Application FAQs
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Can the critical writing sample be from a class I have taken?
Yes. Please also note that a critical writing analysis should include use of secondary sources. It is also best to submit a clean copy of the writing sample, not one with the instructor's marks on it. Retype if necessary.
Is the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) given on campus?
Yes. The Subject Exam is given on campus 3 times a year, April, October & November. The General Exam is given locally at Sylvan Learning Center.
What is the University of Tennessee’s code for the GRE scores to be sent?
1843
What does the admissions committee look at in the GRE Score?
For the M.A. program, the committee will look at the Verbal and the Analytical scores. Recipients in the past have made around 1200 or higher.
For the Ph.D. program, the committee will look at the Verbal, the Analytical, and the Subject scores. Recipients in the past have made around 1800 or higher.
Where can I find information about the GRE?
You can check the GRE home page at www.gre.org
Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
It is best to have the rating forms completed by professors or instructors who have had you in their classes. They can more accurately evaluate your performance in the classroom than can a clergy member, a supervisor at a part-time or full-time job, or an athletic coach. The admissions committee wants to read evaluations of your ability to complete graduate work in English successfully. An English professor is the best judge of that ability.
Does the English Department admit non-degree or provisional students to the graduate program?
The English Department does not admit non-degree or provisional students to its graduate programs.
Can I reapply if my application is rejected?
Candidates who are denied entrance into graduate degree programs may reapply for admission only if their application has been substantially enhanced. Please see or call the Director of Graduate Studies for suggestions. Any candidate who is denied admission to the graduate program twice will no longer be eligible or considered for admission.