What are my chances of getting into an English grad program at an Ivy League University?

Question

I'm currently attending a pretty high-ranking 4-year liberal arts college, and I have a GPA of about 3.95 (4.0 in English). I'm pretty sure I can hold (or possibly improve) this average through graduation, and I also think I'm on track to get into Phi Beta Kappa.

I know a lot of the Ivy League colleges have a SUPER-strict admissions policy... Cornell, for example, only lets 15 new students per year into their English grad program. As far as diversity goes, the fact that I'm a white male certainly won't help my case much, but my being poor and being from the Southwest (only 3% of Cornell's students are) might somewhat.

What think'st thou, folks? Am I dead in the water, or do I have a fighting chance?

Answer 1

First, do not make the terrible mistake of limiting yourself to Ivies for graduate study. Depending upon your specific subfield of specialization within the wide discipline of English, there might be much better PhD programs for you elsewhere. Prestige of grad program does NOT follow the pattern of prestige of undergraduate insitution. Your best bet is to speak with your current professors about which programs are strongest in your subfield. For example, the Universities of Michigan and Iowa are THE top programs in certain areas.

One selects graduate programs by faculty, and by strength in the area of specialization. When you do research, note the books and articles that you find most appealing (both in terms of area of focus AND of interpretive methodology), and find out with which programs these scholars are associated. If they do not teach at a university with a graduate program, find out where they studied. THAT'S how you select graduate schools to which to apply.

Having said that, absolutely no one can speculate on your chances given your GPA alone. Just keep your GPA up, and that element of your application will be fine. Bear in mind that your cumulative GPA will be less significant than your GPA in your major. No one on graduate admission committees in English will care if you got a D in calculus, for example.

As to admission to top PhD programs (which, as I said, may not be Ivies), your GREs will be critical. GREs alone will not get you in, but they will keep you out. Because your field is English, your verbal score must be in the upper 700s, and your analytical writing should be at least a 5, and preferably above. No one will really care about your quantitative score. Given that you are currently at a selective LAC, you most likely test well, so that should not be a huge concern for you. But do keep in mind that GREs will often be a major determinant in qualification for assistantships and fellowships. Applicants with verbal and writing scores on the low side will NOT qualify for support.

Your statement of purpose will need to be focused, literate, and will need to show facility with method and theory. Keep that in mind as you select your courses within your major in the upcoming semesters. Your writing sample will also likely be produced in the context of the courses you take in your junior year, since most applications are due in December or January of your senior year. If you are writing a senior thesis, a chapter from this (if it is revised and completed before December) would also be an excellent option for submission as your writing sample.

Keep in close touch with your professors, consult with them often, and DO INDEPENDENT STUDIES with one or two of them. Independent studies will demonstrate your ability to work in a self-directed way, and will also serve as an illustration of your very specific interests. You will probably want to do one independent study that engages directly with theory and method. Any research you produce in the context of an independent study will also serve as a potential writing sample option.

Your male gender, Southwestern origins, and your family's economic status will have absolutely no bearing on graduate admissions. This is another aspect in which graduate school differs from undergraduate. We do not seek diversity for diversity's sake. In some fields (like physics and math), highly qualified underrepresented minorities (like women and Native Americans) are courted, but in many disciplines they are not. In the field of English, geographical origins, gender, and economic background make absolutely no difference. (Unless you are in creative writing, and your work reflects these origins in an innovative way.)

PBK will also not make much of an impact in terms of graduate admissions. Publications and presentations will. There are several peer-reviewed undergraduate journals. Submit your best research papers to these journals, and, if one of your professors advises you to do so, submit work to regular scholarly journals in your subfield. Published work will considerably enhance your applications. Also, begin to present at conferences if this option is available to you. Speak to your current professors about possibilities in this arena.

Finally, good relationships with your current professors are incredibly important. Your professors will be responsible for writing your letters of recommendation. Seek out faculty who specialize in your subfield of interest. They are the people with whom you should be doing independent studies, and to whom you should turn for counsel regarding graduate study.

I wish you every success.

Answer 2

Actually, in English, the fact that you are male may help. No, you aren't dead in the water. If I were you, however, I would try to do more than just your normal coursework. Does your school have a literary magazine which you could edit? Is there a research project which you might do with one of your professors? My guess is that these schools expect good grades as a bare minimum, but look for something beyond the average in each of the people they accept. You are right that being from the Southwest may help you, but only if it is a matter of a tie between two candidates who othewise look equal on paper.

Answer 3

Sure, you have a good chance. 15 sounds like a lot--my dept. usually accepts, like, 4. Like others have said, a publication would help, but may not be feasible before apps are due if this is for fall 2008. Not crippling either if you don't have one. Make sure you have a good writing sample ready, though, preferably related to what you want to work on.

What you really need is good recommendations and a statement of purpose that sounds like you have one (i.e. a purpose).

Make sure all your current English profs know you want to go to grad school and get their advice on where to apply. Some of them probably have friends in Ivy League schools or are alums themselves. You only need (and should only have) three letters of recommendation, but professors talk! Having connections can make all the difference.

As for your statement of purpose, be as precise as you can in your research and career goals and why you want to go to their dept. in particular. Address yourself to specific faculty (potential advisor[s]) and tell why their research interests you. You're not just trying to get into the program, you're trying to convince someone to direct your dissertation. If you don't have anyone in mind, it'll be harder to get any of them to fight for you when the faculty gets together to rank the applicants.

Answer 4

I don't think you are dead in the water. I think a lot will depend on your GREs (bletch!) and mostly on your recommendations. I would seriously try to get something published if you have not already done so, and work to get some really good recommendations (before everyone goes away for the summer.)

Try Princeton. If you don't have the money, they don't care at all.

Answer 5

You'll have to do a little research on the individual institutions to determine what weight they give to factors other than the basic gpa. The two previous answers, citing undergrad-publishing, also provide good advice. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

talk to a professor about getting something published -- write an undergraduate honors thesis -- get the biggest name in your department to write a letter for you. things you can show are usually more important than abstract numbers like gpas and gres.

Answer 7

Do you have letters from professors to submit.

Do you have PUBLISHED papers to submit.

Being PUBLISHED helps!

Answer 8

YEAH AS IF KEVIN BACON WOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS HE LIVES IN A CARDBOARD BOX EATING EGGS OFF HIS MUM FACE