Terminal MA in English -- Visiting/Contacting?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi, all. </p>

<p>I've spent several days browsing these forums, and finally got up the guts to post. I'm a fairly average (or average+ if I may say so ;) ) applicant, and I've applied to a program I LOVE for a master's degree in English literature. I should have done more research before I applied, since I'm learning all sort of great things now that my application is in, but c'est la vie, I suppose. </p>

<p>I exchanged an email or two with the director of the graduate program several months ago, but nothing of major substance. I received an email from him yesterday (a form email, that is) that says my application is complete, will be reviewed, I'll hear a decision in March, etc., etc., etc. There's also a paragraph that seems to encourage contacting him with questions or to plan a visit to the campus. I have no pressing questions at the moment, and I've heard so much about not bothering professors between application deadlines and decision dates that I don't plan to contact him just to "get my name out there." </p>

<p>But, I do wonder if I should plan a visit. I'd love to see what a class or two look like, talk with a current graduate student, etc. My worry is that I've been out of college for three years now (cum laude from a top 10-20 liberal arts school) and that I no longer speak with quite so much authority, confidence, and intelligence about English as I used to. So, if I talk idiotically with a professor, and if I'm just going to bring down the quality of the written parts of my application (what I think is a pretty amazing writing sample, and a relatively good SoP, though not super-focused), I don't want to make my chances worse!</p>

<p>How would you handle this situation? </p>

<p>From what I understand, having contacted professors and been very, very focused in a SoP is not as necessary in a master's program since you're not necessarily expected to know your specialty as precisely as if you were applying for a PhD program. Is that accurate? All thoughts are welcome, and if I missed something major or said something stupid, please forgive me!</p>

2

<p>It's a nice gesture that's all, especially for the MA. MAs are only two years so it's not a big of a deal as say the PhD where you're stuck with the department/school for 5+ years.</p>

<p>If the school is within reasonable travel distance, by all means, visit. But if you have to shell out for a plane ticket and stay overnight, it's not worth doing it before you get in.</p>