smellybug

I seem to recall this sort of anger from last year--people get pretty heated around this time. Good luck, guys. Honestly, I do believe that we're all in this crazy Humanities boat together, however fluffy that sounds.

Yep. It's like when people are super big sports fans and they can't believe that their team might not be as good as they think it is. Yes, I know what we all want to believe about our work being the only thing that matters. I want to believe it, too. But there's a groupthink thing here perpetuating the myth that this doesn't matter. Obviously, all things being equal, it does.

I think that there is every chance that people reading this thread--no, maybe not regulars--do not know how bad it is. Or ignore it. In this case, it makes sense to reiterate: the job market isn't everything, obviously, but it's probably even worse than you think. Take that for what it is. And I do not think that we should let people jump into dangerous water without warning them first, and then maybe warning them again. This isn't an every-person-for-themselves kind of forum.

"The fact that you are well aware of the market is not an argument that everyone who is considering grad school in English is aware of the market. This is forum for people to discuss grad student admissions, and this thread concerns professional realities. And there are tons and tons of blog posts and essays out there by people who went to grad school and failed to get a job and now insist that they didn't know the state of the market. I think it's fair and appropriate for people like me to present the facts in order to save future people that pain. As far as my tone and disposition, I don't think there's anything remotely inappropriate about it; I think, instead, the reality that I'm pointing out is hurtful. Because it sucks. If it were up to me, everyone would get a job. But I'll risk temporarily and minimally annoying a couple people to potentially inform others who aren't as aware as you are." I just want to back up ComeBackZinc here. I am currently watching my colleagues (from a top ten literature program) do interview after interview for naught. The Duke postdoctoral fellowship received over 500 applicants this year. And that's not even a job! My friends are falling apart. And it's making me seriously think about what I'm doing. Just because you feel like you don't belong anywhere else doesn't mean you should do this. Yes, the work is great and life-changing and wonderful, blah blah blah. But there's a whole lot of pain waiting for me at the end of this. If you already know this, great, but if not, you should. The upside is, those of you who don't get accepted this year might receive a blessing in disguise.

I agree with the Francophile. If you knew for sure that you only wanted to, for example, teach Ukrainian or Russian then Slavic would be the way to go. But it sounds like you aren't totally sure, in which case I would definitely advise you to think about Comp Lit. You would potentially be marketable to multiple departments (assuming you did a diss. on, say Slavic and American lit., or Slavic Lit. and Film) and Slavic departments aren't exactly booming right now anyhow...

probably doing something equally low-paying but not half as interesting.

For anyone who's interested, the adcom is having their first meeting tomorrow.

Mosa Lingua is good. I use Essentials for "minor" languages.

Not necessarily. And there's definitely a chance. I didn't get an acceptance to the program I'm in now until a full month after they started contacting people. Don't drive yourself crazy just yet.

I also have an MA from a unranked state school and did surprisingly well last year. However, I didn't apply to any Ivies, thinking I wouldn't get in. I should have gone for it.

There are some great apps as well that just focus on vocab, which I've found useful for improving reading skills.

I recently went to a talk given by people in the diss. stage and found it extremely helpful. People like ComeBackZinc are really kind to share their experiences. Among their suggestions was to know when you do what best. In other words, don't force yourself to write when you're not going to be productive. Don't read at times of the day when you need to be doing something more dynamic. This was a lightbulb moment for me. I have always tried to force myself to write in the mornings because everyone everywhere for all time has told me to keep a 9-5, but it turns out that's counterproductive for me. I wrote all of my papers last semester in the evenings and it was so much less painful. On their advice I also stuck to 25 minute blocks (yes, I kept a timer) and, amazingly, my back didn't hurt at the end. As far as resolutions, I'm trying to be more outspoken in seminars. I have Docile Woman Syndrome wherein I second-guess every intellectual thought I have. So far I'm doing a pretty good job.

Congrats! And yes, by all means, go. They generally wine and dine you. Three days is a good amount of time to find out if people secretly hate the program, who gets jobs and where, what it's like to live in X, and whether or not it's an environment that will foster your research. There are lots of different kinds of programs and once all your acceptances are in you'll have some deciding to do. Decisions are easier to make once you have a bit of an inside view of the program.

Truth. I still believe in the whole endeavor, but there's also this: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/04/there_are_no_academic_jobs_and_getting_a_ph_d_will_make_you_into_a_horrible.html

THANK GOD.

Did you just say "a week hence"?

I wouldn't worry. GRE scores can usually come in late anyway.

Seriously. After reading 500 SOPs, I'm sure many are looking for those minuscule reasons to eliminate you. Yes, even the "right" programs.

I would say no. You might be able to squeak by with just one, but they are clearly looking to avoid funding basic language study. You can always give the DGS a call and ask to make sure.

I will try to look at it--send it over.

Yes, best of luck, everyone. You will make it out alive, even though it might not feel like it now.

Nope. That's not what this forum is for. Go to your university's Writing Center. They're a great resource.

Also for what it's worth: I was told in the interview process that my non-traditional status was a plus. At 31 I'm the oldest in my cohort, but not by much.

I would take this advice with a grain of salt. Generally, Comp Lit-ers do fairly well on the job market (all things considered--yes it's sucky out there for everyone) because they are hireable in more than one area. In other words, a PhD in French will qualify you to teach in French, but a PhD in Comp Lit focused on French and English literature would make you hireable for French and English and Comp Lit departments. At my school the Comp. Lit placement stats are the same as the English placement stats.

Check it out: http://chronicle.com/article/To-Apply-or-Not-to-Apply/139539/