Do you need to be published to be able to get in?

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

Hi, I check the Results Search almost daily and I noticed that many of those who get acceptances have published an article or more, or co-authored a book !!!! That made me really worried cuz in my country, only almost-dead people get to publish works. I don't think I can wait that long to get admitted

[Phil Sparrow]

"Do you need to be published to get in?"

 

For English or literary studies at least: absolutely, emphatically no. Don't let anyone terrify you into thinking otherwise.

 

ETA: I use strong language to underscore my point because some applicants (or future applicants) occasionally try to get published somewhere, anywhere, just to have the line on their CVs. While different faculty members would tell you different things about when the best time to publish is, the conventional wisdom holds that you should not do so until you can publish well---that is, with a great piece in a highly respected journal (or, perhaps, an especially important edited collection). Publications follow you around forever; you don't want to have some embarrassing juvenilia dragging you down when you're on the job market or up for tenure.

Edited January 25, 2013 by Phil Sparrow

[TripWillis]

"Do you need to be published to get in?"

 

For English or literary studies at least: absolutely, emphatically no. Don't let anyone terrify you into thinking otherwise.

 

ETA: I use strong language to underscore my point because some applicants (or future applicants) occasionally try to get published somewhere, anywhere, just to have the line on their CVs. While different faculty members would tell you different things about when the best time to publish is, the conventional wisdom holds that you should not do so until you can publish well---that is, with a great piece in a highly respected journal (or, perhaps, an especially important edited collection). Publications follow you around forever; you don't want to have some embarrassing juvenilia dragging you down when you're on the job market or up for tenure.

Seconded. It is FAR FAR FAR from expected. Most students won't even have published until year 3.

 

Conferences are a nice thing to have on your CV, though.

Edited January 25, 2013 by TripWillis

[DontHate]

NO

[cicada123]

Definitely not-- was just accepted with a full fellowship at a highly respectable school and got an interview at another one of equal reputation. I had, however, made the effort to submit an article to a journal, and I indicated that on my CV in an "under review" section. During my MA (at a top program), I also attended two conferences. Even PhD students at good schools often don't published until they are writing their dissertations.

[uromastyx]

Of course not. But I feel that the landscape is changing and this is becoming increasingly more common.

 

I applied with multiple publications: a book chapter, articles, reviews, a professional blog.

 

Yet, I agree completely that publishing junk for the sake of publishing could backfire.

 

Many departments in literary fields are encouraging their students to graduate with at least one publication, so you have plenty of time before it's a concern.