Need: Idiot's Guide to Applying to English MA Program

[alleviate]

How do I choose a supervisor? Is it appropriate to contact professors directly, or to contact the department?

What kind of funding should I apply for? I know I will be automatically considered for some options upon applying, but in terms of external scholarships are there any obvious ones (apart from the SSHRC) that I should look for?

Is it acceptable to ask "random" professors to proof-read my writing sample?

I know my questions reveal my horrible ignorance, but I'm anxious to learn more about the process. Any information you could give me would be much appreciated!

[rems]

1. Someone working in your field/interest/author/theory/etc. Yes, you can directly contact professors. You can always call the department secretary for information. Going above their head and contacting Deans and Chairs will usually get you no response. They're typically too busy and delete emails from "unknown" names a lot (heard this from the secretary of my English Dept.).

2. It mostly varies by school. As far as general funding goes that isn't school-dependent, I have no idea. Not qualified to answer this question really.

3. Absolutely. The worst they will say is "No," and it's part of the process that profs help you with applications. Their profs helped them, and they typically don't have a problem helping someone out by proof reading a writing sample or SOP. Of course, this depends on the prof as soon will be awesome and some will be jerks.

You can always ask profs for advice. I don't think it's ever considered "inappropriate" to ask a prof for advice/proofreading help. Well, maybe calling them at 2am to look at your SOP one more time might be considered rude.

And you don't sound ignorant! Grad school and grad school apps are very stressful. We all have questions or else we wouldn't be contributing to this site.

[1Q84]

I'll echo rems here, don't feel ignorant at all... you actually did the smart thing by making a thread and asking all your questions at once!

I panicked and tried to do all my apps by myself and had a lot of highs and lows, finding out information half way through and being really, really disappointed or really excited by the news.

As a fellow MA applicant to English Lit programs, what I can recommend is research as much as possible. For the first half of your app ordeal, it's going to be information gathering. It's never too early to start!

[lolopixie]

Don't worry about choosing a thesis advisor at this time. Most MA programs do not expect you to choose someone until the semester prior to starting your prospectus. Yes, you will want to familiarize yourself with those professors that are in an area of interest, but you may find, after taking seminars in the MA program, that your area of interest changes and you have a whole new outlook. Example: I went into my MA program thinking I would write a thesis in the realm of Romantics, but wound up taking a seminar that completely changed my research interests and I wound up writing mine on Postcolonial Caribbean Lit.

I would also like to ditto rems advice of contact the department secretary prior to reaching out to another faculty member. The secretary can direct you to the appropriate person, field questions, and even set up interview times. They will also let professors know that there is someone interested so the professor may be more on the lookout for your information. I just emailed one of my programs asking who I should talk to about program questions and was forwarded to a graduate advisor that was not listed anywhere on the department information, but was able to thoroughly field all of my questions.

Make sure to review if the program of interest requires you to fill out a seperate application for funding. Some automatically review, some only do so with application, and many MA programs do not fund as they do not have the means in their budgets. Outside scholarships are things you will need to research on your own, but if you find any goodies, please share!!! Have as many professors review your writing sample and SOP as possible. Don't forget to have them review the SOP!!!! When it comes to your SOP, you may want to have "younger" professors review as the process of applying and expectations of the SOP has drastically changed since when some of the more tenure professors have completed theirs. However, if your current program has a MA/PhD program, almost all professors should be up to speed on what ad coms are looking for. Just send them an email or stop by their office and let them know what your plans are and that you would value their opinion and critique on your work. Give them AMPLE time! You'll probably want to go ahead and get it in their hands now before they get busy with the fall semester and your stuff slips to the back burner.

Edited August 18, 2012 by lolopixie

[ProfLorax]

All great advice! I would add just one thing; if you do email "random" profs for feedback on your SoP, I wouldn't ask them to "proofread" it. When I think of proofreading, I think of a grad student at a local campus writing lab finding comma splices. Since these are professors, I would instead ask them specific questions about the content. For example: "Do I address my interests specifically enough?" "Should I add more about my past research experience?" "Do you think I should mention specific theorists in paragraph four?" This will yield, I imagine, more specific, positive, and productive responses from the professors you are contacting.

[alleviate]

Amazing and kind advice from everyone! Thank you!!