Rhet Man

Thanks. One thing to bear in mind is that (at least as far as I know, and I don't see any reason why they wouldn't want to tell me) I was never on a wait list for first-year funding. It didn't take much for me to conclude that, in my individual case, it would be worth it to wait an extra year rather than pay for it all at UW. My first year of applications has gone well enough for me to conclude that. Wow...this process makes me write like Molly Bloom. Stream of Waitlist Consciousness?

I see your SIGH and raise you an I CAN'T DO THIS. I have just declined UW's offer after reviewing what my financial situation would be for a year. I'm a little embarrassed to have made plans to visit only to pull a 360 on them, but we all make mistakes. I am now back to a more pure form of waitlist limbo as I wait to hear from Carnegie Mellon and Michigan State.

I see. As a borderline-Luddite (at least for a college teacher), it's going to know MSU has its diversity. I fall into the political rhetoric/peace studies realm, though I'm not sure what track that would be.

I see you were accepted there, congratulations. Two obvious questions: 1. Are you attending? 2. Is "DRPW" another way of referring to the Rhetoric and Writing program? Not sure what the D and the P stand for.

Oy. Since you're this thread's only respondent so far I'll go ahead and ask...Excited about planning to attend or just excited about its strengths?

Dear All: Oddly, I don't see a thread for this excellent school and program. I'm currently 4th on the waitlist for this PhD program, and would love to hear from any of those in front of me (particularly those who received the original offers). THANKS!

Oh, yours was better.

Congratulations!

Well, then same-boatian congratulations are in order!

Thanks for the clarification (I think I share the questioning of that stuff as empirical data). I would argue that pretty much any TT assistant professorship would have to be viewed as an "awesome placement."

That certainly sounds sufficient to me. I wasn't advocating saying something like "the program director is super-hot."

You don't think the specifics of the accepted offer are helpful to the declined school?

Where did you get that 80% stat? I need to show it to my father (he's the Samuel Johnson of graduate student fathers).

I think it's a flawed approach to discuss the tenure-track job market for "PhDs in the humanities" as if it's homogeneous. For instance, my sub-field in English constitutes about 20% of the total new job hires (thus making it the fastest-growing), and there's only two other specializations that made up more than 10%. I'm very realistic about my future prospects, but I do take some comfort knowing that my area of study is growing. Again, however...the article's reduction of the question of attending PhD programs to JUST the dearth of jobs is borderline idiotic. We don't do this because it's "practical."

Agreed. Moreover, the author makes it seem as if a tenure-track position is the only POSSIBLE positive outcome for a PhD recipient. Reflective of his own high self-opinion, perhaps? Frankly, his attitude toward undergraduates disgusts me. I wonder if he truly believes that the best and brightest undergraduates are truly naive, psychologically-damaged, praise-seeking, halfwits who don't really deserve their high GPAs. If so, I wish he, and others like him, would help expand the job market for us newbies by getting the hell out of the profession.

I am strongly considering a visit at the end of this month (I have a new job and the CCCC conference in the first week of April, so it's my last chance to size up the situation). Would be interested in trying to coordinate my visit with anyone in here (who knows, maybe we could split some costs) if they'd be interested. Of course...that would mean shedding our secret identities! The horror!

I think an explanation that focuses on why the best offer can't be refused is not only acceptable, but expected. It's not just about politeness; these programs need as much information as they can get W/R/T student choices. Of course, don't say anything negative about the schools you're turning down (I'm guessing you were on top of that part already).

I think you get this,but I am fairly sure this means that you're in the rare category of student accepted to the PhD program directly out of undergrad. To get funding on top of that (especially at a school with so little funding) is quite an achievement. Three things for you: 1. Congratulations. 2. Do be sure I'm right about this. 3. What is your area of study?

Congratulations and thanks for the details.

Thanks for the details! And congratulations on your success.

I just sent you a private message with a link I think you'll find helpful. It won't completely answer your questions, but it will definitely tell you which schools openly prioritize which undergrad/MA programs you attended.

Thanks (that provides an overview of the state's issues). I'm pretty sure I'm going to try to wing it if I can't get into Carnegie Mellon or Michigan State. Obviously, getting in one of those with funding would make this a moot point.

As my sole acceptance (as of now) will be unfunded in year one, my waitlist schools will probably determine my fate. In April.

OK, I've reviewed this entire thread (if someone wants to comb the "Results," be my guest). I count 4 acceptances to PhD programs and 1 MA acceptance. None of the 4 PhD program accepted people explicitly stated that they were getting funding in the first year. 2 (including me) stated that they weren't. The MA accepted student, meanwhile, did get funding. Possible Conclusions: As Brian Reed indicated, this is about a dearth of funds, due to a state with no income tax and of course the overall economy. The conventional wisdom that "if a school really wants you, they'll pay for you" is probably imperfect in this scenario. Just thought I'd speculate.

I've just heard from Brian Reed (indeed a great guy), and I'm not going to have first-year funding. Obviously, this increases my desire to land a spot at Carnegie Mellon or Michigan State (off the waitlist). If I don't get in either, I'm probably going to go with UW anyway...just a tough break.