lotsoffeelings Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Small potato said: Really really hoping the Harvard and Columbia rejections come out today. I’m starting to feel like I just wasn’t ready this cycle and I’m much more prepared for next year. But also, I’m going to be so sad when I start getting things together for the upcoming year and the 2021 thread isn’t up yet! agreed! Just got my rejection from Princeton and was weirdly relieved to get it. and also, if I didn't want to leave the door open to reapply at Columbia, I would totally withdrawal my application today to get to do the rejecting for once! Edited February 24, 2020 by lotsoffeelings jm6394, Small potato and Kelsey1599 3
Wimsey Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 I also just got a Princeton rejection. It makes me a little sad, since I've thought of Princeton as my dream school for years.
lotsoffeelings Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 1 minute ago, Wimsey said: I also just got a Princeton rejection. It makes me a little sad, since I've thought of Princeton as my dream school for years. I am sorry to hear that sending feelings of hope and resilience your way
gooniesneversaydie Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 10 hours ago, MundaneSoul said: Maybe this is too vulnerable to post here, but I’ve just spent the day teetering on the edge of nervous breakdown because I was so excited about moving on to my PhD, and then after doing some reading on this forum and looking at the state of the job market, I’ve completely lost all hope that I’m going to be able to find a decent job at the end of it all. I just want to do what is right for my partner and child, and now I feel like maybe that’s not this. I don’t know. I feel so lost right now. Sorry. Sorry for oversharing. Don't apologize at all, we all feel the same fears on an almost cosmic level. These are tough decisions to work through and we must be brutally honest with ourselves with how far we're willing/able to go. However, I wouldn't tell anyone that all hope is lost. Some of my previous professors have gone so far as to tell me not to get a Phd (not because of my own aptitude, but because of the job market) and some have said go for it, but only if it's fully funded. There are alternatives, however, and I'm in the process of becoming familiar with them myself right now, because I firmly believe in having a plan B, C, and D. You could possibly teach at a community college or a private secondary school (depending on the state), work in publishing, do grant writing for non-profits, or get a post doc (again, those are competitive too). I had a professor who taught at 3 different community colleges as an adjunct, and while that might not be great or realistic for everyone, it's something. I hope you have a strong network you can lean on during these stressful times (you definitely have us!) and gain further insight to help give you some clarity. BetterLight13, lotsoffeelings, MundaneSoul and 1 other 4
lotsoffeelings Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 11 hours ago, MundaneSoul said: Maybe this is too vulnerable to post here, but I’ve just spent the day teetering on the edge of nervous breakdown because I was so excited about moving on to my PhD, and then after doing some reading on this forum and looking at the state of the job market, I’ve completely lost all hope that I’m going to be able to find a decent job at the end of it all. I just want to do what is right for my partner and child, and now I feel like maybe that’s not this. I don’t know. I feel so lost right now. Sorry. Sorry for oversharing. Agree with all the advice offered above. I'm a newcomer to the forum, but I think it's definitely a place to hold space for other's pain and lift up those who are having success. I'm trying to frame my potential shut-out in terms of having more time to consider what I really want to do with life in the long-term. For so long, the PhD has just been the logical next-step such that I never really took time to reflect on what taking that step meant and what life would be like beyond it. I'm hoping to take the next few months to explore what else is out there, including everything from publishing to law school to pubic policy think tanks, haha. Even if I end up getting in off the waitlist and deciding to go, I think I will be entering into it with a much deeper commitment to it and understanding of why I want to do it. Small potato, Fading_light and MundaneSoul 3
Wimsey Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 9 minutes ago, lotsoffeelings said: I am sorry to hear that sending feelings of hope and resilience your way Thank you! I am trying to concentrate on my acceptances instead of my rejections. Cryss, merry night wanderer and lotsoffeelings 3
Small potato Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 13 hours ago, lotsoffeelings said: I'm trying to frame my potential shut-out in terms of having more time to consider what I really want to do with life in the long-term. For so long, the PhD has just been the logical next-step such that I never really took time to reflect on what taking that step meant and what life would be like beyond it. I'm hoping to take the next few months to explore what else is out there, including everything from publishing to law school to pubic policy think tanks, haha. Even if I end up getting in off the waitlist and deciding to go, I think I will be entering into it with a much deeper commitment to it and understanding of why I want to do it. Completely agree! I took it for granted that I knew I wanted to do academia for basically all of college, if not longer. I didn’t do enough thinking about what it means to transition out of undergraduate research into graduate school research because I got so used to knowing how to navigate my own university, and I think this is giving me the opportunity to really reflect. MundaneSoul and Kelsey1599 2
Cryss Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 2 hours ago, Wimsey said: Thank you! I am trying to concentrate on my acceptances instead of my rejections. Same. I am really thankful for my acceptances. I don't wanna sound ungrateful or anything. But it's been hard to receive 5.5 rejections (expecting the Columbia one soon) in a row, with one being from my reach school. It's quite hard to separate rejections from self worth (and having done Creative Writing in undergrad, I consider myself a pro at receiving rejections). This process has been unusually and probably unfairly brutal. I know some people are also facing shut out. Sending so much strength to everyone here. You are definitely worth it. gooniesneversaydie, Wimsey and merry night wanderer 3
tinymica Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Happy Monday! To everyone who received a rejection today, I’m with you. Here’s hoping we all get some good news this week. Small potato, Kelsey1599, Dogfish Head and 2 others 5
TiredStressed Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Still waiting for my UNC rejection to come in after seeing them on the board. Anybody else not heard yet?
Tessjane77 Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Ugh. I just got two rejections and am feeling kind of bummed. Still either waitlisted or haven't heard from my top choices, though!
gooniesneversaydie Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Spoke to two friends last night lamenting about the current situation. Neither understands the world of academia, but were supportive nonetheless. However, when I explained that one possible reason for rejection is that another medievalist was chosen over me, one friend shouts, "Wait! God! There are more of you??? Who the f**k studies that?? Who else chooses to study medieval sh*t??" Then, my other eloquent friend shouts, "Nerds, that's who! You should start a nerd school, so the rest of the nerds can attend nerd school!" And there we have it, friends. The origin story of how I started my very own "medieval nerd school." All are welcome. MedievalIllusions, SomethingWicked, The Hoosier Oxonian and 6 others 9
asongreference Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 42 minutes ago, TiredStressed said: Still waiting for my UNC rejection to come in after seeing them on the board. Anybody else not heard yet? I have also not heard from UNC! I’m also just waiting for that rejection but I’ve had no portal updates and no email lol. TiredStressed 1
tinymica Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 (edited) Officially waitlisted at UVA! Maybe not the news I wanted but I’m grateful for any news at all. Now I have to wonder if it’s worth remaining on the waitlist... Edited February 24, 2020 by tinymica SomethingWicked, merry night wanderer, Dogfish Head and 2 others 5
SomethingWicked Posted February 24, 2020 Author Posted February 24, 2020 6 minutes ago, gooniesneversaydie said: Spoke to two friends last night lamenting about the current situation. Neither understands the world of academia, but were supportive nonetheless. However, when I explained that one possible reason for rejection is that another medievalist was chosen over me, one friend shouts, "Wait! God! There are more of you??? Who the f**k studies that?? Who else chooses to study medieval sh*t??" Then, my other eloquent friend shouts, "Nerds, that's who! You should start a nerd school, so the rest of the nerds can attend nerd school!" And there we have it, friends. The origin story of how I started my very own "medieval nerd school." All are welcome. What about Americanists? I, too, wish to attend nerd school.
gooniesneversaydie Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 5 minutes ago, SomethingWicked said: What about Americanists? I, too, wish to attend nerd school. I have a special place in my heart for Americanists (one of my undergrad mentors is one), so hop on the nerd bandwagon! SomethingWicked and digital_lime 2
MedievalIllusions Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 8 minutes ago, tinymica said: Officially waitlisted at UVA! Maybe not the news I wanted but I’m grateful for any news at all. Now I have to wonder if it’s worth remaining on the waitlist... Same. It’s made an already somewhat complicated decision even more complicated...... tinymica 1
coffeelyf Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Between that Princeton rejection and silence on Rutgers' side, I think I will be capping the cycle at 4a/4r/1w. My decision falls to JHU vs. NYU, and I will be visiting both before making the choice. It's crazy how the acceptances did turn out to be my best fits/top choices, and JHU wasn't even put off by my terrible GRE subject test score taken in 2016 (for anyone applying in the future, don't worry too much about the subject test!). I was shut out last year while finishing my MA, including from NYU. Taking another year to polish my materials (a WS from my completed thesis, which is 100x better than last year's WS), knowing how best to articulate my ideas in the SoP, and getting better letters from my professors changed everything. With a job, I am also more financially prepared to make the move, and know for sure that a PhD is what I want to do. So to anyone who is applying right out of undergrad or MA and not getting the results you want, it may really be worth it to take a gap year, as you would be more prepared and knowledgeable about the process. If anyone has any knowledge about the programs at JHU or NYU, I would love to hear them! Thanks everyone for your advice and commiseration, and best of luck to those still waiting! Small potato, jm6394, merry night wanderer and 3 others 6
SomethingWicked Posted February 24, 2020 Author Posted February 24, 2020 Just now, gooniesneversaydie said: I have a special place in my heart for Americanists (one of my undergrad mentors is one), so hop on the nerd bandwagon! Well then that works perfectly since I have a special place in my heart for medievalists, myself. My best friend is an aspiring Medieval Lit scholar Nerds of the world unite! Kelsey1599, Rrandle101 and gooniesneversaydie 3
ArdensApple Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Come on Rutgers, rip the bandaid already! TiredStressed, gooniesneversaydie, Fading_light and 1 other 3 1
brownjournal Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 @tinymica I just caved and called Brown. They said not all acceptances have gone out and that some applications are still under review. They also said they have no idea when they’ll be able to release those decisions etc tinymica 1
Wimsey Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Waitlisted at UVA. The email doesn't convey much optimism, but I'm glad to have something from a top program that's not a rejection. surplus_value, tinymica and Dogfish Head 2 1
tinymica Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 4 minutes ago, brownjournal said: @tinymica I just caved and called Brown. They said not all acceptances have gone out and that some applications are still under review. They also said they have no idea when they’ll be able to release those decisions etc Oh bless you, you’re an angel. Thank you for stepping up to contact them and for being so kind as to let me know! How absolutely annoying that they can’t even ballpark a release date! At least we’re in this waiting game together! Thank you again ❤️ brownjournal 1
tinymica Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Okay immediately after that post Brown officially rejected me. I.........am okay with this. I thought I would be more upset, but I always knew deep down they wouldn’t want me that much and this means I 1) don’t have to move to Providence and 2) I don’t have to break up my relationship. So.....it’s okay. noneckmonsters, gooniesneversaydie and jm6394 3
brownjournal Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 7 minutes ago, tinymica said: Okay immediately after that post Brown officially rejected me. I.........am okay with this. I thought I would be more upset, but I always knew deep down they wouldn’t want me that much and this means I 1) don’t have to move to Providence and 2) I don’t have to break up my relationship. So.....it’s okay. Got a rejection too. Ugh oh well
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