Puglover19

Hi everyone! I applied for a Ph.D in English Literature for Fall of 2016. I was very lucky and got admitted to a few Ph.D programs. I've decided to attend Indiana University. It has always been my dream to become a college professor even though I know the job market is really, really ugly right now. I recently had three professors at my undergrad university (small liberal arts school) tell me that I should go to Indiana and then try to transfer to another school after I get my masters there. He said that, if i get a ph.d from Indiana, I will be less likely to get a job than I would be if I went to a more "elite" school. I did apply to two pretty "elite" schools this time but one of them offered me a masters and the other waitlisted me. I found the application process exhausting and upsetting and would prefer not to do it again. It does seem completely offensive to just leave Indiana after two years especially since they are investing money in me as an MA/PHD candidate. Bloomington looks really neat and I think I'll like it. At the same time, I want to have every advantage possible. I wonder if I should just start all over and spend the year improving my application (re-taking GRE especially-I only scored in the 94th percentile for verbal which I think may have been low for someone wanting to study english. I don't test well). I'd almost rather do that then just go to Bloomington and leave abruptly after two years. If a Ph.D from the school I've chosen won't make me as competitive on the already rough job market maybe I should make changes to my applications and re-apply. I just feel very conflicted. I wish my professors had told me this before if they really believed I wouldn't get a job. I just find it hard to believe that there are any guarantees about this job market. I guess I want to know if you guys think my professors are right. I need some reassurance that I am making the right decision by heading up to Bloomington in the Fall. I hope that isn't too silly. It has just been such a long exhausting process that I hardly even know when I'm right anymore. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!