Safety Schools don't exist. . .

[wombats]

So, I'm entering into a field with relatively little scholarship as of now. Visual Rhetoric and Comics. So far I am applying to University of Arkansas, where I have similar interests with professors (PhD), University of Florida, that has the only Visual Rhetoric and Comics track in the US, and I recently decided to apply to Portland State as a so called "backup" only because the only offer an MA in English. I'd really love to work with a professor there, and it might actually be a better fit because the school has close ties with the Dark Horse publication company, the 3rd largest comic publisher in the country.

 

So I'm mostly applying to PSU because I want to work under Dr. Kirtley, but part of me wonders if that isn't what I should be shooting for. I have an MA in Applied Linguistics, but decided that it isn't really the field I want to pursue.

 

Is it worth going into debt over Portland if I don't get into and PhD programs? I have self confidence issues.

[wombats]

Lack of confidence stems from GRE scores 156V/142Q 3.5 AW. I'm a terrible test taker, and yes, I studied a lot for it.

 

Also stems from the fact I will only have one LoR from my graduate program, I had so many different professors that none of them got to know me well enough to write me a letter. So I'm relying on two great letters from my undergrad.

 

Also: My MA is in applied linguistics and I'm afraid a PhD program will see that and think I'm unprepared. Is it worth it to take two more years to establish myself as an academic? And a little more debt? I'm not too far in the hole, because I got a TA for my MA degree. Any thoughts/self esteem boosters are welcome.

[Sigaba]

Are there reasons you're not applying to American studies programs?

[Fiz]

I'd also recommend UC Riverside. It has the Eaton collection, which is the largest science fiction and comics special collection in the nation. It also puts on an annual SF conference, but even though the conference is SF, fantasy and the graphic novel are a huge topic there. For instance, I believe last year Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were there. It is also developing a graduate degree in science fiction as well and has brought many scholars to contribute to the digital humanities. I think it well mesh well with your interests. You should think about contacting Rob Latham, who knowa the world about comics, and he is also the professor who coordinates the conference on SF. Jamss Tobias is also a huge with visuak culture. So food for thought.

All that being said, you will need to raise those GRE scores for a UC. If they really like you, the dept will go to bat for you and can request a waiver and get you funding, but you should try and raise it some.

[wombats]

Are there reasons you're not applying to American studies programs?

I've been told by my advisor to avoid american studies programs, because the job market doesn't treat them too kindly. Is this not true?

 

I'd also recommend UC Riverside. It has the Eaton collection, which is the largest science fiction and comics special collection in the nation. It also puts on an annual SF conference, but even though the conference is SF, fantasy and the graphic novel are a huge topic there. For instance, I believe last year Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were there. It is also developing a graduate degree in science fiction as well and has brought many scholars to contribute to the digital humanities. I think it well mesh well with your interests. You should think about contacting Rob Latham, who knowa the world about comics, and he is also the professor who coordinates the conference on SF. Jamss Tobias is also a huge with visuak culture. So food for thought.

All that being said, you will need to raise those GRE scores for a UC. If they really like you, the dept will go to bat for you and can request a waiver and get you funding, but you should try and raise it some.

Thanks so much! I'd never looked into UC. It's a little late in the game for me to apply, and especially to re-take the test, but if I don't get accepted this time around, I will definitely add it to me list. Much, much appreciated!

[juilletmercredi]

Well, I think it depends on whether you think the additional MA will help you get into PhD programs the second time around.  If the reason you don't get admitted is low GRE scores, an extra MA won't help you; you should instead spend the time improving your GRE scores.  If you think the reason you didn't get admitted is instead due to the lack of experience and preparation you have in rhetoric in comics, then the MA would be a reasonable thing to do.

 

So I think you should go ahead and apply to the MA program, and then see what happens.  If you don't get admitted to the PhD programs, ask for some feedback from the departments: how could you improve your application for the future?  (This is easier if you have some established contacts in the department.)  If they offer you some feedback, then you have your answer.  If they don't, then you have to kind of go based upon a gut feeling looking at your application.  You may also ask for some feedback from your undergrad professors.

[wombats]

 

Well, I think it depends on whether you think the additional MA will help you get into PhD programs the second time around.  If the reason you don't get admitted is low GRE scores, an extra MA won't help you; you should instead spend the time improving your GRE scores.  If you think the reason you didn't get admitted is instead due to the lack of experience and preparation you have in rhetoric in comics, then the MA would be a reasonable thing to do.

 

So I think you should go ahead and apply to the MA program, and then see what happens.  If you don't get admitted to the PhD programs, ask for some feedback from the departments: how could you improve your application for the future?  (This is easier if you have some established contacts in the department.)  If they offer you some feedback, then you have your answer.  If they don't, then you have to kind of go based upon a gut feeling looking at your application.  You may also ask for some feedback from your undergrad professors.

 

 

Wow. Thank you, this is really great advice. I talk to my POIs on Monday and Tuesday, I'll be upfront and honest with them.