fellowfellowshipfellow

Me three

I declined my offer from the GC a couple of weeks ago. I hope good news reaches you soon. Good Luck

I see what you're saying, TakeruK. Asking this info of departments would only yield empty responses or "noise" as you put, which makes a lot of sense. Seems I'm looking for something concrete in a process that is too subjective and volatile, or a way to cheat a system that can't be cheated. Thanks for the advice and perspective. DiscoTech, I'm not sure why having aspirations is a "red flag"? The goal isn't just a TT job. The goal is to have the greatest impact on a student population and do research, while also having health care. If I have specific schools in mind that would give me access to those populations I'm interest in working with, like CUNY for example, then I want to make sure that by the end of my PhD, I am an attractive hiree to these programs. If not, I have no problem looking for work outside of academia. None whatsoever. Thanks a ton for the feedback, guys.

TakeuK, thanks for the feedback. I might have been unclear about my intentions and posting under "Decisions, Decisions" might not have helped either. What I'm wondering is if it's common practice to contact the "dream job" to help set goals for oneself as they pursue their doctorate, and if not, then why not? Of course, there are other resources (like my current advisors) to help with selecting a program, but I'm curious to know if becoming familiar with prospective employers' ways of engaging the hiring process might be more helpful starting now rather than later. The questions I offer above are superficial examples. It's more about understanding how to orient myself so that I have a "straight shot" (in the loosest and least deluded sense of the phrase) at these positions. I like your point about selecting a program that opens many doors, including those outside of academia. Of course, its no surprise to me that there is a dearth of TT positions. I've spent years preparing for doctoral work and debating whether this is the route I wish to go. I'm not so naïve as to think that I can guarantee myself a TT position, and I hope my original post doesn't read as if a guarantee is what I'm looking for. I have agonized over my decisions every day for about a month, so my question is rooted very much in an attempt to anticipate what cannot be known. Still, I figure it's better to have some sense than no sense, so I turn to the lovely people of the GC

Hey All. As I work through my decisions and try to navigate the darkness that is the future job market, I'm tempted to just go straight to the source. Has anyone ever contacted programs they'd like to work in post-graduation just to find out what they're specifically looking for in potential tenure-track hires? It seems to me like a good tactic for not only planning the next 5 years, but also setting goals, developing specific skills, and (as I'm in the decision phase currently) deciding what schools are best according to whether these specific hiring committees are looking more at program rank, advisor name, or individual success. Any thoughts?

Awesome. Thanks

MickeyRay, thanks for your feedback. I figure that as the job market continues to shrink, the standard goes up - thus concentrating the jobs in the hands of the few elite. However, this might have been a quick assumption on my part since I didn't even consider that the department could be at fault. You make a good point.

Let's say everything else about the program is a good fit. Top tier program, lots of great professors, close to home, good funding, good city -- but the program has terrible job placement. Would a poor record of job placement be a deal breaker for you? What if your alternative is a program that's less ideal in terms of funding (although, still perfectly livable), location and fit (slightly less ideal), but much better with placement? Should we first and foremost consider job placement when choosing between programs that are a "good" fit?

True that. NYU isn't as exploitative as some graduate programs, and I respect that they respect me and my kin. At this point, its up to the Open House to seal the deal. Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. Reading your responses, and lurking on other threads has done the much needed work of snapping me back to reality. It takes exceptional funding to break the tie between two great programs, and NYU understands this. I'll still be visiting both programs in March, and while I am leaning towards NYU, I will keep an open mind, ask the tough questions, and find my best fit.

Actually, to your point Glasperlenspieler: NYU does offer a certificate in theory through The Program in Poetics and Theory, which isn't all too buddy-buddy with the Philosophy program. Apparently the poetics and theory program is more "history of western philosophy" while the Philosophy program has a "strong analytic bent." Luckily, that certificate program is available, so if a philosophy is the answer, poetics and theory just might be. heliogalabus, I'm liking you're thinking on the correlation between funding and rank. I just got my official acceptance letter from NYU today, which details a funding plan that's even more generous than what I've described above. They're literally throwing money at me. I imagine only so many programs are able to do this. One thing that does concern me, though, is how strict NYU's program is. Students are not able to take incompletes, and if exams are failed more than once, you are "terminated from the program". This seems a bit severe.

The content in this thread is amazing. I've had mentors make me feel less than for even considering friends and family as a factor in this process. I don't think I can add much more to what has already been said. I'm pretty much in the same boat as the OP, so I'm appreciative of the advice you all have offered. Best I can do is agree: while its not impossible to do this work alone, why make an already difficult process unnecessarily more burdensome? (At this point, I'm leaning more towards NYU myself) Best of luck Edit: Didn't notice the bit about the joint PhD. I guess at that point it's considering whether the sacrifice is worth the reward, which now may be the case

Thanks, OutdoorsEd. The Open Houses don't take place until late March, but my Skype meetings with the DGSs are coming up soon. You're right. Its hard to tell without having had these interactions in person. I guess what I'm looking for is some reassurance that not picking Cornell isn't the end of the world. I don't have an academic background, so to have reached this point is quite the feat. I want to make sure that I go down the better of two paths. And by "better" I mean: come graduation, which program will have brought me closest to the ideal version of me as both a person and a scholar? Things for me to think about.

Ahh, congrats to you as well! Maybe we'll see each other come open house . I'm sorry to see Cornell didn't work out for you. Do you think it would have been a hard decision for you to choose between the two?

Hey all, Congrats to those who received acceptances this go around. I never thought I'd find myself among you, yet here I am faced with the challenge of picking one off the top shelf. My proposed research area is 20th/21st century postmodern lit -- lots of experience with magical realism, afrofuturism, historical fiction that seeks to rework the master narrative of 1492. Feminist, Poststructuralist and Postcolonial theory is pretty essential to my work. I'm looking for a program that's super interdisciplinary, allowing me to work in the realm of cultural studies, critical race studies, and media studies. I need coursework that's theory heavy and a department that's not afraid to ask those metaphysical questions that push the boundaries of the discipline. Now, it seems to me neither NYU nor Cornell are afraid to play in this territory, but who does it best? According to USNews' 2013 rankings, Cornell is top 10 while NYU is top 20. Does this matter? Cornell is Ivy and NYU is honorary Ivy. Thinking of the job market, do either of these positions and distinctions hold weight when pinned against one another? In terms of practical matters, NYU's funding is better. The McCracken Fellowship has to be one of the best fellowship offers out there. $26,000+ and an additional $22,000 for those who choose to teach. I live in NYC, and if I stay in NYC, I won't have to pay rent. I'll basically save up my fellowship funds, and in 5 years, buy a house. Cornell's Sage Fellowship offers $25,000+ a year with 4 years of added summer support, and Teaching Assistantships during years 2, 3 and 5. Of course, I'd have to live in Ithaca, which is 4+ hours away from NYC, pay rent, and be away from my support system. It seems to me that NYU is the more practical option, but Cornell romances me. Cornell English actively seeks to push the envelope. (Although, a website communicates only so much truth. Is there anyone out there who can speak to this point?) Being outside of the city is also a temptation. NYC STRESSES ME OUT, but because it is NYC the resources are infinite. I just have to be willing to get up every day and travel an hour and a half to get there. Though, I'm so jaded by it all that I'm afraid I won't even bother to hit NYPL to get that one book that can be found nowhere else. Ultimately, however, I'm not interested in making unnecessary sacrifices. If Cornell isn't worth it, then Cornell isn't worth it. I'll go to NYU, which is an awesome program, do my research, collect my funds, graduate, buy a house, and *maybe* get a job to pay for it. The wisdom of the experienced is MUCH appreciated. Upvotes for all.

nah, it posted. Sorry to hear that