Cactus Ed

Awesome. I can start right in on my dissertation if I employ this method.

I'm not sure if there's a thread out there addressing this (and if there is, sorry for doubling up), but I'm wondering about one's non-academic job experience prior to the PhD and it's relevance to/effect on the pursuit of academic jobs after the PhD. I ask because I have worked the past 2.5 years professionally at a large corporation as a copywriter and website/social media manager. Prior to that I had the usual slew of post-humanities MA barista/lawncare type jobs that will, of course, have no bearing ever on my future CV. However, my recent professional experience has been valuable, in my opinion, in that it has taught me a variety of professional, workplace-type lessons. So I'm wondering if that kind of experience will have any bearing on my ability to snag TT jobs vs. others who go directly from undergrad to grad school and whose experience is limited purely to teaching assistantships and part-time summer jobs. Or maybe the opposite... I literally have no idea. I'd love to hear opinions on this.

What if we're all so immersed in teaching and struggling to stay afloat in a sea of grading and coursework and reading lists and... I dunno, I feel like once I'm in a program, I'm in all the way. It'd take some seriously unfortunate and negative circumstances to make me question my decision.

I work at a major corporation right now as a copywriter. Today I had a paper jam in the printer and thought of Office Space's hilarious use of hardcore 90s hip-hop. This completes the theme for my day. Also, gwarner13, how's it feel to be a gangster?

Congrats, bfat! I know how you feel with the what ifs. In a year, we'll all be swamped and not thinking about the what ifs, I imagine.

I'm glad I found this. I'm definitely experiencing that bit of let-down, plus a big case of the "what-ifs." Not the paralyzing, "I made the wrong decision" kind, but I feel somewhat guilty for turning down one offer for another. So thanks, Comebackzinc.

Anyone else feel a pang of regret/what-ifs with their final decision? I accepted to ASU and am thrilled, but I got into Tufts off the waitlist yesterday and was quite shocked, as I didn't think it would convert (I'd heard as early as last week that there hadn't been any movement). I'm excited about ASU - I'm a western fellow by nature and there are a variety of great things about ASU - namely, my potential mentor is awesome and there are tons of opportunities for interdisciplinary research in my areas. Unfortunately, I dragged my feet and hadn't yet removed myself from Tufts' waitlist (my schedule is crazy) and got in, and have now heard from the DGS and a couple students within the last day... and they're all so nice! I want to decline (and intend to tonight) but it is sooooo hard. Tufts' funding package is better, but funding isn't as big of a deal for me. But when a program comes at you hard it's difficult to turn them down. I think Tufts would be just as good of a fit program wise, though not so much location wise, which is important to my wife and me. They are both ranked similarly with Tufts a bit higher but placement rate similar, hovering around 60% for TT... And of course my acceptance of ASU's offer makes it hard to backtrack. But I know there will always be what ifs, and there would if I went to Tufts instead. Gah! This process is maddening

I was also mildly surprised to see myself on there After getting into Tufts today and having a brief attack of uncertainty around my decision, seeing my name/avatar cemented next to ASU was very reassuring!

Nothing on my end. Anything on your end?

In at Tufts off the waitlist! It will be hard, but I will be declining. I hope that helps someone else out.

That's a helluva a teaching load for only 13K...

Well said! Placement is HUGE, and so is fit. If you can see yourself going there and feel deeply that it is somewhere that you can succeed and maximize your potential as a scholar, it is in no way crazy to consider the school strongly against a school with a higher ranking. If I were you, asleepawake, I'd take a day or two off from GC, take a couple of long walks, have a couple of drinks in solitude, and let the answer come to you

Sending good vibes your way!

Still nothing from Vickie?

Hi lindse - I haven't heard anything! CU is the last school for me to hear from, and I applied to the English PhD program in addition to ATLAS. I haven't heard a peep out of either program other than that the English department accepted a few folks and isn't rejecting or informing waitlists until after the April 15 cutoff (which I find crazy). I guess I got tired waiting to hear from Colorado -- their programs are taking FOREVER to notify! I hope you hear something back from Vickie soon, and something useful at that. I'll be interested to know what you hear. I am still interested in the program, but I needed to make a decision and stick with it for a variety of logistical reasons, and CU just seemed to be too slow to wait for... Good luck!

Whoops! I totally posted in the wrong forum... Leave it to me to access GC clandestinely on my iPad during a meeting at work. Good luck to you guys -- Seattle is a great place! My uncle did his PhD in English at UW and loved it.

Great idea... I'd never thought of a realtor for a rental.

Just to shake things up: Does your boyfriend make any money or will he make any money in the future? It might change the relationship dynamic to be the mooching academic partner, but...

Wild Turkey bourbon. Good price point, and it's what Edward Abbey drank when he shot his TV and his fridge after his wife left him.

Shake the email checking?! I can't even stop checking the results board and I already accepted an offer... I wonder how many GCers from last years' season still come on here to see how the new crop of applicants are faring.

Oi, that's the amount of debt I had after emerging from six years of college with a BA and MA...

Beet-Nik, we'll probably be passing each other on the way. I'm moving from Maine (Portland - I assume you'll be in Orono) to Arizona. Good luck to ya! You'll love Maine!

Headed back west! Arizona State it is! Whew, it's a lonnnng way from Maine.

Ever look into UHaul Uboxes? They seem to be less expensive than Pods, plus you can store your stuff at either end of your trip. My wife and I will probably be doing that when we move west from Maine...