ProfLorax

We moderators don't like to really police discussion unless it becomes a personal attack, a threat, or plain ol' bigotry. But also, I don't think VM deserves any response. It's clear they feel comfortable attacking an entire field because they read one chapter about the topic (and maybe had a bad experience with a WPA?). I think there are some legit critiques to be made about rhet/comp as a field, and when someone brings them up, I'll be happy to engage. I just hope the OP returns; I'm really glad I made the switch to rhet/comp and found it mostly easy to do so.

I made the transition, and I'm quite happy I did. What draws you to rhet/comp?

CBZ: thanks for such a thorough and candid response! I always like knowing what's ahead, even if it isn't as cheery as I assumed.

WT! I'm so glad you had a great visit. Two years ago, it was the open house that sold me on UMD as well. I think your observations are all on point. Ralph is a present, caring DGS. The professors are all invested in student success (Jane and Leigh in particular are both fantastic). The grad students are friendly and supportive. I've never felt like I was competing with my peers. In terms of living, Takoma Park is the bees knees! Make sure to check it out when you're looking for housing. Other than that, I suggest living near a metro or at the very least a shuttle to the metro. Doing so really opens up the whole DMV area to you!

ComeBackZinc: I always appreciate your reminders about the job market (that sounds sarcastic, but it's really not!). I think it's important to always keep the economic realities of our field in mind. I always wonder, though, how the lit and the rhet/comp job markets compare. Just how dire is it out there for rhet/comp folks? I know it's not ideal--I read the WPA listserv--but I also know lots of rhet/comp folks who are securing TT jobs straight out of grad school. So what's it like on the market as a rhet/comp grad? What sort of experience (teaching, service, research) are you finding to be especially valued by hiring committees?

InHac, interesting! Thanks for responding. My hubs actually works for the DoD, and he's told me that PhD's in linguistics are especially sought after by contractors. Re: adjuncting. I adjuncted for three years before going back to school. I loved the teaching. I loved the social capital of telling people I taught at a community college (outside of academia, people are pretty impressed when a twenty something is teaching at the college-level). I loved the flexibility. I loved the students. I loved the opportunity to test and see if college teaching was for me without making a commitment to the career. I discovered that I do love college teaching and returned to school when I was ready to make the commitment. At the same time, I hated the instability, the threat of canceled classes due to low enrollment (fun times: if a TT instructor's class was canceled because of low enrollment, they would be assigned to a full section taught by an adjunct). I haaaaaaated the shared office space (I remember one afternoon, hoping so hard none of my officemates would barge in as my student told me about the abuse he suffered as a child). I hated the lack of support for office hours (I met with my basic writing students on my own time/dime). I hated paying for my insurance out of pocket. I didn't love teaching the same class over and over and over and over. What I'm trying to say is that when we talk about adjunct teaching, we need some nuance. The exploitation and lack of security? Bad. But the teaching can be great. And for some of my friends, the flexibility was ideal, especially for military partners who have to move every few years. One of the challenges, then, is to advocate for halting the adjunctifacation of the university and for more TT jobs while also advocating for improved working conditions for adjuncts. I don't think this is an unreasonable goal, but rhetorically, it's hard to advocate for dismantling a system and improving the system at the same time.

WT: I believe in the spirit of your post, especially in regards to the importance of adaptability. But I'm curious if this is true: I found that to be true when I was on the job market with my BA. But is that the case for the PhD? Many of the alt-ac jobs people talk about (think tanks, non profits, administration, publishing house, etc) are also super competitive, and I imagine the most successful candidates have work experience in the field. But I could be wrong! Is there a source that discusses how the PhD in English fares in the alt-ac world?

Visiting Assistant Professor, I think. The position typically full-time with benefits but short term (maybe three years?) and no option for tenure.

YC, GeoDude's advice echoes what pretty much the rest of us are saying. He (making a gender assumption here based on the user name) defended you and spoke with such compassion and insight. I'm sad that you missed the value of his post because of his discipline.

Fantastic news, Ramus! I hope you join us at UMD! I may not be at the open house on Friday. My daughter caught a cold when we were in Tampa for CCCC, and I seem to be catching it from her. Still, feel free to ask me questions about my time at UMD; I'm happy to talk about my experiences!

I didn't think you were. Your post, which I didn't see until I submitted mine, is what inspired my second clarifying post. ETA: I actually agree with pretty much all you've said, IQ.

I actually have different advice for an MA program: be open. Take classes that interest you. Write seminar papers that excite you. See where you end up. I started my MA thinking I would study one thing (20th century American literature and feminist theory) and ended up studying something completely different (feminist rhetoric and disability studies). I'm so glad I took classes that sounded fun and explore different fields in English studies during my MA program.

People posted while I was typing out that response, so I want to be clear: I am not responding to many of the thoughtful and compassionate replies suggesting that YC prioritize their health before reapplying.

First off, youngcharlie, I think there's some valuable advice in this thread. I can't imagine a scenario in which getting three masters degrees is a good idea. Taking some time off to teach (maybe as a sub?) and doing some independent research may be a good use of the next year. Second off, I want to again state how problematic it is to imply that someone is unfit for the academy because of anxiety. Academia is not kind to people with mental disabilities such as anxiety, depression, and autism, but the solution shouldn't be to keep those people out. The solution should be to challenge ableist rhetoric and culture. Scholars with mental disabilities face unique challenges in academia, but many succeed and work toward improving the climate of the university. Melanie Yergeau, a professor at University of Michigan, has a powerful article in Disability Studies Quarterly about being institutionalized her first week as a TT prof. That article won a prestigious award at CCCC this weekend. Margaret Price has written extensively about how her mental disability has made her a better professor and scholar. Amy Vidali has a piece coming out about her experiences with depression as a WPA.

You should also check out Connected Community (is that it's called?). Lots of CCCCs presenters upload their materials just for this purpose!

Three years of funding just isn't enough. Frankly, I don't care if a program insists that PhD students always get funding their fourth and fifth year; if the funding is guaranteed, then guarantee it! Your third year of a PhD program should be focused on starting a killer dissertation, the kind that will get you a job, not rushing through just in case you can't get funding. Or, just as bad, focusing your energies on applying for funding rather than your research. Sorry to be so blunt, but offering three years of funding is straight up unethical, especially in this financial and political climate.

Seeing these numbers really stresses the fact there are no "back up" schools. Thanks for putting this together, hypervodka!

I agree that meeting with POIs could be awkward and unproductive at this stage, but you can make yourself known by presenting at the grad student conference and attending various talks put on by the department.

I'm married to a software engineer; I'm a PhD student of rhetoric. And honestly, I love that my partner is a non-academic. I talk to him about my work constantly, and it's really a great exercise: finding ways to communicate my super niche research interests to someone outside the field. Not to mention, he's actually helped me when I've gotten stuck and needed a new angle. I remember reading the same text over and over again and having nothing new to say about it; I asked him to read a page and tell me what he thought. Our conversation turned into a seminar paper and then into an article. It's wonderful to get an outsider's perspective sometimes!

OMG. The fashion. I want to raid Miss Fisher's wardrobe. I watch... a lot of TV. Like, a lot. My favorite new shows are Agent Carter, Empire, Jane the Virgin, and Fresh Off the Boat-- all of which have amazing women characters. I'm also mourning the end of Parks and Rec. I'd insert a gif of Sad Batman here, but I'm on my phone.

Hi all, As you probably noticed, Sum_1 is no longer a part of the community. I have removed what posts I could, so no need to continue to report old posts. If he returns, please let me know. Thanks. P.S. Congrats on the acceptances! It's fun to watch this thread turn to a celebratory note.

I just had my first child a few months ago, and I'm currently in my second year of my doctoral program. Here are some scattered thoughts: 1. Yes! Baby-wearing is amazing. I like the Moby and the Ergo. 2. If you or your partner will breastfeed, look into getting a pump (insurance will pay for one) and a hands free pump bra (Simple Miracles is the best). 3. Connect with other parents in your program and your new neighborhood. This is huge! Fellow students can tell you which professors are supportive of grad student parents and which aren't. Local parents can tell you the best pediatrician and childcare options. We are thinking of setting up a part-time nanny share with another couple in my program. 4. Seek out amazing, supportive faculty and potential advisors. Two of my main mentors have three kids, and they have been great about working with my schedule and me bringing the baby to meetings. 5. Lots of people will give you parenting advice. Listen, process, then decide what will work with you, your spouse, and your baby. Our baby ended up being a great sleeper (knock on wood!) without any sleep training or schedule, while other parents I know swear by strict schedules from day 1. Every baby and every family is different, so trust that you and your spouse will know or at least figure out what works best for your child. That's all I have for now, except this: enjoy it. My daughter is only two months and some change, and I already feel like she's growing so fast!

Congrats, Megeen! Like Wyatt's Torch, I'm also happy to answer questions about living near UMD. I think finding a place to live is one of the bigger challenges. The cheapest places are pretty far from DC and from a metro station, but people who live that far out (especially without a car) tend to feel isolated. However, if you know where to look, you can find some good deals in closer neighborhoods, like Takoma Park (my favorite!) and downtown Hyattsville. There's a UMD shuttle that goes to many of the neighboring cities (Silver Spring, Hyattsville, Takoma Park). Also, many of us (me included) live in DC proper and either drive or metro to campus. So many options!