HELP Should I even apply to Phd programs?

[kilene]

PLEASE help, I have no idea what my chances are or even which programs I should i apply to...

I recently graduated from a top 15 private school with a degree in film, and I'm looking to apply to phd/ma programs in cultural studies/communication/visual studies. My dream program would be Brown's Modern culture and media program, which only has a phd route. 

 

Here is where I stand: 

 

3.67 GPA (my major gpa is slightly higher around 3.7-3.8)

Graduated in three years (which is one of the reasons why I have NO thesis or research experience..)

A certificate in marketing communications (which I think may even be detrimental to my application since the programs I'm applying to are highly academic)

I do not have much coursework relating to the field that I want to pursue

Crappy recommendations (I currently don't even know who to ask for my third recommendation)

Non-existent writing sample (most programs require 10-15 pages, and all I could find that were even worth reading were 5-6 pages...and they are not anything like a thesis or research based, just papers written for classes. Would you recommend that I write a new paper on my own?)

I haven't taken my GREs but I expect it to be around 160-165 for both sections if I do well.

I haven't written the SOPs but I don't expect it to be anything special even if I tried. 

 

My initial plan was to apply to Phd programs and few MAs for backup, since I would hate to get student loans for two more years... But I feel like even MAs would not be backups for me at this point. Any recommendations on what I should do? Is there a way to better my chances without going the MA then Phd route?

 

Any advice would be much appreciated!!

 

 

 

 

[juilletmercredi]

If you don't have any research experience and any coursework in your areas of interest, then I would say your chances of admissions are pretty small.  Professors will wonder why you want to get a PhD in your field if you don't have coursework related to and haven't done any research in it - that means you don't have any experience doing what it is you say you want to do as a career.  The fact that you don't have good recommendations or a good writing sample just compound that.

 

If you really want to get a PhD in this field, it seems that you may need to take a few years to prepare for that.  Getting an MA may be just the way that you do that - it will give you an opportunity to develop a writing sample (likely your courses will require at least a 10-15 page paper); you will develop relationships with more professors and will be able to take courses in the area in which you wish to do research; and you can also get some experience doing scholarship in the field.