Dealing with Rejection

[a.rev]

Right now I'm thinking: why did my professors tell me to aim so high? If I would have stuck to my original, realistic list, I probably would have been accepted somewhere. Now I'm facing the very real possibility of being rejected from all 10 programs I applied to. This stinks.

 

I have one school left and when I told my professor he said "Well, you only need to get into one." I think a lot of us are on the same page, we tend to be the best and the brightest in our departments but when every applicant is the best and the brightest things become complicated and admission committees have to make tough choices. They could range from not a great "fit" to the professor you want to work with just took a job at a different university (I had this happen to me and it's happened at my school mid semester, the professor finished out the year but still), another option is that your POI has so many students that they can't really take on another.

 

One of the schools I struck out of told me I didn't have enough "experience," I've never set foot in the country I want to study and have yet to begun studying one of their languages. (I've got French but my school doesn't have an Arabic program.) You know what, they're right. As sad and upset as it makes me, I would rather a school tell me I'm not ready and allow me time to work on myself than to admit me only to fail. Rejection hurts, no doubt about it, but it's also an opportunity to grow. If I don't get admitted this cycle I plan to take full advantage of it. These words probably don't make you feel better but just know that you're not the only person out there facing an unplanned year off.

[Oliveur]

jhat and a.rev, I too am in the same position. I've received nothing but rejections so far, and though I am an internal optimist, the realist in me is currently coming to terms with the fact that I may not get in to any of my programs, or if I do, not receive the funding I need.

a.rev, you make a great point. Many of us are some of the brightest and most accomplished people in our departments, and if your professors are anything like mine, they encouraged you to aim high. When you are a large fish in a small pond, so to speak, it can be easy to forget that there are many other brilliant (and, in many cases, more accomplished) applicants out there who are also applying for the same spots you are. One program I applied to said they get on average about 600 applicants, and can only take 15. From a pure numbers standpoint, that's a 2.5% acceptance rate. Of course, we all realize that there are other factors which come in to play, such as what field of history you're interested in, but the point is that to get into some of these programs you have to be the best of the best.

For me personally, if it comes to pass that I have to take an unexpected year off, I am trying to look at the bright side. I have a year to reflect, grow, and strengthen my application. While I feel that my credentials are very strong, the constant string of rejections has forced me to honestly assess which areas of my application could benefit from improvement. It's been a learning experience and a good check on my ego. I'm still determined to go to a top program, and if I have to apply for the next cycle, I will be a year older and wiser, and, hopefully, much more prepared.

Anyways, my advice to anyone else dealing with lots of rejection is to realize that there are many more who are going through what you are going through. Don't despair, reach out to former professors and ask for their advice, or if you're feeling brave, contact the schools you've been rejected from and ask for feedback on your application.

We all go through a lot of rejection in life, but take heart, it only takes one acceptance.

Edited February 22, 2015 by Oliveur

[Josh J.]

I'm currently dealing with rejection through beer.

[Chiqui74]

I'm really hating on UPenn right now, and Michigan. 

[ashiepoo72]

Craft beer is a magical potion of happy. I approve, Josh!

[Kleio_77]

I'm currently dealing with rejection through beer.

 

 

I just received my first rejection, from a school I had a POI agree to be my supervisor... I'm having wine...  

[jpb]

Thus far in the application cycle, I have yet to hear positive news. I have a BA in Religious Studies and am finishing my MA in Religious Studies from a top-tier program; however, I opted to not merely petition to continue into the PhD program at my school with my current advisor because I want to study American religion in a U.S. History program. In particular, I'm interested in education and immigration history in the United States and how those stories intersect with religion.

Thus, I think my main obstacle has been a lack of US historiography, which I'm trying to address right now (but was obviously not on my transcript). It's difficult to think that I could've continued in my current program, especially if I'm forced to take an unexpected year off, but my heart lies in broader US history. Stay the course, I suppose?

[Aubstopper]

I've been having a bad go of it this year, it seems. I was rejected from three schools in a row where I had developed an excellent rapport with POIs and followed their advice to the 't' about what I should talk about to get accepted to their program(s). My LOR people are shocked and I've resigned myself to probably having to reapply next year. 

 

At first, this was something that was scary/awful for me to think about, but I know now there are schools that I should have applied to that I didn't and vice versa. Oh well. Focusing now on publishing my research. 

[brl254]

jpb,

 

My research also focuses on the intersection between religion, immigration, and education (and imperialism, cultural and otherwise).  My approach this cycle was to concentrate on POI's and schools who primarily did educational history research.  But at each of those schools as well as others, I looked for professors in the other categories, including foreign policy.  You might have done this, but maybe next cycle you should look for programs who have professors that focus on immigration and education as well.  In terms of educational history, UW-Madison, SUNY Binghamton, UPenn, and Georgia are schools to look at. 

 

Hope this is helpful!

[SunshineLolipops]

While I know that I shouldn't write off a programme until I get official word, it's hard not to look at the results board and realize that I'm just waiting for bad news at this point. The Emory rejection was a bummer but also a relief to finally hear something.

I think that this has forced me to reevaluate the type of historian I would like to become. Military history may not be marketable at the moment, but it's finally clear to me (I'm sure it's completely apparent to committees) that, that is what I am. Time to rewrite the ol SOP and find the right POIs

[Aubstopper]

While I know that I shouldn't write off a programme until I get official word, it's hard not to look at the results board and realize that I'm just waiting for bad news at this point. The Emory rejection was a bummer but also a relief to finally hear something.

I think that this has forced me to reevaluate the type of historian I would like to become. Military history may not be marketable at the moment, but it's finally clear to me (I'm sure it's completely apparent to committees) that, that is what I am. Time to rewrite the ol SOP and find the right POIs

 

This site has both its good and bad qualities. There's the whole losing hope as you watch your schools pour out acceptances, but then there's the fact that there is a specific thread on here that deals with coping with being rejected. I think that if I didn't know that there were/are people who have gone/are going through the same thing, I would have resigned myself to the fact that I might not belong in academia. 

Of course, that's ridiculous because my LOR writers/mentors wouldn't have written me recommendations or spent time talking to me--the latter goes to POIs as well. It's not quite over yet, but I feel you. I just hate the idea that a few mistakes on my part regarding my school/POI choices might set me back another year yet. sigh. 

[ashiepoo72]

I just want to say that all of you are awesome, that if this is something you really want to do, don't give up! I never would've gotten in anywhere without doing an MA first. I was a lackluster undergrad to say the least, and it took 4 years away from my BA to make a difference. I know that it's painful to take another year, but that extra time can provide clarity.

It ain't over til it's over, and the programs you're waiting on would be lucky to have you. If you end up having to do this again, I want to extend the offer of being an extra set of eyes to look over SOPs and writing samples. I was a writing tutor for several years, so I can do as little or as in-depth editing as you'd like. Mostly, having a bunch of people look over my material really, really helped me, so I want to pass on the positive support I received this application season to the very awesome people here.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: I'm sincerely looking forward to having you all as colleagues.

[ellebe]

Ashiepoo, you're amazing. I would love to take you up on that. 

 

Part of me worries I've spent so long retraining my brain to write and edit non-academically and what if I seriously harmed by writing samples in editing? My last article was on pisco friggin' sours. Maybe I'm a lost cause. Maybe my brain has turned to candy floss from too many bar reviews and I just don't know how to interrogate academic questions anymore. 

 

I really wanted an acceptance before starting this new job. Sigh.

[Chiqui74]

I have to say, rejections are stinging less and less and each time.  It's probably because at this point I'm expecting everything to be a rejection.

[dr. t]

You have NYU though!

 

I just keep remembering the story of a recent PhD from the English department here. He is smart enough and a dedicated enough worker that he finished a PhD in English on Anglo-Saxon in 5 years. I mean, damn. And, out of the five schools he applied to, he was only accepted to one: Harvard.

 

Shit's random, yo.

[Heimat Historian]

I second everything Ashiepoo said.  I too was a mediocre undergrad who felt sleep was often more important than attending classes. The masters degree and time away sharpened my focus and gave me the necessary maturity.  I'm also willing to look at SOPs/writing samples if for nothing else than another set of eyes.  

[Gvh]

You have NYU though!

 

I just keep remembering the story of a recent PhD from the English department here. He is smart enough and a dedicated enough worker that he finished a PhD in English on Anglo-Saxon in 5 years. I mean, damn. And, out of the five schools he applied to, he was only accepted to one: Harvard.

 

Shit's random, yo.

 

This has nothing to do with history but my SO applied to 7 PhD programs in biology, and only got 1 interview (and acceptance): at Harvard. Random, yep!

[SunshineLolipops]

Having pretty much written off or been rejected by everyone but Ohio State, this is how I'm feeling at the moment: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HGhP3p6lI3U

[SunshineLolipops]

I don't know why this week is pulling all of the cheesy 80s-ness out of me, but it really is.

Also really appreciate all of the support. It's something that I definitely want to take into the next cycle.

Edited February 25, 2015 by JJWS

[Sigaba]

Having pretty much written off or been rejected by everyone but Ohio State, this is how I'm feeling at the moment: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HGhP3p6lI3U

 

Keep your head up. The Ohio State University is the place to be for military history.

 

I don't know why this week is pulling all of the cheesy 80s-ness out of me, but it really is.

Also really appreciate all of the support. It's something that I definitely want to take into the next cycle.

 

In the event there is a next cycle for you, please find ways to self assess your effort this cycle in a manner that is fair to you. If you did the best that you could under the circumstances based upon what you knew at the time, then you did well.

[Aubstopper]

I already have an MA from Chicago, and I was told that getting another one was a waste of time. I know what issues there were with my proposal and it had mainly to do with where I chose to apply. I need to apply to places who potentially have more than one person who can supervise my project. I have the degrees, background, LORs, and the languages required. I was told by my mentors that I should have more interaction with the professors at the schools I'm applying, to visit them, and to get some of my stuff published, which is what I'll start doing once I hear back. 

 

Ah well, have still yet to hear back from 3 schools, but I there is only one place that hasn't notified as of yet (Brandeis). We'll see, I guess. 

[dr. t]

Keep your head up. The Ohio State University is the place to be for military history.

 

It's weird, I have my acceptance letter for OSU in hand, but I haven't seen any others (with TA funding and not university fellow) on the results board. Maybe I'm super special?

[a.rev]

It's weird, I have my acceptance letter for OSU in hand, but I haven't seen any others (with TA funding and not university fellow) on the results board. Maybe I'm super special?

I've concluded that we only represent a tiny portion of the applicant (and acceptance/rejection) pool, chances are the others just aren't on this site. I've only met one other person applying to one of my programs on here, but I was told they receive 100+ applications each cycle. I wish more people knew about this site.

[ashiepoo72]

OSU more than likely hasn't notified. Despite this site only having a small sample size of applicants, plenty of OSU rejections and acceptances show up on the results board each year. Maybe you guys are just extra special

[dr. t]

OSU more than likely hasn't notified. 

 

I agree, but I also have a formal letter from the DGS awaiting my signature, so I'm confused.

Edited February 26, 2015 by telkanuru