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[kbeard]

First, I would like to express gratitutde to everyone that posts on this forum.  It was a very nice surprise to find so many helpful people when I have been so greatly confused about my future.

Here's my situation and my subsequent questions:

1. I am currently in my fifth year as a 9th grade English with Inclusion teacher in the state of Alabama.  While public education has certainly created many frustrations, I have greatly enjoyed my time with my students.

2. I graduated from Auburn University in Secondary Education - Language Arts with a 3.1 overall GPA.  I had a 3.7 GPA in my major classes (English courses and education courses). 

3.  I scored a 165 on the verbal section of the revised GRE and a 151 on the quantitative.  I have yet to receive my writing scores, but I would be extremely disappointed to score less than a 5 on both sections.  I'm not sure what I will do if I score less than 5, but I assume I will just take the test again. 

4.  I'm interested in teaching at an academic institution, and I am very intrigued by the prospect of teaching at the collegiate level.  However, I do not want to limit my opportunities to just teaching.  If for some reason I lost an interest in teaching, I would like to have the ability to work someplace else.

5. I should mention that my strongsuit is in rhetoric and composition.  Literature's wonderful, but I don't see myself enjoying it as much as writing.

Here are my questions:

1. With my GRE score and undergraduate GPA along with my experience in the high school classroom, what tier of graduate schools should I reasonably apply to?  I'm interested in Vanderbilt, but I fear that I would never get in.  Are my fears valid? 

2. I've done some research on Florida State's rhetoric and composition, but it is ranked #82 by US News.  I'm not sure how much those rankings matter.  Do they matter?

3.  What do I need to do to apply for tuition wavers/scholarships/fellowships/whatever they are called?  I understand how to apply to the graduate school, but do I need to do anything extra to get funding?  (I assume so.  Just don't know what.)

Thank you so much for you time and help.

[kbeard]

I just noticed my typo in my subject.  Not exactly sure how to edit a post yet.  Sorry!

[helpful]

1. What is 'collegiate'? In my world, that is a high school.
2. Is your GPA out of 4 or 4.3? A 3.1 out of 4.3 will barely get you into grad school. Out of 4 it is much better.
3. Why don't you investigate Education as a Masters degree and use that as a stepping stone to a Phd? Or do you already have a Masters in Education? If you do, why not look in Phds in Education?

[cj405]

3. Why don't you investigate Education as a Masters degree and use that as a stepping stone to a Phd? Or do you already have a Masters in Education? If you do, why not look in Phds in Education?

Because a master's degree in education isn't really a stepping stone to a PhD is rhetoric and composition?

[helpful]

3. Why don't you investigate Education as a Masters degree and use that as a stepping stone to a Phd? Or do you already have a Masters in Education? If you do, why not look in Phds in Education?

Because a master's degree in education isn't really a stepping stone to a PhD is rhetoric and composition?

Sorry, I meant a Masters of Arts in Education, which would be a thesis based program. Then one can do a Phd in Education with an emphasis on the teaching of rhetoric and/or composition.

[tinyzombie]

1. What is 'collegiate'? In my world, that is a high school.

Sigh. An adjective. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=collegiate

[kbeard]

By collegiate I mean at a university.

I have some philosophical differences with the college of education, but it is definitely an option.  I would love to teach rhetoric and composition to prospective high school English teachers.  

And my 3.1 was out of a 4.0.  Bad freshman year.  

[larryc]

Are you willing to do a nationwide search in order to land a position, and to live in any part of the country whatsoever?

[kbeard]

Are you willing to do a nationwide search in order to land a position, and to live in any part of the country whatsoever?

Yes.  Preferably out of state actually.

[helpful]

By collegiate I mean at a university.

I have some philosophical differences with the college of education, but it is definitely an option.  I would love to teach rhetoric and composition to prospective high school English teachers.  

And my 3.1 was out of a 4.0.  Bad freshman year.  

Thanks. Not bad grades, then.
I think going the Education route is better if you want to teach teachers. You won't get the depth needed on teaching in a Rhetoric program unless your focus in your dissertation is on teaching and you can find Rhetoric programs that emphasizes the teaching of Rhetoric as a focus of study.

[lohai0]

Are you willing to do a nationwide search in order to land a position, and to live in any part of the country whatsoever?

Yes.  Preferably out of state actually.

I know in my area of education (math) people with PhD's in education & secondary certification/teaching experience are highly prized. In fact, they get hired more easily than some math specialties. Someone in English would have to weigh in on whether this is true in your area as well.

[edmonddantes]

I am responding as a grad. student in the social sciences, so take the following with a grain of salt:

1. As far as GPA, many colleges ask what your in-major or last two years of GPA were.  Also, you can address any shortcomings in your statement of purpose (SoP on the fora).  As for level of institution, most people suggest applying to 5 or 10 grad schools (admittance is competitive).  Apply to a couple of reach, a couple of satisfactory, and a safety.  (Although, if you don't mind remaining at your current job, maybe only apply to your reach schools this round then broaden your search next cycle, if you aren't admitted).  Remember that, generally speaking, you will only get a job as a professor at a school that has a lesser reputation than where you graduated from.  Also, along these same lines, it is important to attend a university that is good in your sub-field (was it composition/rhetoric?).  A university with a good general reputation and a strong sub-field reputation is even better.  Regarding the GRE scores, what percentile are those scores (I'm unfamiliar with the new test)?  Look around, too, some programs may post average GRE scores on their websites.  Regardless, apply.  GREs are one of multiple components.  As are grades, your significant amount of teaching experience, research interests, SoP, and whatever the committee is feeling that day.  So apply.

2.  Those rankings are a good place to start; they provide a glimpse of the program's reputation.  I personally only used US News as a point of departure.  Look to see where the PhD programs have placed their graduates (keeping subfields in mind).  Also, sometimes a sub-field's superstar teaches at a university with an average reputation.  Keep in mind who you want to work with when looking at programs.

3. Research/teaching assistantships etc. are typically discussed when you are offered admittance into the program.  A program's webpage will often let you know how much money is typically offered and what work is expected to earn it.  Generally, MAs are unfunded and PhDs are funded. 

Good luck.

[kbeard]

Thanks for your reply.

165 verbal is 96th percentile while 151 quantitative is 56th percentile.  Hopefully an English department doesn't reject me for a lower than average math score.  (http://www.testmasters.net/GreAbout/Scoring-Scale)

[lohai0]

Thanks for your reply.

165 verbal is 96th percentile while 151 quantitative is 56th percentile.  Hopefully an English department doesn't reject me for a lower than average math score.  (http://www.testmasters.net/GreAbout/Scoring-Scale)

I think the consensus is that the math score has to be REALLY awful before it becomes an issue. (Just like my program didn't care much about my verbal score)

[edmonddantes]

Low GRE scores may matter if your sub-field of education involves quantitative research.  In this case, the committee may worry that you cannot learn the necessary statistics.