Plan B?

[EricaMarie]

I don't have a plan B. I was one of those people that believed a Plan B meant setting yourself up for failure by planning for it, so I just didn't, because I was confident that I'd get in somewhere.

...I'm starting to regret that decision, as now I'm afraid that I won't get in anywhere, and won't have a plan B to back me up.

[TMP]

You will survive. You will survive. I never quite planned for Plan B last year because my MA adviser was quite confident that I would get in somewhere, particularly in my top choice school. I was also in complete denial that I could be rejected all around.

What I deeply regretted though was not applying for any programs to "fill in" the gap year with deadlines in February-April. By the time I realized the reality, it was too late to apply for any of these year-long programs in the US or abroad. So I had to face the horrible job market for 4-5 months. I really didn't know what the future was going to be like. I didn't know whether or not I wanted to take a year or two off.

The best suggestion that I can give you really is that if there are any year-long or abroad programs that you're interested in (Americorps, Peacecorps, etc), get your stuff in ASAP. Everyone else is applying for these positions as well and you won't want to be shut out of a terrific opportunity. If you have educational loans, apply for Americorps. Yeah, the pay sucks but you get some loans taken care of and it's only for one year. Worry about the job market in April when the hiring season actually begins. But if there are any programs you'd like to do if it wasn't for grad school, GO FOR IT.

Also, I highly recommend, if you can afford it, take the time to do whatever you've always wanted to do- travel to countries you'd like to visit (that you won't have a chance to while a PhD student) or volunteer in an area that you're really interested in. Or whatever.

So, to give you a sense of how I'm spending my time off:

May-August: Looked for jobs, interviewed

July-October: Studied for the GREs

September-November: Volunteered at the local therapeutic equestrian center (LOVED IT!), lived at home

September-December: Worked on PhD apps, spoke with professors, visited some schools

November-March: Live in Germany to study German and travel

April: Recover, readjust to American life

May-August: Summer job

When I return, I'll evaluate my situation and see where I'm at.