Duke English vs Literature?

[Appppplication]

Also most complit departments have NOT notified yet. 

[WalterBenj]

That's true Appppplication! 

[mikers86]

I'm not sure when the Lit dept is having their recruitment (read: 2nd round of interviews) weekend. I *think* it's usually around the same weekend as the English recruitment weekend (which is next week) but don't quote me on that. If I happen to hear anything I'll gladly post.

[WalterBenj]

I'm not sure when the Lit dept is having their recruitment (read: 2nd round of interviews) weekend. I *think* it's usually around the same weekend as the English recruitment weekend (which is next week) but don't quote me on that. If I happen to hear anything I'll gladly post.

 

Thank you Mikers86!! So you think that they already had a 1st round of interviews? Could it be that they are doing things differently because of the new DGS? Thank you so much for this info!! 

Edited February 10, 2015 by WalterBenj

[mikers86]

So - again - don't quote me. But I do believe the recruitment/interview round is next week. I'd be glad to stand corrected! It's possible none of the interview candidates are on GC this year.

[mikers86]

For clarification, I'm in English, not Lit.

[WalterBenj]

Thanks Mikers86. Yes, it is definitely a possibility at this point...

[Gustav]

What happened to you Duke Lit? No letters, no status updates, no results posted... And I emailed three separate personnels with no response whatsoever...

[WalterBenj]

Gustav, the situation is weird. I emailed a POI, who knows me, and he told me that he wasn't sure but probably I wasn't in at this point (but he admitted that he didn't know with absolute certainty since he is not on the graduate admissions committee).

Besides that, I emailed another person 3 days ago but she didn't answer at all.

 

I think they decided and we are rejected, since it's February 13th. But this silence is weird nonetheless. I take for granted that the interviewees are not here or don't want to disclose any info (I'm even thinking about the possibility that the adcomm might have told them not say anything, at this point...but maybe an exaggeration on my part). I would like to be wrong, but unfortunately I don't think that's the case....

Edited February 14, 2015 by WalterBenj

[WalterBenj]

Anyway, the lack of response from this person was kind of irritating. We applied and we should at least have the right to have even a vague answer.  

[Gustav]

Hi Walter, I just (finally!) got in touch with a grad student in their department, it's confirmed that the interview invites were sent a long time ago and we just didn't know it. 

 

Ok, let's just hug and cry...(now knowing that both of my POIs are on sabbatical and thus not even on the committee, I just want to kick myself in the forehead!!). 

[WalterBenj]

Ok Gustav! I seriously think we should just hug and cry at this point!! I have the same problem with two of my POIs that encouraged me to apply but weren't on the committee. It happens...it was my dream school, but life goes on...

[Gustav]

Yeah, life goes on, Walter. Good luck with the rest of your application! hope we all end up where we will live happily ever after (for a few years).

[WalterBenj]

Good luck to you too Gustav!!

[dr_walrus]

Well that's certainly (dis)heartening to know. Out of curiosity, have any of you gone and checked the site? I just did a few minutes ago and noticed I had a new option: withdraw application. If I've been rejected, I'm not sure why I'd withdraw having already been tossed aside...

 

Nevertheless, just an odd change.

[Gustav]

hey dr_walrus, mine doesn't say anything. so you may have something different. hope it is the good news!

[WalterBenj]

Hey dr_walrus, mine says the same "withdraw application." But it could be just a random thing. Gustav, it's right underneath review application details.. 

 

Nonetheless, a weird option to include right now, especially if we have already been rejected.

Edited February 14, 2015 by WalterBenj

[dr_walrus]

How strange... Adding insult to injury I see. Way to be, Duke. Thanks for double checking folks!

[christakins]

Late to the party but I too now have the option to withdraw my app. 

[khyleth]

Just got a rejection via email. Check your inboxes.

Edited February 16, 2015 by khyleth

[Gustav]

Thanks, khyleth. Bring it on, Duke.

[Ezzy123]

Hello! I know I'm late to the party, but I'm wondering if it is possible/prudent to apply to both the english and the literature program with different writing samples?

[screamingacrossthesky]

Hello! I know I'm late to the party, but I'm wondering if it is possible/prudent to apply to both the english and the literature program with different writing samples?

Unfortunately, you have to choose.  From the Duke English FAQs:


2. What is the difference between the English Department and the Program in Literature at Duke? Which should I apply to?

You may apply to English or to Literature, but not to both. In rare cases where we feel that a student has misdirected an application, we will contact the student to suggest transferring the application. But we cannot guarantee that there will be time for this, so we recommend that you read both the English and the Literature website carefully. The key criterion is again “fit”: though each program allows you to take courses in the other and to appoint faculty from either program to your committee, if you find that a majority of the faculty with whom you are interested in working are based in Literature, it would make sense to apply to that program. 
The Director of Graduate Studies and Assistant to the DGS in both English and Literature will be glad to answer your questions as you make your choice.

 

[solomonski]

In case it matters to anyone, they've changed that requirement (I guess within the last two months). It now says " You may apply to English and to Literature"  (http://english.duke.edu/graduate/prospective-student/application-faqs#2)

[Warelin]

I didn't want to start a new topic and realized this one was still unanswered to some extent. I messaged the DGS and got a reply:

Your second question, about the difference between English and the Program and Literature, is also tricky to answer. Many dissertations could in principle be written in either department. However, English is oriented more specifically toward the study of literary texts written in English, whereas Literature (despite its name) doesn’t necessarily have that focus on literature in general, and it definitely isn’t restricted to English literature. So the key question is whether you want a training in English literature or not. (With that said, the Duke English department is very theoretically-oriented, so one would not have to pursue a traditional training in English literature. However, in the final analysis, our students generally do end up in English departments, whereas Literature students end up in a wider variety of departments.)