English phd, Harvard vs Yale vs Northwestern vs Columbia

Graduate School
41

<p>He shouldn’t do anything - shouldn’t even think about it - until he has acceptances in hand. And neither should you. </p>

<p>My d. who is finishing up a joint Ph.D. in Musiciology/Italian Studies was the only one in her area accepted her year (to Princeton). They likely had 40 applicants for her spot, most of them 4.0s or close, and good faculty recommendations, many with published articles, etc., etc. She was accepted because THAT YEAR they needed someone with her particular language skills. She might not - perhaps even probably not - have been accepted the year before, or the year after. (Everyone else accepted her year already had a terminal M.A. from elsewhere.)</p>

<p>So don’t sweat it. If he’s done what he’s supposed to do, he and you should forget about it till late February.</p>

42

<p>Northwestern for sure! I go there!</p>

43

<p>I have a link to this post on my Facebook account from someone who just finished his Ph.D. in the humanities – he is currently working a postdoc year at the college where he got his undergraduate degree:</p>

<p>“There are many different and appropriate ways to frame the current higher ed job market: broken, exploitative, predatory, dehumanizing, self-serving, and so on. I think it’s worthwhile to remember that it is also wasteful. So many brilliant people bursting with cultural knowledge, vital research and technical ability, communication skills, pedagogical talent, ambition, passion, creativity, indomitable work ethic, and on and on… just waiting for their opportunity.”</p>