<p>I’m very new to this forum (I registered about an hour ago) and I have several questions. I apologize if they’ve been answered somewhere else, but this site is slightly overwhelming. I’ve read a lot of posts and even done a few searches, but I haven’t found what I need…</p>
<p>OK. I graduated in 2005 with a BA in English from a state university known for turning out teachers. I’ve been teaching English in a suburban high school that’s headed for the state watch list. I just finished my 3rd year and I was promoted to department chair (without the necessary certificate) and my administration loves me. So there’s a little background. I’m finally getting ready to apply to grad school, which has been my plan all along. I want to study British lit, specifically Renaissance drama, and I want to get a PhD so I can teach at the college level. I’ve weighed everything for years (competition, terrible job market, academic politics, etc) and I know that I want this, more than anything else. That being said, I’m freaking out over a few things. Everyone I’ve talked to just says, “You’re great. You’ll get in anywhere.” They’ve all gone to local MAT programs. It’s nice to have your you-know-what kissed by your colleagues, but I need someone who knows what they’re talking about to be honest with me. Thanks in advance for any information you can give me. :-)</p>
<p>FYI: My short list is Georgetown, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, NYU (in that order). I chose them because they have solid programs in Lit and faculty I would like to work with. I haven’t made the safety list yet. I’m sort of dreading it. </p>
<li><p>I have a Standard Professional Certificate for grades 6-12 in MD. I’m hoping that that kind of “real world” experience will help my chances, not only of getting in, but of getting a TA position (believe it or not, I want a PhD because I want to teach). Will it, or am I dreaming? I’ve also been teaching seniors (Brit Lit) for the past 3 years and I will teach AP lit this year (in addition to the Brit Lit). </p></li>
<li><p>I was selected as an alternate for the Teaching Shakespeare Institute at Georgetown this year. If I couldn’t get into that program, do I have a shot at a prestigious grad school program? Would it be helpful or harmful to put my selection as an alternate on my resume? They only take 25 people per year, so I guess being an alternate is still reasonably impressive. Or is it? </p></li>
<li><p>LORs are freaking me out the most. I’m getting one from my undergrad Shakespeare prof, so that’s settled. I was planning on getting one from one of my education profs (who is now the head of the Sec Ed dept) and then one from someone in my field (an administrator or my county content supervisor). I don’t know if those are acceptable sources for someone pursuing a PhD. The thought process was that I’d have a recommender who could speak to my research/academic skills, one who could speak to my ability to complete a tough program and prepare for an academic field, and one who could speak to my professionalism and ability to work with students and other educators. I’m now doubting that decision. Should they all come from professors? Columbia’s web site says LORs should be from “academic” sources. Is Sec Ed considered academic enough? Would it be better to submit letters from 2 lit profs and a Sec Ed prof, and then save the professional letters for fellowship applications? HELP!!!</p></li>
<li><p>I have my field narrowed down to a good level of specificity, but I don’t have a research topic. Will that hurt me or do they expect you to figure that out when you get there? </p></li>
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<p>I have lots of other questions, but I though I’d start with these and see what I came up with. I really appreciate feedback. :-)</p>
<p>I taught for three years before applying to graduate school as well. I am not in English, though, so I can't comment on anything particular to that discipline. </p>
<p>First, graduate school is very competitive. I graduated from a small LAC with a 3.95 GPA. I was in the 94th percentile on the Verbal and got a perfect score on the AWA. I also had a masters degree in Education. My GPA for my masters was a 4.0. I applied to 9 schools in history ranked anywhere from #1 to #60 according to US News and various other rankings. I was accepted to 3 schools, all of which were ranked in the top 10. I was also rejected from schools with much less prestigious programs. Why? There are tons of applicants, most with scores just as good if not better than mine. Admissions committees often use grades and scores to sort through applications. After that, they examine your essays and other documents to see how you would fit with the program. If there are other candidates who interest them more, then you are not, no matter how good your GPA and scores are.</p>
<p>Second, I don't think that a recommendation from a non-academic is going to help much. Most humanities programs are tangentially interested in producing good teachers but their main interest is in producing good scholars. I don't think that my teaching experience helped or hurt me in the admissions process. Some professors mentioned it when I talked to them but only because they wondered how it had helped me mature.</p>
<p>That said, you should definitely apply. You can always go back to teaching if you can't find a job. What do you have to lose?</p>
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<li><p>Your teaching certification will not help you with admission, but it may give you a slight edge when it comes to being awarded a teaching assistantship.</p></li>
<li><p>Include your status as alternate on your CV. (Make it look like a CV, not a resume.)</p></li>
<li><p>Do NOT solicit a letter from a supervisor. Letters from former professors are necessary. One from a Secondary Ed professor would be acceptable, but not optimal. If there is a possibility of third recommender who can write about your academic (read: research) abilities, even in History or Sociology or another humanities field, consider that.</p></li>
<li><p>You have not provided sufficient information for an adequate answer. You need not have your dissertation topic ready, but you must have a strong focus. I understand that Renaissance drama is your subfield of interest, but you mentioned nothing about your methodological preferences. You must be able to articulate that in your statement of purpose.</p></li>
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<p>Thanks for the info, both of you. As far as #4 goes, I am interested in Shakespeare's representation of characters who defy the norm and/or represent the "other" (Othello, Rosaline from Love's Labours Lost, Shylock, etc.). I am also interested in the influence of Renaissance drama (not just Shakespeare) on popular culture from the Jacobean era to the present (in film, language, music, etc.). I've spent a lot of time in my teaching career trying to convince students and colleagues (even my county supervisor) that Shakespeare is relevant, and I've developed a strong interest in the cultural influence of the time period. Is that specific enough for the statement of purpose, or do I need to go further (a specific set of plays, authors, characters, etc.)? Should I choose one or the other, or is it ok to have more than one area of interest?</p>
<p>I've been having the Resume/CV debate with myself for a while. My worry is that I don't have credentials to make a good-looking CV. For example, I've done presentations and workshops in my teaching career, but they've all been pedagogical, not content-specific. I've never published, either, unless I count curriculum writing, which is only circulated through my county and will probably not impress admissions people. I'm fairly sure that should just be a bullet point in the job history section. True?</p>
<p>It sounds to me like you've got the makings of a strong statement of purpose. And I think you're worrying too much about a "good looking" CV. Just rewrite your resume in a CV format. And yes, curriculum writing/development should only be a bullet point in the employment section.</p>
<p>No one expects someone with only a BA to have published. Period.</p>
<p>In my opinion, with <em>great</em> (not <em>good</em>) GRE scores, you could be a strong candidate for admissions.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, Professor X. I was hardcore panicking, thinking that I was in way over my head. Now I'm just panicking over how much work I have to do. I'm planning on taking the GRE General in Aug. and the Subject in Oct. Only one of the schools required the subject test, but I'm assuming it can't hurt to send the scores to all the schools. I'm in the midst of prepping for that now. </p>
<p>Another thought: I've been compiling materials for a portfolio (a Sec Ed habit). Should I bother? I thought that it might be a good thing to have for campus visits and/or interviews, but since my teaching experience will have little effect on a decision (if any), is it better to forget about it and spend time on more important things?</p>