Lit PHD from an MFA

[asleep_awake]

Hi

Comments

[asleep_awake]

Thanks!
I just don't think there is any reason for me to spend 2 years getting an MA that I will have already mostly completed as part of my MFA.
Of course I have other reasons for considering the Peace Corps (in fact, I have reason to believe it won't help me at all in academia), but with a Masters in English I could end up teaching at a university.

[ravaged_storm]

Your MFA shouldn't be a problem as long as you are qualified for the program. I wouldn't get into an MA program unless it's absolutely necessary, but you'll definitely need to fill in some of these holes in your transcript. I'd suggest taking HEL and filling in those early gaps in your knowledge. A theory class would help you greatly as well. Look also to your PhD programs -- do they only require one language? Most are looking for two. And would the P.C. fill their requirements? I'd second teaching abroad but most of the programs you will find will be for places in which the language will not help you in your future studies. How much help is it to know Korean when you need to translate a French text?

[asleep_awake]

Thanks. I am more familiar with theory than most of my fellow MFAs, but I feel there are inherent gaps since I haven't taken any courses that provide a broad overview. At many programs, I can fulfill the language requirement while I am enrolled, but getting it out of the way early sounds like a good idea. I'm also not entirely sold on the idea that only certain Western languages are of value, and I'm looking, really, for a program that shares or at least supports my belief that not all literary scholars need to be experts on the Western canon/European languages/etc and that Korean (or any language) has plenty of value and is worth studying/doing research in/etc. That's me being idealistic, though.

[ravaged_storm]

I'm absolutely in agreement with you. Unfortunately, most universities will look to your transcript and mistakenly see that as the entirety of your knowledge. If you haven't taken a class then you aren't well schooled in it. The language example was just what came to my head -- I certainly don't prescribe to the idea that Western thought is better than any other culture. In fact, many times I find other cultures much more engaging and thought-provoking. Again, though, that may be something you might consider as that will more than likely be the idea that universities have (i.e. how will you use it here?).

Good luck!

[asleep_awake]

Oh, I didn't mean that you did, but I think some programs do by requiring students learn/research from a list of European languages only.
I am a little bit ahead with my classes so maybe I can make room for some non-required courses.

Thanks again!

[royalneptune]

I'm in a similar boat. I'm going into my final year of my MFA and applying to English PhD programs. Are you applying to Comparative Lit programs? If you are, then the language requirement is obviously a legitimate concern. I knew the language was going to be a weak point on my application, so I've spent the summer taking a condensed language course and am only applying to programs that require 1 language. Though, again, with English the language requirement while important, obviously isn't as central to the program as it is in Comparative Lit. I'd maybe look into some English programs along with some Comparative Lit / Lit

[asleep_awake]

Thanks

[tisiphone]

General advice regarding the Peace Corps: if you don't really, really want to do it (and by "it" I mean "whatever they send you to do, in development work or any other field, in possibly extreme conditions at some slight personal danger in a different culture with people that might not actually want you there"), don't do it. There are far easier ways to learn a language that don't involve two years of immersive development work, and a lot of people suffer very badly from the culture shock and end up hating every second of it. There's a reason they're so generous with the money and the loan deferrals and so on, and that reason is because it's hard work.

[asleep_awake]

Eeep - I swear I responded to this earlier. I must not have posted it. I'll try to remember what I said!
I've already spoken to a recruiter, and because I will have a master's in English (which is considered a scarce skill), it is likely that I would be placed in a university teaching position in Central Asia or Eastern Europe (and all but guaranteed I'd end up at least in education). I've done extensive research, but you still never REALLY know what you're getting into, because each experience is so unique and highly dependent upon the people you happen to end up working with.

[asleep_awake]

I've considered teaching on my own abroad as another option (and in fact was starting the process to go to Taiwan if I hadn't been accepted to any funded MFAs), but I do like that the Peace Corps forces you into immersion, rather than allowing you to spend all your time in expat bars.