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[lifeisgood]

How is it possible that the grad school application season is upon us and no one (other than me, apparently) is freaking out enough to start a thread on the topic? Am I just not seeing it?

I'm finishing up my humanities MA and applying for PhD programs. Yes, yes, I'm very foolish. I'm only applying to two programs, using the following logic: I have a family and small children, so it'll be very difficult to just get through the program if I don't go somewhere where I know people and have a support network. Also, the job market is horrible enough that, if I don't go to a top program, there's little chance I'll even end up with a desirable job at the end of it all. Therefore, I've applied to the two top-tier programs that also happen to be close to family and friends. If I don't get in with adequate funding, I'm going to do something else with my life. That wouldn't be horrible, since I already have a pretty good gig. Of course, none of this logic keeps me from being totally irrational in my need to obsess about it starting the second I hit that first submit button.

What I really need is to forget about all of this long enough to finish up my last paper for this semester. Then I'll have the luxury of a whole month to freak out before the next semester starts.

[bread_pirate_naan]

Given the restrictions, I'm kind of surprised you think it's worth being so invested emotionally.  You must think/know you are hot sh!t.

[lifeisgood]

Half of me thinks I'm hot sh!t, and the other half thinks I'm a complete idiot for even trying. I'll find out which half of me is right in a few months.

[larryc]

I actually think you are being as close to sensible as anyone applying to PhD programs in the humanities can be said to be. Though I stlil think you will be better off if you don't get in. Good luck either way.

[bread_pirate_naan]

Money is very bad right now.  You are going to need to be crazy hot sh!t and a perfect fit for the advisor you seek.  If you aren't in touch with those folks who need to be interested in your work, you might want to do that.  Seeing as faculty didn't even merit a mention in your OP; but restrictions/specifications of location, family, money and rank did...

Good luck with the Hot Sh1ttiness.  It's not out of the question, but it certainly isn't worth obsession.

I actually think you are being as close to sensible as anyone applying to PhD programs in the humanities can be said to be.

No, sensible people go to the best program for their work and apply widely.  Not going is indeed sensible, but with an employed partner, grad school as a low priority/pseudorecreational objective is a completely reasonable aspiration.

Half of me thinks I'm hot sh!t, and the other half thinks I'm a complete idiot for even trying. I'll find out which half of me is right in a few months.

If you can jump the admissions/funding hurdle, spend those years and do it all again with a geographically restricted job search, why not?  I wouldn't do it, but I enjoy dream worlds as much as the next humanities grad. 

[bread_pirate_naan]

And, if you don't get in this year, you can apply again next year with your MA in hand and a stronger writing sample.

[larryc]

OP, will your job search also be geographically restricted? If so, forget all about grad school right now.


BPN, what I like about the OP's thinking is that she is not turning her back on the job she has right now to do this, nor uprooting her life. She is rolling the dice (though not as well as she could, as you point out) on a a couple of school and if she comes up snake eyes she will go to plan B. Why not?

[bread_pirate_naan]

She's in a stable plan B right now, that is definitely a great place to be.  5-7 years from now, depending on the position, if she stays in it, she will have more to show for her efforts than a restricted job search. 

She will need to give up that security to invest fully in a PhD effort. 

There are variables.  If the work is promising a lot can happen.  There are amazing students out there and it is incredibly satisfying, but not in the sense of a promising job. 

I think one of the best things anyone can do during their program or applications phase is learn how to manage these feeling rather than feed them with group freakout.  That is the student, applicant, ABD, TT colleague who is tough to be around and winds up, maybe even until the wheels come off.  The stakes only get higher.

The number of restrictions that a partner, kids, and a desire to stay near a support system represent are not likely to result in an effective job search.  That doesn't mean that there won't be jobs in that area, but for the investment that this work requires, I would only do that if my partner was reliably making more than a quarter of a million dollars a year, we don't have a pre-nup, I could name the institutions that have hired people in the same situation as me,* and I and my research were super hot sh!t (publishing) unfit for anything else.

And I probably still wouldn't do it because my advisor would not write me letters for a restricted search with any enthusiasm.  But that is my advisor.

*adjunct or TT, CC to R1 -- I can name them in my region, but I don't cross my fingers and hope all the pieces are going to fall into place again and again against the highest odds possible -- because I need/want a job, not a good time.  If I had a satisfying job, I'd be investing in that career.

[lifeisgood]

First, let me clarify that while I can handle the critique, I was really looking for some light-hearted comraderie, not so much a point-by-point on my approach.

But since that's what I've got:

1. True, I didn't mention the fit with advisors because I didn't think I'd be defending my approach. In my identification of possible programs, advisor fit played a significant part. The programs to which I've applied have multiple respected scholars in my subfield and at least two who have current research related to mine. I've been corresponding with potential advisors in both programs for six months, and have just returned from an in-person visit to each.

2. BPN, you say that "sensible people go to the best program for their work and apply widely." That sounds contradictory to me. "Best" programs aren't "widely" available. There's just a couple of great programs for my work, and if I applied more widely, it would only be to ensure that I got in somewhere.

2. Grad school isn't a "pseudorecreational" objective. I'm just trying to be realistic about my chances of employment at the end of it all. I'm excited by my topic and am thrilled at the idea of making a career of it, but am not willing to uproot family and put myself through many stressful years with no real shot at the end. "Pseudorecreational" would be applying to a mediocre institution so that I can noodle away at my hobby without any concern about what happens afterward. If I get in to either program, it's a big move, but it'll be worth it in the end.

3. My job search wouldn't be geographically restricted. The reason for restricting the grad school search is that my kids are small and I think it's too much to ask my husband to not only move far away, but also put us in the middle of strangers before the kids are old enough to be a little self-sufficient. His job (and mine, actually) is portable, so there's no issue with him finding work. It's a matter of fairness and stability for the family while I pursue my goals.

4. My current job is fine, but I don't love it and would rather work in a field that I enjoy, rather than one I can tolerate.

[bread_pirate_naan]

First, let me clarify that while I can handle the critique, I was really looking for some light-hearted comraderie, not so much a point-by-point on my approach.

Sorry(truly), you lost me at freakout.  There are too many people with real problems in this community. 

[lifeisgood]

First, let me clarify that while I can handle the critique, I was really looking for some light-hearted comraderie, not so much a point-by-point on my approach.

Sorry(truly), you lost me at freakout.  There are too many people with real problems in this community. 

Fair enough. Allow me to rephrase: "Grad school admissions anxious-but-in-a-not-too-serious-way thread"

:)

[lifeisgood]

Something's just occurred to me. It's a small thing and we've moved on, but I feel the need to clarify. I'm not applying to programs that are close to my current location. Both programs are in other parts of the country, and we happen to have personal connections in both of those other locations.

[nonntt]

Grad school is a major life decision. I affirm your right to freak out. Good luck with the applications.

[minorleaguer]

First, let me clarify that while I can handle the critique, I was really looking for some light-hearted comraderie, not so much a point-by-point on my approach.

Sorry(truly), you lost me at freakout.  There are too many people with real problems in this community.  

Give me a freaking break.   While I appreciate your efforts in demonstrating the realities of the market and life in graduate school, there is no need to be a drama queen about it.  

If someone has unrealistic goals, you can gently tell them they have unrealistic goals - but telling them they think they are hot sh*t over and over again just feels like brow beating.

Good luck to everyone applying for admission this year.

[ptarmigan]

Thanks for the thread, OP.  I'm pretty much done with applications - just waiting for grades to come out to send that one last transcript.  Math programs.  I have eight applications in at a wide range of schools (but no top schools) in the southwest, (roughly) appalachia, and Florida.  This is in math.  We'll see what happens.