Fall 2017 Applicants

[unræd]

I have a colleague whose writing sample and SOP each had multiple typos, and he got in to just about every school he applied to. Which is not say that noticing typos in your materials after the fact isn't anxiety producing -- seriously, don't reread your stuff after it's sent -- but just that a typo (or many!) isn't at all disqualifying.  Take heart!

Edited December 31, 2016 by unræd

[Caien]

Thanks @unræd, that makes me feel a bit better

[Yanaka]

Happy new year and the warmest and best wishes to all of you and your projects!

[bhr]

Any place that disqualifies a candidate they would otherwise accept over a minor typo or three isn't a place I would want to attend (and have to submit work to). Having worked on a major journal, I've seen the typos that leading scholars make on articles, and they think nothing of it.

[steve3020]

Just wanna know what people think about reapplying to the places you got rejected from the year before. I am doing this with three places, all which I'd very much like to go to. I believed I've improved my package with an extra year of preparation in every aspect except GRE (I only took it once and got a mediocre score but didn't think it was necessary to take it again). Has anyone done this and had positive results? 

[Dr. Old Bill]

6 hours ago, steve3020 said:

Just wanna know what people think about reapplying to the places you got rejected from the year before. I am doing this with three places, all which I'd very much like to go to. I believed I've improved my package with an extra year of preparation in every aspect except GRE (I only took it once and got a mediocre score but didn't think it was necessary to take it again). Has anyone done this and had positive results? 

I can't speak to the "positive results" aspect just yet, but seven of the thirteen programs I'm applying to are places I applied to two years ago. On the one hand, this worries me a little bit -- part of me wonders whether adcomms will see me as a repeat customer who didn't meet their standards before, so why would I meet them now? On the other hand, it's doubtful that they'll remember much, if anything, about my last application (the only reason they might is because the specific work I am interested in remains the same), and even if they do, my approach and methodology are far different, and arguably more developed. It's hard to know how people will react to such things -- you can't discount the human factor of the admissions process, after all.

Regarding the GRE... I had a good (but not great) score when I took it in May of 2014, and I figured that after a couple more years of schooling, it would naturally improve. So I retook it this summer, and -- surprise, surprise -- I scored lower on the verbal. I did slightly better on the AW section, but the verbal is key. I'm simply not good at standardized testing. I have a demonstrably strong vocabulary, but whenever I take the GRE (actual or practice tests), I'm always distracted by the nuances of words. I can use almost all of the test words correctly in a sentence of my own, but when it comes to plugging them in to a pre-fab sentence, I can't stop imagining how the other options could work. I bet I would have done better if I rushed through it and didn't give myself time to think, but that's a tough risk during a long, expensive, and (unfortunately) essential test. What I'm getting at, however, is that retaking it doesn't necessarily mean you'll do better, even if you've become a better scholar. I'm quite certain that many high-profile professors would do well, but not really well, were they forced to take it right now...

Edited January 2, 2017 by Wyatt's Terps

[steve3020]

45 minutes ago, Wyatt's Terps said:

I can't speak to the "positive results" aspect just yet, but seven of the thirteen programs I'm applying to are places I applied to two years ago. On the one hand, this worries me a little bit -- part of me wonders whether adcomms will see me as a repeat customer who didn't meet their standards before, so why would I meet them now? On the other hand, it's doubtful that they'll remember much, if anything, about my last application (the only reason they might is because the specific work I am interested in remains the same), and even if they do, my approach and methodology are far different, and arguably more developed. It's hard to know how people will react to such things -- you can't discount the human factor of the admissions process, after all.

Regarding the GRE... I had a good (but not great) score when I took it in May of 2014, and I figured that after a couple more years of schooling, it would naturally improve. So I retook it this summer, and -- surprise, surprise -- I scored lower on the verbal. I did slightly better on the AW section, but the verbal is key. I'm simply not good at standardized testing. I have a demonstrably strong vocabulary, but whenever I take the GRE (actual or practice tests), I'm always distracted by the nuances of words. I can use almost all of the test words correctly in a sentence of my own, but when it comes to plugging them in to a pre-fab sentence, I can't stop imagining how the other options could work. I bet I would have done better if I rushed through it and didn't give myself time to think, but that's a tough risk during a long, expensive, and (unfortunately) essential test. What I'm getting at, however, is that retaking it doesn't necessarily mean you'll do better, even if you've become a better scholar. I'm quite certain that many high-profile professors would do well, but not really well, were they forced to take it right now...

yeah I doubt that they will remember past applications in any substantial detail. Overall I think it was in a way a good thing that I didn't get accepted in the first attempt. When I re-examined the faculties in those three institutions, I've either realised that I'd rather like to work with some other people than the ones I designated in my first application or I've found more interesting connections between my interests and POIs'. With hindsight I can say that my writing sample and SOP were quite bad. I couldn't help cringing at my past SOP when I read them again haha... It's a wonder how I got one waitlist last year. 

With regards to GRE I just think it's absolute bullshit. Luckily I'm not applying to departments like analytic philosophy or political science where they seem to really care about GRE score. I got mid-160s in verbal and I don't think anyone in my field would care. 

[TeaOverCoffee]

Panicking. Can't think in complete sentences. WHAT DO I DO WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IF I DON'T GET ACCEPTED TO ONE OF THE 12 PROGRAMS TO WHICH I AM APPLYING? (I am screaming, inside and out.) Console me. Coddle me. Halp. 

[Yanaka]

6 minutes ago, TeaOverCoffee said:

Panicking. Can't think in complete sentences. WHAT DO I DO WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IF I DON'T GET ACCEPTED TO ONE OF THE 12 PROGRAMS TO WHICH I AM APPLYING? (I am screaming, inside and out.) Console me. Coddle me. Halp. 

You do a lot of stuff! I don't know what exactly. But stuff!

[Dr. Old Bill]

5 hours ago, TeaOverCoffee said:

Panicking. Can't think in complete sentences. WHAT DO I DO WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IF I DON'T GET ACCEPTED TO ONE OF THE 12 PROGRAMS TO WHICH I AM APPLYING? (I am screaming, inside and out.) Console me. Coddle me. Halp. 

Deeeep breaths!

First of all, I would go against conventional wisdom and suggest that you don't start thinking about plan Bs just yet. Give yourself until March 1st -- you should have a very good idea about whether you will or won't get into a program (or multiple) by then. Yes, some programs can notify late, and there's always the waitlist factor...but I'm personally giving myself until this date before I start to seriously look at alt-ac options. The way I see it, March 1st will give you at least 2.5 months to seriously focus on what's available before you graduate. I've got a paying gig at my program until July 1st, so it gives me four months. That should be enough time to truly gauge the lay of the land.

Secondly, there is a prevailing rhetoric that there are no jobs for people with Master's degrees in English. In my experience, that's simply not the case. I'll admit that there aren't as many obvious jobs (i.e. not the well-earning, dime-a-dozen jobs you can get with a Master's in a STEM field), but you can do well for yourself if you keep an open mind. Non-profit organizations are often quite open to people with humanities degrees. A quick search on idealist.org reveals a plenitude of options. To wit: I just did a quick search for jobs in D.C. and immediately saw a Deputy Director for the National Council for Traditional Arts position that I would be well-qualified for, given my education and experience. And that's literally on the first page of a general search. I'll admit that there's typically not as much money in NPOs as in other employment, but you can make a decent living and do good work. Most arts organizations are NPOs, and you'd be surprised at the range of employment possibilities within. Teaching high school is always an option, and prep schools are possibilities as well. Publishing / editing jobs are pretty scarce (and highly competitive), but many non-humanities jobs need good writers and editors as well. The Chronicle has featured a few articles recently that emphasize how businesses are targeting individuals with humanities degrees. This is nothing new...but perhaps there's more of an uptick.

Ultimately, there are definitely options. You might have to be more creative with your approach, and think outside of traditional avenues of employment, but take solace in knowing that you're far more employable with an M.A. in English than without. But seriously -- don't think about this stuff for another month or two, as it will just cause more undue stress!

Edited January 3, 2017 by Wyatt's Terps

[erosanddust]

My earliest program to notify sent out its acceptances on this day last year. I can't believe that literally any day now could be a day we hear from a program!

[JessicaLange]

26 minutes ago, erosanddust said:

My earliest program to notify sent out its acceptances on this day last year. I can't believe that literally any day now could be a day we hear from a program!

Ahh. That's a really scary prospect. I have one application left (which I'll finish tomorrow), but the apprehension is really starting to set in.

[echo449]

On 12/30/2016 at 10:06 PM, biyutefulphlower said:

To add on to these tales of woe - just discovered I used the wrong 'whose' in my SoP to Chicago.

It is what it is, but...aaarrrgh.

 

Ah, just to clarify, I'm already in--what I mean is that these little mistakes are barely noticed by committees! 

[Caien]

Does insomnia worsen gradcafe thread stalking, or does gradcafe thread stalking worsen insomnia?

It's January's 5th and I'm already loosing my mind.

[Dr. Old Bill]

4 minutes ago, Caien said:

 

It's January's 5th and I'm already loosing my mind.

Mere anarchy is loosed upon your world!

[soydominique]

Why did I think I could check the Results page "just for fun"?

 

[Caien]

22 hours ago, Wyatt's Terps said:

Mere anarchy is loosed upon your world!

Turning and turning in the widening gyre... 

That poem actually gave me nightmares when I was at school.

31 minutes ago, soydominique said:

 

This is an excellent gif.

[KikiDelivery]

Hello everyone,

I am applying to English PhD programs for the fall of 2017! I am a long time lurker but recently made an account. I am a little anxious because I only applied to 7 programs (ahhh :/). Seeing all the acceptances already (mostly to science programs) is frustrating. I know most English programs start sending theirs around February but I am still panicking.

 

[Dr. Old Bill]

6 hours ago, KikiDelivery said:

Hello everyone,

I am applying to English PhD programs for the fall of 2017! I am a long time lurker but recently made an account. I am a little anxious because I only applied to 7 programs (ahhh :/). Seeing all the acceptances already (mostly to science programs) is frustrating. I know most English programs start sending theirs around February but I am still panicking.

 

Don't worry! There's still a couple of weeks before the first major literature program typically notifies (Ohio State), and three weeks before the trickle of decisions becomes a flood throughout February. Having gone through the process a couple of years ago, I assert that this is the easier part of the waiting -- the pre-decision period. Once you start seeing others get accepted to and rejected by programs in your area, things get very real, very quickly. And if your first response is a rejection, while you see other members get accepted to the same program? An odd dichotomy occurs: you are simultaneously happy for the others while dejected about your own lot. It's not an easy process, but if there's any solace to be found, it's that it's truly out of your hands at this point. You did your best, submitted your apps, and you just have to let go. Small consolation, I know...but it's something.

[Scarlet A+]

Hi y'all. I'm new to this site, but in the past few days I've managed to lurk and read everything written since 2014, so I feel comfortable enough to ask this now. 

All of you seem to be applying to 7-20 of the top 20 schools, and it's beginning to stress me out that I didn't do that. I applied to only four English Lit M.A. programs: Syracuse University, Purdue University, University of Alabama, and Ole Miss. 

I haven't really seen anyone mention applying to them. Do y'all know something that I don't?

[KikiDelivery]

5 hours ago, Wyatt's Terps said:

Don't worry! There's still a couple of weeks before the first major literature program typically notifies (Ohio State), and three weeks before the trickle of decisions becomes a flood throughout February. Having gone through the process a couple of years ago, I assert that this is the easier part of the waiting -- the pre-decision period. Once you start seeing others get accepted to and rejected by programs in your area, things get very real, very quickly. And if your first response is a rejection, while you see other members get accepted to the same program? An odd dichotomy occurs: you are simultaneously happy for the others while dejected about your own lot. It's not an easy process, but if there's any solace to be found, it's that it's truly out of your hands at this point. You did your best, submitted your apps, and you just have to let go. Small consolation, I know...but it's something.

Thank you! That's reassuring to know. In the mean time, I hope that I am able to focus on finishing my MA thesis. It's just so hard because I am caught between wanting to finish, and finding ways to try to make the time pass.

2 hours ago, biyutefulphlower said:

@KikiDelivery Hello to a fellow Legend of Korra fan~ (and I'm guessing a Miyazaki fan, too?)

 Hello!

 

Yes I am a big fan of both! Waiting for the LoK comic is driving me almost as anxious as these apps! 

[Warelin]

On 1/8/2017 at 12:32 PM, ChloeCriss said:

Hi y'all. I'm new to this site, but in the past few days I've managed to lurk and read everything written since 2014, so I feel comfortable enough to ask this now. 

All of you seem to be applying to 7-20 of the top 20 schools, and it's beginning to stress me out that I didn't do that. I applied to only four English Lit M.A. programs: Syracuse University, Purdue University, University of Alabama, and Ole Miss. 

I haven't really seen anyone mention applying to them. Do y'all know something that I don't?

Welcome to GF, Chloe.

What about those 4 programs attract you? For MA programs, being funded is the most important thing.  Rankings don't really matter for MA programs. If I remember correctly, all 4 of those schools on the Ph.D. level are focused very much on teaching.

[Quickmick]

@ChloeCriss along the lines of @Warelin, what do you plan to do after your MA? I am currently earning my MS and await PhD app results. I have applied to my current school (where I would stay in STEM) as well as to 6 programs in the humanities (History) and one in the social sciences (Anthro). I am in a good spot now at a research institute, think the work I do is important, and the experience can take me to a result I am happy with. That being said, the only way I would switch gears is if I get into a top tier program. Looking at the odds, that type of admit is the only way I can justify switching fields due to the nature of academic employment. For me, there is simply no percentage in getting a degree from a lower ranked institution and hoping to compete for TT jobs in the future.

 

Edited January 8, 2017 by Quickmick

[Scarlet A+]

At first, I was just looking for an M.A. program that was funded, since I cannot afford to go otherwise. 

I applied to M.A. instead of PhD because I want the extra time to progress and gain research and teaching experience. I want to see if I can adapt to higher education before I jump into applying for a PhD upon graduating. Also, if the M.A. is funded, two to three extra years of schooling sounds like more of a perk than an annoyance. 

I hope to one day become a professor, with an emphasis in gender and sexuality studies through American literature, specifically relating 19th century to modern day. Syracuse and Ole Miss are my top picks, due to their interdisciplinary studies concerning Women's Studies and English Lit, but Purdue and Alabama are reputable schools as well, and I would make it work if funded and accepted. 

[Quickmick]

@ChloeCriss it sounds like you have a plan! I don't know if this applies to your particular area of interest, but it is something to be aware of generally: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2015/02/university_hiring_if_you_didn_t_get_your_ph_d_at_an_elite_university_good.html

I hope you get in somewhere that gives you what you need and want, and--if you plan to stay in the Deep South--I would think that Alabama has some extra cachet in the region. The article isn't meant to be a downer, just FYI on the risk of caveat emptor.

Best of luck!