jlaser

I feel like I've been trapping myself in this miasma of "what ifs" and this really helped anchor me. Thank you.

I got offered two fully funded PhD’s: one from Harvard and one from Northwestern. I chose the latter because the fit of the faculty was better and the department seems to place quicker (but not any more than Harvard, just quicker). My field is very small so I feel like this was a stupid decision in retrospect because Harvard is more legible regardless of field (or is it?) whereas it’s unlikely most search committees will know that northwestern is the top of my field. I wanted more job security and idk how the hell I convinced myself that that was better than Harvard just because it’s program is ranked better. Even my mentor told me to go to Harvard and now April 15 passed and I feel like a fucking idiot. Could someone shed (honest) light on how much these brand names matter on the academic job market?

Is there a consensus on the rankings of American Studies programs? According to NRC rankings, Yale, Harvard, Brown, NYU, UBuffalo, and Washington State are among the top. However these rankings were collected 10 years ago. USC isin't even on the list, despite being (according to a mentor) among the top 3. I've never heard of UBuffalo or Washington States programs. Harvard's I've heard has declined as has Brown. UMichigan was considered top but I'm not sure now that Phil Deloria and Tiya Miles have left. I know Yale is still considered the top but its unclear how exactly reputation and ranking work within this field (challenges of inter disciplinarity)

Trying to decide between two programs. The one in my city is better (but not *alot* better). Students also seem happier. That being said, I have this strong urge to get away from my home city and state (getting sick of it) and someplace else. But I don’t know if that’s a juvenile and no strategic decision. How important have you all felt moving has been to your personal growth?

For example, if students of the program were placing into schools like UPenn, USC, Brown, Uchicago from 2004-2010, should that even be considered as part of the placement rate? Or do only the last 3-5 years count as an indicator of the kind of schools the program places into?

I'm deciding between two schools right now. The first one is #1 or #2 in my field. Intellectually - the fit is great. And it places its graduates its in TT programs I could see myself working in. The only thing is - its in the same city I went to undergrad in (not same school) and have lived in for most my life. The past few years especially, I've really begun to dislike this city (the people, the feel, the density, the noise, etc) Full disclosure: I've had a lot of negative things happen the past few years as well so being fully honest there is this negative association and urge to get away and start my life somewhere else. It's childish but it is what it is. Being here is comfortable because its familiar, even if it is a ambivalent comfort, if that makes sense. On the other hand is the second school, it is still top ranked (probably because its an elite ivy league institution) but not seen as on the cutting edge of anything. The fit isint as great as the other school, but still good. More issues with the program here. Nothing intolerable, but just some things I'll have to grapple with. They are giving me slightly more money. And the cost of living is cheaper. I'll have a campus, wide open green spaces, and be able to "go somewhere" specifically to do my doctorate. For those of you who had gone through this before - how much of a factor did location play for you? Was it important to leave your "nest" in doing your doctorate? Did you wish you had stayed? Did it seem to matter and in the end you were so busy that you hardly cared about location? Do I just need a therapist instead of a move lol?

*in contexts where everyone got along and clicked during the visit weekend. I want to know who might be staying or going for my incoming cohort but I don't know if this is weird to ask.

School 1 is widely considered to be "the cutting edge" and one of the leaders of my field. An impressive array of scholars. The fit (culturally, intellectually, interpersonally) is *really* good. Great funding package. Great networks and connections. -Only downside is that it is in a location I really don't like and is not too conducive to my mental health (I've lived here the past 17 years - so it's not a prejudice haha). Will I become depressed? Probably not, but it'll definitely eat away at me. I could move far - but it would make my commute upwards of 1.5 hours and prevent me from being around the school, my cohort, etc. School 2 is considered also a top 5 program but def not the cutting edge or leader. It's seen as more conservative and still "finding itself." You can see this in the student and faculty research demographic. You have a weird mix of "cutting edge" and hip scholars and then some who do very "conservative and outdated work" (in the words of a mentor, not mine). Whereas School 1 there is more of a synergy within the department, in this one it seems as if there is an odd mix between keeping things as they are and keeping up with the cutting edge. So there are faculty considered cutting edge who I could work with, but its not like school 1 where the department as a totality has that reputation. Might be more risky coming here for that reason? (in terms of fitting in) -I know department rank matters more than school rank, but another factor is that this school is the or one of the most well known ivy leagues in the world. Only mentioning that pedigree power would work in my favor if it decide to pursue work outside academia. -Also very great funding package (slightly more than school 1). Area would be very nice for mental health. Big campus, wide open area, very relaxed energy all around. Both seem to place their candidates in tenure track positions well. I'd dare say that because of reputation, school 1 is slightly better. Please make my life decision for me (kidding) but would very much like to hear opinions, past experiences, thoughts.

I think so yes!

I was recently unofficially admitted (I think?) into a program, they are asking me to send a digital copy of my official transcript as well as to be mailed one by my institution. I told them I have an official copy which I could scan myself, the only thing is, at the top there is an “addressed to” which is for a different university. I also got this transcript in the Fall (I graduated long before then so in terms of coursework it makes no difference). Is it okay to scan this transcript even though it’s dated earlier and has a different school name on it? Since they’ll get another one from my school in a few weeks? Are these trivial details?

Had an interview with my top program early last week...the committee just contacted me asking for my official transcript, is that a good sign? Or is it still up for grabs

Do programs over admit by a few students knowing some will likely decline their offer? Or If they intend to only accept X amount of students - will they do so and then waitlist a handful of other candidates? What happens when they have less or more students than expected? (I'm in the Humanities, but answers from the social sciences and STEM are welcome )

Do programs over admit by a few students knowing some will likely decline their offer? Or If they intend to only accept X amount of students - will they do so and then waitlist a handful of other candidates? What happens when they have less or more students than expected? (I'm in the Humanities, but answers from the social sciences and STEM are welcome )

Did they not ask who you wanted to work with or about faculty? What was the interview focused on? And which discipline is this for? (I’m in English & Com Lit)

Brown and Penn (not for American Studies though). What was intense about it exactly? And that’s great, I’m sure your enthusiasm showed! As for the cohort size, I *think* 5-6 is average? I applied a previous year to NYU American Studies and it was 6 if I recall correctly.