<p>... the graduate forum is all full of questions with no answers, so I thought I'd at least ask my international-postgrad question here and if no-one answers so be it.
I was thinking of doing a PhD in the US once my undergraduate degree is finished, and what I would primarily be interested in is medieval English literature. Does anyone know
1. where would be good for that?
2. is it possible to specialise to such an extent there?
3. am at an english uni now - do you know what the grade requirements are and how they would translate? can i assume good 2.i/1st would be fine, same as it is here?
4. how likely am I to get funding?</p>
<p>Any information at all would be very gratefully received.</p>
<p>I will tell you one girls experience
US Citizen- IB diploma- attended top university ( next rung down from Ivy leaque) degree in English/classics Summa Cum Laude Phi Beta Kappa.
Wasnt accepted to any graduate schools, now trying to find a temporary office job</p>
<p>I suggest you plan to work for at least a year after college, while also working during summers so that you have a broader base of experience to bring with you to graduate school.</p>
<p>Another story, graduate from Columbia, summa cum laude etc. Applied to 5 programs, accepted to only one. Happy ending, though school was at the bottom of the list, is having a rewarding time and loves the new area!</p>
<p>Another story, international graduate from her national university now in grad school at Princeton: English literature.</p>
<p>For medieval English lit, look at universities with good medieval studies departments. The top universities in the US are likely to have such departments: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Chicago, Columbia, Berkeley, UCLA, Penn.</p>
<p>For funding, the formula varies from school to school. Princeton and Harvard guarantee full funding for all admitted students, regardless of nationality (their formula varies, however, with Princeton being more generous). Others may not. Your best bet is to look up their website and contact their financial aid office.</p>
<p>Marite:
thank you. Do you think then that the top universities, being richer, are more likely to be able to provide funding?
Emeraldkity4:
that sounds discouraging. Do you think the reason she didn't get accepted is because she had never worked? Are most successful applicants people with work experience, and why would that make a difference?</p>
<p>StJude:
It's not necessarily so, but it helps if a university is well-endowed as are Princeton, Harvard, Yale and a few others.
Grad school admissions depends entirely on academics. Language skills, as appropriate, solid preparation for the intended course of study and promise of creativity, good recs from profs and fit. For example, if you apply to do a Ph.D. with a professor who is about to retire and is not taking on any new graduate student, there is a chance you might not be admitted despite a stellar record. So you should do a bit of research. Within the field of medieval literature, is there something in particular that interests you? then look up the websites of profs in departments such as romance languages, classics, history and see if someone has interests close enough to yours to be a possible mentor. Do not hesitate to email the profs. For graduate admissions, it is profs themselves rather than college admission offices who read the applications. So it is a good thing to contact them directly.
Consider also some sources of funding that are not specific to the university. There are some that are available to Europeans that could be used to fund your studies in the US. Good luck.</p>