Chances for Grad School (Will chance back!)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm an incoming freshman at regionally well-known state school (West Chester University in Pennsylvania), majoring in Russian Studies. My eventual goal is to become a professional translator, and thus I feel that it would be useful to have a graduate degree pertaining more specifically to that field. I'm sixteen at the moment, and I've worked with my advisor to ensure that I'll be able to graduate from WCU in two years. This means I would be applying to grad school at eighteen–not sure if age has any bearing on acceptance.</p>

<p>Also, I'd taken multiple classes at WCU as a non-degree student prior to enrolling full-time. My unweighted GPA is 3.9 and I expect it to stay that way. So far I've mostly taken classes in subjects that are NOT my strong suit (comp sci and economics mainly).</p>

<p>I am interested in the Russian/Russian Translation programs at Oxford, St. Andrews, Edinburgh, and MIIS. I'll be able to get fairly strong recommendation letters (I am already friends with the director of the Russian program at WCU). Do I have a shot at grad school? Also, will my attending a relatively unknown university have any effect on admittance? I really hope not.</p>

<p>Translation is something I'm passionate about and (I've been told) I have a talent for it. I've already done some amateur freelancing on websites such as TranslatorsCafe.com so I have a tiny bit of experience (though mostly FR-EN ironically, not RU-EN as might be expected).</p>

<p>Thank you all and I apologise for being so longwinded :) I'm writing this on my phone and it's hard to see what I've already written.</p>

2

<p>I’ll chance back! :)</p>

3

<p>I am not sure what programs you are looking at: Oxford’s language options are pretty much for students enrolled in other programs, or faculty or researchers, and I am not aware of any sort of program at St. Andrews. Edinburgh, as well as UCL, Durham, Bath, Manchester, Birmingham, Surrey & Exeter all have MAs in translation. Some of them seem to emphasize a research emphasis (v general translation). Durham is clear that their course is focused on translation for research,whereas the program at Bath looks more like what you are talking about. Edinburgh seems to be in the middle. Their admissions requirements say that “Candidates must be graduates with a good first degree (equivalent of 2:1 and above) and with a research interest in translation or having professional experience in translation or another relevant field.” For US students, Edinburgh requires a minimum of a 3.25 GPA from a recognized university. </p>

<p>With your marks and language skills it would seem reasonable that you could get into a UK or MIIS program, but I suspect you need to research the programs more carefully to be sure that you choose the right one for you.</p>

<p>Also, I am not clear why you wouldn’t be looking to do something in Russia, which would certainly give you a deeper base of current idioms and slang than any course in the US or UK?</p>

4

<p>Do you think that Russia itself is too dangerous to study in for American kids?</p>

5

<p>In a word? no, especially not in a good university-based program</p>