Acceptance Freakout Thread

[jazzyd]

I just got back from the gym for the first time in weeks. I always forget how much exercise helps to clear my mind. Today, all of the stress of the application cycle-- of waiting to hear back, figuring out how to reply to professors, making travel plans, weighing my options-- disappeared, just for a minute or so. And during that moment, a blissful, ecstatic thought entered my mind:

 

Holy fuck. This fall, I will be a PhD student.

 

I have been so wrapped up in the immediate stressors and reactions that I had forgotten the bigger picture. I started to really boogie down on the treadmill, running, sweating, and dancing with pure joy and excitement. It's finally happening, and in just five or six months, I will be starting the next great adventure in my life, knee deep in books, teaching, and writing. Oh yeah, and I'll be getting paid for it all. 

 

I feel so much more at peace. And who knows? Maybe I'll actually start going to the gym more often. (Probably not. )

 

 

If you're an exercise fiend, you might want to check out the ARC when you visit: http://www.campusrec.illinois.edu/facilities/arc/

 

It's so awesome

[Codex]

I just got into Carnegie Mellon!!!

[sebastiansteddy]

Congrats Codex!!

[Swagato]

Hey all,

 

So I had a question. Typically, funding packages are for 4-6 years (usually 4 or 5). However, it's often the case that people defend in year 6 or 7. Surely you don't pay out of pocket for that extra year? What are the common options? This is obviously something I will discuss in more specifics during my campus visit(s), but I just wanted a general idea first. 

[Two Espressos]

Hey all,

 

So I had a question. Typically, funding packages are for 4-6 years (usually 4 or 5). However, it's often the case that people defend in year 6 or 7. Surely you don't pay out of pocket for that extra year? What are the common options? This is obviously something I will discuss in more specifics during my campus visit(s), but I just wanted a general idea first. 

 

I don't think Yale will leave you hanging. 

 

Maybe students stay on as TAs or instructors for low-level courses?

[sebastiansteddy]

Maybe students stay on as TAs or instructors for low-level courses?

 

Some programs allow you to apply (competitively) for that extra year of funding through a visiting professorship, or as a visiting lecturer.

[Panabelle]

I just got into Carnegie Mellon!!!

Congrats!!! (Now I'll be checking my inbox even MORE obsessively.) Are you the MA acceptance that posted just now, or have they begun in earnest with the notifications?

[Swagato]

I don't think Yale will leave you hanging. 

 

Maybe students stay on as TAs or instructors for low-level courses?

Ha, yeah, I assume on that count I'm fairly safe; nevertheless, I was curious as to what actually happens--in general--during those extra years. I definitely plan on defending as soon as seems appropriate, but I occasionally get the whole "Shit, joint PhD" shivers.

 

 

 

Some programs allow you to apply (competitively) for that extra year of funding through a visiting professorship, or as a visiting lecturer.

This seems reasonable. In any case, I would assume that if the student is making good progress and by all reasonable standards does need an extra year, that the department supports them quite strongly. I'm just unsure as to the specifics of such support, and so was trying to gain some clearer sense.

[sebastiansteddy]

You'd probably have to talk to individual program for specifics. It seems like something that would vary greatly between programs.

[bfat]

This seems reasonable. In any case, I would assume that if the student is making good progress and by all reasonable standards does need an extra year, that the department supports them quite strongly. I'm just unsure as to the specifics of such support, and so was trying to gain some clearer sense.

 

 

It really depends on the school. Penn State seemed very positive about offering potential support through extended TAing or Lectureship or something, but I know that this is a real problem at other places. For example I have a friend at Cornell who (while she was trying to cheer me up) said that it is very hard to get funding beyond 5 years. When I spoke to the administrator there earlier this year, she said basically the same thing. So while their up-front package is better, in terms of dollar amount, it's more "compressed."

[dazedandbemused]

Ha, yeah, I assume on that count I'm fairly safe; nevertheless, I was curious as to what actually happens--in general--during those extra years. I definitely plan on defending as soon as seems appropriate, but I occasionally get the whole "Shit, joint PhD" shivers.

 

 

 

This seems reasonable. In any case, I would assume that if the student is making good progress and by all reasonable standards does need an extra year, that the department supports them quite strongly. I'm just unsure as to the specifics of such support, and so was trying to gain some clearer sense.

 

I know here at Pittsburgh, as long as you're making good progress, but are not quite done, you can get a visiting instructorship. There's also the visiting lectureship, but those are a lot more competitive because they're open to outside candidates. I also might have those titles backward, but I can't find anything clarifying it on the website; I got this info through word of mouth.

[Swagato]

Hm this is all very helpful. I'll be sure to discuss this with both my DGSs during the visit and will post what I learn. 

[BrookeSnow]

In at Carnegie Mellon (MA)  with some funding.

[ComeBackZinc]

That's another reason why time to graduate is a really important stat to look for.

[sebastiansteddy]

That's another reason why time to graduate is a really important stat to look for.

 

This might be a really stupid question, but why does the time it takes until the degree vary among programs? Say you are entering a PhD program with a PhD - shouldn't it take you 4-5 years? Why would it take longer in one program than it would another? Most programs seem to have the same requirements, more or less.

[Phil Sparrow]

This might be a really stupid question, but why does the time it takes until the degree vary among programs? Say you are entering a PhD program with a PhD - shouldn't it take you 4-5 years? Why would it take longer in one program than it would another? Most programs seem to have the same requirements, more or less.

 

Largely it varies because of teaching or other service obligations, faculty support, exam schedule and requirements, language requirements, etc.

 

Honestly, hardly anyone finishes a standard lit Ph.D. in four years.* I know of exactly one person who did, and he was...abnormal. Even finishing in five is extremely rare, whether or not one enters with an MA. Six years is the sweet spot. 

 

* Edited to add: a standard American lit Ph.D.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Phil Sparrow

[Datatape]

The biggest reason I can think of would be a program that doesn't have a series of checks and balances to keep you on track to the degree.  Also, a lot of people get tripped up on the foreign language requirement (it set my thesis advisor back an entire year when he was getting his Ph.D.).  The program might also simply be too big where they can't keep track of every student's progress and a few slip through the cracks.  On the other hand, if you see a phrase along the lines of "we expect all students entering with an M.A. to finish in four years" (that's verbatim from one program I applied to), you know they have a pretty strict timeline that they expect you to stick to so you can get through the program quickly and get out on the job market.

[sebastiansteddy]

Largely it varies because of teaching or other service obligations, faculty support, exam schedule and requirements, language requirements, etc.

 

Honestly, hardly anyone finishes a standard lit Ph.D. in four years.* I know of exactly one person who did, and he was...abnormal. Even finishing in five is extremely rare, whether or not one enters with an MA. Six years is the sweet spot. 

 

* Edited to add: a standard American lit Ph.D.

 

Thanks for the info Phil and Datatape. Phil - can I ask what you mean by "faculty support?" Do you mean availability of advisors to meet with students? Or if a faculty member is on leave for a semester?  Thanks!

[ComeBackZinc]

With the usual caveat that I have only my limited experience to go on, I think Datatape has it right. It's less a factor of structured program length and more a matter of whether the department has systems in place within to get people graduated on time, and whether individual faculty work hard to push you out the door on time. I know that, here in our rhet/comp program, it's a huge priority, with our average time to graduate at 5.4 years. A lot of that has to do with faculty being adamant with students that less time is better. We tend to graduate one person or so from each cohort in 4 years, but almost without exception, those people hold a fellowship; it's much less realistic if you've had to teach your first two years. As I understand it, you pretty much have to finish your core, secondary area(s), AND your prospectus by the first semester of your third year, which is pretty crazy. I think the overall English PhD time to graduate nation-wide is over 7 years now, which seems quite unfortunate. Then again, part of that is a delaying tactic, I guess; some people know they won't get TT jobs and don't see a need to graduate into a less secure situation any sooner than they have to.

[ComeBackZinc]

*whoops double post*

Edited March 7, 2013 by ComeBackZinc

[sebastiansteddy]

Hmm, I feel kind of stupid for not having really considered average time until degree. I just figured 5 years would be enough - I did recognize that 4 years would be tough, and I have asked all my programs about 5th year funding. I thought 5 years was average as long as the student stays on top of everything and is responsible for meeting degree requirements.

[dazedandbemused]

I've known people who finished in five years, no problem. If the time to degree problem stems from the student and not from the department, then you may be one of the people who gets it done in five, too. That being said, finishing in five seems to be really difficult for the majority of students. I intend to have my degree before I'm 30; that's seven years max, but I'm aiming for six.

[Swagato]

Largely it varies because of teaching or other service obligations, faculty support, exam schedule and requirements, language requirements, etc.

 

Honestly, hardly anyone finishes a standard lit Ph.D. in four years.* I know of exactly one person who did, and he was...abnormal. Even finishing in five is extremely rare, whether or not one enters with an MA. Six years is the sweet spot. 

 

* Edited to add: a standard American lit Ph.D.

 

 

The biggest reason I can think of would be a program that doesn't have a series of checks and balances to keep you on track to the degree.  Also, a lot of people get tripped up on the foreign language requirement (it set my thesis advisor back an entire year when he was getting his Ph.D.).  The program might also simply be too big where they can't keep track of every student's progress and a few slip through the cracks.  On the other hand, if you see a phrase along the lines of "we expect all students entering with an M.A. to finish in four years" (that's verbatim from one program I applied to), you know they have a pretty strict timeline that they expect you to stick to so you can get through the program quickly and get out on the job market.

This is my position, too. I'll be 26 this June and I begin this fall, so I'm really aiming for 6 years at most by the time I earn the PhD. However, my top choice right now is a joint program, and the two fields each place great emphasis on languages. And, my languages aren't that great. I already know I have to get one language (likely French) up to scratch over the first year to earn the MA, but it's almost expected that someone in my fields would have another language (typically German). This applies especially in my case given my interests in aesthetics and the history of aesthetics. I'm a bit terrified on that count, to be honest.

 

However, I would imagine the department and program at Yale would be very supportive of its students, and I would hope they don't push you onto the market if staying another year would be a real benefit (i.e., to your job prospects, to the quality of your dissertation, etc.).

[ComeBackZinc]

Like so many other things, time-to-graduate has to be filtered through the conditions of the program at the whole. If your program is well-funded enough that you aren't going deeper into debt while you're in it, and if you have a reasonably strong chance of getting hired when you're done, there's no shame in taking a year or even two longer than you had planned. But those two conditions are more and more rare in English and in the humanities in general.

[ghijklmn]

Two of my schools guarantee six years of funding, and one only five. Right now, however, the one with five years is my top choice. Should I ask them about possibilities for funding beyond five years now (by e-mail) or just wait until I visit in a few weeks? I don't want to bog them down with questions I can ask them later, but then again, it would be nice to know.