Fall 2014 applicants??

[mikers86]

Mine aren't working for me either! Maybe they will work for each other

I'm hoping! The pending 10" of snow will at least keep me preoccupied for a little while, as will the tex-mex chicken stew I have going in the crockpot. But really, I just want results!

[despejado]

I'm hoping! The pending 10" of snow will at least keep me preoccupied for a little while, as will the tex-mex chicken stew I have going in the crockpot. But really, I just want results!

 

I made tortilla soup earlier today (even though it's 75 degrees out), and it was beautiful. Great minds think alike, Mikers.

[andromache]

Wait listed at Case Western. It's a funded MA program, and with all of my rejections/implied rejections from PhD programs, one of my top choices at this point in the process.

[andrewcycs]

Nice Andromache! That is definitely something to feel proud of!

Do a little happy dance, followed by an acceptance dance, that should do the trick.

[hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii]

Wait listed at Case Western. It's a funded MA program, and with all of my rejections/implied rejections from PhD programs, one of my top choices at this point in the process.

Congrats!  I applied to their PhD program… So now I have a sick feeling while I wait to learn my fate.

[Kamisha]

Congrats to the FSU acceptance! 

[andromache]

Congrats!  I applied to their PhD program… So now I have a sick feeling while I wait to learn my fate.

 

I'm really shocked to have heard from two MA programs (CMU and Case) so soon after the Jan 15th deadline.

[despejado]

 

"I'm really shocked to have heard from two MA Programs.. "

 

I was wondering how soon MA programs notified... There are a few with March deadlines, and the thought of not knowing anything for certain until May is driving me absolutely insane. 

Edited February 18, 2014 by despejado

[hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii]

I'm really shocked to have heard from two MA programs (CMU and Case) so soon after the Jan 15th deadline.

You're lucky!  I also applied to the PhD program at CMU and have been anxiously awaiting to hear something.  It's pure agony.

[andromache]

You're lucky!  I also applied to the PhD program at CMU and have been anxiously awaiting to hear something.  It's pure agony.

 

For CMU I applied to the PhD and was accepted to the MA. Maybe they're taking longer to sift through the people who they actually want for the PhD program?

[hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii]

For CMU I applied to the PhD and was accepted to the MA. Maybe they're taking longer to sift through the people who they actually want for the PhD program?

Let's hope so!  It's weird to me that many schools accept MA's before PhD's.  I also wonder about the distinction between MA/PhD's and just PhD's… Like do schools have a certain amount of spots for MA/PhD's and a certain for just PhD track students?

 

It's nice to have a fall back though, if you're not accepted into a PhD.  I'm finishing up my MA now, so PhD is my only hope.

[mikers86]

And there's the first Pittsburgh rejection in the mail. Guessing mine is coming today or tomorrow. Onward and upward to the next one!

[SleepyOldMan]

I made tortilla soup earlier today (even though it's 75 degrees out), and it was beautiful. Great minds think alike, Mikers.

 

I'd love to see the recipe.

[despejado]

I'd love to see the recipe.

I'll be more than happy to message it to you when I get home

[Nothung]

Can I ask a couple general questions?

1. If I am not bilingual, can I assume I am not competitive in any top ranked programs?

2. If I have never published a paper, can I assume the same thing?

3. Do schools ever admit PhD applicants without interviewing them?

Thanks.

[Graditude]

If the Syracuse acceptance is here, could you tell us a bit more? It's for English lit, right?

[Kamisha]

Any applicants here who did an MA in the United Kingdom? Though I am currently finishing my Master’s (MS) in English, I’m very seriously considering an offer to complete an MA in Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. The catch? Their program runs from September-September, which means when I apply for PhD programs again in the Fall, there would be a couple of weeks overlap between when my second MA finished and when a potential PhD program would start. 

 

Have any of you done it? Is it possible to submit your MA dissertation (I don’t know why they don’t call them a ‘thesis’ over there) early and be done a couple of weeks ahead of schedule?

[despejado]

If the Syracuse acceptance is here, could you tell us a bit more? It's for English lit, right?

Motion seconded.

[Graditude]

Any applicants here who did an MA in the United Kingdom? Though I am currently finishing my Master’s (MS) in English, I’m very seriously considering an offer to complete an MA in Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. The catch? Their program runs from September-September, which means when I apply for PhD programs again in the Fall, there would be a couple of weeks overlap between when my second MA finished and when a potential PhD program would start. 

 

Have any of you done it? Is it possible to submit your MA dissertation (I don’t know why they don’t call them a ‘thesis’ over there) early and be done a couple of weeks ahead of schedule?

I did my MA at Nottingham. The program you're considering at UEA finishes classroom work in the late spring, and there's nothing to stop you doing your dissertation on your own time wherever you like -- as long as you submit by the deadline.

[Nothung]

Any applicants here who did an MA in the United Kingdom? Though I am currently finishing my Master’s (MS) in English, I’m very seriously considering an offer to complete an MA in Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. The catch? Their program runs from September-September, which means when I apply for PhD programs again in the Fall, there would be a couple of weeks overlap between when my second MA finished and when a potential PhD program would start. 

 

Have any of you done it? Is it possible to submit your MA dissertation (I don’t know why they don’t call them a ‘thesis’ over there) early and be done a couple of weeks ahead of schedule?

I did an MA in English Lit at University College London, and yes it was absolutely possible to submit your dissertation whenever you wanted to. I opted to simply take a year off and apply to US programs (thus having the full year to submit) but several of my course mates did what you are taking about for exactly the same reason.

[Kamisha]

I did my MA at Nottingham. The program you're considering at UEA finishes classroom work in the late spring, and there's nothing to stop you doing your dissertation on your own time wherever you like -- as long as you submit by the deadline.

 

 

I did an MA in English Lit at University College London, and yes it was absolutely possible to submit your dissertation whenever you wanted to. I opted to simply take a year off and apply to US programs (thus having the full year to submit) but several of my course mates did what you are taking about for exactly the same reason.

 

 

You guys are absolutely wonderful. Thanks for the info! Any advice on scholarships/funding options to consider?

[Graditude]

You guys are absolutely wonderful. Thanks for the info! Any advice on scholarships/funding options to consider?

It's very tough for US citizens. Your best hope is for funding from the school itself. You probably know they've raised tuition in the UK while cutting AHRC funding. Your biggest expense will be living there, I'm afraid.

[Kamisha]

It's very tough for US citizens. Your best hope is for funding from the school itself. You probably know they've raised tuition in the UK while cutting AHRC funding. Your biggest expense will be living there, I'm afraid.

 

The university granted me a partial scholarship, which is great. I actually was accepted to a few UK schools before I did my current master’s degree, but couldn’t go because of the expense. I have some money saved now and this scholarship is pretty decent, so I’m hoping to just supplement a little bit and then work as an online adjunct for my current university while I’m over there. 

[Kamisha]

Can I ask a couple general questions?

1. If I am not bilingual, can I assume I am not competitive in any top ranked programs?

2. If I have never published a paper, can I assume the same thing?

3. Do schools ever admit PhD applicants without interviewing them?

Thanks.

 

I honestly don’t know how to answer questions 1 and 2. Obviously having the language requirements and publications make you a more competitive applicant, but plenty of students get it without them. As far as question 3 goes, most schools in English admit you without interviewing you. Statistically, very few programs actually do interviews. 

[mikers86]

Can I ask a couple general questions?

1. If I am not bilingual, can I assume I am not competitive in any top ranked programs?

2. If I have never published a paper, can I assume the same thing?

3. Do schools ever admit PhD applicants without interviewing them?

Thanks.

 

I can try to answer the language question. Yes, some degree of fluency will help when applying to Harvard since you're expected to be reading proficient in 2 languages, but that is still far from being bilingual.

 

As for the second, I seem to recall this discussion taking place earlier, and the general consensus was that publications can help you, but they are from being expected due to the sheer time it takes to actually get an article published in a journal.

 

And for the last question, I'm not aware of too many programs that interview you for admission, at least in English. If you do searches on the results board by specific programs and look back over the last couple of years you can find out if they do or don't. An example of this would be Duke's Literature program requiring interviews while their English program does not. Program by program basis, but it's certainly not widespread practice as far as I know. Please, someone correct me if I'm mistaken.

 

Hope that helps!