Admissions FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions regarding Graduate Program Admissions

1. I wasn't able to take the GRE until December. If my scores come in late, will they be included in my file?. The short answer is Yes. The longer answer is (and applies to all late materials) that the Graduate Division Admissions office assembles and forwards all materials that come in on time for all departments first after each deadline, then they go back and begin to log in and send out late materials.

2. Do you require the GRE subject test as well as the General test? No, only the general test is required. The university code is 4860.

3. Do you require a Writing Sample? Yes. Both M.A. and Ph.D. applications must include a writing sample. This is one of the most important parts of the application, in addition to the personal statement and letters of recommendation.

4. Can the writing sample be made up of more than one piece? Yes, but one sustained argument is preferred.

5. Can the writing sample be longer than 20 pages? We prefer that you keep it to the stated length, but if it is slightly longer, okay.

6. What does the department look for in a successful candidate? Emphasis is on the writing components (see below, question 10) and letters of recommendation, second language competency and range of academic interests. In addition, GRE scores and transcripts are also considered. GPA is generally around 3.5 or higher.

7. How well-prepared in my second language do I have to be? No applicant without a second language will be admitted to the Ph.D. program. Accepted students will have the opportunity to perfect their second language while here, but will be expected to read and write well enough to complete coursework in the second language. Each summer the department offers intensive language courses through the Graduate Summer Language Program (GSLP) here at UCSC. These courses are free to Literature graduate students. There is no language requirement for the M.A. program.

8. What percentage of applicants gets accepted? We do not keep statistics per se, however, for example, 2007-2008 we received approximately 150 applicants and made 15 Ph.D. and 9 M.A. offers of acceptance. Currently there are 95 graduate students registered in Literature, 81 in the Ph.D. program and 14 in the M.A. program.

9. Can you start in the M.A. program and then go into the Ph.D. program from there? No, the M.A. program is primarily designed for students wanting to pursue a Ph.D. at OTHER institutions and/or those students interested in getting an M.A. only in a second language or theory.

10. What should I say in my statement of purpose/writing sample? If you have a faculty member you are currently working with and who has been on admissions committees, we recommend that you request that he/she read your Statement of Purpose (SOP) and help choose/review your Writing Sample. Also, the SOP can include both academic and life experiences. It can reflect what brought you to this point in your life, and what future goals you feel can be fulfilled by graduate studies with your particular interest in Literature.

11. What's the process for evaluating applications? A committee of at least eight faculty members meet and go over all the files initially, each file being read by at least two members. A long list is developed by each pair of readers at this stage. All faculty in the department are invited to review these files, and the committee members do a second round of reading all of these files. Short lists are developed from this by each member. A last meeting is held and the list of students to be made offers is finalized.

12. What kind of support does the department offer for its admits? The department has been able to offer full support for the first year in a combination of fellowship and TAships. Support after the first year is primarily attained through TAships, although the department does have some fellowship monies for continuing students and encourages external fellowship applications by offering support in the application process. TAships are reserved primarily for Ph.D. students. The department is therefore unable to guarantee TA support for M.A. students. Once all Ph.D. students are supported, positions occasionally become available in the Department of Literature that M.A. students can apply for. There are often openings in other departments as well. TAships are 50% time.

13. When is the application deadline? Applications for the 2010-11 academic year are due on December 1, 2009. No late applications will be accepted.

14. Have you received all of my application materials? Applicants can check the status of their application on-line via the portal or by calling (831) 459-5906.