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thePhDantom

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  1. If the faculty is supportive of your project from the beginning and you have an adviser set up, by all means, consider the offer. That shows that they are invested in you as a scholar. They are aware that your topic may change, but are eager to work with you where you are. The alternative situation is that you will be left floating on your own until you “land” somewhere. Do not let this happen to you. I have to disagree about making a decision based on what other students says regarding faculty mentorship. Levels of access vary greatly in grad school. You may not know who anyone’s parents are, or what kind of socio-economic background they come from, or what other parts of their identity play into how they are treated in the program. There could be eight students who thrive there, and one who doesn’t; that doesn’t make the one’s experience any less valid.
  2. I am a current PhD student in a top humanities program who will be leaving academia completely by the end of this year. I was once in many of your shoes: young, eager, intelligent, and excited by the prospect of attending graduate school. Now I am fleeing a corrupt and abusive situation by the skin of my teeth. Sadly, some of you reading right now will find yourselves in similar situations a few years from now. But it is my great hope that by sharing a few questions/guidelines/thoughts that I wish that I’d known to ask that the likelihood of this might be reduced. So, without further ado, here are the questions: - Is the program situated in a legitimate department or does it appear to be floating between departments? How many departments do the affiliated faculty in your program belong to? Where would you take your classes? Some PhD programs are smoke and mirrors, designed merely as a means of drawing additional funding to the undergrad side of the department. Beware of this ruse. - Do faculty seem too enthusiastic about you or your research? Do they seem to accept you too quickly? Does it seem like an amazing fit (rather than a professional relationship established on a foundation of mutual respect)? Err on the side of skepticism; the program’s aim may be to draw you in at any cost. - How do students feel about the city/town/neighborhoods where they live? Do they seem genuinely satisfied or do you get the sense that they’re stretching the truth? Some may tell you that location doesn’t matter—it does. A lot. Listen to your gut. - Do you get a tense, skittish, or otherwise “off” vibe from any of the faculty (particularly those who will have power over you)? Again, listen to your gut. - Do you have a dissertation advisor established when you leave interview weekend (at the latest)? If not, move on—full stop. If no one at the school stakes their claim on you and wants to support your research when you interview (or you get the sense that there are "a few possibilities"), no one there will ever want to support your research. - Look at the undergrads. Yes, I know. But please do try to get a strong sense for the culture of the school as a whole especially if you will have to teach. It will impact your experience tremendously. Remember: you will be working in this environment for up to a decade. - Be very wary of programs that push teaching as “important career development”…this is how PhD students become cheap labor for departments. - Do you best to find out what the climate is within the department and at the school with regards to PhD students preparing for careers outside of academia. Is it the topic-that-must-not-be-named? Is there open dialogue? Opportunities to work in capacities other than research or teaching? Even if you're a die-hard future academic it may not hurt to be in an environment that demonstrates an awareness of what's going on in many fields with regards to opportunities and access. How invested is the program in its students' success? Read between the lines of what’s posted on the department websites. Keep them in mind when you talk to your contacts and POIs. Carefully look out for these things during your interviews and campus visits. I am not a troll—this is all very serious. I would provide more details about my particular situation, but I am not here to denigrate my school or program in the event that action is taken against the offending parties and the program redeems itself in the future. Other “ghosts”—please feel free to add your own advice for current applicants to this thread. - The Ph_Dantom
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