Oxford English MSt?

[LOLhedgefunds]

Has anyone done this? If so, could you describe your experiences? Did you go on to a PhD program in the US? What were your interests going in to the program?

I'm debating between this and comp lit at a California school. I'm especially interested in anyone who did something theory-oriented after being at Oxford (i.e., falling more under the American definition of what constitutes study in "English" as opposed to the more restrictive vision of the discipline that I imagine would exist at a place like Oxford). Did having a more traditional, text-based and exegetical introduction to graduate work prepare you well for more theoretical work later?

Thoughts on 'prestige' are appreciated as well - will this help with getting in to a program later? Is it worth turning down good funded offers at less-'prestigious' institutions in the hopes of further 'prestige' down the line? This question applies both for the attainment of a TT R1, etc, job and for related non-academic jobs.

[neon tally]

I'm not exactly doing the English MSt., but I'm doing a degree in a department that has a strong connection with the English faculty. I would say that the real question of whether or not coming to Oxford will be useful for you has to do with fit. If you want to do, say, contemporary (20th c.) literature, Oxford is probably not the place. If you want to have access to really fantastic, old, original texts (i.e., if your field is medieval/renaissance lit), you would definitely find being here an amazing experience.

Oxford is, to some extent, what you put into it. There are fantastic libraries and all-star academics (although, again, depends on your field), and there are plenty of lectures/talks in all sorts of fields. You aren't going to get the same sort of seminar-oriented education you'd get from most graduate programs (although you might end up having one or two), but you will probably be given a lot of time to do independent research.

Has Oxford made me a better researcher? By far. The experience of doing, and of doing so as my primary activity (versus "being prepared for class"), has definitely given me research confidence. Am I stronger theoretically? Yes. That's because I'm doing a lot of the theoretical readings on my own in preparation for the papers I'm working on. And there are "theory" lectures every term. BUT, as a warning, I have found a LOT of resistance to my very contemporary-oriented research interests.

I will avoid the "prestige" question because, again, I really do think it depends on what you'd be coming here to do. There's also a strong emphasis on producing written work that is publication-worthy, so if you're not published yet, potentially you could be (or at least have something in the works) by the time you leave here. I definitely don't regret my decision to spend a year here, but I did not apply to stay for the D. Phil both for funding reasons and because Oxford is not strong in my area. Let me know if you have any other questions, and good luck with your decision.

[wheel_of_fire]

Any idea when we can expect to get college and adviser assignments?