senorbrightside

Being shut out this year makes me incredibly sad about my future in academia

Unions are incredibly important. They will bargain for health care, for raises, for better working conditions, to avoid us being exploited as TAs when we have our own research to take care of. Our union has done a LOT for our campus.

Same, in case I reapply next cycle.

I'm Spanish literature, but I also got shut out this cycle. Several people read my SOP and said it was good and helped me make it better. However, I only applied to three and I know one of the potential advisers just couldn't take on any more students (and I'm grateful they didn't try, honestly!)...I'm sure you were a great applicant, but the cards just weren't in your favour this time around. It just gives you time to reflect if it is what you really want, time to contact potential people (I did, but it was really late in the game), and do tons of self-care. Don't be too discouraged!

Thanks for your advice and the link! I'll keep checking it out.

Ageism much? I'm older too. It sounds like you dodged a bullet at UT Austin if they asked that...and me enfado por ti. In regards to grad school, people tend to land where they're supposed to be at the right time, so if it's meant to be there's next year and other schools that might actually be a better fit. I think my research interests are changing to a different focus so...not saying it doesn't sting but just more objective about it, and it's also preparing me, if I do continue in academia, for all the rejection to come! :D

Thanks for the recommendation of Fullbright, as that had never crossed my mind! It looks like the deadline has already passed for this year, but it is something to consider for the future. Spain would be my first choice though as a peninsularista But I would love the opportunity to see South America as Transatlanticism also helps applications. Gracias por la recomendación.

Just checked Colorado's web site and...a third rejection. As I only applied to three schools...I officially did not get in anywhere. I want to curl up and cry, but I still have reading to do, discussion questions to prepare and the class I teach to prepare so...I'm now freaked out that I will be unemployed and homeless once I'm finished with the M.A. now I worked SO hard for this and had the door slam shut on me. And I also am wondering if committees remember people from previous years, like if I apply to the same schools with an improved application (not my M.A. institution though, but the other two) next year if they will remember "oh yeah we rejected him last year" and just toss it aside.

Enhorabuena to all the acceptances. I'm happy (and jealous) for you. I just logged into U of Chicago to see the official rejection. After the rejection from UIUC in December...that makes 2 rejections out of the three applications. I still have a few weeks to wait for Colorado-Boulder to come in, but I don't have much hope. I'm reconsidering this whole academia thing...yet at the same time being rejected just makes me want it more, jaja.

A friend heard from Chicago yesterday...and me nothing. I'm facing potential shut out now and my imposter syndrome is worse than ever

I'm applying to Chicago in Romance languages/Spanish literature so slightly different for me...but still getting shellacked all the same! Just got an email from UChicago Division of the Humanities: "Explore our academic culture". Umm, I wouldn't have applied if I hadn't already done that! Good luck to everyone!

I might as well fess up. I was an internal applicant at UIUC from the MA to Ph.D, and I was rejected, and this is the worst I've ever taken any grad school rejection. And now wondering if it's too late to throw together an application for places that don't have due dates until Jan as I only applied to two others as I was so certain I would be able to continue at UIUC. Any advice? I feel really weird about asking faculty for letters of rec now right after they just decided I wasn't right for them.

UIUC has only decided on a select few at the moment. They will decide on everyone else at a later date.

I'm torn right now. I'm hoping to continue on to the Ph.D where I'm doing my master. There are days I think they'll admit me to the PH.D. , and there are days where I think they must think I'm the biggest idiot ever and I have no chance whatsoever. I'm probably applying to a couple as backup, and if I don't get in, I'll at least know so I have time to apply to the ones due in January. I may take a gap year too between the M.A. and Ph.D. My focus is on 20th and 21st century Iberian/Peninsular studies, so if anyone has any recommendations of programs, I always enjoy looking at them

I'm considering applying to UC Boulder for the Ph.D, but I've heard they are more focused on Latin America, and I'm interested in contemporary Iberian studies. I know they have two separate tracks, but I'm curious to know the opinion of an actual student.

I just feel so lost about everything right now.

I'm now getting worried. I'll be in Spain until July 1st and will be moving to Urbana-Champaign (not far from St. Louis!) in August...and haven't really given a thought to finding a place to live. I'm so used to Spain that I don't even know how to begin looking...basically commenting so I will remember to come back to this post and read advice from others and stuff

Anyone else going to UIUC in the autumn? What are you studying? M.A. or Ph.D? Feel free to introduce yourself! Spanish Literature M.A. here..

Three years later...I'm wondering the same thing. I know Chicago is two hours away or so in case not so good.

I've accepted UIUC's M.A. in Spanish Literature offer Excited! Scared!

I'm 99.9% sure I'm accepting it. I have to wait until I talk to a professor from undergrad who wants me at her uni, but I know she's going to tell me to go to UIUC as it's such a great fit for me. Let me know how things go during your visit. I won't even be in the US until July so no chance to visit! I hope there'll still be a place to live then!

Pues enhorabuena por tu acceptance, y si eras tu, muchas gracias por tu plaza Mucha suerte a ti también!

I didn't want that to be the deciding factor, but there are a ton of other factors that lead toward school B. I just have a great relationship with the one professor at School A that would make it liveable, but the more I write about i Now watch the grad school not accept that recommendation of admission haha Unless School A gave significantly more funding...I'm going with School B. I don't know why I include family as I've been in Spain for 10 years... but, being in the US again it makes a difference too.

I just got accepted off a wait list at Illinois-Urbana Champaign (MA for Hispanic Literature). This was my second choice so..I'm ecstatic!

I now have a decision to make suddenly this week after I had counted on grad school not happening this term. School A: I love the department, and one of my fave professors from undergrad now teaches there and she would do what she could to let me research things that they may not normally have. It would be a good transition back to academic life after 10 years in Spain teaching English. The cons are its location (six hours away from anywhere, not that I would have time to travel much, but you know), location in general, and from what I hear, it's not very gay friendly (I'm gay. I know the department and school are LGBTQA+ friendly despite the location)). I see myself happy in the department but miserable the second I stepped off campus. School B: An amazing school, has a lot of professors who line up with my interests perfectly, small town but closer to big cities, and closer to my mom whose health isn't great. It also has a much better ranking for what its worth. It's gay-friendly. Cons: I would be happier off campus but it might be a rougher transition back to academia and wouldn't have the support of the one professor. Funding and costs of living are about the same for the two so not factoring that in. I think I know which one I want, but I wanted to type it out to people who understand the situation better and who might have insight. Thanks in advance