JustPoesieAlong

So, I've never done it. But, one thing you might consider is having your kids in school/daycare closer to where you're doing your PhD in case something comes up and you need to pick them up during the day. I know faculty who have that kind of commute and that's what they've done to negotiate things. I would also definitely talk to the DGS and whomever is involved in TA assignments to make sure they're aware of your situation. Hopefully, they'll be willing to work with you on the scheduling so that you don't have to commute every day and that your teaching times work with your childcare arrangements. Good luck!

I declined offers at the University of Iowa and the University of Oregon last night. Hopefully this helps someone! 

Having just wrapped up coursework, I can give you my perspective. I've been told repeatedly that coursework isn't really a factor on the job market. If a hiring committee is hiring a postcolonial literature assistant professor, the committee will want to see a dissertation, conference presentations, and a publication or two on postcolonial lit--not so much how many courses the applicant took in postcolonial lit and theory.
 
That being said, there are many other ways coursework can be significant. 
You can use coursework to fill in any gaps of knowledge you have in your field/area.  You can use coursework as an opportunity to read some of the texts that will for sure be on your exam (for example, I took a rhetorical theory course because I know that rhetorical theory will be a big part of my exam, so now I'm acquainted with many of the major texts on my reading list). You can use coursework to establish a relationship with a professor you may want to serve on your committee (I took a course way outside of my interests just to have the opportunity to get to know a specific professor). You can use coursework to start thinking toward your dissertation (I have at least one seminar paper that will likely be turned into a dissertation chapter).  You can use coursework to explore a field that interests you and you want to learn more about just for fun (and who knows? This field could in fact shape your dissertation!). Also, talk to your advisor! He or she may have some ideas about what courses will be most beneficial for you at this juncture, as well as the skinny about which professors to avoid. 

I think that the most benefit you get from teaching during an MA is the sort of first-year funding you may be eligible for in a PhD program. For instance, several of my acceptances came with a TAship in my first year specifically because of my previous teaching experience. Those who didn't have previous teaching experience either received different forms of funding for the first year--or, at worst, no funding until the second year. So, no, I don't think a lack of TA experience will prevent you from getting into a great PhD program, but it may limit your funding possibilities for the first year or more. 
That said, while I'm grateful to have received first-year TAships for the PhD programs that accepted me, teaching during my master's program was brutal. I'm glad for what it added to my CV, but working at a writing center will probably allow you more time and energy to focus on your scholarship and building relationships with your advisors--things that will pay off immensely when you apply to PhD programs. 

I love picturing a surfing Foucault... being freaky. CONGRATS!!

And congrats to everyone else here too!!
 
I have officially accepted my offer from Clemson. 

I think that the most benefit you get from teaching during an MA is the sort of first-year funding you may be eligible for in a PhD program. For instance, several of my acceptances came with a TAship in my first year specifically because of my previous teaching experience. Those who didn't have previous teaching experience either received different forms of funding for the first year--or, at worst, no funding until the second year. So, no, I don't think a lack of TA experience will prevent you from getting into a great PhD program, but it may limit your funding possibilities for the first year or more. 
That said, while I'm grateful to have received first-year TAships for the PhD programs that accepted me, teaching during my master's program was brutal. I'm glad for what it added to my CV, but working at a writing center will probably allow you more time and energy to focus on your scholarship and building relationships with your advisors--things that will pay off immensely when you apply to PhD programs. 

I think that the most benefit you get from teaching during an MA is the sort of first-year funding you may be eligible for in a PhD program. For instance, several of my acceptances came with a TAship in my first year specifically because of my previous teaching experience. Those who didn't have previous teaching experience either received different forms of funding for the first year--or, at worst, no funding until the second year. So, no, I don't think a lack of TA experience will prevent you from getting into a great PhD program, but it may limit your funding possibilities for the first year or more. 
That said, while I'm grateful to have received first-year TAships for the PhD programs that accepted me, teaching during my master's program was brutal. I'm glad for what it added to my CV, but working at a writing center will probably allow you more time and energy to focus on your scholarship and building relationships with your advisors--things that will pay off immensely when you apply to PhD programs. 

Just officially declined my spot at Ohio State, which was terrifying as I haven't made a solid decision yet! Well, my decision was that OSU isn't right for me...
My area was gender studies/theory, if that helps anyone!

This is high on my to-read list, particularly for it's parallels to Paradise Lost. Just realized that, in my fervor to prepare for moving, I packed my copy up with a load of other books. Bummer. Maybe next summer I'll get around to it. 

Very happy to report that I signed my soul over to Stanford last week! 
Now to learn how to surf... 

Formally accepted UNC-Chapel Hill's offer  

The DGS at USC just let me know that they’ll be offering my just-declined spot to someone on the waitlist; hope it’s one of you all!

Got in at UCR, so I'll be staying local. I'll just be moving like 40 more minutes inland and staying in California. I'm happy.

Moved off of the wait list at UCR and I've been recommended for admissions. My official offer should be coming soon.

I applied to a ton of places.
I was inspired by a phone call by Karl Gunther, at U of Miami, who said that 1) the academic job market for early modern british historians is rather small and 2), U of Miami hasn't placed a tenure track job in Early Modern history since 2008.
My focus is on Tudor/Stuart England focusing on Anglicanism and English Religious History.
So, i admittedly shotgunned it:
PhD History
U of Illinois at Chicago - Ralph Keen
Vanderbilt - Peter Lake
Purdue - Melinda Zook
PhD Religion
Fordham - Patrick Hornbeck
McGill - Torrance Kirby
SMU - Bruce Marshall
 
I accepted the offer at Purdue. Purdue and Dr. Zook have an unusually high record of tenure track placements, especially in British History.

I officially accepted an offer from IU-Bloomington! It's so hard to believe that the process is finally over.

I received an email this morning from UNC Chapel Hill to inform me I was admitted off of the waitlist! This is one of my top choices and I could not be more thrilled. It also means I’ll be turning down the waitlist at IU Bloomington, so hopefully someone moves up in the ranks there! 

I e-mailed both of my waitlists a few days ago just to ask where I was on each waitlist. Both of the e-mails I got back were very kind and explained that the majority of their waitlist movement happens in late March/early April, so I think those of us waiting will have to sit tight for at least a few more weeks.  

The best advice I've been given about negotiation is that you don't have to use a school as leverage, but you should provide explicit reasons as to why you need what you need. Now a school can give you leverage (it never hurts to show you have offers elsewhere), but you can successfully negotiate without those other offers. 
 
You might say, for @agunns situation:
"I'm very excited about the offer, however I have done some research on Bloomington and the cost of living. While I'm aware that the cost of living, I'm concerned that on this stipend I might have to seek other work to live comfortably. A stipend of (idk $1k more per semester) would cover the books, fees, and other expenses that will help me graduate in a timely manner."
None of that required a name drop. 
Another example:
"I'm currently looking to expand my work on xyz, but it requires (insert thing you need: a new laptop, adobe suite, extra travel funds for research), with the current stipend I do not believe I'll have room in my budget to cover these items necessary for my research. Is their room to add this to my package?"
You can see where I'm going. 
 
You certainly shouldn't advertise to schools that you'll accept no matter what, but do be prepared to accept immediately if they give you the things you ask for. Only ask for the things you truly need. And this goes the same for people with multiple offers. Don't waste people's time if you don't plan on attending. Don't try to create bidding wars among schools, and certainly never lie about your packages (not saying anyone here is claiming to do it, I just think its appropriate to mention). 
Additionally, for you @automatic, I would ask all the questions you want. Give negotiations a shot too. The worst they can do is say no. If someone asks you what else you're considering simply say you are weighing your options and still making your decision. I doubt someone will press for more. Have fun learning more about your program, and take advantage of the attention and experience. 

Yesss! Congrats! Wonderful!

Accepted at WUSTL.

I'm currently on a gap year right now! I did NOT want to take a break but was shut out last year. 
I was lucky to find two great part-time jobs in very different fields (I work at my university's library and as a nanny) and it has been nice to be in a semi-academic setting while still getting a break. I didn't think I needed a break, but I did!
The best thing I've done on my gap year is treat it as a break. I did go to an international conference last summer, but aside from that I've tried to distance myself. It's so easy to get tunnel vision in academia, and I think that -- especially if you've had a really frantic past few years, as I had -- it's good to step back and realize that there's a ton of life outside of the university. Not only has this been good for my mental health, but it made facing the uncertainty of grad school admissions much easier. When I was rejected last year I was DEVASTATED and thought my life was over. This February was still tough and my first few rejections still sucked, but I also knew that I'd be okay if I didn't get in. 

Hi there! Congratulations on your decision on a gap year. Obviously, different strokes for different folks, but I am just so glad I took time out before applying to PhD programs. I have actually been out for about three years. When most everyone in my master's program was applying for PhD programs, I felt very uncertain about that decision--and also very overwhelmed at the thought of applying to schools while also scrambling to write a thesis and do coursework and teach two full classes. My son had a school he was happy in and my husband had a job, so we decided to stay here. 
I was lucky to get a research assistantship that helped with part of the summer after graduation, but I did feel the need to scramble and get whatever job as quickly as possible. I was disappointed at how few teaching gigs I found, and knew I wanted to do something at least vaguely related to my degree, so I scoured the staff job postings for my university and the nearby colleges. I had sooo many misses, but ended up landing a job as a secretary in the office for academic affairs at my university. It was pretty tedious and frustrating, but I gained a hell of a lot of insight into the inner workings of a large state school. I left pretty quickly after getting a job as an editor for one of the university's research institutions. 
All the while, I found myself longing for academic life. I missed being around people who cared as much as I do about literature and writing and "the life of the mind." I also discovered how much office life bothers me--the rigidity of the office structure drives me crazy. My time as an editor had a huge role in motivating me to apply to PhD programs. Not only because I was working with faculty and wishing I could be generating more of my own work instead of editing theirs, but also because I started seeing some real connections between my academic interests and conversations taking place in the field I'm currently in. That helped me to narrow my scope of focus in a way that I am really excited about and that I think paid off in my applications. 
Balancing a full time job and applying to grad school, not to mention having two kids, was incredibly challenging but definitely doable. I spent a lot of my lunch breaks reading/writing, and would work until I couldn't keep my eyes open most nights after the kids were in bed. It was painful, but I guess I survived. My work performance wasn't great, but oh well. 
Overall, I'm very happy I took this time out from academic life. I have an assurance that I lacked before about my fit for academia and about the satisfaction it can provide me compared to other career choices. I also think that holding professional jobs as a non-student has given me a maturity that I didn't have before--another quality I think showed in my applications and I am sure will pay off as a doctoral student and, later, as a job candidate. 

Husband officially accepted Harvard's offer! I'm so excited!!!

LOL! I have family in Texas, once I’m done with my PHD I will definitely look for jobs down there. It’s not the water, it’s the Shiner. Definitely the Shiner.