Research Experience for a Lit PhD, and Emailing Professors

[mightyheidi]

Hi everyone,

 

I plan on applying to English and American Studies PhD programs in the fall, but I have very little research experience from undergrad and post-graduation. I have a pretty strong academic background otherwise. Do you think my lack of research experience will hurt my application? Is there anything I can do in my application to balance my lack of experience?

 

Also, I'm getting ready to email professors and have received a couple of responses from professors who are willing to answer my questions. Which questions are appropriate for asking professors in an email conversation? I heard from some that emailing professors for English PhD programs isn't that helpful, but I figured it couldn't hurt. Would it be appropriate to ask them if they're taking new students?

 

Thanks!

[jazzyd]

"Research experience" is a little fuzzy for English imo, because a lot of the research we do isn't necessarily what people would think of research in the traditional sense. If you've done a paper of some length that incorporated secondary sources in addition to literary analysis, then you've done research. You've likely had to do this at least once in order to complete your degree.

 

I've been lucky enough to have two great mentors throughout undergrad who exposed me to primary source resources online that have digital scans of historical newspapers and photos, as well as in-person primary resources (like early editions of novels, pamphlets, sheet music) available at our university's library. But resources like these are going to vary by institution and smaller colleges won't necessarily be able to offer their students as wide a selection. Faculty members realize this (many of them came from these smaller colleges!). They know they can teach you how to research more effectively; they can't necessarily teach you how creatively interpret a resource when you find one.

 

To balance out your perceived lack of experience, I would show them what you can do in your writing sample. Explore the dozens of free primary source resources and see if anything there is relevant to your area of study. Maintain a solid balance of secondary (scholarly) sources in your paper and your own words, showing that you can really be part of a conversation within the field. 

 

Bear in mind I'm approaching this through an English lens, not an American Studies one. There are plenty of people in this section who have (successfully) applied to both, so they can maybe offer more well-rounded advice. As for contacting POI, it's sadly one of my regrets that I never contacted any POIs prior to or during the application process so I can't help you there.

[ProfLorax]

Regarding a lack of research, I'm curious what your BA is in. If you majored in English and/or American Studies, it's hard to imagine that you didn't write a research paper at some point in your study. Is the concern that you had another major? Or that your program wasn't rigorous in its research requirements?

 

About your second question, maybe you could tell us what you were thinking about asking them, and we'll give you feedback on the questions. You want questions that demonstrate your sincere interest and curiosity. So, what do you want to know? Start there, and we can help you out! 

[mightyheidi]

Hi everyone,

 

I plan on applying to English and American Studies PhD programs in the fall, but I have very little research experience from undergrad and post-graduation. I have a pretty strong academic background otherwise. Do you think my lack of research experience will hurt my application? Is there anything I can do in my application to balance my lack of experience?

 

Also, I'm getting ready to email professors and have received a couple of responses from professors who are willing to answer my questions. Which questions are appropriate for asking professors in an email conversation? I heard from some that emailing professors for English PhD programs isn't that helpful, but I figured it couldn't hurt. Would it be appropriate to ask them if they're taking new students?

 

Thanks!

[Swagato]

I believe it'd be worth your while to consider MA programs first.

 

1. It's highly inadvisable to consider a PhD in English or Am St unless you're aiming for top-tier programs. This is less a question of elitism and more a question of safeguarding your future. Given the difficult academic job market, graduates from top-notch programs already apply in droves to all the prime jobs, and then some. Your application from Flyover State will not do you any favours there, but the backing of a powerful department might. 

 

2. Aforementioned top-tier programs admit maybe 2-5% of all applicants. Accordingly, yours has to be compelling enough that you can squeeze into that small window. Without a background in English or Am St, and especially if you're not coming from a renowned institution (i.e. have studied under names that are well-recognised in the field), you will have a difficult time.

 

These comments aren't meant to discourage you but rather to quickly highlight some patterns I, and no doubt many others here, have noticed. An MA program at a top institution can go far in boosting your eventual PhD application. 

[wreckofthehope]

I believe it'd be worth your while to consider MA programs first.

 

1. It's highly inadvisable to consider a PhD in English or Am St unless you're aiming for top-tier programs. This is less a question of elitism and more a question of safeguarding your future. Given the difficult academic job market, graduates from top-notch programs already apply in droves to all the prime jobs, and then some. Your application from Flyover State will not do you any favours there, but the backing of a powerful department might. 

 

2. Aforementioned top-tier programs admit maybe 2-5% of all applicants. Accordingly, yours has to be compelling enough that you can squeeze into that small window. Without a background in English or Am St, and especially if you're not coming from a renowned institution (i.e. have studied under names that are well-recognised in the field), you will have a difficult time.

 

These comments aren't meant to discourage you but rather to quickly highlight some patterns I, and no doubt many others here, have noticed. An MA program at a top institution can go far in boosting your eventual PhD application. 

 

Regarding American Studies in particular, I don't think the MA suggestion is necessarily that helpful - Am St is interdisciplinary by nature, if you are interested in Asian American Literature and culture and are bringing your studies in Poli Sci and International Relations to bear on the subject, I wouldn't think your undergrad major would disadvantage you.

[mightyheidi]

Thanks everyone! I would consider MA programs, but I'm not really in a position to consider unfunded programs right now. 

[rhetoricus aesalon]

Thanks everyone! I would consider MA programs, but I'm not really in a position to consider unfunded programs right now. 

 

Let me first say, I know nothing about AmSt/Asian American Lit programs. But, I am a bit shocked that there really aren't any funded MA programs in that subfield! Are you sure? Funding might be competitive, but when I was looking into MA programs a year ago I don't recall seeing a single program that didn't offer some kind of funding/tuition remission. Is this common for American Studies programs?