This morning, as I was reading through the various blogs I subscribe to, I came across Duane’s recent post regarding Brandeis. After glancing at the Boston Globe article, I reported the information to Mandy. Her reply? “Well, that’s not encouraging.”
No, no it’s not. As two students who will be applying to PhD programs this fall, such news is not comforting to us. I know that we are not the only ones, and perhaps by the time schools are making their selections for fall 2010 things will be slightly better. Even so, its rather disconcerting when schools are laying off researchers, or asking the government for money, or selling art collections. The situation is further complicated for Mandy and I since we would very much like to both be accepted into the same program. In fact, aside from some schools that are near enough for one of us to go to one, and the other to the other, it’s pretty much a requirement for us to get into the same program. Not a good time at all to be a student applying to PhD programs.
After delivering the off the cuff comment above, Mandy came up with this: “Hey Calvin, it could be worse.” I looked at her quizzically, “Yeah–we could be looking for jobs right now.” She is, of course, absolutely right.
I am in the same boat as both of you, applying this fall for acceptance for next fall. It is disheartening indeed. I do wish both of you the best of luck, though, in this endeavor.
Well, that’s just depressing. It’s depressing for Brandeis. It’s depressing for y’all. And it’s depressing for those of us who are applying for PhD’s in the fall.
It’s awful depressing for not being in a depression.
Seriously though, this creates quite the conundrum for all of us. Especially considering that the market was already over-saturated with folks looking for PhD’s in the various religious studies.
Down here at Emory they’re using terminology such as “recruit and retain the highest quality faculty and students”. Translation: “We want our money’s worth!” They’re not talking about closing down the museum and selling the mummies on campus (literal mummies, not the upper echelon of the faculty), but there’s definitely going to be a lot of rejected top-tier students fighting for second-tier PhD slots.
Thinking optimistically, there is always hope that things rebound by next year …
@Thomas – Thanks for the comment, best of luck to you as well.
@Earl – You are, as always, incredibly uplifting.
@Jay – I’m a pessimist by nature; but, yes, I do hope things turn around by next year.