I need to help to define and flesh out my interests... and a whole lot of other questions

[Hecate]

Hello everyone,

 

This is my first post on this forum, but I have been reading through it extensively and it has been extremely helpful. Many things are much clearer to me now and I feel like the application process is slightly less scary at this point… so thank you! 

 

So I want to go to grad school. Starting in the fall of 2016, hopefully. I want to do a PhD in English and become a researcher and hopefully a teacher one day. I am extremely motivated and extremely certain that this is what I want. I am ever so slightly terrified though and I do have a few questions, as I feel like I am a somewhat “irregular” student and I am worrying about whether I even stand a chance (I actually alternate between boasting confidence and blind panic). Yes, yes, I know, another one of THOSE posts… but I would be very grateful for any sort of help or tips that you can give me.

 

First things first, let’s talk about my academic career. I am originally from France and I did a Licence (pretty much what we call a BA in France, except it lasts 3 years, not 4) in the field of English. But, as you may suspect, a degree in English in a non-Anglophone country is very different from one in the English-speaking world. The degree is a lot broader, and I have had courses in Literature, British and American History, Translation, Grammar and Phonetics – as well as a range of very diverse optional courses. I think it also bears mentioning that I did all of this through distance learning, as I lived roughly 700 km from my school in Paris. I nonetheless achieved excellent grades (I have an average of 14/20, which, according to virtually every conversion chart I’ve seen is roughly an A/A- equivalent, ; it is extremely rare to get anything above 16/20 in France, and 16 is usually considered as one of the highest grades you can achieve). I’m hoping it will say something about my ability to achieve great results with very little structure and a “day-job” to maintain, and that it will help rather than hinder my application. I’m really not sure how an admissions committee would feel about distance learning though, but I have seen that many universities offer online courses so I’m assuming it’s not that outlandish.

 

I am currently attending an MA in Translation Studies in Canada (Québec, to be exact). I started this program last January so I have only done one semester so far. I still have 3 courses to take this fall, including one that is very much literature-oriented, and then I will move on to my thesis (more on that later). Even though I’ve been there for a very short time, I’ve already managed to form solid relationships with two of my professors by making myself available to them in many ways and by vocally expressing my interest in the program, the school and academics in general. I am working as a research assistant for one of those professors, and the other is my thesis director. I am sure that both of them will write me excellent recommendation letters and help me in any way that they can. I am very much hoping to find my third letter writer in the fall, when I will be meeting new professors.

 

So, this is virtually the first time I’m actually physically attending University and… I absolutely love it! I never expected that I would love it so much, and pretty much the minute I set foot in my school -which I love-, I knew I would continue on to a PhD. But truth be told, I, unfortunately, don’t really enjoy Translation Studies, but I do love Literature so I am looking at doing a PhD in English. Also, not sure if that’s important, but I am 30 years old, so a little older than the “traditional” student. Although I guess there isn't really a norm anymore, I just thought I'd mention it. 

 

This is where I’m at so far:

 

- I’ve made appointments for the various tests that I have to take (TOEFL next week, GRE General in 2 weeks, and GRE Subject Test mid-September). I am studying hard for the GRE General as of now and will move on to the next step in a couple of weeks.

 

- I’ve made a list of about 12 potential schools and thoroughly researched 4 of those which I feel would be a good fit for me. I have taken books out of my University library written by some of the faculty of those schools. Obviously, I still need to research more schools and ideally end up with at least 10 that I will apply to.

 

- I have compiled many free online courses on subjects that could be helpful and have started taking one on Literary Theory that has indeed proved to be very useful. I am lucky enough that I don’t have to work this summer and I spend almost every minute of the day researching schools, studying, brainstorming about what it is exactly that I want to research at a PhD level…

 

- I have 2 out of 3 of my recommendation letter writers.

 

 

Now let’s move on to the “questions” part of this post:

 

- Do I stand a chance in spite of my admittedly limited coursework in Literature? Well, that's not entirely true, I took a total of 6 Litareture courses (1 per semester during my 3 years Licence) and 2 courses in Literary Translation so far in my Translations Studies MA. But I'm assuming that's still pretty limited.

I should also mention that my thesis in my current MA will be on a subject deemed “literary”. In a nutshell, I am thinking of exploring taboo and censorship in translation, how different books are received in different parts of the worlds, what is censored or tweaked in certain translations and focus mostly of Nabokov’s works. I will look especially at France versus the English-speaking world, particularly North America. North America (at least some parts of it), contrary to popular belief, is a LOT more liberal than France, that is a country that is still very traditional in many ways.

 

- I have gotten the impression, while browsing this forum, that applying as an International student will limit my chances of getting in, is that true?

 

- Is the fact that I speak two languages fluently (English and French) an advantage and should I make it a “selling-point”?

 

- I am thinking of taking an Undergraduate or Graduate course in Literature as an independent student at my school's English department this fall. Do you think that it is a good idea and that it could potentially help?

 

- I am unsure as to how to pinpoint exactly what I want to study. I know what I want but it is still pretty vague at this point and I’m having a hard time putting it into words. I am interested, like I said, in observing the social impact that literature has, or has had, in different places of the world (again, most like in a France vs North America framework). I would like to look at contemporary fiction and argue that authors have a lot more power than they think they do and that their voice matters. That literature can be a catalyst for social awareness and ultimately social change. In this respect, I am interested in gender studies, queer theory and sexuality studies. I know that this possibly sounds a little cliché, and I am open to suggestions and constructive criticism.

 

- I have been looking at funded MAs (funding is ESSENTIAL, I will not be able to go unless my degree is fully funded) and there are a couple that caught my eye. Do you think it would be wise to apply to a few MAs, just to be on the safe side?

 

- Any program recommendations based on my profile? I was initially looking at schools only in the North East due to the need to be staying somewhat close to Québec during my first year as I will still have loose ends to tie up as far as my current MA goes, but I am thinking of broadening my search. I am basically willing to do anything that could help.

 

 

This got very long, I apologize! Thank you for reading all of that and for those of you who also wish to apply for 2016, good luck! I know how nerve-wracking this process can be… but it’s also kind of exciting, isn’t it? 

Edited July 25, 2015 by Hecate

[ExponentialDecay]

Looking at your interests, I wonder two things:

1. Whether you have enough background in actual literary scholarship to make an informed decision. I think reading books by faculty that interest you is a great first start though

2. Whether your interests, as stated, would be best served by a literature program rather than an anthropology or sociology program, or similar. I guess I struggle to understand how you would show that literature can be a catalyst of social change through literary criticism. That sounds like a social science project. Literary studies is more concerned with literature itself, rather than necessarily what effect it has on people (though I'm sure this project is feasible in a humanities department given an adequate selling pitch)

If you do go through with this, I would apply to Comp Lit rather than English, for a number of reasons. For one, they value languages much more than English, and they are more open to translation work (Columbia and Princeton, in fact, are gaga for it). For another, your project sounds transcultural to me.

[Hecate]

Thank you very much for your answer!

 

After reading your comment, I looked up a few Comparative Literature programs and they all look very interesting, and I think you're right in the sense that it would be more attainable for someone with my academic background, but my heart is still pretty set on English. I can honestly say that my Literature classes were the only ones (besides British and American history) that I actually enjoyed during my Undergrad program and I genuinely want to study Literature, although I am indeed pretty rusty and have some serious work to do to get up to speed - but I'm pretty confident that I can do it, at least I'll do my very best! Now whether or not this will get me into any PhDs is another story... which is why I'm looking at MAs. Are they generally "easier" (for lack of a better word) to get into?

 

Another reason I feel that Comp Lit might not be right for me is that, although I am good with languages and am hoping to learn new ones at some point, learning a language in an academic setting is something that I really do not enjoy. I have particularly painful memories of my Grammar and Phonetics classes. I can safely say that  did not learn the English language in a classroom. And yes, I do know that English PhDs also require languages, but like you said, they are not AS important as in Comp Lit and my understanding is that, as I am fluent in French already, if I were to study a third language having a reading knowledge of said language would suffice.

 

But you're absolutely right, my "project" is still very vague. That's the big thing that I have to work on. I have been so busy researching schools and preparing for all those tests that I haven't yet tackled the main issue. I think that, being in Translation Studies, my brain is just wired that way at the moment, looking at everything from a transcultural point of view, and I am looking at this the wrong way. I'm hoping my teachers will be able to help me somewhat when I go back to school in September - but hopefully by then I'll have a better idea of what I want to do. I probably should have mentioned that my program is what they call a "Research degree" ( there is also a "Practical degree"in the Translation Studies department where they study, for example, how to translate scientific texts or texts in economics and practice the actual craft of translation a lot more) and I do very little actual translating. My courses are mostly about contemporary translation theory, history of translation, methodology....  Most papers I turn in are research papers, and the only actual translating I do is literary. And this semester I will be taking a Tutorial in Literature as part of my degree. Hopefully this might help...

 

Also, I might be wrong in this, but from my research, I might not be completely off track. A lot of English departments boast of their close ties with various other departments and encourage Graduates to pursue interdisciplinary studies. Some programs even have "Cultural Studies" in the name of the degree. Many faculty members list Cultural Studies, Gender studies, Queer theory, etc.... as research interests. So if I pick schools that have this approach to Literature I might be able to work something out.

 

 

* side note: UGH I just realized there's a horrifying mistake in the title of my post, apologies for that! 

Edited July 26, 2015 by Hecate

[ProfLorax]

After reading your comment, I looked up a few Comparative Literature programs and they all look very interesting, and I think you're right in the sense that it would be more attainable for someone with my academic background, but my heart is still pretty set on English. I can honestly say that my Literature classes were the only ones (besides British and American history) that I actually enjoyed during my Undergrad program and I genuinely want to study Literature

I just want to sneak in here and respond quickly to this point: Comparative Literature is a field devoted to the study of literature. When I graduated with my BA, I had no idea what Comparative Literature was. I only learned about it as a field because at my MA institution, the Lit and Comp Lit take mostly the same classes. The biggest difference is that (folks, correct me if I'm wrong), Comp Lit students work with more than one language (at least); I have also heard that theory has a welcome home in Comp Lit departments. But other than that, Comparative Literature is a literature degree. You needn't take any language learning courses; typically, you'd like literature courses in English and whatever other languages you study.

 

All that being said, if you want to pursue English, you should! You know what you want to do better than any of us. Plus, though you may have higher chances of admissions applying to CompLit programs, I believe the job market is harsher there than in English. 

 

You actually sound a lot like me when I graduated from my undergrad institution. Here are two sentences from my statement of purpose (be prepared to cringe, y'all):

 

As my future goals changed, a few things remained constant: a passion for social justice, human connection, and expressive use of language. It wasn’t until my latter years in college that I realized a future in academia could include these three elements, alongside my lifelong love of literature.

Ugh. I applied to MA and PhD programs and was thoroughly rejected from every single PhD program. Now I realize I just wasn't ready. I hugely benefited from an MA degree. It gave me focus and helped me realize that YES I still do care and want to study how language, rhetoric, writing, and stories impact the human condition and social justice, but now I can express those desires with the language of the academy and my field. Compare the above "thesis" to my more recent (and successful) PhD applications: 

 

At University of Maryland, I will begin a lifelong career devoted to teaching English at the university-level while pursuing research on my current interests within the field of rhetoric and composition—feminist theory, new media studies, and writing pedagogy—and discovering new areas of exploration.

Right? My point is this: I couldn't have arrived there on my own. An MA program and teaching afterward introduced me to critical and theoretical frameworks I never knew and helped me really finesse my scholarly interests into an effective statement. You never know how applications will shake out, so I think applying to some PhD programs and some paid MA programs (there's a thread here that lists a bunch) is a great idea. 

 

Edited because SO MANY TYPOS. #sleepdeprivation

[random_grad]

In regards to international applicants: look whether your school of interest is state vs private funded. State funded have very limited funding for international students so it is advisable to have more private ones in your list.

Although MAs in general are less compeitive to get into, I would guess that funded MAs are hard to get into. Consider what kind of funding France could offer you, or consider applying to the UK and get EU funding. I ve seen helpful lists of funding on websites of Cambridge or Oxford (for EU-specific) and also Harvard (for France-specific). Other major universities might have helpful lists as well. It is very powerful to get external funding at MA level and can help you with later PhD applications tremendously. BTW: if you don t have publications yet, consider trying for some or present at a conference, even a small one organized by your university. This looks good on CV and can help remedy your limited background in lit.

It seems sensible to take lit courses as an independent student if you have time. Ideally, try to get a certificate of completion or something. But be careful as it is very hard to stay motivated as an auditor when you have other commitments.

Finally, being bilingual is not exceptional, so I would not imagine it being a strong selling point unless it is crucial for your project (which you might want to narrow down to a specific moment in history or geographic area or set of individuals).

Edited July 26, 2015 by random_grad

[Hecate]

Thank you both very much for taking the time to answer - and for your honesty. I' m a little worried now but at least I know what I' m getting into and have a better idea of what to do to maximize my chances of getting in.

 

ProfLorax, do you mind if I ask you what academic path you took? So my understanding is that you did an MA in English after your graduated from your BA, and then moved on to a PhD (English, Comp Lit., Rhetoric and Composition?), is that right? Either way it's good to know that it is indeed possible to study literature from a range of different angles at PhD level. That, "feminist theory, new media studies, and writing pedagogy", really speaks to me! 

 

And you're right of course, Comp Lit is definitely a field devoted to the study of literature, that was a bit short-sighted of me to oppose it to English like that, I didn't mean it like that. I'am actually a little familiar with Comp Lit as my Department offers an MA in it, but it's still pretty obscure to me so I have some research to do. In any case you have given me a lot to think about and I will devote today to thoroughly researching Comp Lit programs and compare and contrast! I still have a few days to change my score recipients for my TOEFL test next Saturday.... And I will follow through with my idea of applying to a couple of MA programs. 

 

Random_grad, yes, I'm only looking at private universities, who usually say that they fund all grad students, international students included. I just read somewhere on here that being an International student could sometimes be a drawback, although it may have been in regards to public universities and I just didn't read said post thoroughly enough. Either way I think looking at external funding is a great idea. I was actually looking at the Fullbright fellowship yesterday (and they indeed have a Harvard-specific award listed) and I think I'm going to apply. The only problem is that I won't know if I've gotten the fellowship until March or April so I'm not sure how that's going to affect my applications, since most decisions are made before then. :/ I suppose it could help in case I get waitlisted. But I will definitely look at all my options, I'm sure there are lots of fellowships out there that I don't know about. And although the UK would be a good idea in itself, I really do want to stay in North America, I've always felt more at home here than I have in Europe.

 

That is an excellent idea about publications and conferences, I know my university does hold a few of those, especially my department, as translation is extremely important in Québec. I will ask my teachers about that as soon as I can. And I see what you mean about how it's hard to stay motivated as an auditor but honestly after 3 years of distance learning, I have a good handle on staying motivated without much incentive! And also I am actually extremely motivated because I think it could help my application and that will definitely keep me interested.   

 

Being bilingual is in itself not that uncommon, that's true. So maybe it's not a major selling point, but I suppose I could mention it in passing - although it is probably unnecessary as it is fairly obvious that I would have a good command of my first language. But I thought it might give me an advantage, however tiny, that I've already fulfilled the language requirements of the program.

 

I know picking a period of specialization is very important in an English graduate degree, and I'm definitely most interested in contemporary/20th century American literature. Now I have to work from there and come up with a solid project...

 

Back to work for me! And thanks again for all your help and advice.

[ProfLorax]

ProfLorax, do you mind if I ask you what academic path you took? So my understanding is that you did an MA in English after your graduated from your BA, and then moved on to a PhD (English, Comp Lit., Rhetoric and Composition?), is that right? Either way it's good to know that it is indeed possible to study literature from a range of different angles at PhD level. That, "feminist theory, new media studies, and writing pedagogy", really speaks to me! 

Sure! After I graduated with a BA, I applied to MA and PhD programs in Literature. My area of focus? A whole bunch of random things. I was flatly rejected from all the PhD and funded MA programs, so I attended the most affordable in-state option: SF State. I was on the literature track and graduated with an MA in Literature, but the last year, I tutored in the writing center and took a composition course. My interest was piqued! I taught for three years at a community college and decided for a whole myriad of reasons to return to school. I applied to PhD programs in rhetoric and composition and was accepted into more than I expected. The MA was critical for me; I explored everything I could and narrowed down my interests (and switched from lit to rhet/comp!). At the same time, doing a terminal MA before a PhD adds two (or more) years. That's why I think it's wise to apply to both if you can! If a PhD program welcomes you with open arms, awesome! You're in. If only MA programs do, awesome! You're in. It's a win-win situation!

[xolo]

Hi Hecate, I'll jump in here to add my comments. I just finished my translation studies and, like you, I don't really care to do any more literary translation unless someone pays me  ​ I am older than you and I don't have a degree in my field and got into a funded PhD program at a top 30 school on the first cycle.

 

Just by reading your posts I know you can do the same. Don't believe the naysayers. One of the profs who reviewed my initial material told me I should apply to the anthropology department. Thank God I didn't listen, well, I listened enough to make a major revision to my material.

 

My suggestion is that you need to get at least one LOR that is fantastic, written by someone that really believes in you. The other LORs can merely be extremely good. You need to develop a holistic strategy for your application and, if I were you, I would be hard at work now for the next cycle. 

 

So why do you want a PhD in English? (I could never answer this question for Spanish and have sort of decided it is impossible to answer)

Edited July 26, 2015 by eyepod

[Hecate]

Thanks for the extra information, ProfLorax. Always reassuring to see that not all students take the traditional route and that they are just as successful as those who do!  I think I will apply to 5 PhD programs, and maybe 6 or 7 MAs. I have seen some good options, even though the funding can be competitive. I was looking at SF State myself, as I am admittedly completely in love with this city, but I suppose it was a bit naive of me to hope that a state university would offer financial aid to international students (and it is completely fair that they don't).    Ah well, I am perfectly happy to keep to the North East, although a couple of schools in Washington and Oregon may be good fits for me.

 

Eyepod, thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing your experience (congratulations on getting into an amazing program!), makes me feel a lot better! The panic-inducing, sinking feeling of inadequacy is starting to recede.   Especially since I am sure that my teachers will do everything they can to help me and write me great recommendation letters. The rest is in my hands and I'm already spending every minute of the day working towards this goal. I will do my best, shoot for the stars, and no regrets.

 

Why do I want to do a PhD in English... Well I was one of those kids who always had her nose in the books, always loved and excelled at literature courses all through my high school career... But I also always assumed that a degree in Literature would never get me a job - because that is what the world tells you and sometimes when you're 18 years old you don't really know any better. Also because I didn't think I would ever want to teach or remain in the academic world. Long story short I chose Translation Studies because I genuinely love languages and because I thought it would, you know, get me  job. After all, there's always gonna be a need for translators, and it's a tough world we live in. I never really thought I would like it, it was a means to an end, and I told myself that i would do literary translation and that should be somewhat fun. But it turns out, I love academia and I loathe literary translation. Don't get me wrong, I think it's AMAZING that literature gets translated, that so much material is made available to so many people. I still think it's a noble profession but... I hate having to translate literature. I like a text the way it is and I'm such a perfectionist that I'm never satisfied with my work. It really bothers me that what I do will NEVER be as good as the original. I want to produce original work, something that is mine and doesn't have to measure up to the impossible standard of the original text. 

 

I want to do a PhD in English because I love literature, and I wand the opportunity to study it more in depth, both through courses and through my own research. In English because I am most interested in British and American literature and, to be quite honest, I have never had a particular affinity with French literature (although I know that some of it is extremely important and that I will have to refer to it at some point. It's all right, I do enjoy *some* French literature). And I really want to teach. I am lucky enough to have amazing professors who are brilliant, and supportive, and I think that this is something to aspire to. But fear not, I'm not quite as naive as I may appear, and I am aware that a PhD is hard work and that finding a teaching job after that is even harder. I am fully prepared to tackle whatever comes my way though.

 

UGH. I talk way too much, I'm sorry. But there you have it, this is why I'm doing all of this! 

 

Also, another question for all of you, I am looking at English MAs online, which I could do this year (assuming I find one that offer financial support, but most of them do I think). Do you think this is worth looking into? It seems like a good way to get coursework in English Lit.

Edited July 26, 2015 by Hecate

[xolo]

I know the feeling, I still seriously have impostor syndrome. Can't hardly wait for fall. The world is changing and someone did ask for my permission.

 

French literature is extremely important, just like Spanish literature. The first modern novel was written in Spanish (not English) by Miguel Cervantes.

 

Your reasons for studying English are good ones, you prattled on just like I do.

Edited July 26, 2015 by eyepod

[sarabethke]

As far as funding goes, I'd like to point out that even if you don't get funding through your department, there are probably a lot of opportunities across campus.

 

I chose to do my MA with the huge likelihood of having no funding, but secured a graduate assistantship as part of my school's distance learning initiative. Not only was my tuition waived (in and out of state), but I got a stipend and health insurance. Pretty much the same perks you get as a teaching assistant in the English department. 

 

I know a girl in my department who didn't go for the English GTA position at all and chose to work at the Native American Cultural Center as a GA which gave her full funding. 

 

This year I'll be a teaching assistant in the English department, for which I'm thankful because it will give me the teaching experience I need for PhD applications, but my point is it's okay if you have to spend your first year doing something else and there are funding opportunities you might not be considering!

[echo449]

I would stay far, far away from an online degree if you eventually want to go one to get your PhD. It will not be viewed in the same way by a normal admissions committee, and, in all likelihood, you won't get an education that is as rigorous a preparation as what you would receive at an in-person masters. 

Edited July 28, 2015 by echo449

[bhr]

I would stay far, far away from an online degree if you eventually want to go one to get your PhD. It will not be viewed in the same way by a normal admissions committee, and, in all likelihood, you won't get an education that is as rigorous a preparation as what you would receive at an in-person masters. 

I would say it depends on the program. I don't know Lit as well as R/C, but the online program at, for example, Texas Tech, is as likely to land someone a TechComm job than an PhD from a second or third tier program.

[echo449]

Huh! That's interesting. Consider my advice appropriately caveated then!

[Hecate]

Thank you everyone, and sorry for the terribly late answer, I've been very busy, taking the TOEFL test, studying for the GRE and doing a ton of research.

 

sarabethke, thank you, that's very reassuring, and I know you're right, I was also lucky enough to get the chance to be a research assistant to a professor at my current university, so I know there are options. I've emailed one school, and I will email a few more, to ask about my options as far as funding if I do a Masters.

 

echo and bhr, I've ultimately decided against an online program as it is way too costly (financial aid only applies to US residents, which I'm not), but thank you for your input nonetheless.

 

I should add that after a looot of thinking, I have decided to drop English and go into Interdisciplinary studies. I was very worried that my limited background in English would put me at a big disadvantage, and after doing lots of research, I have found programs that are exactly what I'm looking for. I'm actually very excited and much more confident that I can get into some good schools. An interdisciplinary program in the humanities is exactly right for what I'm hoping to do, and I would still be able to dabble in literature (I've emailed a couple schools to confirm that I could tie in various disciplines into my project and have received very positive answers). So it's a win win, really.

 

I want to thank you guys for all the help and advice you've given me and for making me think. I do think that I've made the absolute best decision for me, it feels right. And there's no going back now since my TOEFL scores will be going out to those programs. So, thanks.

Edited August 3, 2015 by Hecate

[drownsoda]

I'm seconding what sarabethke said about funding. I enrolled in Fordham's MA program without any guaranteed funding, and was recently offered a job working as a TA at the business school, which pays roughly $5,000/semester— do the math, and that's $500 a WEEK. It's not a full ride by any means and will mainly be used to help with living expenses, but I just wanted to say that there are ways to swing it if you don't get a fully-funded position. Many MA programs aren't fully funded actually, and the ones that are are few and far between. I know that Fordham's MA is only partially funded, which is basically what I'm getting, only I have to work for it (a handful of applicants with the top GRE scores usually get the funding automatically).

[bhr]

I'm seconding what sarabethke said about funding. I enrolled in Fordham's MA program without any guaranteed funding, and was recently offered a job working as a TA at the business school, which pays roughly $5,000/semester— do the math, and that's $500 a WEEK. It's not a full ride by any means and will mainly be used to help with living expenses, but I just wanted to say that there are ways to swing it if you don't get a fully-funded position. Many MA programs aren't fully funded actually, and the ones that are are few and far between. I know that Fordham's MA is only partially funded, which is basically what I'm getting, only I have to work for it (a handful of applicants with the top GRE scores usually get the funding automatically).

FWIW (and for your own budgeting help), that's actually only ~$320/week over a normal semester, before taxes.

[drownsoda]

FWIW (and for your own budgeting help), that's actually only ~$320/week over a normal semester, before taxes.

[drownsoda]

FWIW (and for your own budgeting help), that's actually only ~$320/week over a normal semester, before taxes.

Ignore the last post, the forum was screwy yesterday and I couldn't type anything in the entry box. 

I guess I should've specified— it would be around that much per week over the whole semester, but the actual program I'm TA-ing for lasts 10 weeks, 20 hours per week, which comes out to about $25/hour (pre-tax, of course). I'm basically working as a TA for the duration of this large project that freshmen complete in one of the business classes at the Gabelli Business School. 

[Hecate]

Once again, sorry for the terribly late answer! I've been studying hard for the GRE and have tried to stay away from message boards and any other distractions! Just took it this morning so I'm free to roam Grad Café this afternoon - and reply to the people who have been kind enough to offer their help.

So, thank you for your input, it is truly reassuring how many people are saying that there are a great many ways to acquire funding these days. I've lived on minimum wage my entire life -not complaining, I've always managed pretty well with low income- and so I'm pretty low maintenance. I'm sure I'll find ways to pay for my studies.

Edited August 31, 2015 by Hecate