe Wants to Go to School]

Hi Grandstreet,

I'm also applying to PhD programs for Fall 2012 in Film Studies. I share your anxiety about competitiveness. Especially after reading your stellar qualifications.

How did you decide on the schools you will be applying to? What kind of advice have you received from your advisors? Have you cold-emailed any faculty at the programs to which you are applying? How receptive have they been?

I've only spoken with my advisors at UC Berkeley, to which I will also be applying, and she informed me that I should have as long an application list as possible. She said that funding is really dry right now and last year they only were able to take 2 students to the Film Studies program.

Does anyone else have any related information about potential programs, the application process, and their general experiences? It would be much appreciated.

thanks!

[grandstreet]

Hey JCoe,

I haven't totally decided where I'm applying yet and I'm actually not even applying this year- just collecting information and preparing for next year. The way I'm looking is based on location, professors, program culture, and research strengths. I'm sure funding will eventually play into a decision, if I get to make one. Since I'm so early in the process, I haven't talked to my advisors about specific schools. I've only talked with them about things like teaching classes, potential publications, etc. I've emailed some faculty at other programs and the responses have been mixed. Some have been very friendly and written long helpful emails, others not responding at all, some with just short replies.

In terms of preparedness, I think my situation is a bit different than yours. I've been out of undergrad for 7 years and have been working in education or in school in one way or another for most of that time. I've been told that most programs evaluate relative to age, meaning a senior in college wouldn't be expected to have done as much as someone who already has an MA. In general, I'd suggest checking out every option that you can, both in terms of programs to apply to or other intellectually engaging opportunities you come across.

On a side note, Berkeley seems like a fantastic place and they seem to have a couple very cool PhD programs, both in and outside of film studies, but what I've heard about admissions there lines up with what you mentioned. Damn near impossible.