A Haunted House, for All Those Getting ~Ghosted~

[bpilgrim89]

I am unsure whether I have been shut out (yet), BUT! I have been before! So, I thought it might be good to create a space for those who didn't match with a program this cycle. What do you think went wrong? Are you going to apply again? If so, what are you going to do in the meantime? If not, bless you for knowing that academia is space we all should be running away from, and what will you do instead?

[WildeThing]

So, I'm wary of posting here in case I later do get accepted, but right now I'm looking at 2 straight rejections (and both have been fairly emphatic: I realize now that Cambridge is still in the process of accepting and rejecting candidates, which means that I was probably rejected very quickly in the process; Chicago did not even offer to rip me off with their MAPH), and a host of implied rejections. It's not looking good and feeling worse. I applied to A LOT of schools in an attempt to maximize my odds, but still aimed for the very top which might have been a mistake. However, some of these schools really were a perfect fit and I hoped that would help. I'm still holding out hope that some of these silences will turn into acceptances, or that I make it off an invisible waitlist someplace, but more and more I am thinking that I should have aimed 'lower' and that this will be painful.

[CulturalCriminal]

Given that my partner has another year on their degree, the deal was that I apply to programs in the area I won't regret going to. This means that I am going to be doing things much differently if I go into round 2. I plan to apply to at least 10 programs, of various 'tiers.' That said, I think I'll stick to American Studies or Lit/English programs next time around. I applied to comm and media studies programs this time, but am not sure I'd repeat that decision again. Likewise, I don't think I'll apply to multiple different types of programs at one university.

Edited February 13, 2018 by CulturalCriminal

[bpilgrim89]

40 minutes ago, WildeThing said:

I applied to A LOT of schools in an attempt to maximize my odds, but still aimed for the very top which might have been a mistake. However, some of these schools really were a perfect fit and I hoped that would help.

This. When I showed my advisor my list of schools, his response was, "I see you've decided go big or go home!" Everyone goes to graduate school for different reasons, and for me, employment after the PhD is a serious concern. I know plenty of other programs produce great scholars and interesting research, but placement rates and post-graduate outcomes matter too. So, even if I do get shut out again this year, I am not sure I would have applied to different schools.

 

23 minutes ago, CulturalCriminal said:

Given that my partner has another year on their degree, the deal was that I apply to programs in the area I won't regret going to. This means that I am going to be doing things much differently if I go into round 2.

Same!! My partner is still finishing up their ~job stuff~ which meant an entire coast was off limits for applications this cycle. *looks longingly at UCLA*

[CulturalCriminal]

As I anticipated, my only hope is getting in off of the waitlist for a program. Though I'll hope for the unexpected, my excel spreadsheet of programs is likely going to start getting some serious attention over the next few months.

[bpilgrim89]

2 hours ago, CulturalCriminal said:

As I anticipated, my only hope is getting in off of the waitlist for a program. Though I'll hope for the unexpected, my excel spreadsheet of programs is likely going to start getting some serious attention over the next few months.

There is still hope for the waitlist! People do manage to get off of them!

I too am trying to get off of one (though I have since gotten one other acceptance.) I decided to write a "letter of continued interest," where in two very short paragraphs I 1) affirm my interest in the program, i.e. telling them they are my first choice for graduate study, 2) relay notice about my other offer, and 3) update them about any additions to my CV. I don't know how much of a difference it will make, but I think being enthusiastic and concise is crucial.

[CulturalCriminal]

@bpilgrim89 I have actually done something like this (though the additions to CV is a good point), but never got a response. Same for the "thanks for the update, I look forward to any news" after initially getting waitlisted. I know someone else who has had the same thing, even calling the program POC during the day twice to get no answer.

I really want to reach out somehow anyways, given my key methodology has somewhat made the next logical step (from postco to space/place) and there are two awesome folks in that department that I didn't list as POIs that would be perfect. At the same time, I don't want to seem flip-floppy (even though the two approaches intersect so heavily).

Edited February 24, 2018 by CulturalCriminal

[menalta17]

What do you think went wrong? Are you going to apply again? If so, what are you going to do in the meantime? If not, bless you for knowing that academia is space we all should be running away from, and what will you do instead?

1. I love the title of this thread! haha Clever!

2. Although I'm still waiting to hear back from 2 waitlists, the odds don't feel like they're in my favor so I'm already considering myself shut out for the second year in a row. I personally think my GRE score is the thing that's killing my application. Its super low. I'd retake it but the whole thing was financially and mentally draining. Right now, I'm working as a therapist within the field I got my Masters in. I'm kind of content in this space but also know that it's not where I want to be in 10 years (s***, even 2). I'm debating on taking more research and stats classes and applying to research positions and weaseling my way into a program that way. We'll see. Although I'm okay as is, this is not where I want to be and I've made peace with that. 

[Stella_***]

Same here! I only got in one school so far, but their placement rate doesn't look good and I was hoping to find a position in academia after grad school. I'm on the waitlist of another, but I'm not sure how much I can count on that. I did get an interview from them, but when I emailed them about whether they'd want me to send additional recommendation letter/writing sample, they told me to hold off for now. Personally I feel like it's always good to ask before sending anything additional - just to make sure your stuff gets noticed. Another good way to show interest is to ask to be connected with a current grad student. I think that really helped me determine whether the program is a good fit and also show that I'm really considering it.

Here's my Plan B/Plan C/Plan D:

1. If I get funding, I might do a masters in East Asian Studies at my current school. My field is comp lit, but since I do Chinese/German comparison and haven't taken any East Asian classes, an MA might be helpful. Plus my boyfriend works in a city nearby, so the temptation to spend weekends with him is also high

2. Give up academia and work in global development. I have a double degree in Commerce and interned at nonprofits. Still not sure if I'm ready to give it up entirely but it's something I've been thinking more and more with the flood of rejections...

3. Get a masters in Europe? Not sure about the quality and fit, but should be nice to spend a few years in a different country

Still waiting and weighing my options. Any thoughts would be helpful haha! I definitely feel the disappointment and anxiety, but yeah I'm trying to make peace with it

[youngim]

@ranny820 I feel like I'm in the same boat! I got into one school with full funding (comp lit) but I am waiting to hear from another waitlisted school (English). I feel very fortunate and I will take whatever offer I am given, but then again, I am also worried about placement after. Since I am an international student, I wonder if getting placed in the U.S. would be more difficult once I graduate. I don't see myself coming back to East Asia since my research interests may be too interdisciplinary for the very traditional English departments here. Would this mean I would have to look for other visa-sponsoring work while I'm in the U.S? Would I even get a visa for non-tenure track or CC positions? 

Waiting to hear back from about 7 other implied rejections so I am still holding off on a final decision. 

 

[Stella_***]

@youngim Do you mind sharing which school you got in? I got in Oregon and am waitlisted at Rutgers.

I'm also an international student. My interests include Marxist feminism and modern Chinese lit, so if I go back to China I might not be able to publish my work. I think I'd apply to jobs everywhere. I really don't mind working in a different country than China and the US.

I'm traveling right now, but when I go back I'll talk with my professor about this. It is a big decision and I don't want to make the wrong choice  

[CulturalCriminal]

... Oregon is a pretty good school with a strong placement record...

[youngim]

I got into Oregon Comparative Lit and waitlisted at Carnegie Mellon! I'd be more than open to teach anywhere in the world, but I have been worrying a bit about placement. @ranny820 PM me sometime if you'd like to talk more about future prospects as international students. 

3 hours ago, CulturalCriminal said:

... Oregon is a pretty good school with a strong placement record...

I agree! I am over the moon Just trying to make sense of all the different factors, including the fact that I am an international student who will again need to get visa-sponsored at some point etc. Also, should I fail to secure a position in the states, I keep hearing that it might be that much more difficult over here to work in an English department without a more traditional English degree. 

Edited February 25, 2018 by youngim

[Boomski]

Thus far I’ve been shut out. I still have several applications pending, but one is Brown’s MFA (lol) and I think at least two of these are implied rejections at this point (U of I Chicago and Utah). I have a suspicion that I’ll be admitted to Georgia State but that was a safety and a school I didn’t really want to go to, but I live in Atlanta currently and figured why not. I’m not quite sure what to do, but an MA from a second rate state school and a PhD from another, it just doesn’t seem like ideal circumstances to launch an academic career. I’m not sure what I’ll do.

I’m feeling pretty bitter, particularly because I can’t help but think that my institutional pedigree has a lot to do with my results. Obviously, that could just be my ego protecting itself, but I’ve creeped on a lot of current grad students via the department page and compared pub records and writing, and I think I measure up. Been reading a lot of Bourdieu on cultural production to make me feel better lol.

I can’t really imagine going through this again, and since I’m a creative writer, I could use the time preparing apps to actually write and publish and receive actual results. I think I’m most worried about finding an intellectual community to involve myself in outside academia. Because of this I’m looking at a few teaching gigs at private schools. Not what I dreamed of doing, but if it pays the bills and gives you summer off...

With the market what it is I think it’s fair to try and think of it as a blessing in disguise. Hugs to everyone out there feeling similar to me.