Long-term lurker advice for applicants

[ArtilleryClinton]

Hi everyone, since letters already seem to be going out, this might be a little late, but I thought I would share some words of quasi-wisdom from someone who has been in your shoes. I applied in the 2012 season and lurked on gradcafe heavily while waiting to hear from schools. I am now happily studying at an Ivy with full funding, stipend, etc. etc. Here are a few things I've learned about the application process from my own experiences and seeing the acceptance process at my program.

1) Visits and contact with POI. There is no magic formula. I know people who have visited every program they applied to, talked on the phone or Skyped with their POIs, emailed, and any other combination of these methods. Depending on your POI's personality, this may or may not matter. Full disclosure...I did not communicate with any of my POIs. I throroughly researched their work and the direction their current scholarship seemed to be going, in an effort to determine scholastic compatibility. If you can do it, visiting is a great way to get to know departments and POIs, but it is not necessary. If you do plan on visiting, go in early January right before decisions are made. However, I have heard of professors souring on students they were previously interested in after a visit. In the words of RuPaul, "don't fuck it up"

2) When choosing where to apply, check the department website for the number of students your POI is currently advising. If they've taken 1-2 students each year for a few years there is a very good chance the department will let someone else bring in a student instead of them. This is not in stone though. If they are really passionate about you, and have some power in the department they will make room for you.

3) Once applications are in, each department works a little differently. Some professors will look through every application that might relate to their field, others will allow for a shorter pile of applications to be presented to them and then choose from there. Each year a different number of students are admitted. If last year's group of incoming students was large, chances are not as many will be admitted the next year, and visa versa. As I said earlier, departments try to divide up students among faculty pretty evenly. If a professor doesn't currently have many students in coursework, they will likely take 1-2 students in a given year. All the faculty meet together to decide who to admit. If your POI wants you, they will come to the meeting ready to sing your praises, and will likely make alliances with other faculty to vouch for one another's students. Final decisions are made together and then sent to the Dean who gives final approval. Because of this last step, which may take a few days, ideas about the timing of CAA and the sending out of acceptances is kind of bunk.

4) The only letter that matters is yours. Gradcafe can be good for solidarity in this stressful time, but don't put too much stock in what people report for acceptances and rejections. It isn't over until YOU hear from the school, not when everyone else does

I hope this is helpful! Best of luck!

[MyWorkIsDone]

This is so helpful, thanks a ton!!

[Seeking]

Thanks for this very realistic picture of the selection process!

[Lamantin]

These notes are much needed and, frankly, soothing to those of us still awaiting news from schools that others have reported being rejected from already. 

[anonymousbequest]

The advice is equivocal at best. Could you tell us which Ivy, which specialization? 5 year package? Stipend per year? How much teaching? Did you negotiate a better deal because you were admitted to a few programs? Please give us insight that we can use. Thank you.

[ProspectStu8735]

yippee 

Edited February 10, 2013 by ProspectStu8735

[ArtilleryClinton]

The advice is equivocal at best. Could you tell us which Ivy, which specialization? 5 year package? Stipend per year? How much teaching? Did you negotiate a better deal because you were admitted to a few programs? Please give us insight that we can use. Thank you.

The nature of my advice matches the process itself. I'm in Mod/Con, 5 years funding, annual stipend plus summer funding equals about $27,000--more than enough money to live. Health insurance is also covered. No teaching in the first year, and then 2 years of TAing. Because this is such a good package, the idea of "negotiating" seemed a little tacky. I think 'negotiating' might be more common with less funded schools, I don't personally know anyone who has done it. Grad Cafe is just a small part of the large number of people applying to the same schools, competing for the same funding. I've seen phd students in programs where funding is limited and teaching (as in, just you, teaching a class of 50-150 students with maybe 1 TA) dependent. It's a very tough way to go through school, but a reality within the Humanities.

[fullofpink]

The advice is equivocal at best. Could you tell us which Ivy, which specialization? 5 year package? Stipend per year? How much teaching? Did you negotiate a better deal because you were admitted to a few programs? Please give us insight that we can use. Thank you.

 

I feel these are the questions that we were thought in 4th grade NOT to answer. "Don't tell strangers on the internet your full name, what elementary school you go to, what time the bus picks you up...." 

 

ArtilleryClinton, I found your original post very appropriate with the right amount of information. Thank you for extolling a bit more, but really, anyone who has looked at the Ivy school's websites will realize that they provide (or heavily hint) at much of that information already. 

[Herbie]

2) When choosing where to apply, check the department website for the number of students your POI is currently advising. If they've taken 1-2 students each year for a few years there is a very good chance the department will let someone else bring in a student instead of them. This is not in stone though. If they are really passionate about you, and have some power in the department they will make room for you.

As a previous lurker and someone who went through the Fall 2011 app season, I would add that students should be more direct here. Relieve as much exhaustion by directly e-mailing your POI with a succinct intro and simple question as to whether they are accepting potential advisees. Give time for the response, and so should you not receive one, forward the same e-mail with an edited title: "I am not sure you've seen this?"

 

 

 

4) The only letter that matters is yours. Gradcafe can be good for solidarity in this stressful time, but don't put too much stock in what people report for acceptances and rejections. It isn't over until YOU hear from the school, not when everyone else does

I hope this is helpful! Best of luck!

 

This. I support your general statements as well.