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[wannabeaphd]

Hi all,

It's been nearly a year since I've posted, but now I'm back for PhD Grad Apps round two!

Is anyone else out there applying (either again or for the first time)? Feel free to vent frustrations or receive kudos on admittances!


Here is my situation this year:
Personally, I took some time off, re-took the GRE, re-did my SoP as a more of a project statement than a mini-autobiography, focused my applications on schools with programs that I am well-suited for, and got some better letters of rec.

So far so good, I think... I've already gotten two calls, 1 from a DGS, and 1 from a Prof.of interest. However, these calls seemed to be more to gather information and make sure I'm a real person than anything else...

They both wanted to let me know about financial aid information and the application notification timeline. And they each asked me some basic questions about my application. I'm not in a field that requires interviews. But I can't figure out what this type of contact could mean... My best guess is that they wanted to check and make sure that I am really the same person who applied last year, because my applications are literally 500 times better this year... Does that make sense? Any other insight you can offer? Thanks!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

[mystictechgal]

My guess (and it's just a guess): they want you to understand the financial aid you might be eligible for if you accept a position in their program, and they want you to know what their timeline is so that a) you'll seriously think about whether you would/could afford to join them, and not waste their time in filling slots by waiting until the last minute to consider the financial aspects of acceptance, and b) to give you an idea of how much time you have to do that initial homework, coupled with a bit of c) they don't want you to waste your time, or other opportunities you might be offered, by holding out hopes for an offer well beyond the timeline in which they say they will be making them.

Instead of wondering if they contacted you for some kind of a non-reason (for lack of a better term), I'd think it would be better to be happy that they showed initial interest and start seriously thinking about whether you can afford to accept their offer if it's made. (But, again, I'm just guessing. I've no track record upon which to base my guess, so feel free to take it with a shaker full of salt.)

Good luck!

[edmonddantes]

Great post.

I, personally, am just trying to put the whole thing out of my mind.  --Yes, I know posting here isn't helping me accomplish that.

I am currently in a Master's program.  I applied to five PhD programs.  They are five of the best for my sub-field/interest area; none are "safety schools" for me.  If I do not get in, I am going to take a couple of extra related courses, retake the GREs, try for a grant or publication etc. and then next round apply to ten or so programs.   

I believe that I am ready for a PhD program, for both personal and academic reasons, and really hope that I get into one of them.  I try not to think about it constantly, though, and not to pin my hopes or even a shred of my self-worth to the process.

The phone calls you received sound positive to me.  Good luck to everyone.

[scout46]

I am also waiting. I just found out yesterday that I got into one program. It's a great program at a top tier school but I haven't heard on funding yet. I've heard that this school initially offers little, but if you come back with a guarantee of funding from another school they'll match it. I'm not going unless I get 4 years guaranteed (i have a Masters), so we'll see.

I'm also still debating whether or not this is the right choice for me. I loved getting my Masters but the job market is so bad. I'm a little older (30), so I already have a career that I can just go back to. It's a hard choice.

Anyway, good luck!

[chumleypaine]

Just wanted to pop in and say, first time poster, long time lurker, and that I really appreciate the OP!


I have just wrapped up my MA in the humanities...and I'm incredibly stressed over my applications. I've applied to 4 universities, two of which are top-five ranked in my particular area.

What I have accomplished so far is thus:

-Close to 4.0 GPA
-One published article
-A book in publication that I helped to edit relevant to my field
-Interning at the uni archives
-Pretty darn strong rec letters from the chair/grad chair in my dept., both of whom are alumni at very high-ranked schools
-Scored in the 90th percentile in GRE Verbal and the 99th percentile in the Writing section
-Did some adjunct teaching (which was amazing)


So sounds awesome, right? My problems are thus:

-Scored ridiculously low on the math part of GRE (I'm talking unacceptably low.)

-Rushed to get all my apps done and I don't feel as if I properly revised everything I submitted/worried that parts of the applications did not arrive on time

-What might well be my biggest mistake was that the writing sample for one of the top-tier unis was completely unrelated to my main field of study....I choked at the last minute and submitted what I felt was my strongest work in less than twenty pages. I am assuming from the cutthroat stories I hear from admissions workers here that my application stands a fair chance at getting thrown out on that mistake alone.

I find some comfort in my professors telling me that I have pretty much done all I can do at this juncture and that I should pride myself on my work, however that doesn't go far in the dismal employment desert that is the humanities. I have worked incredibly hard for these past three years and I fear a great disappointment in the future.

Mr. Wannabe, I can only assume that their contacting you back concerning the financial ins and outs means they are interested. Your word of good news gives me a brief respite from pulling my hair out. Best of luck to you sir!

[wannabeaphd]

Thanks for the words of advice mystictechgal! I think you're right.

Congrats @scout46!

chumleypaine - Sounds like you might have a good chance. It's hard to tell. But you know, even if you don't get in this year, next year could be it for you!

I thought I did an OK job of applying last year, but this year my apps were literally 500 times better, and I actually just received one outright acceptance and one unofficial acceptance! :) Still waiting on 3 schools, but if the unofficial pans out, I'll be a PhD student there in the fall! :)

Good luck all!!! :)

[havesometea]

Yay!! Congratulations!!

[chaosbydesign]

Congratulations, wannabeaphd!

[hegemony]

Just popping in to say that at my place, I'd say a third to a quarter of applicants' writing samples are on a different topic than they're applying in, and we don't hold that against them in the least.  Many people change special fields once they start work anyway.  We also don't bother about low math GRE scores (we're a humanities field).  I mean, who cares, right?  I wouldn't worry on that account.

[chumleypaine]

Mr. Wannabe,



Congrats! Best of luck on your endeavors! Hope to hear a lot about your journey on this forum!


Mr. Hegemony,

Thank you for the reassuring words. I understand how much negativity can often associate itself with the rigorous competition in academia today, so even your short response does a lot for my coping. I should probably force myself away from these forums and go watch a movie or something. :)

I had a ton of good papers to choose from on my main area of research, but all of them went over 20 pages and I didn't want to risk getting cut off for being a page or two over. I made sure to note that on the supplementary materials application, so hopefully that won't hurt me.

[tinyzombie]

Ms. Chumley,

Friendly reminder that we're not all men here.

TZ

[chumleypaine]

AHG! Im very sorry for that. I shall not use the prefixes anymore. Point taken!

[scout46]

Hi all,

Just reporting in again. I found out this morning that I got into a doctoral program in my humanities subject in one of the best schools in the country  - ie, Harvard-level (but not Harvard). This is a school that gives low $20Ks per year guaranteed fellowship for all 4 years (I already have an MA). If I teach I get extra. If I TA or assist in research, extra.

I am really torn about what to do. Given the money they are guaranteeing, paying my way during school is not a problem. But in the midst of completing my applications in the fall, I started reading all these awful things about doing a PhD in the humanities, including those Benton advice columns that say "just don't go."

The other piece of the puzzle: my soon be husband (getting married in May) is an MD about to start residency, so I'm not really worried about putting a roof over my head later. (He is kindly willing to do residency wherever I go.) So, in the long run, if I never got tenure track and just was an adjunct for 2 courses per term indefinitely, it wouldn't be the end of the world, financially speaking.

For the current/recent humanities PhDs out there, should I cut and run? What is the source of displeasure that I read about so often? Is it just financial or is there more I should consider? Thank you in advance for any useful thoughts, considerations, or suggestions.

[westcoastgirl]

Hi all,

Just reporting in again. I found out this morning that I got into a doctoral program in my humanities subject in one of the best schools in the country  - ie, Harvard-level (but not Harvard). This is a school that gives low $20Ks per year guaranteed fellowship for all 4 years (I already have an MA). If I teach I get extra. If I TA or assist in research, extra.

I am really torn about what to do. Given the money they are guaranteeing, paying my way during school is not a problem. But in the midst of completing my applications in the fall, I started reading all these awful things about doing a PhD in the humanities, including those Benton advice columns that say "just don't go."

The other piece of the puzzle: my soon be husband (getting married in May) is an MD about to start residency, so I'm not really worried about putting a roof over my head later. (He is kindly willing to do residency wherever I go.) So, in the long run, if I never got tenure track and just was an adjunct for 2 courses per term indefinitely, it wouldn't be the end of the world, financially speaking.

For the current/recent humanities PhDs out there, should I cut and run? What is the source of displeasure that I read about so often? Is it just financial or is there more I should consider? Thank you in advance for any useful thoughts, considerations, or suggestions.

I'm almost done with my PhD in the humanities. Do you really want to invest all of that blood, sweat, tears and years so that you can teach a course or two when it's over, all in the name of having a PhD? I say this from experience. Only 10% of humanities PhDs ever land TT jobs. There has to be another way to fulfill this type of dream. I'm currently a step up from an adjunct (though, I do that too). I'm a visiting lecturer. I feel that financially (though I didn't pay a dime to study here), I've given up years of earning power and I'm making very little compared to my peers. And as much as I though I would be happy with a mere visiting position, I find myself more and more these days thinking "Hey, I invested my life in this. I want a TT job."

My husband on the other hand (from a the same top tier school as I'm from) did land that awesome job, is doing exceedingly well and loves what he does. He couldn't have done anything else. I could have done a million things and found equal happiness and probably more of it.

I'm just offering some different perspectives.

Congrats on the acceptance.

I advise most of my students not to do a PhD, just like my tenured professors advised me.

[scout46]

Thanks for your honest opinion and thoughts. I guess it would be tough to be adjunct-forever.

I actually already have a career as a professional writer that I would be leaving to do this, too. It pays well and I only work about 40 hours a week. When I go home at night, I don't fret about the work to be done the next day. In contrast, when I had papers to work on in my MA classes, I would worry all the time about completing them. I'm still trying to put my finger on what the difference is - both are writing pieces to be completed and later critiqued, but the latter made me much more anxious. This is something about grad school that I didn't like, when comparing it to a "regular job".

I remember talking about this with a friend who just finished her PhD. She was wondering why she could barely get a sentence down of her dissertation all day, but her husband could bang out a 7000-word article in 8 hours (he's a journalist). I told her I didn't know, but that I totally identify - in my non academia career I can complete a 100-page manuscript with no worry or anxiety. In academia the experience of writing a 15-page paper makes me worry 24/7. and I don't get paid. :)

I guess the love of a subject and learning will make you do crazy things!!!