<p>So, I'm about a year out from graduating with my B.A. in English from Portland State University. I currently have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 (just got my grades for this fall term, and had straight A's as well), and had graduated from a community college beforehand with a 3.6. I also took AP English courses in high school, and passed the AP test with a 4 (not sure if that matters given my subsequent college career).</p>
<p>I've been thinking a lot about graduate school, and frankly am deciding against applying for the English graduate program at PSU for reasons I'll explain in a moment, but am rather looking at some higher tier schools. NYU seems to be a happy medium for me as it's got a rigorous and esteemed program, but it's not SO selective that my chances of getting in are near impossible (i.e. Stanford, Columbia). I would like to think I'd have a fighting chance at getting into NYU, but then again, who knows.</p>
<p>Truth be told, I'm bored at Portland State. I've been attending there a year now, and have found myself consistently unchallenged there. Granted, I've had some brilliant professors and have largely enjoyed the classes, but, like I said— I feel unchallenged. For example, in my English 422 course this last term, the professor had to take three to four class sessions and go almost completely off-topic in order to lecture the class on form, technique, grammar, etc., because he felt that the class's work was not up to par with what should be expected at 400 level. Thing is, I got A's on every paper I turned in in that class, so I felt like about 95% of what he lectured on concerning form, technique, etc. didn't apply to me and/or was something I already was aware of and practiced in my writing. The professor spent the last week of our class with more emphasis on constructing our final ten-page essays because people seemed to be struggling with that as well. Again, I felt like I was being re-told things I already knew, and I got an A on my final paper as well. It's not just that specific class either; I've had similar experiences in just about all of my courses, where professors seem to have to remind students about the most fundamental things (i.e. how to properly cite sources). I really just don't feel challenged there, and as a reasonably competitive person, that bothers me.</p>
<p>Not to get too tangental here, my point being that I want my experience in graduate school to be challenging and stimulating, and I'm afraid that Portland State's English program won't offer that to me. Regardless, I'm going to finish my B.A. at PSU, and at the rate I'm going, I expect to graduate from there with a 3.9 if not a 4.0. Like I said, I'm looking toward schools that have more reputable and rigorous English programs, and NYU seems like a solid middle ground for the rigor I want combined with an admission rate that would maybe give me a fighting chance.</p>
<p>So, does this sound feasible? What would it take for me to get into this school? And if not, any recommendations or advice?</p>