Words of Wisdom from a Master's Student in English

By Lubna Abdallah

Well, here it is: my fourth and final year as an undergraduate student at Western, which means I am now facing the both exciting and scary question: what do I do next? In my quest to sort through all the potential pathways (which, I am overwhelmed to say, are infinite), I keep returning to the possibility of graduate studies. However, if you’re anything like me, graduate school has long felt like a dauntingly foreign world. My mind has been spinning with uncertainty and self-doubt: do I have what it takes to succeed in such an environment? What is the graduate school experience even like at Western? 

As usual, my curiosity got the better of me, so I reached out to Alison, an English MA student here at Western, who was incredibly gracious to share the inside-scoop of her graduate school experience. Here are some insights that I gathered through our fascinating discussion: 

1. The Independent Research Project (IRP) 

   
   

As a master’s student in English at Western, you have the option to pursue an Independent Research Project (IRP) of 50 pages under the supervision of a faculty member. Alison, who completed her undergraduate degree in English and History at the University of Victoria, shared that her own IRP was shaped by research she conducted during her BA. Her current project on post-WWII speculative fiction grew directly out of her earlier academic interests. So if you’re feeling stuck when it comes to choosing a research topic (although you don’t have to worry about that until you are accepted into the program!), Alison advised that building on previous research, or even working at the intersection of two disciplines, can be a great way to generate ideas! 

That said, getting to the point where you have a clear research topic and a supervisor in place is rarely straightforward. Alison was very candid about her own experience: she spent the entire summer before her MA trying to secure a supervisor to no avail. What made a huge difference was the support she received from the graduate English department, which stepped in to help her find the right fit. 

Alison also emphasized that your first research idea doesn’t always have to be your final one. Her current project is not at all what she initially envisioned. But through reading more deeply, exploring gaps in the field, and allowing her interests to shift, she was able to refine her focus and begin to shape a compelling IRP. 

2. Life as a TA 

   
   

As you probably already know, graduate students don’t just balance coursework and research; they also often act as teaching assistants. The MA program in English offers a number of TAships, which come with a plethora of responsibilities ranging from leading tutorials to grading undergraduate coursework. For Alison, who is a teaching assistant in a first-year English course, this opportunity means obtaining valuable teaching experience, which is a wonderful asset if you are someone who aspires to become a professor. When asked about the general responsibilities of a TA, Alison stated that it largely depends on the professor whose course you are TAing for. Her own professor assigned her to lead a tutorial of 25 undergraduate students, where she was given almost complete teaching autonomy. 

According to Alison, her TAship has not been without its challenges so far. One of the most significant hurdles Alison discussed facing is encouraging meaningful participation during class discussions. Many students are hesitant to speak in a large group, so she has experimented with different strategies to foster engagement, such as introducing individual writing prompts and dividing students into smaller discussion groups. Despite several obstacles, Alison reflected on her TAship as being an incredibly rewarding opportunity, helping her develop skills as not only a researcher but a disseminator of knowledge. 

3. Applying to Graduate School

When reflecting on the process of applying to graduate programs, Alison didn’t hesitate to acknowledge how challenging it was. The months of drafting statements, meeting deadlines, and navigating uncertainty were undeniably stressful. Yet she insisted that stepping into that discomfort is precisely what sharpens you as a scholar. “It keeps you on your toes,” she explained, pushing you to confront and articulate who you are, what you care about, and where you want to go.

Alison applied to multiple schools, including McGill, University of Toronto, and Western, and her biggest piece of advice was to read each program’s requirements closely. Every school expects something slightly different, and missing a prerequisite can set you back. Most applications, along with the Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-M) package, will also require something along the lines of a  “Statement of Interest.” Alison emphasized that the statement of interest is your chance to really pitch yourself. She encourages students to take the time to research the department you’re applying to - its faculty, research culture, etc. - and let that knowledge really inform your statement. Overall, according to Alison, the process of applying to graduate school may feel daunting, but approaching it thoughtfully and with a growth mindset to improve will make your application stronger and help you grow into the kind of thinker graduate study demands. 

Thank you so much to Alison for the incredible insights she imparted! If you would like to learn more about the master’s program in English at Western, you can learn more here: https://www.uwo.ca/english/graduate/programs/ma_program/index.html