Writing Sample that doesn't match grad school goals (Comp Lit)

[peterangelo]

Hello community! In undergrad, I focused a lot on Shakespeare and Renaissance lit, thinking that it would be my direction in grad school, but towards the end of undergrad and into my current MA program I've since switched to focus on Modernism. Now that I'm applying to PhD programs in Comparative Literature, I realize that by far my best WS would be my senior honor thesis about Shakespeare, and that I have nothing that even comes remotely close in terms of academic quality. So my question is what suggestions does anyone have as to how I could reconcile this?

 

I'm asking here because my mentors have given me a plethora of varying answers, and the consensus was that traditionally grad schools were more understanding of this scenario as long as you could defend your choices and still detail a convincing course of study, but that things have changed in recent years.

 

Some extra info: I'm currently finishing my MA in Madrid in Spanish Lit, and I do have a handful of papers relative to my area of interest, but they're all in Spanish...

 

I appreciate any help/input!

[Yetanotherdegree]

I'm in a completely different academic area, but the places where I am applying specify the type of sample I need to provide. And, while I can interpret this relatively loosely, I would not want to push it too far. What do your applications ask for? If it's just an academic writing sample, then the undergrad thesis should work.

However if you are a native english speaker (bilingual?) then I would think that the relevant pieces in Spanish might be especially impressive as they demonstrate superior language ability.

I would check with the program director for each of your applications and offer them a choice, see what they have to say. This only works if you can demonstrate that you have no issues whatsoever with English - if it is not your first language, then you need to submit something that demonstrates your ability to produce high-level academic work in the language of instruction at the place where you are applying. Sending in a sample in another language would only serve to raise concerns about your ability to work in English.

Good luck!

[juilletmercredi]

I don't think it matters.  It's in the same field, just a different focus.  I think the Shakespeare papers should be fine if they are good quality.

Another option is to translate your MA papers into English, and submit the Spanish and English versions.  But that may be time-consuming and they may not translate properly, so...

[danieleWrites]

Drop an email to the comp lit director in the schools you're interested in and ask them specifically if they want English-only writing samples, which you have one from your undergraduate work at the University of Awesome, USA, or if they will take a writing sample in Spanish, which you have from your masters-level at Universidad de Bueno in Madrid.

 

PhD programs are interested in seeing relevant work so they can make the best selections possible. Few of them have problems answering questions that can't be found easily by looking on the website. My comp lit program wants something in literature that shows critical thinking and writing ability. But every program is different. Unless you have the time to develop an English version of your better Madrid papers, or an all new paper, you're better off with the Shakespeare.