agnesmartin91

I just want to drop that everyone on here should be looking at the Art History Job Wiki pages (if you are planning on pursuing a PhD to work in higher education): https://academicjobs.fandom.com/wiki/Art_History_2025-2026. Getting admitted to a PhD program in art history is bleak these days. Finishing the dissertation when there are fewer external grants and abusive advisors are rampant is bleaker. However, bleakest is the job market.

This is a pointless discussion. At the end of the day, jobs are based on "fit." Some of the more elite schools understand a PhD from a Harvard or Yale as a "good fit," while more regional universtities might say that a Harvard student can't possibly understand the needs of their student body. At the same time, there is alot of truth to sub-specialities. I would have never considered a Kansas or Ohio State a "go to" place for a PhD in Art History. However, they certainly have been placing some of thier students in good jobs (likely because of thier Asian and Latinx foci).

Unless you are looking at MAs, it is getting very late to be hearing back from a PhD program. Most have already sent out at least first round interviews.

Looks like we are on pace for a doozey of a cycle. Between established programs pausing admissions for incoming graduate students and other places laying off tenured faculty, who knows what will unravel.

I don't know him or most of the folks at the Courtauld. However, this is not unique to the Courtauld. This is everywhere. Your advisors and even committee members shape your entire trajectory not only at a specfic institution but also beyond. Regrettably, the number of toxic advisors and programs has continued to increase. This is something most academics have to navigate.

So much of graduate school admissions (like the job market) is unpredictable. All you can do is put your best foot forward and remember that much is out of your control. Very accomplished candidates get turned away left and right. So much is just plain old luck! However, I do think it is worthwhile asking yourself if being a professor is really what you want. The anxiety will never get better (especially as the tt-track jobs most likely end up going extinct). Can you live with this feeling in every research fellowship application cycle? Job market cycle? Professional review cycle? I wish I had thought about this more before embarking on grad school.

I want to piggy back on this and add in UW-Madison. UW-Madison has many of the same problems as Case. In fact, Madison might be even more severe. The department has a culture of neglecting its currents graduate students -- in terms of advising but also in terms of funding. Multiple professors in this department are sexist, racist, and antisemitic. Even further, at least one professor in the department has made serious ethical violations that I cannot elaborate on here. Feel free to use your imagination. Many current students are considering dropping out from the program all together. Save yourself the time and energy and go elsewhere.