How much does work experience matter?

[anthropologeist]

How much does work experience matter for admissions to Comp Lit/English/Theory programs? And no, I'm not talking about fellowships or research experience.

[alistair0505]

Let alone admission chances, at least working can help you pay tuition fee. You don't want to keep borrowing federal loans from the government

[Stately Plump]

Unless your work experience is somehow related to the field--publishing, editing, some sort of journalism--work experience will probably count very little. The most important thing adcomms look for in an application is the ability to succeed (i.e., read, write, and conduct research at the doctoral level) in their program. Generally speaking, work experience will not evince this ability.

That being said, work experience can contribute usefully to the SOP. If you have taken time off after undergrad, you might write about your work experience, and how it has convinced you that where you belong is in academia.

Edited September 2, 2012 by Stately Plump