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kurayamino
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Posts posted by kurayamino
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Hahaha, so true, Sigaba. Again, out of upvotes otherwise I would've put one on your post.
And yes, you get a stable income for 5-6 years. But, you're assuming that you would really be unable to find a job that pays you a cumulative... $90K in 6 years. To be quite honest, you would make at least that, if not more (because eventually you'd be promoted into management), if you started working at Wendy's for minimum wage right now. When I think about the lost income of grad school, I think about what my peers were doing when I was 3-4 years in and how much they were making. Most of my friends, even after adjusting for cost-of-living, were making somewhere between 2 and 15 times what I was making back then. A friend of mine got a job working in a brewery (making beer) and made more money than me each year that I was in grad school easily (plus, he got free beer from work!). Did I get to do things in grad school that otherwise I wouldn't have gotten to do? Absolutely, yes. But, there were costs to that, financially and otherwise.
It's great to have a stable income for 5-6 years. But, to return to my earlier Wendy's example, 5-6 years there and you'd potentially be moving into management. After 5-6 years of a PhD, you may then go look for that same job you could've gotten before you started. If you end up un(der)employed for a year or two, will the degree still be worth it? Will you be able to go back to living on $7.5K after having $15-20K for 5-6 years? Are you really okay with carving out a living making $1500-3000 a course? These are decisions that seem far off now but, will be in front of you before you know it.
If you want a real reality check, read the Chronicle and VersatilePhD forums where people talk about the difficulties of securing a position. On the Chronicle forums, you'll get the academic market difficulties. On VersatilePhD, you'll read about the job market struggles of those trying to get out of academia, even those with the kinds of additional/alternative experience I suggested to lazaria already. Both of those reality checks are useful because, to be quite honest, I'm sick of people acting like it's so easy to take your PhD and find another decently-paying line of work. The market sucks. Having a PhD doesn't mean you can get a job doing anything. You're a strong writer? Great but so are hundreds of other people, some of whom will have more recent work experience or internships to make them marketable. Or, they won't have a PhD, so they're more likely to get hired for an entry-level gig under the presumption that they won't leave and that they're willing to start at a lower salary. Is that harsh? Yes, but it's also true.
As Sigaba pointed out, you can go in with your eyes wide open and still be a bit shellshocked by the market when you go on it. You'll think that you did all the right things (publish, get grants, network at conferences, develop a sexy subfield that is trendy) and still get 100s of rejections. It's like being the last kid picked in kickball in school except that no one actually ever takes the last kid, you just stand around on the side trying to show them that you do have skills while they ignore you or laugh in your face.
Well, my personal reasons for going into a phd were because there was no upward mobility in my "field" of back breaking physical labor. I made a marginal 15-20k which multiplied out for 6 years is 90-120k. I was already a manager where I worked. There wasn't a lateral jump I could have made because after working 70 hour weeks I didn't have the time and energy to apply for "better" jobs. I was too busy living hand to mouth. The phd programs I have gotten into come out to about the same amount of money, 120k-130k of guaranteed funding, but this doesn't include the health insurance that I did not have and desperately needed or supplemental funding for summers and so forth. Nor does it factor in the actual work for wages or physical toil that jobs like working at Wendy's or other fast food/retail work necessitates.
I think that the problem with adjuncting and stale PhDs are real, but I don't think that the "risk" of getting a phd is as dire as suggested in this forum. If you're leaving a 100k year a job then yeah, maybe you should really think about it, but for most people who face persistent poverty I don't think the phd is going to reduce their income over time if it's a funded program.
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I don't think that much of what is being discussed here is useful or important honestly. It's just needlessly stirring the pot since this is literally a discussion that has been posted all across GC at least three separate times in the last three months.
What strikes me every time is a lack of perspective by some posters on how much "lost income" getting an English phd will cost us. This statement neglects the fact that the stipend offered may be more money than many have ever made. That it may provide them with a living wage.
There are benefits of getting a phd that are beyond landing an academic job, such as a sense of security for a minimum of 5-6 years with a living wage and health insurance. I'll certainly try to get a TT job after I finish, but if I don't my quality of life for those 5-6 years will certainly be better than it has been for the last 12 years of my working adult life or what it would be if I didn't do it at all.
- CarolineNC, smg, empress-marmot and 4 others
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Oh, seriously, Pisces Iscariot was fabulous. I think "Obscured" is the best track on the album too, though "Pissant," "Hello Kitty Kat," "Girl Named Sandoz," and "Starla" are all pretty fabulous too.
Some of the b-sides from Mellon Collie were great as well -- "Ugly," "Marquis in Spades," "The Aeroplane Flies High" (with Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt!)... Yeah. I miss the mid-90s sometimes.
Oh wow, I totally have to listen to some pumpkins now. I haven't listened to them in years, but I have an overwhelming urge to hear "obscured" "mayonaise" and "stumbleine".
I miss the mid-90s too
- stumbleine and Dr. Old Bill
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I don't know exactly why I'm posting this other than I'm worried. I do want Chapel Hill but I do feel stupid for potentially taking so much (to my poor ass) less money. What would y'all do? Anyone at UT or UNC have any feedback?
(PS I'm visiting both in the next few weeks so this might not be a problem if I really love one and hate the other)
(PPS I realize this is like a totally a non-problem)
I'm going to PM you about UNC.
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This is a bit of a soapbox issue, I know, but I often try to think about future GC members in coming application cycles when I post...and they should know that trying to hit 165 or so on the verbal is very much worthwhile, even if it takes another attempt and another $200 to do so.
I hate to reopen the "do GRE scores matter?" debate for the 459th time on this forum, but I do have to say that I disagree with the advice about the GRE. They do matter. If your scores aren't good, retake.
GREs don't matter as much if you're coming from a really great school with prominent letter-writers. But otherwise, they do matter. In fact, they matter a lot more than I even thought when I applied. They help your application get a second or more lingering glance, and if you're not someone who's connected, then this second glance is super important.
Of course your writing sample should be fantastic as well--original, well-written, and forcefully argued. But just because the writing sample matters MORE, it doesn't mean that the GRE doesn't matter that much. I actually think that the "GRE doesn't matter as much as the writing sample!" consensus on GC has transmuted into "GRE doesn't matter at all!" And that's inaccurate, and one of the biggest pieces of misinformation that's been circulated here.
I think that you can definitely have a lower score than 165 for verbal and bomb quant and do miserably on the analytical writing AND fail the lit test in a truly spectacular fashion and still get in. You can have all of this and not come from a great school with unknown letter writers.. because that's what I did. I'm not saying my experience is common or maybe that I wasn't a little bit lucky. But, I would say that I got into the schools I did because they are really a great fit for my research and my writing sample dealt with a topical issue that my POI's are currently working on. Of course, I didn't get into an "ivy" so perhaps if you want that more time should be spent on the GREs, but I don't think it's necessary to shell out hundreds of dollars. I just don't. Work on the part of the application that YOU have control over. Your research can only improve over time as you read current scholarship and engage with it. This is just my two cents obviously, but I don't want future GCers to needlessly throw away money when there are great schools who are willing to look at an application holistically.
All of this being said though, if you have the income to improve your scores and you feel confident that you can do so, then do it. Even if it's just for peace of mind. But don't neglect improving other aspects of your application too.
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I ended up getting personalized bookplate rubber stamps for my LOR's and two other professors who were invaluable during the process. I went through this vendor on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AsspocketProductions?section_id=5720267&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1who was very quick and the products were of a high quality and also affordable.
I am not associated with this seller either so no conflict of interest, I promise!
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I'm on the waitlist and got the email too, so it's a distinct possibility! If I remember correctly, the waitlist email ended up in my spam folder.. Maybe double check or just email to see if you were left out of the loop my mistake! I didn't attend the open house though, so I can't help there. I do go to cuny though (and have some friends in the program) so if you have questions about general things I might be able to help. Feel free to PM!
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I second apppppppplication's post. Three weeks seems like a reasonable amount of time and it will show that you're still interested. After all, three weeks is a long time and things could have changed for you so letting them know you still consider them #1 can only help.
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Ooooh... So hard to pick just the four. This is my current rotation.
Sedgwick
Foucault
Dimock
Felski
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Thinking about saying yes to a school on the other side of the country has got me feeling two kinds of ways.
I'm both
and
And thus Kryten from Red Dwarf trying to understand ambivalence:
The fact that there is not a gif of Kryten's ambivalence is highly upsetting. The internet has let me down today.
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I'm in off the waitlist at chapel hill!!!!!!!! I'm walking around downtown Charleston SC sobbing and I don't even care.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm sorry for the caps, but I know how much you wanted in there. I'm thrilled for you!
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Oh, I didn't take it as pressuring at all! I think it's it's just my own sense of guilt because I thought it would be so much easier to decide after visiting ucla, but I didn't hate LA or the people at all.. Lol
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I loved my visit to ucla, but I want to visit my other two serious options which aren't until next week. I'm also moving with my husband so I have his job options to consider which makes the choice really really harrowing and stressful. I'm sorry if there people waiting for the schools I'm still considering, the decision process is really complicated for me since I'm all over the country with my options.
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Have you visited Michigan yet? I hear Ann Arbor is super nice.
Not yet, but the open house is in two weeks and I'm really excited to check it out!
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Accepted to Villanova with grad assistantship! I am through the roof. I'm bummed about (most likely) not getting into a PhD program, but full funding is nothing to scoff at.
Has anyone heard from Indiana, by the way? I called them last week and was told that all decisions have been made but not all acceptances have been notified. I know the first wave went out in February.
Congrats! I know a friend of mine who hadn't heard anything from Indiana at all was accepted by phone call on April 15th. I think a lot of people make decisions in late March/Early April and that things get shuffled around a lot after that.
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Just got my first outright acceptance at University of Washington-Seattle! My offer of admission popped up on the website after my obsessive hourly checking, and I couldn't be more excited (especially since I've been aching to get my hands on their collection of H. Rider Haggard ephemera). Still waiting on funding details and an official e-mail, as well as my wait list options from Madison and OSU. Congrats to anyone else accepted!
Hooray! Congratulations! One of my best friends is there at a campus visit (for a different program) and is in love with Seattle. I think you'll have a great time.
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My visit to UCLA was wonderful. It really cemented them as a top choice for me without feeling pressured at all to pick them by any of the faculty or current grad students. I will say though I am still completely overwhelmed by all the information and feeling rather tired. I flew back yesterday and I must have slept about 13 hours.. haha.
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So I managed to survive this winter without real winter boots and I am realizing I need to invest in a pair for next winter. Any suggestions? I know LL bean makes great boots but I personally find them so ugly.
I swear by my Sorel's. They have a high initial cost but have lasted for years both internal sole-wise and external leather wise. I can stand inside a huge ice slush while trying to cross the street and walk out with dry feet!
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I actually preferred Designing Women to Golden Girls, though my wife was definitely a Golden Girls fan. She's still close friends with a few of her high school classmates, and they have a whole host of Golden Girls in-jokes that I only half understand...
Yeah, I think it's just that Golden Girls has run in syndication on a variety of stations ever since it has gone off the air, whereas I haven't seen a peep from Designing Women in twenty years or so.
I totally get the in-jokes though, oh yes. I have them too with one of my gal pals
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I did too. With my mom when I was a kid. I'm 30.
Me too! Though I have to admit, I'd forgotten about Designing Women.
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talk about beating a dead horse. -
Email about Harvard finally came through today. Just 4 days after it was uploaded to the website...
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I've been sick and a little stressed about getting things done before I miss a couple days of classes, so I've been watching "easy" tv like How It's Made, Seinfeld, and The Golden Girls. There may or may not have been some Ben and Jerry's involved.
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Congratulations to the newly waitlisted *Fingers crossed for you!!* and to allplaid for making it into a great program from the waitlist!
The Graduate School Ponzi Scheme
in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Posted
Saying a problem exists and discussing possible solutions for those problems are very different. Instead of contributing to a discussion a lot of these posts just feel like air raid sirens. They keep making a lot of noise about an impending threat but are drowning out the possibility for a real discussion. I think everyone on this forum at least knows the job opportunities for TT positions are bleak (and that they are bleak across the board for humanities). That's great. Maybe instead of just repeating this over and over we can start talking about other opportunities. The people who have started talking about those things are being drowned out by the sirens.
That being said, this website http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/alt-ac/is all about alt-ac conversations and opinions which has been interesting to look through. I haven't looked at in depth yet though.
This website from UV seems to have a list of careers/openings for alternate jobs: http://libra.virginia.edu/catalog/libra-oa:3500
This website from UT-Austin has a great pro/con list for alt-ac and how to move in that direction through digital humanities: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/orgs/lacs/Students/Graduate-Students/Career-Guides/Alt-ac.php
This is a consulting website with workshops on how to turn your humanities degree into a useful tool: http://www.alt-academix.com/
Stanford has a great list of even more websites for what to do with a humanities degree: https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/cdc/phd/resources-outside-academia