current_grad

To be honest, I think it really is as sample as asking "Am I a good fit for your program?" I think it would be prudent in your lead-up to this question to have expressed your own impression of the program, referencing your familiarity with the type of scholarship coming from professors in that program and highlighting in what ways you feel like your own academic interests are reflected in this scholarship. I think my emails went something along the lines of, "Dear Professor X, blah blah blah In conducting research for my writing sample, I have found your work, especially X, Y, and/or Z, to be particularly illuminating for my analysis of the blah; the more I pursue this line of inquiry, the more I find myself drawn to these ideas, and I feel like you would make an ideal mentor for me as I pursue my graduate studies, etc. I'm wondering if you think that I would be a good fit for your program." I suppose that, personally, I don't see any reason to beat around the bush; completing an application (as I'm sure you are well aware) is not only expensive, but is also a huge drain on your time and mental energies. Might as well find out early on if it's worth completing the application. One potential caveat (and perhaps something to check for in your current personal statement): while it is absolutely vital that you articulate some clear research interests in your personal statement (and in your correspondences with professors), you also don't want to pigeon-hole yourself. This, I think, was one of my mistakes the first time around, since my personal statement (in retrospect) depicted an individual who already had made up his mind not only about what ancient author he wanted to study, but also which texts by that author he wanted to study -- a regrettably poor choice. The second time around, I articulated multiple research interests, highlighting the range of projects I was working on (doing one thing with my Master's thesis, doing something else with a conference paper), and made sure that the admissions committee knew that, while I did have some particular questions in mind that I wanted to explore in graduate school, I also wasn't wed to those questions alone. So, stick with it. Your summer plans sound wise. Incidentally, I don't see my program on the list of schools you applied to. While I may be on the lit. side of things, I am very aware of the status of our archaeology program, which is absolutely right up there with the schools to which you applied. What do you study?

Some thoughts: 1.) If you think your ancient languages are your problem, do a post-bac. The Penn program I know for a fact has been HUGELY successful at placing candidates. The Georgetown program is also great, and I have no personal experience of other places (UCLA, UNC), though I'm sure they are also great programs. I don't think there's a ton of funding (if any) available for post-bacs, but if you really think that a weak background in ancient languages is the one thing keeping you from making it to the short list, then I think the post-bac is the logical choice (especially since the financial commitment is not terrible). 2.) Where do you stand with your modern languages? You should definitely be at a point with one of your modern languages that you can pass the reading exam immediately, and it would behoove you to have some background in a second modern language if you don't already. A great way to demonstrate your modern language skills would be to ensure that you have some foreign scholarship listed in the biblio. of your writing sample. 3.) Once the application season is over, sit down with somebody and go through your writing sample. When I was interviewing for programs, my writing sample was the one thing that continuously came up in conversation. One DGS told me that the writing sample is, for them, the most important piece of the application, and they are always looking for people who can demonstrate not only a sophisticated writing style, but also an ability to forward and support new and interesting ideas (as opposed to rehashing the same arguments that have been bandied about for decades). 4.) Once you start reapplying next year, I would get in touch with professors at the programs to which you are applying, if only to email and say, "Hi, my name is X, I'm interested in Y, and I'm wondering if you think Z university would be a good fit for me." There really is something to be said for "fit" -- both socially and intellectually -- and programs want to create cohorts that are both socially cohesive and intellectually complementary. If somebody you contact tells you early on that she doesn't think Z university is the right place for you, then you can save yourself some money and some potential future frustration. 5.) Don't bother retaking the GRE, unless your scores strike you as SIGNIFICANTLY lower than your abilities would suggest. The GRE is a waste of time and money, I think. These are, of course, not sure-fire ways of encountering more success next year. These are things that I did when reapplying for programs. I have no idea of really knowing what it was about my application that resulted in a happier outcome the second time around. Also, I would start applying for every single external fellowship or grant that you can find. If you can bring some of your own money with you to a program, that is ALWAYS a plus. Good luck!

Hi Lucan, Firstly, congratulations on receiving a funded offer! In speaking with friends at other programs, I know that this has been an abominable year to be applying to PhD programs. A lot of programs are facing stiff budget cuts, and thus they are slashing cohort sizes dramatically. Rutgers is a rather strong program, and they would not have extended an offer to you if they did not think that you would make an excellent fit for their program. The fact that you also liked the program is a good indication that Rutgers' instincts were correct. This being said, here are a couple of things that I would encourage you to keep in mind: 1.) Graduate school is a 5-6 year commitment. It is not simply a stepping-stone to becoming a professor. It is 6 years of your life -- 6 wonderful, enjoyable, stimulating years. Consequently, you want to be somewhere that makes you happy. Harvard may be Harvard, but some people are miserable for 6 years in Cambridge. You are not going to do your best work when you are unhappy on most days. Job placement is a relative statistic -- students are just as responsible for getting themselves jobs as professors are, and a program that is going to equip you well to be a teacher, that is going to give you the freedom and the environment (i.e. happiness factor) to do the best work you can do is the program where you want to end up. 2.) ONLY do the post-bac if your language preparation is lacking. If you think that another year of Greek and/or Latin would have earned you a few more acceptances, then a post-bac might be advisable. I know both Penn and Georgetown have had tremendous success in placing students into top grad programs, but I think it would be a waste of your time and money to enroll in a post-bac if you don't need it. An MA is another matter, especially if you were to receive a funded offer from Vanderbilt. I know Vandy has also had a lot of success placing candidates. If you don't get a funded offer, however, then I can't believe it would be worth it to go into debt for two years, only to be faced with the uncertainty of applying to PhD programs again. 3.) While this shouldn't necessarily be a deciding factor, I believe Rutgers is a program where you have to earn an MA before you get your PhD. As a result, you could always apply to transfer out after you get the MA. Obviously you don't want to enter into a program already thinking you are going to leave it, but you would have the potential flexibility to look elsewhere if you ultimately decided that Rutgers was not the ideal fit for you. Nevertheless, as somebody else pointed out, Rutgers participates in this amazing collaboration with Princeton, Columbia, CUNY, NYU, and others that would allow you to take classes at any of those programs. This means there is always an opportunity for you to establish relationships with professors at other programs -- professors who could ultimately be on your dissertation committee, and thus other professors who could write on your behalf when it comes time to apply for jobs. So, go ahead and chat with Rutgers about job placement if that is your biggest anxiety. Talk to your current professors. Everybody will have their own opinion, but ultimately yours is the only one that matters. Remember that you do not have to make a commitment one way or another until April 15. Wait to hear back from Vanderbilt. And trust your gut. For what it's worth, I rolled the dice three years ago and turned down a fully funded program that was on par with Rutgers to do a funded Master's in the UK. I reapplied after completing the Master's, and I had my pick of programs. However, I turned down my initial offer because I wasn't sure the program I had been accepted into would be a good fit for me. If I had liked the program more, things might have turned out differently. Good luck, and don't forget to bask in the glory of your acceptance. Once you start your PhD, it will be a little while before people are fawning all over you again.