Should I apply again?

[Puglover19]

Hi everyone!

I applied for a Ph.D in English Literature for Fall of 2016. I was very lucky and got admitted to a few Ph.D programs. I've decided to attend Indiana University. It has always been my dream to become a college professor even though I know the job market is really, really ugly right now. I recently had three professors at my undergrad university (small liberal arts school) tell me that I should go to Indiana and then try to transfer to another school after I get my masters there. He said that, if i get a ph.d from Indiana, I will be less likely to get a job than I would be if I went to a more "elite" school.  I did apply to two pretty "elite" schools this time but one of them offered me a masters and the other waitlisted me. I found the application process exhausting and upsetting and would prefer not to do it again. It does seem completely offensive to just leave Indiana after two years  especially since they are investing money in me as an MA/PHD candidate.  Bloomington looks really neat and I think I'll like it. At the same time, I want to have every advantage possible.

 

I wonder if I should just start all over and spend the year improving my application (re-taking GRE especially-I only scored in the 94th percentile for verbal which I think may have been low for someone wanting to study english. I don't test well). I'd almost rather do that then just go to Bloomington and leave abruptly after two years.  If a Ph.D from the school I've chosen won't make me as competitive on the already rough job market maybe I should make changes to my applications and re-apply. I just feel very conflicted. I wish my professors had told me this before if they really believed I wouldn't get a job. I just find it hard to believe that there are any guarantees about this job market.  I guess I want to know if you guys think my professors are right. I need some reassurance that I am making the right decision by heading up to Bloomington in the Fall. I hope that isn't too silly. It has just been such a long exhausting process that I hardly even know when I'm right anymore. 

 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts! 

[rising_star]

Honestly, even a PhD from an "elite" school may not be enough to make you competitive on the job market. If you're doing a PhD to become a college professor, then you've already narrowed your options significantly and are potentially setting yourself up for failure. I highly recommend that everyone considering academia take a look at the Academic Jobs Wiki for the past couple of years to get a sense of how many openings there were in your area of interest and how competitive those positions are to obtain. The market is increasingly competitive for jobs at all levels of institutions. That said, if you're looking to work at a community college or satellite state university, going to Indiana could actually be better because it can suggest to the hiring committee that you won't leave as soon as another "better" job opens up elsewhere.

[GradSchoolTruther]

What type of institution do you want to teach at? Look at which schools where faculty in your target departments went. I assume Indiana is funding you. I'd say stick with the program for a year or two, because you might not get offers next year. Always better to have a funded offer in hand than nothing.

[kd7432]

You should figure out where you would like to work later, and then see how Indiana's grads fare after finishing their PhD. If they place decently and aren't unemployed then I would pick Indiana because, like yourself, I found the whole application process to be extremely draining and stressful. I wouldn't want to go through that again for something that may or may not work out. 

[Quickmick]

Even if you decide to reapply I (personally) wouldn't retake the GRE, and I got the same score you did. My thinking is that my score is good enough to get my app to the selection stages at which point it will be moot. I can't imagine adcomms looking at a list of finalists and making decisions based on 2 points of GRE verbal.

 

As an aside, I spent time in Bloomington and IU is a beautiful campus and has a LOT to offer. I particularly enjoyed the summers when many students were out of town.

Just curious, you didn't mention the possibility of attending the 'elite' MA as an option, and I am curious as to why. Did they offer you funding? Couldn't that be a stepping stone into their PhD program or at least a stepping stone to some elite PhD?

Good Luck!