Anyone has ever written an article before applying to PhD pograms?

[Arezoo]

Hi all,
I'm going to apply to PhD programs in linguistics next fall. I wonder if anyone has ever written a paper published in these journals before applying: http://science.thomsonreuters.com/cgi-bin/jrnlst/jlresults.cgi?PC=H&SC=OY. I just need to focus on those areas where needed. Thanks in advance

Edited March 27, 2013 by Arezoo

[fuzzylogician]

It is certainly a great boost to someone's application to have published in a journal. Given the time it takes to do publishable research and get it through the publication process, you'd have to be very fast, very lucky AND start very early to have a paper by yourself before applying to grad school, or else be added to someone's existing project as a junior writer. I'd bet that the latter happens sometimes when a student works as an RA on a successful project; the former is less likely but I bet that if you look hard enough you'll find examples of that too. Either way, it's rare and NOT a requirement for getting admitted to a good program, though it helps a lot. More realistically, a conference presentation and proceedings paper will help a lot too.

[Arezoo]

Thanks for your helpful comments. A conference presentation is a lot easier, but unfortunately, i don't have the possibility to do so because of where i live. Working as an RA is also not available in a sense that it should be. No internships, no exchange programs, etc. I don't know how i can make my resume competitive compared to those studied at Ivy leagues and have all these possibilities. I can only focus on the GRE and TOEFL which might be waived for some and not the most important factor when applying. I think with just one article published in a journal, i can show how capable i am. 

[MissTrace]

I think last year (or a few years back) someone said in this forum that he got rejected by half of the PhD programs he applied but when his paper was published he got accepted into all the remaining programs. But I can't recall whether he applied straight from undergraduate or not. You can check the Linguistics 201X thread for more accurate information.

Edited March 27, 2013 by MissTrace

[Phonolog]

I have had two conference proceedings, but as you can see, it's helpful but not a prerequisite. They know very well where you are located and your circumstances and what is reasonably available to you during your BA. I'd say have a writing sample that COULD be a conference paper or one day publishable, rather than focusing on getting the official acknowledgement these venues provide while still in the BA. A careful adcom will know quality when they see it, even if the paper you choose to use will only have been seen by them up to that point.

[Kwest]

I applied with only a BA in linguistics and got into half of the programs I applied to, all phd. I had no publications, presentations or conferences and I have been out of school since 2011 working a non-related day job. I had an un-credited undergrad lab assistant gig and I attended an lsa SI. My undergrad wasn't great, but I still turned out ok lol. It seems to me, that all you need to do is convince them that you can do it. If that's by way of publications, great...if it's by other means, that's great as well.

Edited March 27, 2013 by Kwest

[goldheartmountaintop]

I second Phonolog and Kwest's posts; having a published paper (or even conference proceedings) is definitely not a prerequisite for getting into PhD programs! Also, as fuzzylogician mentioned, getting published in an article takes a loooong time; given that you mentioned that you want to apply to PhD programs next Fall, you'd have like less than a year to write something publishable and get it published (which I'm not entirely sure is feasible, but that depends on your abilities, of course). 

 

There are a lot of other factors involved in getting accepted. In addition to research experience, getting accepted depends on your research interests, your statement, writing samples, GRE, grades, reference letters, etc. It might also help if you aim to apply for a Master's first. MA programs are generally easier to get into, and you'll have an extra year or two to develop your research interests, get more experience in academia (i.e. go to conferences, try to publish, etc.), and make connections with the faculty in your department (better reference letters; more research experience if there are opportunities, etc.).

 

For instance, I am currently in a Master's program and have no publications or conference proceedings (I presented at like two undergraduate conferences last Spring, but that's it); my writing samples were two term papers I had written in the first term of my MA. However, I got into two really good PhD programs in Canada and the US. Obviously, my lack of publications/conference proceedings was not a factor; I think my getting in had to do primarily with some the other stuff I mentioned (I didn't even take the GRE). So, while having publications will obviously help you, I don't think you should despair if you don't have anything published by the time you start applying! 

[Arezoo]

Thanks for all your helpful comments. Unfortunately, MA programs are mostly unfunded and as an international student, I cannot afford to attend them. I have also been out of school for 8 years and my BA is in English translation with only 10 courses offered in linguistics. I think i have to focus on my writing sample as you said instead of striving to get published somewhere.

[Colombo]

Arezoo, you should check into Ball State University. I got my MA there. They have an MA in Linguistics and a double MA program in Linguistics and TESOL and offer assistantships teaching ESL or freshman composition to their students...

Edited March 28, 2013 by sociolinguist

[Chase Wang]

Yes, there are MA programs that do fund students. (Most Canadian programs do, as well as some US ones)

What you need to do is look through the websites of every department. You may want to check out my signature.

Edited March 30, 2013 by Chase Wang