I’m doing a research project currently on the processes involved in assimilating avant-gardist concrete poetry utilizing an interdisciplinary approach with linguistics and anthropology, using fractal analysis to measure to inverses and reverses involved in its consumption neurologically. Is this the type of things MA and PhD programs are looking for? How much of a help would this be to my application? I also have a lot of literary analysis samples that my professor says is graduate level material. I am very interested in using geometry and algebra to map processes of literary theory and its evolution.
It does not much matter what the specifics of the research are. It is far more important that you are involved in research in a serious way. That provides you the experience that admissions committees are looking for and access to a strong personal letter of recommendation from your research mentor.
@xraymancs No research mentor, this is all self-directed using my community college’s library
Although it is great that you’re attempting to do this research yourself, you really should find a mentor. A mentor can not only write you a letter of recommendation for graduate school, but can also help to guide you studies, validate that you did, in fact, do research for your applications, help you get your work published, help provide funding to further your research, etc.
@mademoiselle2308 How would I find a mentor? I’m at community college and I’ve tried finding someone to work with, but no one wants to.
@okon2122 - Have you tried asking your professor who said your work is grad level material? It sounds like (s)he might be interested. Are there any universities near where you live? You might be able to reach out to professors there. Although you are very interested in this one topic, it might be worth it to approach professors to help with their on-going research. This will at least give you some research experience, even if it’s not specifically the project you have in mind. Also, I am assuming that your community college does not offers BA/BS degrees. One option is to work on your own until you’re able to transfer to the institution where you plan to receive your BA/BS and find a mentor there.
Good luck!
@mademoiselle2308 He is quite busy, I have asked. He’s actually a high school teacher doing community college lessons after school lets out, and isn’t participating in any sort of research. I think I’ll wait until I can transfer to UT Austin, there should be a professor I can work with. Thank you!
If you are already doing research right now, you should try to find a mentor right now. It can be fine to wait but you’ll be more competitive if you find one earlier.
Is there a nearby university where you could get someone to at least give you feedback and consistent mentorship? Like mademoiselle said, you need a mentor to validate the quality of your work and who can attest to your quality in recommendation letters.
@julliet We have TCU, UNT, Texas Woman’s uni, University of Dallas, UT Dallas. I’m not sure if any professors there would be interested… : (
It can’t hurt to ask. In any case plan on it once you have transferred to UT.
You’d be surprised. I was an undergraduate at an Atlanta-area college, and I asked for some feedback from some UGA professors on my senior thesis. Two of them gave me very gracious and detailed feedback for how to improve the thesis for publication - once I asked them for it!
Professors, in general, join the profession in part because they want to mentor and create the next generation of scholars. Some won’t have time and won’t want to mentor you, but some might. All you can do is ask!