0% Confidence of Acceptance

[slvitale]

Shame on you! (I did exactly the same thing.)

 Me three--and I have a horrible feeling that I won't be getting in anywhere this time around. Best to diversify more next time around.

[patientagony]

It's so strange that Austin is sending out so many rejections first, but it's made me super jumpy. All day, every time my phone sent me an email notification my heart jumped into my chest in fear that it was a rejection. It was, of course nothing of importance.

 

Same!! I am literally checking my inbox every five minutes expecting the dreaded rejection e-mail to finally be there. This is torture. Who send out rejections first? I feel like that's a really weird system.

[practical cat]

Same!! I am literally checking my inbox every five minutes expecting the dreaded rejection e-mail to finally be there. This is torture. Who send out rejections first? I feel like that's a really weird system.

Vanderbilt. It's hellish but I guess also kind, depending on perspective. Good luck!

[patientagony]

Vanderbilt. It's hellish but I guess also kind, depending on perspective. Good luck!

 

Thanks, good luck to you too!

[88literatureguy88]

Anybody heard anything from Duke?  Don't know why, but I am still allowing myself to hope!  1% confidence right now... 

[chaucerettescs]

Oof, my confidence is nil today. This afternoon I sat in on a class (I'm doing an guest lecture for them later this month) and when the prof introduced me and said that I'm "headed to grad school" I felt like such a SHAM, haha. Like, "Ahhh, I don't know that yet!"

 

The prof was very surprised that so many schools have been sending out decisions this early. She did say a couple of the schools I mentioned that have already sent out notices had staff freezes this year (meaning they didn't have to deal with hiring decisions before grad decisions). I'm really hoping that doesn't mean it's going to be another couple of weeks before Michigan's decisions.

[dazedandbemused]

Vanderbilt. It's hellish but I guess also kind, depending on perspective. Good luck!

 

I agree. I particularly hate the schools that don't send rejections until a month later. It's like, why drag out the agony? And yes, I am talking about Penn State.

[Two Espressos]

I honestly think it's the wait list coming but. Eh. I'm not optimistic about funding for those coming off of their wait list.

 

If it really is a wait list (fingers crossed!), I'm totally stoked.  Obviously not about admittance (if funding's iffy and such for waitlisted folks), but because it lets me know that my application wasn't total shit.

Edited February 8, 2013 by Two Espressos

[practical cat]

Oof, my confidence is nil today. This afternoon I sat in on a class (I'm doing an guest lecture for them later this month) and when the prof introduced me and said that I'm "headed to grad school" I felt like such a SHAM, haha. Like, "Ahhh, I don't know that yet!"

 

The prof was very surprised that so many schools have been sending out decisions this early. She did say a couple of the schools I mentioned that have already sent out notices had staff freezes this year (meaning they didn't have to deal with hiring decisions before grad decisions). I'm really hoping that doesn't mean it's going to be another couple of weeks before Michigan's decisions.

Imma pm you. Feel free to ignore if you'd rather have less gossip than more.

[practical cat]

If it really is a waitlist (fingers crossed!), I'm totally stoked.  Obviously not about admittance (you're iffy on funding and such), but because it lets me know that my application wasn't total shit.

YES, I know. Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[Two Espressos]

YES, I know. Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

 

Ditto!

[litkid]

I'm starting to become a nervous wreck. This silence is killing me, particularly when the results' board is so active. Why can't I simply get a rejection letter, so that I least I know and I can move on with my life. So far, I've had only one official rejection and I wish the others would roll in. Ugh.

[JeremiahParadise]

Two days, two rejections -- here's hoping that I rise on the third. Otherwise, well, I don't know. Getting really, really down this week.

[thatjewishgirl]

Hello everyone! This is my first post to thegradcafe and my first season applying to PhD programs.

 

I hope this doesn't sound like I am happy about someone's misfortune, but I am happy to see that at least one other person on here was rejected from Nebraska. I was rejected a few days ago. My first rejection ever, and it hurt--especially since my partner was accepted (without funding, but still, accepted).

 

I think I am beginning to disagree with some of the advice floating around here about sticking the game out through getting an MA to build a CV. I have an MA in English. My program fully funded me and I was a GTA for three years. I had a 4.0 GPA. I have five years total teaching experience because I have been an adjunct at my MA university, as well as at a local branch campus of one of my state's (Oklahoma) major state schools, for the last two years. My program funded me to attend two to three conferences per year, and still funds me a little each year I have been an adjunct. I have presented at a dozen conferences (all in my area, Victorianism), and have been accepted to two this spring, one of which is a national conference. I'm a member of several professional organizations and have chaired at least one panel per year for the past few years. I was invited to speak at the Oklahoma state capitol for an annual governor's summit and as a guest speaker to one of our major universities about one of my research interests (women in Judaism). I have three publications, one of which is a recent article in a peer-reviewed journal.

 

I say all this not to brag on myself, but I guess to express how devastated I was when I was rejected by Nebraska! I feel said because I didn't really apply to any programs of a different caliber. Granted, it is the only program I have heard from thus far and I probably shouldn't lose hope, but I feel pretty badly about it. I thought that all the work and CV building I have done over the part five years would have helped, but it didn't. Not there, anyway. My partner, who is absolutely qualified I would like to say, was accepted despite having less experience in the field than me.  So I wonder how good the advice to undergrads to get an MA to build up their CVs really is. It hasn't helped me, and I would like to warn people that being an adjunct is thankless and degrading work. The pay is terrible and inconsistent. I thought that I did the right thing by pursuing my dream, but I do wonder if it was worth it.

 

Am I being too pessimistic?

[squire_western]

^ Real talk. Anyone who thinks getting an MA as a terminal degree is worth it is kidding themselves. You're not going to get a lectureship with all of the un(der)employed PhDs and adjuncting is not worth it.

[bluecheese]

Did you only apply to Nebraska? -- I have 4 acceptances, but I also have a lot of implied rejections from other schools (included programs that are much lower ranked than the acceptances that I do have). I wouldn't take one rejection that seriously.

 

Funded MA programs are a great opportunity for all sorts of reasons -- they DO improve your CV and application packet for PhD programs. They also can improve your application to all kinds of graduate programs (law school, for example -- I have a friend who got a terminal history MA and then got into Cornell's law school). Seriously, an MA is not going to hurt your chances of getting into a PhD program -- it will add things to your CV, transcripts, and possibly give you a chance to improve your GRE scores. This can be helpful regardless of what you decide to do after your MA (that said, don't expect to jump into an academic job with just an MA). 

Edited February 8, 2013 by bluecheese

[NowMoreSerious]

I think it depends on the school. If your goal is a PhD, and a terminal MA translates into a more cutting edge writing sample and statement of purpose then it is worth it.

From everything I hear, no amount of CV pumping, GPA, and GRE scores will help a student if those two above documents aren't outstanding and interesting.

[thatjewishgirl]

I probably should have clarified that I applied to 9 programs! Yes, I know I shouldn't take it *that* seriously, but I do worry about people who think that taking time off and adjuncting is a practical career move. And I do feel pretty doubtful about my own choices. I'm worried it will have all been for nothing, and I just worry for others who thought as I did then.

[squire_western]

I think it depends on the school. If your goal is a PhD, and a terminal MA translates into a more cutting edge writing sample and statement of purpose then it is worth it.

From everything I hear, no amount of CV pumping, GPA, and GRE scores will help a student if those two above documents aren't outstanding and interesting.

 

If CV pumping doesn't help there's no reason to advise freshly minted BA's to hang out and hope for the best next time around. 

[NowMoreSerious]

If CV pumping doesn't help there's no reason to advise freshly minted BA's to hang out and hope for the best next time around. 

I don't understand.

[HHEoS]

I think what ImWantHazPhD and others are saying is that if someone with a BA is shutout this year, it may make sense for her to apply to an MA program in which her primary goal is to develop a "more cutting edge writing sample and statement of purpose." "CV pumping" and attempts to improve GPA, GRE etc. will be less likely to help anyone in applying to a PhD program if the writing sample and statement of purpose are not improved through pursuing an MA. 

[lovinliterature]

I think it depends on the school. If your goal is a PhD, and a terminal MA translates into a more cutting edge writing sample and statement of purpose then it is worth it.

From everything I hear, no amount of CV pumping, GPA, and GRE scores will help a student if those two above documents aren't outstanding and interesting.

I sort of agree with this statement, but I also think it's important to say that what makes a good writing sample and statement of purpose is incredibly subjective.  I think you could have really good writing samples and SOPs, strong test scores, a rocking cv, good grades and still get rejected by many programs.  Personally, I think many programs should care more about things like conferences, publications, and teaching experience because it demonstrates a commitment to the field.  I know what I'm saying will be considered controversial by many people, but it is my personal opinion.  Considering that most of us desire to go into teaching, I think the components that bear on our ability to teach are overlooked far too much.   I don't mean to be offensive, but I think what makes outstanding and interesting writings samples and statements of purpose is simply too subjective--and to subject to the whims of trendiness--to be the only factor that should bear on our applications.  I am NOT saying that they're not important, but I am suggesting that they bear too much weight and that the rest of the application should also matter.

 

Hello everyone! This is my first post to thegradcafe and my first season applying to PhD programs.

 

I hope this doesn't sound like I am happy about someone's misfortune, but I am happy to see that at least one other person on here was rejected from Nebraska. I was rejected a few days ago. My first rejection ever, and it hurt--especially since my partner was accepted (without funding, but still, accepted).

 

I think I am beginning to disagree with some of the advice floating around here about sticking the game out through getting an MA to build a CV. I have an MA in English. My program fully funded me and I was a GTA for three years. I had a 4.0 GPA. I have five years total teaching experience because I have been an adjunct at my MA university, as well as at a local branch campus of one of my state's (Oklahoma) major state schools, for the last two years. My program funded me to attend two to three conferences per year, and still funds me a little each year I have been an adjunct. I have presented at a dozen conferences (all in my area, Victorianism), and have been accepted to two this spring, one of which is a national conference. I'm a member of several professional organizations and have chaired at least one panel per year for the past few years. I was invited to speak at the Oklahoma state capitol for an annual governor's summit and as a guest speaker to one of our major universities about one of my research interests (women in Judaism). I have three publications, one of which is a recent article in a peer-reviewed journal.

 

I say all this not to brag on myself, but I guess to express how devastated I was when I was rejected by Nebraska! I feel said because I didn't really apply to any programs of a different caliber. Granted, it is the only program I have heard from thus far and I probably shouldn't lose hope, but I feel pretty badly about it. I thought that all the work and CV building I have done over the part five years would have helped, but it didn't. Not there, anyway. My partner, who is absolutely qualified I would like to say, was accepted despite having less experience in the field than me.  So I wonder how good the advice to undergrads to get an MA to build up their CVs really is. It hasn't helped me, and I would like to warn people that being an adjunct is thankless and degrading work. The pay is terrible and inconsistent. I thought that I did the right thing by pursuing my dream, but I do wonder if it was worth it.

 

Am I being too pessimistic?

I fell for you.  A lot.  I also agree with your advice.  Keep your chin up!

[asleepawake]

CV building by itself won't get you in anywhere. The reason I am so big on the idea of getting an MA before the PhD is because it will make you a better writer, a better academic, a better thinker, and better-prepared to write a focused statement of purpose. Simply going to get your MA means nothing if you don't learn these things. I don't mean this to suggest this is what you've done, but rather to clarify that none of this is why I suggested the MA (although building up a CV and getting good grades is a good idea and will help, it does nothing on its own). One rejection from one school, no matter the school. If you were under the impression that getting an MA with good grades and a bunch of CV lines would make you a shoe-in for any school, you've misunderstood the process. You sound like a very good candidate, but this process involves a lot of things that are out of your control. 

 

Also, an MA qualifies you for alternate-route certification to teach high school English in some states. This may not be your career goal, but it isn't a totally hopeless endeavor to get an MA even if you never go for a PhD. 

[thatjewishgirl]

Well, I believe that my writing sample and statement of purpose have been improved by both completing an MA degree and continuing to write beyond graduation. But completing an MA will not guarantee an acceptance to a PhD program no matter how fantastic or "cutting edge" those documents are.

[asleepawake]

I don't think anybody ever said anything even remotely close to "an MA will guarantee admission to a PhD"...

Edited February 8, 2013 by asleepawake