Comparative Literature, 2013

[vvvooommm]

Hello, 

 

Is anyone else waiting for Comparative Literature news? I knew the wait would be difficult, but I had no idea it would be THIS difficult. Anyone else playing out worst case scenarios? Laughing at the thought of reading your own application? Unable to read or write properly anymore? Wishing you had spent just a few more hours on the GRE?

 

how are you dealing with this!?

good luck to all

[lolotte]

Hi vvvooommm, I'm also (not so) patiently waiting for comp lit news. I only applied to a few top progarms. Most days I feel that I don't have a chance, but then every so often I think, "Well, maybe...?" Who knows!

[DontHate]

Me three

[vvvooommm]

good luck to you all!

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

Me four. I applied to 2 programs (Upenn and UT Austin), and I totally feel that I don't have a chance at all. And yes I wish I had worked more on my GRE, but it's too late now. I'll be waiting hopefully though. 

[DontHate]

I applied to 8 programs. One of them is the school I'm doing my Master's at right now. I hear about people (especially in English) applying to 20+ programs and I just don't even know what to think. Is it really necessary? Should I have done more apps? This whole process has me riddled with doubts.

[Two Espressos]

I applied to 8 programs. One of them is the school I'm doing my Master's at right now. I hear about people (especially in English) applying to 20+ programs and I just don't even know what to think. Is it really necessary? Should I have done more apps? This whole process has me riddled with doubts.

 

It certainly isn't necessary to apply to 20+ programs; I actually find the idea ludicrous.  I wonder: why is this person applying to so many goddamn programs?  I think 6-10 programs is a realistic and sensible range.

[vvvooommm]

I think Comp. Lit. applications can be a bit different from English: whereas English is so massive and so unpredictable (departments get between 250-700 applications), it can be wise to apply to more rather than less just in case; many of my friends only were accepted to one or two places out of many, many applications. Comp. Lit. departments tend to get 50-150 applications and so, not to say your chances are higher, but you can usually bet that the applicants are more keen on that particular department to begin with and are not doing the kinds of mass-application dumps that you get with English (also, with Comp Lit you tend to have more focused departments and are looking only at one or two prospective advisors, so there's less of a chance that there are 20 departments with comparable advisors available for you). So no, 8 applications will be probably more than enough.

Edited January 26, 2013 by vvvooommm

[sebastiansteddy]

It certainly isn't necessary to apply to 20+ programs; I actually find the idea ludicrous.  I wonder: why is this person applying to so many goddamn programs?  I think 6-10 programs is a realistic and sensible range.

 

Every single advisor/professor I talked to said at the very minimum to apply to 10, and aim for 15 if economically feasible. 

 

Editing to add: I know very little about comp lit departments, so for comp lit this might not make sense.

Edited January 26, 2013 by sebastiansteddy

[DontHate]

There aren't 15 programs I would want to attend. 

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

I could only afford to apply to 3 schools and I know it's not wise, cuz I'm more likely to have to wait for next year and apply again. If I have enough money, I'd have applied to 6 programs max. I guess, cuz it's not easy to find so many schools that you really like. 

[Two Espressos]

Every single advisor/professor I talked to said at the very minimum to apply to 10, and aim for 15 if economically feasible. 

 

Editing to add: I know very little about comp lit departments, so for comp lit this might not make sense.

 

I'm not sure you received sound advice.  What does mass-application dumping--in vvvooommm's parlance-- really add besides time and stress?  At that point, it looks less like genuine interest and more like desperation.  If applicant A has a shitty application and applies to 20+ schools, and applicant B has a great application but only applies to 6 schools, who is more likely to get in?  I'd say applicant B.  And I don't see why someone with a strong application would bother applying to dozens of places: I highly doubt this hypothetical person really fits in and likes all of those programs.

Edited January 26, 2013 by Two Espressos

[DontHate]

Rose, you can apply for fee waivers. Look into that option for next round, if you need to apply again.

[Swagato]

I'm in the middle on this question. On the one hand, the departments I'd *really* like to be at regularly admit no more than 2-3 each year. On the other hand, there aren't exactly a huge number of film studies departments in the nation. Moreover, I don't just want to get a PhD; I want to do a PhD and use it as a stepping stone toward a future academic career. A tenured one. That means I can only afford to do my PhD at such departments as will be conducive toward that goal, while also contending with the fact that out of 200-300 applications, there will be less than 5 admits. 

 

So, neither is it wise to simply apply to the 5-6 departments where I'd be a fantastic fit, nor is it wise to simply spam out applications blindly. I've tried to for breadth while ensuring that there is at least a reasonably positive response to the question, "Would I present a decent fit at this department with my research interests?"

 

I applied to 13 departments.

[sebastiansteddy]

I'm not sure you received sound advice.  What does mass-application dumping--in vvvooommm's parlance-- really add besides time and stress?  At that point, it looks less like genuine interest and more like desperation.  If applicant A has a shitty application and applies to 20+ schools, and applicant B has a great application but only applies to 6 schools, who is more likely to get in?  I'd say applicant B.  And I don't see why someone with a strong application would bother applying to dozens of places: I highly doubt this hypothetical person really fits in and likes all of those programs.

 

I don't see 10-15 as mass-application dumping... well this was the advice of both the DGS, the Director of Admissions and professors who have served on or are currently serving on the adcomm at my university... one to which some posters on here may be applying to... 

[Two Espressos]

I'm in the middle on this question. On the one hand, the departments I'd *really* like to be at regularly admit no more than 2-3 each year. On the other hand, there aren't exactly a huge number of film studies departments in the nation. Moreover, I don't just want to get a PhD; I want to do a PhD and use it as a stepping stone toward a future academic career. A tenured one. That means I can only afford to do my PhD at such departments as will be conducive toward that goal, while also contending with the fact that out of 200-300 applications, there will be less than 5 admits. 

 

So, neither is it wise to simply apply to the 5-6 departments where I'd be a fantastic fit, nor is it wise to simply spam out applications blindly. I've tried to for breadth while ensuring that there is at least a reasonably positive response to the question, "Would I present a decent fit at this department with my research interests?"

 

I applied to 13 departments.

 

There's definitely some leeway with what I said above.  I just wanted to counteract the idea that I've sometimes seen around here that one should apply to as many programs as possible.  That kind of myopic indiscretion seems extremely unwise for those who actually want a chance at an academic career after their Ph.D., as you state.

 

I don't see 10-15 as mass-application dumping... well this was the advice of both the DGS, the Director of Admissions and professors who have served on or are currently serving on the adcomm at my university... one to which some posters on here may be applying to... 

 

Okay, but besides the borderline appeal to authority here, do you disagree with what I've written?

 

Sorry for hijacking your thread, Comp Lit people.  I'll leave you alone now. *disappears*

[sebastiansteddy]

Yes, I do disagree... because there is much more to this than just quality of your application. I've heard stories where adcomms wanted to admit people, but just couldn't for many varying reasons (they need to even out male/female, they admitted too many Americanists last year, etc.) Sending out high quality applications to 15 places (versus sending out high quality applications to 6) reduces the odds that something like that will happen. 

 

What's this myth that after application number 10, the quality of your apps magically decrease? 

 

Again, this is my opinion and what I have been told for English programs, not comp lit. I suspect that a large portion of what I am saying would not apply to comp lit applicants. 

 

I too am sorry for hijacking your thread.

[bluecheese]

I applied to a shit ton of programs and I already have two acceptances with fellowships attached to them (both at great schools). 

[sebastiansteddy]

I was going to list bluecheese as an example of sending out many high-quality applications, but I didn't know if s/he would appreciate it.

[DontHate]

I think it depends, not just on what kinds of programs you're applying to, but also on what kind of package you're sending out. If you have the kind of stats that give you a general good chance everywhere, then maybe applying to a huge number of programs isn't as crucial. If you have some spots on your application that committees consider red flags, then maybe applying widely is a better idea. 

[DontHate]

I also wanted to apply, as Swagato said, only to schools where my degree would position me well for tenure track jobs. There aren't a ton of these schools, especially in Comp Lit. Perhaps 20 total in the country. There are slightly more great English departments, but still not a ton. An acceptance at a less-than-great program wouldn't be any use to me. 

[bluecheese]

There are also things like financial packages, location, cost of living, etc. to consider AFTER being accepted into one of those top programs. Having more options is always better. Also, even with high/great stats... who knows how things are going to go when they start talking about your packet in the admissions committee. The admissions statistics at these places are extremely competitive. In that kind of environment, more applications means more opportunities once the dust has settled. If you get into more than one of the top schools, you can try to get a better deal (another semester with no teaching, summer funding, etc... or potentially be awarded a fellowship) from the programs that you REALLY want to go to. That more than offsets the extra application fees.

Edited January 26, 2013 by bluecheese

[DontHate]

I agree with most of what you say above. But I only applied to programs that offer funding to all the students they accept. I wouldn't go to an unfunded program.

[bluecheese]

Ditto. No one should go to an unfunded (or partially funded) PhD program.

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

Rose, you can apply for fee waivers. Look into that option for next round, if you need to apply again.

Does this apply to international students as well?