MTL Graduate Program > Admission

Student Services Officer: Monica Moore (the person to contact if you have specific questions about the Program in Modern Thought & Literature or the application process)
E-mail: monica.moore@stanford.edu

Phone: (650) 723-3413
Fax: (650) 725-1838
Address:
Modern Thought and Literature
Building 240
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-2022

Deadline for Applying: December 2, 2008

Application Procedures:

To apply for admission, please go to
Graduate Admissions

The email address for Graduate Admissions, Registrar's Office, is
gradadmissions@stanford.edu.

The Program in Modern Thought and Literature seeks to admit students who, as individuals, exhibit great intellectual capacity and the intent to carry out innovative interdisciplinary programs of study, and who, as a group, are of diverse backgrounds and interests. Successful applicants show a commitment to literary or cultural studies, but must also be prepared to make their way in their chosen non-literary field or fields. All applicants will be evaluated in accordance with the University's strong affirmative-action policy. The Program has a commitment to supporting non-traditional and emergent forms of scholarship. We accept students who have just completed their undergraduate degrees and also welcome students who have pursued careers or degrees in other fields.

An application to the Program in Modern Thought and Literature must include the following elements:

  • University application forms (most likely submitted online.)
  • A statement of purpose (most likely submitted online.)
  • Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended (mailed to address below.)
  • Three letters of recommendation (mailed to address below if not submitted online.)
  • GRE general test scores (subject tests are not required.)
    The Stanford score recipient number is R4704. No department identification is needed.
  • A recent (non-fiction) writing sample of approximately 20 pages (preferably a copy, as these papers cannot be returned, mailed to address below.)
  • Check at http://gradadmissions.stanford.edu for information concerning the application fee or fee waiver.

Transcripts and writing sample should be sent DIRECTLY to the Modern Thought & Literature office at :

Building 240
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-2022

Of primary importance, the statement of purpose should demonstrate that the applicant's focus is interdisciplinary and can be effectively pursued at Stanford. The writing sample and letters of recommendation are also extremely important, and should again indicate your preparedness for interdisciplinary work, and why your interests would be best served in a program such as ours. Finally, we give close attention to grades and GRE scores.

Completed applications must be submitted online by December 2, 2008.

All completed application materials that are not submitted online should be sent directly to The Modern Thought and Literature office (see address above).

Statement of Purpose

An important part of the file is the statement of purpose. The statement should indicate how you are prepared to do interdisciplinary work, and suggest a project or two that would give us a sense of how you wish to pursue interdisciplinary study, and why the Modern Thought and Literature program is a good fit for you.