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Freshman admissions and transferring seem to be very different monsters in some regards, so I'd like some advice on where to apply. I'm a bit intimidated since transferring seems to be in many respects more difficult than regular admission, and I'm not sure I'm good enough to move up just yet...

I'm a 3.8 Honors student at a large unremarkable public university, an English/Classics major and philosophy minor. My course load is pretty rigorous (mostly honors courses and all upper level classes sophomore year except for Ancient Greek) and I'm going to have a job as a teacher/tutor in my school's writing center. My weaknesses would probably be a lack of extensive EC's and community service freshman year, and weak math/science (had to take College Algebra, General Biology, and Physical Geology).

I'm looking into grad school for English, so I'm mostly concerned about an academically-focused environment that will give me a good shot at one of the best grad schools (and preferably has excellent humanities departments). Thus far I'm looking into the likes of NYU, UChicago, William & Mary, and University of Texas at Austin (simply because it's the best public in the area, and they have so many resources). LACs intrigue me but I know little about them. The usual - reaches, matches, safeties, etc? I'd really appreciate some help; people here seem quite knowledgeable and it's hard to know where to start...

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 03:06 am: Edit

Hi Robingoodfellow, we seem to be on similar paths. I'm an english major, currently a writing tutor, and I just transferred to a large university (UCLA); oh, and filling the math requirement just about killed me. I wish I could be more helpful, but I do know a few things about the transfer process, and good humanities oriented LACs. Yes, freshmen admissions and transferring are very different animals. For public universities and some LACs, getting in as a transfer student is actually easier because they don't look at your SATs, and your college gpa of 3.8 will be very impressive, especially as an honors student. However, check the statistics of how many transfer students are admitted at whatever schools you look at. For some places, getting in as a transfer is much more difficult (I don't recommend trying Vassar unless you have single-handedly saved a third world country). Are you planning on transferring as a sophomore or junior? I recommend transferring as a junior because it seems to go more smoothly if you get your general ed done at one place, and your upper division in another. As for strong humanities programs, I looked into Kenyon (in Ohio), Occidental (CA), Sarah Lawrence (NY), Emerson (MA?)... That's all I can think of for now, but watch out for the tricky financial aid at the LACs. What grad schools are you thinking of? And what profession are you headed towards? I'm trying to get some ideas myself! btw, nice username

By Taxguy (Taxguy) on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 10:00 am: Edit

Consider Wash U St. Louis.

By Robingoodfellow (Robingoodfellow) on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 10:26 am: Edit

Hey Anglophile. It's always nice to meet another English major - and you have quite a cool geeky name yourself, I might add One of my friends is going to UCLA, and it seems like a great school. I'd kill to get into their English grad program, anyway.

Transfer statistics definitely seem to be where it's at. Some schools that I considered freshman year and could've potentially gotten into seem totally shut to me now. I'm planning on transferring junior year, since I'd like to round out two years here (I really do love the honors program), but some schools seem actually easier to get into spring semester (William & Mary)... I'm not completely finishing all my general ed before I transfer, but I sort of resigned myself to that when I realized that all schools have (occasionally vastly) different core requirements.

As for careers, I'm afraid I'm considering the default English major ones: professorship and publishing. Both very hard to pull off (hence why I'm already fretting about grad school) and not very well paying, but at least I know what I'm getting into (most English people don't seem to). I would dearly love a career centric around my love of literature. I'm going to explore other options, though, just in case, and because I know all English majors are not destined to be editors and professors. At any rate I think the college career services center will know of more options.

At anyway, thanks for the advice and I will certainly take a look at your recommendations - you too, Taxguy.

By Dazed04confused (Dazed04confused) on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 11:03 am: Edit

Consider Jesuit institutions like Boston College, Fordham and Georgetown that have strong programs in English, Classics and Philosophy.

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 03:09 pm: Edit

Ha! Yes, I'm looking at the default careers also: professorship and publishing, resulting in my going after the best grad schools. It's so nice to meet another unfortunate soul! I am well aware of the pitfalls of the major, and I'm looking at other more promising jobs for someone with my abilities. Unfortunately, my talents lie in very unlucrative areas (English, acting, singing, writing--I am not seeing money in my future). I've been thinking about teaching at a private high school (I have sworn to never ever go back into a public high school!). I like the idea of having summers off to travel, and it doesn't seem to be as competative. As for grad school, I'm gonna need the best to be even slightly marketable. I have the GRE Subject Test prep book by my bed right now. I've been tossing around ideas about which grad schools I should apply to. Any ideas? I talked to the English grad dept at UC Berkeley, and got so angry that I boycotted the school! (hence UCLA). They said that they didn't usually take students from the UC system, most of their admittees come from Ivy League schools, with perfect GRE scores, and a great many of them have already been published. But when I told this to the head of the Honors dept at UCLA, she said that it was "bull****." So I don't know. Have you heard anything about what it actually takes to be admitted into these top grad schools? Anyway, I have a friend at William&Mary, and she loves it. Apparently it has a small private feel with lots of individual attention.

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Monday, July 12, 2004 - 01:09 am: Edit

Hey! Where did everybody go??? Jeeez! It's like y'all have lives in the outside world!

By Robingoodfellow (Robingoodfellow) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 04:50 pm: Edit

Sorry about the delay in answering! Summer classes have taken over my life.

Yep, we're in the same situation all right. Huzzah for humanities/fine arts buffs who will make no money! Ever! LOL I would definitely take a private high school teaching job, but like you, public school makes me want to run away screaming. The bureaucracy, uninterested/unmotivated kids, etc., etc... it seems nightmarish. Perhaps I'll end up in public high school, but that's certainly not my preference!

I need to look into the GRE and the GRE Lit test... I don't know much about the makeup of the exams, yet, but I have been doing some prep in the form of the Norton Anthology of English Literature (which is quite fun to read on its own ). I should probably buy an exam book too, just to see how things are structured.

Berkeley's response doesn't surprise me. From the Grad school rankings I've looked at (http://www.english.ucsb.edu/undergrad/aftermajor/gradrankings.asp and a few other places) they are at THE top of the line. Personally, I don't have much of an interest in getting into a school like that; I want one of the top 20, someplace that'll give me a good chance at a job, but I don't think the competitiveness/snobbiness at the very very top schools would lend itself to actual LEARNING. (UCLA ranks extremely well, too, by the way.)

I've been told that what matters most for grad school is an informed statement of purpose, recommendations from professors, and the almighty publishing. I was even told that my place at a state school wouldn't hinder me if I was able to make the rest of my application shine, but I'm not taking any chances if I can help it. Come junior year I'm going to look into some publishing opportunities and hopefully prep to ace the GREs (and probably attempt to snatch some publishing internships on the side, just in case).

By A2a2 (A2a2) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 09:46 pm: Edit

You might consider the University of Iowa. They have an excellent writing program at the grad level and I don't imagine it's that tough to transfer in. As for LACs...every LAC has an English department and it's one of the most popular majors everywhere - so if you just go for a top-rated LAC, you would probably be OK. I think Kenyon and Oberlin are known for writing. Wesleyan and Sarah Lawrence seem like pretty creative places. WUSTL has some kind of writing program. Your best bet may be to consult with the faculty where you are now.

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 01:38 am: Edit

Hey Robingoodfellow, nice to hear from you again . My Brit Lit teacher last semester said that if I didn't get into one of the top schools, I should change my major! He has a very pessimistic view of the job market and said that to be competative in this field, it takes a top grad school. I sure hope it isn't true, but I fear it may be. I am currently annoyed at Berkeley, so I've been looking at the others. As to competition and snobbery-- you're absolutely right! Berkeley grad is as notorious for it's super-ego students as it is respected. That is not my prefered environment, but what level of success is it possible to reach out of the top 20?

I've heard/read the same thing about grad schools placing most weight on the statement of purpose, recs, and grades--but I'm still not sure about the publishing. And what about undergrad research experience? So many difficult questions... I'll have to accost a counselor at orientation.

Hey, find a school in CA and be my GRE study buddy! LOL Just kidding ;) Anyway, I'm still lauging over your "huzzah". I haven't heard that since the last Renaissance Fair, and I thought I was the only one who uses it in common coversation!

By Tdizzo (Tdizzo) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 12:21 pm: Edit

Yoy should check out Pitzer College in California...you'd stand a good chance with your GPA and have access to 4 other colleges (all the Claremont Colleges form a consortium where you can take classes at any of the other schools, i.e. Pomona, Claremont-Mckenna, Scripps and Harvey Mudd) english departments as well.

By Dave72 (Dave72) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 01:41 pm: Edit

I would second the recommendation of Oberlin. Excellent English Department, excellent grad school placement rate into PhD English programs, and open to transfers (though it's not easy). Good luck.