U of Arkansas, Anyone?

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

Hi, Is there anyone around who already studies at U of Arkansas, or maybe planning on applying there? I keep e-mailing their comp. lit. program admissions and they never respond. Their website is vague and they still require paper applications ! Any information or tips, or should I just remove it from my list of schools? thx.

[Katia_chan]

I had it on my list last year, because they have one of the few Welsh language scholars around.  But I took it off after my advisor suggested I do so.

 

Whether she told me to take it off because of snobbish prejudices, or whether it's just a bad school, I don't know.  But she didn't seem keen.

 

Also, I may be a tech snob, but purely paper applications are sort of a turn-off for me.  In this day and age, there's o reason to still have that be your policy.

 

Just my two cents, for whatever they're worth.

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

Thank you for responding. I really don't like paper applications at all. I don't want to delete it cuz I really had a hard time to find only 4-5 programs that offer comp. lit. PhD with an emphasis on Arabic lit. Anyway, I'll give it a shot and see what happens. Thanks anyway.

[heliogabalus]

Rose, I think their translation MFA has put out a decent amount of Arabic translations, so that could be a good place to study. The lack of response you're getting doesn't sound good, though. I would email the professors you want to work with directly.

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

Thanks. You know, I hate it that their admissions handbook doesn't even state a deadline for the application. It kills me, but I'll apply as early as I can. Whatever...

[danieleWrites]

I go there; just started. The application process is entirely electronic and you'll find the relevant dates on the grad school's site and in the English department's site. Comp Lit is housed by the English department. Hunting through the websites suck, that's for sure. They never keep the necessary information in the same places, yanno? Anyway, they do take paper applications for comp lit, but prefer electronic. Which has me confused. Are you sure you're looking at the right U of A site?

 

Comp Lit guy is pretty much one of those guys you don't get a hold of in a timely fashion. He publishes more a semester than half the academic world does in a career. I'm not doing comp lit, just got here, so I only know rumors. His office is next to mine and I've never seen him. Unless you've got specific comp lit questions, you'll get more timely responses from the DGS.

[asleepawake]

Yeah, the page says:

 

 

 

Submittal of electronic versions of all documents, in either pdf or Word formats, is encouraged. All electronic materials should be submitted as e-mail attachments to kbooker@uark.edu.

[georgestrait1982]

I applied, was accepted, and decided to go somewhere else because the money was better. Cost of living in Fayetteville is low, but they offered me as an MA with a TAship something like 9000 a year. Not gonna cut it.

 

I got really great vibes from the department though. Visited with the DGS who seemed like a good guy. He designed their intro program for new comp instructors and has been published in two of the composition pedagogy anythologies i've used in classes at the school did end up attending.

 

Also Arkansas itself, especially NW Ark where Fayetteville is located, is one of America's best kept secrets. I almost went just to be able to live in the area. If you like the outdoors and friendly, downtoearth people, apply.

[aGiRlCalLeDApPlE]

Thank you all for your input. I checked this website ( http://www.uark.edu/ua/cplt/ ) and it says that two sets of application materials should be "mailed" in addition to the online application; one to the Graduate Office and another for the dept. itself. I still can't find the application deadline though. Anyway, I still have it on my list, although I know that their funding is not encouraging since I'll be living with dependents. 

[danieleWrites]

Deadlines vary.

 

If you intend to apply for the fall semester and for a fellowship and/or teaching assistanceship, you should have your application to the Graduate School in by the 1st of December. You do not have to submit via mail. There is an online form. For the fellowship, you should apply by January 15. The deadline for the teaching assistanceship varies depending on which department is funding you. If it's the English department (which does carry the largest number of TAs on campus), then it's January 15 (it's on the English Department's webpage). If it's Communications or languages, I dunno.