urbanfarmer

First of all, you're going to be asked this (and ask others) a LOT. Unless this is for an interview (in which case I assume they want more information)... my general rule about elevator pitches is to make it as short and coherent as possible. Generally, in academia, "what are you interests/what do you study/etc" is a similar question to how others might ask someone new, "what do you do for work?" i.e. the ideal answer is, "Oh, I teach fourth grade at X Elementary," not a five-minute speech about your teaching philosophy. If someone is interested in it, they'll ask follow-up questions. Especially as you start, no one is expecting you to have a fully coherent idea of your research, so something like, "I'm interested in using queer theory to read early Puritan capture narratives" is probably enough! Of course, if this is in a conversation where someone (a potential future advisor, etc) asks: "tell me about your project," then have something a bit more thorough. I'd still try to keep it fairly short, though-- you would rather have someone ask you questions than get bored!

As a current student, and someone who has a lot of friends in many different kinds/feels of programs, let me try to answer as best as I can, re: what to think about when visiting: You MIGHT click immediately with the campus/faculty/students. Or you might not. Neither one is (necessarily) an indicator of anything. You might not click immediately because you're nervous, or the students you'll get along with best weren't around when you were visiting, or because some people take a while to get to know. Or you may click, and then it turns out that that faculty member is actually fairly hands-off when it comes to advising, or that student goes on leave, or the one conversation you had turns out not to be indicative of any further connection. I have a friend who is super close with their cohort and faculty members. I have a friend who gets along with some of the people in their program, but not all of them, and isn't close with any of them. They're both very happy in their situations. I'm somewhere in the middle, and also happy. Remember, this is a professional situation: as long as you feel like you can get along with people, and won't mind shooting the shit for a few minutes before talks/class/etc... that's the main thing! The friend who isn't close with anyone in her program has a huge friend circle totally outside of the school, and thinks of being in her program as going to work (note: this is, of course, easier to do in a big city. If you're in a small college town, maybe care much more about potential friends). While I know not all of you are coming right out of undergrad, if you are, remember that grad school isn't necessarily an all-encompassing social situation like college is. A few things I'd recommend thinking about, during visits: 1. Do you think the conditions here will allow you to work as best as you can? Will the stipend REALLY work, or might you have to get some loans/work an evening job? Does there seem to be a lot of structure? Is there a grad student union? What's expected of you over summers? Ask current students about one thing that they wish they could change about the program. 2. Rates of burnout and depression are really, really high among grad students. Maybe you're the sort of person who likes to put your head down and do nothing but work... but if not, what other resources are available to you, to help you avoid that? CAN you find friends outside of the university if you want to? Is going to live music important? Do you like being able to go hiking? Are you really into, say, yoga-- and is there a yoga studio around that you think you'd like? Don't forget that you have to be a person, too! 3. What's the insurance like? Do you have any specialized medical issues that might be affected? For instance, I know two students in my program who had to switch off of the school insurance plan because medications they needed weren't covered/weren't covered well enough. 4. Think about not just "can I survive?" on the stipend, but what it will get you. What I mean by that is: will you have to live with roommates? Are you REALLY ok with not living by yourself for the next six years? Will you have money to go out to eat every now and then? Do you like flying to see your family often? Yes-- you're probably going to have to live tightly and compromise no matter what, but genuinely examine what things in your life that cost money add significantly to your happiness, and decide if they can stay there on the stipend you're being offered. 5. If you're a woman (and this probably applies to PoC and queer folk, too!), ask other female (PoC/queer/etc) students about their experiences there. Is there some institutional sexism? Are there other students (or faculty) that they complain about? Anyways, just a few things to consider! Good luck to all of you in visits!

@kendalldinniene That's not a bad thing! UIC basically doesn't accept any candidates without an MA (their website says "Since 2000, we have only accepted two candidates to the PhD program who did not have a degree at the Master’s level.")-- so getting admitted there for an MA is still really good. I would definitely email all the DGS' of the schools you've gotten into, let them know you are REALLY interested, but that you have several offers and couldn't do it without funding.

I think getting an MA can be a great idea if you feel like you're a bit out of the academic game and want to get back into the swing of things! Again, though, I'd just caution you to think about the financial situation... I know if you search around on this forum you can come up with some threads that talk about all the funded MA programs out there-- or else doing one by you might be a good option if there's some aid and you have a job/etc. As I'm sure you're aware, though, especially in a shaky job market, it's always best to avoid loans whenever you can!

As someone who adjuncted for years before going back for my PhD, I can commiserate. Here's some thoughts: 1. Are you doing a PhD in creative writing, or English? If the creative writing track, there's some great programs out there, but still the most important thing for getting jobs is your own work/publishing/etc. (which you don't need a PhD for). 2. Most (all?) reputable PhD programs wouldn't have online classes for the coursework part of the degree, although you may be able to write your dissertation from a distance, depending on the funding situation (most PhD programs are funded-- but are funded on the requirement that you do some sort of work, which is usually teaching. You obviously can't do this from a distance). On top of that, the job market is so shitty that what really gets you into a decent job is a lot of things that would be really hard to accomplish from a distance (developing relationships, having live conversations about your papers, being observed teaching, being part of the academic community etc.). 3. Are there places you could get your PhD from where you're at/within reasonable commuting distance? If staying there is important to you, that might be the best option. 4. Even as an adjunct, having a PhD gives you a (very small) pay boost. It might also improve your chances of getting a full-time position at a community college. If those are your goals (as opposed to, say, trying to get a full-time job at a four-year university)-- you might be able to find some distance learning program that could give you these advantages. That being said, you'd probably have to pay, and wouldn't receive a stipend, so I'm not sure you'd end up on top financially. 5. If you're worried about the low stipends at many programs, you could always consider TEACHING an online class or two to supplement. Someone in my program does that, and while it adds work to an already-overloaded schedule, it also gives them some financial padding.

I'd ask yourself if there is REALLY anything about Chicago that you wouldn't be able to find in Bloomington, that you need access to on a weekly basis. Like, yes, Chicago has great museums, but how often do you go? If it's only a few times a year, there's plenty of other opportunities for getting your museums in besides living in a city with them. Living somewhere like Bloomington wouldn't be my first choice, but I will say that I live in a major city, and many people in my cohort who moved here still--midway through our second semester-- have barely gotten a chance to know it. You really won't have a ton of time to think much about your location (and, as Chicago and Bloomington are both cold places, it's not the sun you'll be giving up). As long as you are happy with the program, and there's a few good restaurants/coffee shops/bars, you'll likely be fine.

There is no shame at all, once he is in classes, in admitting that he doesn't know something. I went to a ~very fancy/important school~ for my MA, and while it doesn't happen often there, it's more because everyone is afraid of looking stupid than because they know everything. Saying something like, "I haven't read much Kant. Would you mind quickly explaining his argument?" is actually really helpful in a classroom. Or if he doesn't feel comfortable doing that, approach the professor after a class and ask them about the theory he isn't familiar with. They'll be more than happy to either go over it with him, or recommend texts to read to get caught up on. You're there to learn, and everyone wants to do their best to help you do that! In fact, it's in the institution's interest to make sure he succeeds; people will be very happy to tell him what texts are must-reads, and what ones aren't worth spending time on. But really about the questions thing... being able to acknowledge something you don't know, while also being eager to learn it, is actually a huge skill-- and will go a long way; not only in the classroom, but at conferences and eventually job talks. We all know that no one knows everything. I think everyone is much more likely to respect someone who does this than someone who pretends to know everything, or stays silent.

I'd still ask lots of questions! Even if the answers aren't going to change anything in your actions, the more information you have the better. Ask questions about resources, atmosphere, mentorship, placement... better to know now than to be trying to figure it out later. Even if the answers aren't great, at least you'll then know what to expect/adjust to going in. As for stipend, I would straightforwardly ask if all students get the same stipend. If the answer isn't an unequivocal "yes," send an email saying something along the lines of "Columbia is my top choice, and I'm thrilled about the program etc etc... but I am concerned about the cost of living in NYC. Is there any chance of the stipend offer being raised? If so, I'm ready to commit immediately!" They certainly understand that money is an issue for grad students, and the worst thing you could get is them saying "Sorry, there is no more money available."

I did three rounds of applications (not all in a row!) before starting my current program-- the first two times, I turned down offers from well-regarded programs (not top 10, but very respectable) simply because it just didn't feel like the right choice to be starting a program then. By the time I decided to apply for the third (and, I told myself, final) time, my interests had completely changed, and I ended up at a school I hadn't even given a thought to previously, and I'm quite happy. If something doesn't feel right, don't push it! However, if you're simply concerned about not knowing yourself as a scholar... well, that's what the coursework period of a PhD is for. Pretty much everyone at an institution knows that your interests are likely to shift while you're there-- probably not drastically, but at least slightly. If you want to be in school, and you're happy with the program, don't stop yourself from diving in because you don't have yourself figured out yet. That's all part of the process... it's not five+ years long for nothing!

Halfway through the first year of my PhD, and thought I'd throw in a few other things. I know y'all are thinking about the basics like funding and placement records, but I think people often overlook the "life" part of being in a PhD. It's a long haul, and so thinking about what is likely to make you relatively happy and stable during that time is just as important (or maybe more) than some perks like extra conference funding: 1. Union activity. Is there a grad student union? How active is it? What is the administration's relation to the union? (For instance, if anyone is considering UIUC this year, I'd do a quick google search and see what's going on there right now... it's a nasty fight!) 2. How much do "life" factors matter to you? Some people are totally happy putting their head down and just working, but how much do you want to be able to do outside of school? Will the location/price of living allow this? (For instance, when I was applying, a mentor gave the illustration that even though someplace like Columbia will offer a generous stipend, it still isn't much to live on in NY. A stipend at UVa, though smaller on paper, would allow you to have your own place, etc. If you don't want to do much in NY beyond work, that's fine. If you want to be able to go out to dinner with friends sometimes and not stress about it, or take a vacation now and then, probably not.) 3. How friendly are the other grad students? Is sociability a big factor for you? Do the students seem competitive, or constructive? How often to faculty and students spend time together less formally? 4. What's the insurance package like? Do you have health concerns of any kind that might be impacted by this? I know at least two students in my program who've had to switch off the provided insurance because medicines they needed weren't covered. With the state of the ACA always up in the air, this is more important than ever! 5. Is there a lot of hands-on guidance? Most PhD students I know, in a wide variety of programs, wish their programs gave more structure or guidelines about when to do what. Hope this stuff might help some of you! "Feel" is definitely important, and money is incredibly important, but don't forget that you have to be a person, too! Depression and burnout rates amongst grad students are incredibly high; staying balanced outside of school is so important for preventing this!

From what I've heard, by and large, the writing sample is mainly for them to get an idea that you CAN write, and that you have interesting thoughts. I think the topic is probably less important (within reason-- I don't think anyone expects your WS to be completely narrow in the same way your dissertation would be), although I'd recommend talking about your writing sample in your SOP to give them an introduction as to why you've chosen that paper to submit (in my SOP, I addressed that although my WS was about a completely different area, many of the themes were the same). Obviously most programs have a 20-25p limit for writing samples, so that may end up dictating what you use-- but of course you could edit your thesis chapter down if you wanted to (which is what I did).

Yeah, I think very briefly talking about your writing sample, and then showing how that connects to your interests is a good idea. That way, the committee would have a clear idea of how the work you've done might show what you're capable of doing. And I wouldn't worry too much about a theory approach unless there's something you're really interested in. At least at my M.A. program, a large part of the program seemed to be to teach many different theoretical approaches. And no, it isn't! Just a reference to the fact that I used to be a farmer.

My undergrad experience was also very not-rigorous... due to a combination of the nature of undergraduate classes, and me being very young and doing only what I had to do to get good grades, not digging deeper at all. That in mind, I chose to do an M.A. first, which was great for me. The first semester was a bit of a shock in terms of what was required, but it was sort of a boot-camp to get me ready for a PhD program (although I took several years off in between starting each of my degrees). If you feel unsure about your readiness for graduate work, an M.A. is a great idea. It can possibly make you a stronger candidate, while giving you the time to make sure you're prepared for (and want to be in) a PhD program.

Think of the SOP as being the thread that, in writing, ties all your materials together. As was stated by hj2012, they're not going to spend a ton of time reading everyone's 20-pg writing sample (probably)-- so convince them to. I started my SOP by giving a summary of my M.A. thesis (which was my writing sample), then had a paragraph talking about what my research interests are (how they related to my writing sample, and what I wanted to continue studying in the future), then had a few paragraphs explaining how my prior education and work experience made me qualified for a program, and how my research interests developed, then ended with a short paragraph about why I was applying to that specific program. Look into programs a bit, and mix in your "real" reasons with some other ones. Do the classes look interesting? Do they have a good reputation for getting MA students into PhD programs? It's like applying to a job-- even though you're applying because you need to pay your rent, you also have to sound like you know a bit about the place and there's SOMETHING about it that's interesting to you. Feel free to also say, "I plan on pursuing my PhD, and X program seems like it will provide me with the mentorship and skills needed to succeed further in academia." Don't worry about this being a place where you are writing something especially "new." Cover letters may catch an employer's interest with their content, but they're certainly not something that's ever "fun" to read-- and as hj2012 said... this basically is a cover letter.

Money is really important, and as has been pointed out, living expenses can really add up. However, it doesn't really sound like a terminal MA is on the table at UIUC. If it's strongly discouraged (to the point that only one person has done it in ten years), you might rub some faculty the wrong way if you really want to leave-- which wouldn't put you in a good position. If going elsewhere really is that important to you, I'd say definitely go to Georgetown.

It sounds like you want to go to Purdue. But are you going to be totally miserable if you break up with your girlfriend? In which case, all the pros of Purdue don't matter. If your relationship isn't the biggest consideration, however, then I'd just say go with Purdue so you don't feel regret later. I don't think either is a bad choice by any means, but being somewhere you're excited about is important.

I've largely lurked this season, but it's amazing how invested I feel in the journeys of a bunch of people I don't know on the internet. I'm genuinely excited for each and every one of you that's making a decision. It's really fun to see everyone finding their places. Congrats, all! Today, I accepted my offer from the University of Illinois Chicago. It seems like an interesting department that's doing good work in some emerging fields I'm interested in, their placement record is pretty good, and their stipend offer is decent for a state school. Looking forward to see the work you all do!

Would love to see some more current data from this year added to this!!

I emailed them a few weeks ago and heard nothing back! I don't think inquiring at this point is going to look bad at all-- I'm just not sure the department is going to be responsive!

I'm in the same boat... it's killing me!

While I agree that, as per the reasons so many people have given, the rankings are pretty bullshit... this IS true, to a certain extent. I have my MA from a (according to the newest rankings) top three program. I have literally been offered adjunct jobs over the phone without an interview, or told when I do go in that I pretty much already have the job. I know that adjunct positions aren't exactly hard to get, nor are the hiring processes anywhere near as nuanced as the processes for better teaching positions... but I have to say that I've been a bit shocked by what having that school name at the top of my CV has meant to people who've hired me.

@Shuktara Think you're in the wrong place, mate. This is the literature board. Best of luck!

I found a rejection on the portal a while ago-- didn't get an email to check, however.

Echoing the fit piece that everyone's saying... also, I'll admit that I did my applications on autopilot while being overwhelmed at my job. I really wish I would have carved out more mental time for them; I think it would have made a huge difference in terms of the collected quality of my materials, as well as having a SOP that paid much more attention to each specific program. My SOP ended up being very form-like.

Two years ago, I got accepted to the phd program on March 13-- they take a while! And I'd assume MA acceptances generally come out an it after PhD results?