thegradstudent

Back in January, I bemoaned the current state of the job market – and don’t worry, I’m still pretty depressed about it – and wondered if maybe I should have applied to PhD programs after all. Apparently not, judging by the progress of everyone in my program. None of the MA students are getting into PhD programs. I have heard of one, count it one, acceptance so far, and by the student’s own admission it is very much a safety school. A safety school seems better than nothing, but the job market is difficult enough coming out of a top school, so some professors will tell you that it isn’t worth the gamble. The other half dozen students I’ve talked to are all sitting on more than five rejections and only have a few chances left. Most are starting to look for jobs, convinced that the rest will reject them as well. Even if they aren’t rejected they’re afraid that they’ll be accepted without funding – which for most is the same as being rejected – or be waitlisted, strung along for another month or two and possibly rejected later when the good jobs (if they even exist now) have been taken. Basically the plummeting economy is wrecking everything. Based on what I know/assume about them a few of the students being rejected would have struggled any year, but most are really sharp students coming out of a top program that should not be having this much trouble. But when the economy looks shaky more people apply to grad school, and schools don’t have as much money, so taking a few less new students is a way to cut costs without harming people already in the program. I just heard about a top art history program that generally accepts 15 students and this year accepted 2. I don’t know how closely that translates to other programs but it’s a ridiculously depressing indicator nonetheless. It all adds up to incredible competition to get into grad school, which was never an easy task anyway.

I’m trying to look on the bright side, taking solace in the fact that I could be in the midst of my current job search after essentially wasting hundreds of dollars on applications. I feel for all of those prospective grad students though. I hope to hear more success stories soon, from my friends or from Today.com readers who may be having better luck…

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