Sandy in Indy Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I never thought my dd would have trouble getting into grad school. She's a top-notch student and has excellent recommendations. She's the editor of the English department's annual publication and served as the president of the English honor society. Her ultimate goal is to obtain a doctorate and teach lit at the college level. She's applied to several schools and been denied by all of them! (The first time ever in her academic career.) The last letter she received said they only had 12 spots in their Masters program for English majors and over 200 applications. What???? This from a school of over 40,000 students. Twelve spots. Really? I'm totally stumped as to how I can help her or encourage her at this point. Her undergrad school would welcome her back and that may be what she ends up doing. But we both know it would look better to have another school on her resume. It's frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Sandy, I fear that your daughter may be a victim of the economy. It is my understanding that graduate and professional school applications have swelled as people wait out the recession. It is frustrating. Perhaps she could consider earning her master's at her alma mater, then going elsewhere for her PhD. Essentially, she too would be waiting out this recession. Hugs to you both. :grouphug: Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I have a friend who has her undergrad, masters and PhD from the same place. Just to say that it isn't necessarily the end of the world if she stays with her alma mater for the next step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy in Indy Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 Thanks...that's encouraging. It's just been very difficult to watch her crumble as the rejections piled in. I know she can do well at UIndy's Masters program; it's just hard to believe that there's people in the world who don't think my dd is the best thing since sliced bread! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Katia Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 it's just hard to believe that there's people in the world who don't think my dd is the best thing since sliced bread! :-) Boy, I can totally relate to this one! How many times I have felt the same way. Those silly people; they just don't realize what they are missing! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I agree in thinking that it's the economy, Sandy. My sister has older kids already in college and they're feeling very crunched right now, too. Money is tight in all arenas. I hate to see this just as my own kids get ready to head off to school. Good luck to her. Tell her to keep looking. Hopefully something will come through soon for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 A few observations about graduate school: 1. Competitive programs are really hard to get into. Acceptance rates of 10% are not uncommon. Duke's political science program admitted 6 students last year out of 300 applicants. I won my departments award for the best graduating major and was rejected by 75% of schools I applied ti. Something similar happened for the doctorate. 2. Everyone applying for graduate school is a strong candidate. (Well, not everyone, but a lot of them). Thus, very strong candidates are routinely rejected. 3. How strong is her application in terms of a) GRE scores b) Letters of recommendation? I'm not a huge fan of GRE scores, but I would say a 1200 is a mininum in my field (a social science) and 1300 is often a cut off for funding consideration. Lit probably only cares about the verbal, I would suspect that top programs average scores in the 700s. 4. How was her fit? That is, is what she is interested in studying a good match to departments. If she wants to study French literature and the French literature specialist is retiring, she might be rejected for this reason. Contacting possible professors is something I recommend unless its not done in a particular field. 5. How strong is her preparation? Does she have foreign languages? Having command of at least one is essential for most graduate programs (I believe even American literature usually requires one language), and two is not uncommon. A student with little language preparation will be at a big disadvantage and a risk to not finish. 6. How good is her statement of purpose? With a lot of canidates, this needs to clearly show why she is a good match for a department and how she is unique. 7. How strong is her department? Some schools are snobby, and want Harvard grads, or at least UCLA and Dartmouth grads. In sum, graduate school is very competative, and a combination of these factors can result in deinal of admission. I would reccomend applying to 10 programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percytruffle Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I agree with what others have said. It is the economy. It isn't just at the grad school level either. My nephew just defended his thesis and obtained his PhD in English Lit and Rhetoric. He had a tough time finding a position because most of them he applied for weren't really positions at all, they dried up as schools cut the new opening due to the economy. (He did find one though) Perseverance is key as is being top in your field. Of course, connections count too. It seems English departments are shrinking right along with the economy. Hopefully it is only temporary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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