What to do while waiting?: English PhD

[grilledcheese]

I would really appreciate advice on some quandaries I'm facing. I got accepted into my backup school for the ENG PhD with funding. I feel grateful for this, extremely grateful, but the reality is that I wish to transfer to another, better program.

I was thinking I should go to this school (the one that's accepted me), stay for a year, and then transfer next Fall (2008). My questions are:

1. Is it unethical to do this? On the flipside: (a) The school that has accepted me has very very few facultypersons in the area that I'm interested in, and I am genuinely terrified of finding courses canceled, no resources, etc. ( The school's ranking is very low, and I was wondering if this will turn out to be career-suicide in the long term.

2. If any of you got accepted in your top-choice schools after a year of waiting, what did you do in the interim (gap) year? Did you take the GRE/Subject GRE again? More importantly, did you get something published, attend conferences/symposia, etc. to build your resume?

3. Finally, I was thinking of writing directly to the faculty persons at the programs that I am interested in. Is this a good idea? Or should I write to the grad directors? I don't know if faculty take kindly to the thought of writing to a total stranger, so I would love to hear if this worked for some of you.

I realize that the answer will be different for every person, but I am trying to find out what went wrong with my application, which I thought (and my advisor thought) was outstanding. Thank you in advance for your support and any advice you have to offer.

[FreakingOut]

I'm assuming you don't have a master's degree yet. If the program to which you've been accepted offers the option of leaving the program with a terminal M.A., then I don't believe it would be unethical to take that and leave. Plus, while working on your master's, you'll be able to create a stronger writing sample and, perhaps, foster relationships with influential faculty that can give you excellent recommendations.

I don't think I could stand another year of waiting to enter a Ph.D. program. I took a year off, and it's been great, but the whole application process has been so draining. I started studying for the GREs last summer, had all my apps in by Christmas, and expected to know by now where I'm going in the fall. I still don't know. I've been accepted to a great program, but with no funding until year 2. And I'm on the waiting list at two other schools that would probably provide funding. There's no way that I'd be up for doing this all again next year.

[anonscribe]

I would have a hard time if I had to reapply. Freaking, I'm similarly drained. I'd almost rather give up and sell myself to corporate America than go through this again.

As for the rankings: grad school isn't like undergrad. While it's important to go to a school with a good reputation, US News rankings aren't a very good indicator of this reputation. Check out other sources too. In the Chronicle of Higher Education, there's a report on faculty productivity that turns some of the rankings around. University of Florida, for instance, ranks fiftieth on US News but jumps up to eighth in the Chronicle's report for English. The best way to find out a school's reputation is to ask around with profs and grad students. Even UC Riverside, which gets so much shit on here, has a strong English program that is respected by many faculty in the field. Sure, the name brands (Berkeley, Harvard, etc.) will always have an edge in rep, but there are lots of great schools that aren't given a accurate image by the US News.

I second Freaking's advice about an MA. I got my MA from a school that doesn't offer the PhD after a horrible GPA in undergrad. I've gotten into two of my top schools. A strong showing in an MA program, with lots of conferences and publications can jump start your app. As for transferring: do you think it would be likely for you to get into programs as a transfer after a year? What will have changed on paper that would make you look like a better candidate? If these questions don't have answers, you should go for the MA.

[Litapp]

There is a very good guide to grad apps that can be found on the English website at the University of Pittsburgh (put together by Prof. Michael West). He gives case studies of former students who have taken many different paths to grad acceptance — very helpful.

If you choose not to attend the MA, you should know that one can make significant progress in a year. I was rejected everywhere I applied last year and this year I was accepted with funding by seven of the fourteen programs I applied to — most top 20. To do this, one needs to do everything humanly possible to improve one's application in such a short span... and then more. Every case is different, and I can't really give any advice. Maybe you should talk with some professors.

[grilledcheese]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I really appreciate it.

I'm assuming you don't have a master's degree yet.

No, I am graduating with an M.A. this summer. My dept. does not offer a PhD program, which makes it imperative that I move to another school, and at least stay inside the academic 'loop,' so to speak.

Check out other sources too. In the Chronicle of Higher Education, there's a report on faculty productivity that turns some of the rankings around.

Since we have to pay for the articles on this website, it might be helpful to ask profs/advisers if your department subscribes to this journal. I tried to read some of the stuff, and the articles are largely for subscribers. Have you read the ones by Thomas H. Benton? He's a real prof. at Hope College, and he gives a very insightful perspective on English depts and the profession, in general.

There is a very good guide to grad apps that can be found on the English website at the University of Pittsburgh (put together by Prof. Michael West).

I'm going to look for this. Really appreciate your help.

I spoke to my adviser, who was actually very encouraged that I was accepted anywhere. He says that transferring is not considered unethical; I shall not be 'blacklisted.' He says that "moving around is what academics do all the time." This is a part of the profession.

I'd like some concrete advice from those of you who are/were in a similar predicament. I am considered excellent within my department, but I know there is stuff I need to work on and it's time to get my head out of the sand (my adviser could not suggest anything, apart from enrolling into the PhD program that has accepted me and doing well).

My grad GPA -- 3.94. Subject GRE - 660. GRE Verbal -- 630; GRE Quant. -- 680.

I have considerable teaching experience, but sadly, I have not attended any research symposia/conferences. Any advice is appreciated deeply.

[Litapp]

My advice is probably not worth much, but here goes.

First, I would take a look at your goals. If you would like to teach at a research university, be aware that a recent study showed that 57% percent of English professors who teach in these programs got their PhDs from a top-ten program — 75% from a top twenty.

If you decide to take a year off and mount another attack at some top 20s, here are a couple concrete things you can do. First, I would try to get your Verbal score into the 700s (using the various study guides is essential) and if you have the time, improve the subject test score (there is a guide for this as well, but the subject test is less important). Beware that the GRE is about to change the structure of their general test. I don’t think you mentioned AW, but 5.5-6 is what they usually look for. Second, having a strong background in one foreign language is key, some progress in a second is desirable. Finally, presenting papers at conferences is fairly easy, much less difficult than publishing, so you could give it a shot.

If you decide to not accept the MA (and I don’t know what the right answer would be), you might one to take a close look at one aspect of your application that makes you stick out, and try to underline it even more. Also, the second time around I spent about two months on my personal statement — the first time I wrote it in a week.

[anonscribe]

Here's the report on faculty reputation and productivity I mentioned. Cheers.

http://chronicle.com/free/v53/i19/19a00801.htm

[grilledcheese]

The Fellowship Information file put together by Prof. Rafia Zafar at WashU is very helpful. In case anyone is interested, https://sites.wustl.edu/zafar/fellowship-information

Anonscribe, thank you for the link from the Chronicle.

I was wondering if there is a link or a page which lists the PhD stipends at various schools. I am definitely thinking of re-applying, especially after reading this --

Quote

If you would like to teach at a research university, be aware that a recent study showed that 57% percent of English professors who teach in these programs got their PhDs from a top-ten program — 75% from a top twenty.

I was thinking of spending the first year at the PhD which has accepted me; my advisor says, I should consider two years. I am torn about this -- 2 years is nearly half-way through the PhD, is it not? Not that I told him this.

It's significant that the first thing my M.A. advisor did was take a look at the faculty at the PhD program where I've been accepted, and then, check where each person went to school. Clearly, in terms of entry-level jobs, the school is important. Of course, what one does with the PhD is entirely up to each person's initiative.

A lot of messages on this forum suggest getting in touch with a professor at the school one wishes to attend. Sorry to sound terribly naive, but has anyone does this? And how does one go about this? Do you just write the person an e-mail stating, I've read your work, I really want to study at your school, etc.? I'm a little awkward with the "cold-calling" thing, so I would love to hear any experiences. Thanks in advance.

[Litapp]

Grilledcheese — yeah, those employment statistics are frightening. Of course, many brilliant professors have gone to lower-ranked schools and many mediocre professors higher-ranked school, but I still think one needs to be a bit pragmatic.

From what I know, normally stipends go from $9,000 to $20,000+ a year, with occasional multiple fellowship years and almost always some teaching. I think a reasonable goal is $12,000+ , at least one year fellowship, no more than one course teaching per semester. Some good schools give less (Florida seems to require lots of teaching for little money) and others more (Penn seems to be handing out $18,500 for five years with only two years teaching). Really varies by school. Support after the fifth year is more rare, but I think Urbana gives it. Average national time to degree: 8.5 years, although this too varies greatly by program. People seem to finish quickly at Michigan and spend lifetimes at Berkeley.

I think getting in touch with a professor is good — as long as your motive isn’t obvious. I personally haven’t done it, but many do.

Although I don’t want to sway you, here are some things to think about: if you try and transfer from a MA to a high-ranked PhD, multiple publications/conference papers will be important. They are much less important when applying straight out of a BA. Also, almost all schools will tell you the competition is more “keen