1 - I sent a course abstract and a c.v. with each application. The one problem I have found, however, is that the receipt of these materials (unless submitted online) is difficult to track.
Yup, on paper that does sound awesome, but... a- I don't think I could get into Columbia (my cumulative GPA is 3.7, and therefore only middling, even though the rest of my application is pretty awesome if i do say so myself) b- Columbia has a major theoretical stance that I just don't jive so much with, from what I understand. I'm a little bit old-school, and while I'm totally fine with having plenty of people around who aren't, I sort of want an environment that's going to respect me and such. My personal critical approach has very little to do with Marxism and especially certain prestigious schools have a real problem with that.
By any sane person's assessment, yes. but Columbia gets so many apps they can throw you away if your name sounds funny, I bet. And it's not in a prestigious school; it's just in a good public school. I've taken a jillion Honors courses so I have that going for me and stuff, but still. I'm sure they'll have plenty of 3.7+s from better schools.
2- Dual doctorates are really uncommon these days. You'd have to check with specific schools but, to be frank, I don't see the point. Many comp lit grads get jobs in the national lit depts while others pursue jobs in comp lit depts.
Yeah, that's what I thought. I guess the issue is that I'd want to be able to tap into an English dept.'s resources, but I think Comp Lit facilitates that anyway.
I'm sure that if you used English as your national literature, you'd be required to have English dept faculty on your committee, doing your exams, etc.
How exactly are you defining a "comparativist" view? You've already mentioned an aversion to theory, and you want to work within one national tradition, so I'm confused as to where the "comparison" part is.
Also, a 3.7 isn't something that admissions will throw out immediately. I wouldn't sell yourself short. If you find a program from a big name that fits your interests, then you should apply.
I don't have an aversion to theory so much as an aversion to absolutely needing to tow the Marxist line. I find the intersection between politics and literature interesting and valuable but far from absolute, and a lot of places still seem to consider that laughable. I see theory's place, I just also have interests in intellectual history and philosophy and aesthetics that I want to cultivate, and grad school is the last place where I want to be told how "passe" that is. >.> (It isn't; but I've gotten that kind of flack from people before.)
I like Comp Lit because it's really interdisciplinary, and I love the idea of drawing new connections, seeing things from new perspectives, and being surrounded by a more diverse crowd.
Thanks for the vote of confidence. :) It really is all about matching up I suppose.
I see I see. From what I gather in my grad school research, the days of strictly following one particular lit theory are over. It's all about the bits and pieces and the approaches we've learned to use from lit theory, without applying strict categories. Did you go to a uni with a particularly conservative English dept? You may have had more insight into trends that were popular 15-30 years ago, rather than today. For example, take a look into Duke's literature program, known as kind of a theory haven. Lots of work in intellectual history, philosophy, and aesthetics plus some nice leavings from lit theory days :)
Seriously? My prof (who is sympathetic to my position) said that they just don't hire people without a theoretical stance nowadays-- of course, I've heard that the tide is turning as well, and he's older. Hmm.
I'm glad to hear you say that, though. I really do appreciate what theory has to offer, I just don't want to commit to any one theory, and to be able to use it to inform rather than dominate my work would be really cool. Especially if DUKE of all places is doing that.
Comments 16
Best of luck!
Reply
Reply
Reply
a- I don't think I could get into Columbia (my cumulative GPA is 3.7, and therefore only middling, even though the rest of my application is pretty awesome if i do say so myself)
b- Columbia has a major theoretical stance that I just don't jive so much with, from what I understand. I'm a little bit old-school, and while I'm totally fine with having plenty of people around who aren't, I sort of want an environment that's going to respect me and such. My personal critical approach has very little to do with Marxism and especially certain prestigious schools have a real problem with that.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Also, a 3.7 isn't something that admissions will throw out immediately. I wouldn't sell yourself short. If you find a program from a big name that fits your interests, then you should apply.
Reply
I like Comp Lit because it's really interdisciplinary, and I love the idea of drawing new connections, seeing things from new perspectives, and being surrounded by a more diverse crowd.
Thanks for the vote of confidence. :) It really is all about matching up I suppose.
Reply
Reply
I'm glad to hear you say that, though. I really do appreciate what theory has to offer, I just don't want to commit to any one theory, and to be able to use it to inform rather than dominate my work would be really cool. Especially if DUKE of all places is doing that.
Reply
Leave a comment