American Studies? (and other similar interdisciplinary programs)

[sillyrabbit]

Hey all,

 

Is anyone else in this year's English PhD admission cycle also applying to more interdisciplinary programs such as American Studies/Ethnic Studies? I am currently applying to a mix of English and American Studies PhD programs and am wondering if anyone is in the same boat.

 

My B.A. was in English Literature, so I would consider myself a literature candidate, first and foremost. But, as I worked through my undergraduate thesis, I realized that I could easily see myself content in an American Studies program.

 

[toasterazzi]

I did my applying last season, and I mostly applied to English programs, but I did apply to BGSU's American Culture Studies program as well. For my particular interests, which are not strictly literary, I saw a lot in that program that would've worked for me. I also considered some other cultural studies/American studies programs, but I ultimately ended up being sort of limited in the amount of schools I could afford to apply to.

[jhefflol]

Well, I wasn't going to until I got an email informing me about a fee waver for early applicants from a university that I didn't plan to apply to because I didn't think I had a chance at being admitted. The only problem is that the program is comp lit. I guess it would fit with what I'm doing, but I just don't consider myself a comp lit person. I'm not sure if I would be able to teach in an English program with a comp lit degree.

 

Did anyone else get this email? It seemed both tailored to me (mentioned my area of intended study) and also pretty generated.

Edited October 13, 2014 by jhefflol

[ToldAgain]

I believe I got the same email. The good news is that the early application fee waiver does not just apply to the comp lit program, but to the graduate school in general. And yea, it seems generated based on your responses to the questionnaire before you took the GRE.

[jhefflol]

I believe I got the same email. The good news is that the early application fee waiver does not just apply to the comp lit program, but to the graduate school in general. And yea, it seems generated based on your responses to the questionnaire before you took the GRE.

 WHAT okay, looks I'm I'm applying to the English department then. Thanks!