#grad school applications

[chaotic-archaeologist]

I'm still a couple years off deciding if I want to go to grad school for real, but every program I've looked into mentions fully funding students. should I still expect debt in that case?

It depends. I wish I had a straightforward answer for you, but there are a lot of variables to take into account, including but not limited to:

Master's or PhD? PhDs tend to be fully funded, while master's often are not. Some programs will allow you to get your master's on the way to your PhD, which is the best deal, although they are often more competitive.

How much is the school actually paying you? They love to say "fully funded" when they mean about $25,000 a year, which is far below the living wage for many areas.

How many years will you be funded for? That "fully funded" is usually conditional, and you should read the fine print. Most programs will fund you for X amount of years, after which you will be expected to fund yourself through grants, fellowships, and outside opportunities.

What will you do for work in the summer? That "fully funded" does not cover the summer break in the academic year (at least in the US). There are often pots of money around your department/university, or you can find a summer job inside/outside of academia.

What is the cost of living in your area? Are you someone who can live with roommates, do you have accessibility needs when it comes to housing, do you have a car that would allow you to live further away from campus (where the rent is often cheaper)?

Do they offer health insurance? How good is it and are you someone who has a lot of medical expenses?

When it's time, check out my guide to applying to graduate school. One of the things I mention there is talking to current graduate students. We are the ones who will be honest with you about the financial reality of the program.

Another thing to check is whether the grad students at the university are unionized. A strong union can fight for better contracts for grad students.

But all of this being said—do not go to grad school if it will put you into debt (unless you are in a field where getting the degree will allow you to pay off loans shortly after graduation). A program that will not pay you enough to keep your head above water is not a program worth going to.

-Reid

[possumstudies]

it’s so overwhelming, why can’t there be a nice little website where all of the requirements are in one place? what are the adhd girlies supposed to do? how do they expect us to keep track of it all?

[fadeawaywithyou]

PROS: YOU GOT INTO GRAD SCHOOL

CONS: YOU NOW HAVE UNTIL END OF SUMMER TO MOVE OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND FIGURE OUT IF YOU CAN EVEN PAY FOR THIS DO YOU HAVE THE MONEY YOU DID NOT EXPECT TO BE ACCEPTED YOU HAD JUST COME AROUND TO LIVING WITH FAMILY FOR ANOTHER YEAR BUT NOW YOU MIGHT STILL HAVE TO DESPITE BEING ACCEPTED BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE AS FUCK THERE

[meanya]

How the FUCK do you apply for grad school. Cuz like. Idek where to start. Do I go to a website. Is there a manual for this??

I could??? Move to another state??? That I've never been to???

Terrifying. What is this outside-my-comfort-zone bullshit.

[wi11ofthewisp]

i can feel my brain melting outta my earrrrrs

if i ever have to write “the liminality of authenticity within literary tourism” one more time im gonna scream (it’s my own fault, i chose this topic)

[epple-benene]

just got my first grad school rejection 🤩🤩

[ravingxfxbrickxwall]

As someone who is in their second grad school application cycle, I refuse to look at Reddit, the spreadsheet and gradcafe. I’m not going to dishearten myself

I did the best I could

I applied early

I reached out to PI

I polished it and was happy with what I did

The ball is in their court now

I choose my peace

But I’ll just check my emails and spams whenever I can

[yesimwriting]

my mom just read the intro paragraph of my personal statement for my grad school apps and she was left speechless 🙏🙏

that’s how i know my theme is eating fr

[briefblueseason]

I want to finish my grad school applications this week, but I am so afraid. I am so afraid I wont get in, that I will get in.

[bookmarksandbonfires]

Currently struggling with my grad school application documents and I really don't know how to solve this problem for myself.

In other news, I'm listening to so much music (trying to adjust my Spotify wrapped just on a free account yk it's a struggle)

[for-the-roses]

7 years ago I was studying abroad in Canada. When I came back home, I decided to get a bachelor's degree in psychology and then pursue a master's degree in Canada. I spent 5 years in college working my ass off, graduated with GPA of 9.4, an article and a book chapter published, and a great resumé. Somewhere along this path I got cold feet, and put the master's plan on hold.

5 years ago I met the love of my life (who is now my husband). He helped me find the courage I had lost on my way here. I have applied to 9 graduate programs across Canada, and haven't heard back from any universities yet. The wait is killing me.

My past self would be proud. I still do not believe I will get accepted, but at least I tried. Right?

[possumstudies]

i hate seeing people say “if you’re dealing with any mental health problems, sort them out before you apply to grad school because grad school will just make them worse.”

like, i’m sure they mean well, but not all of us have mental illnesses that are that easy to “sort out.” if i didn’t start my career until i’d taken care of all of my mental health problems, i’d spend the rest of my life waiting because some of my problems are things that are going to be there for the rest of my life and i just have to live with them.

i’m well aware that academia is not a great place for mentally ill people, but goddamnit, i’m going to make the best of it instead of putting my entire life on hold until my brain is magically fixed (a day which will never actually come).

[study-coffee-chicago]

ALL OF MY DOC APPS ARE SUBMITTED!

(Now I just need to worry about exams, papers, and whether or not my letters of recommendation and one of my transcripts will get to some of the schools on time)

[maxwells-daemon]

have to keep telling myself that if the idiots i’ve had as professors could get phds then i sure as hell can

[agatemermaid]

personal post but one of the people who i thought was going to write me a letter of recommendation has ghosted me quite thoroughly and im trying my best not to panic because i need her to reach the requirements for applying and it’s so scary to think my future is going to be determined by the whims of one person TuT

Trying my damndest not to spiral and dwell on the past because i wasn’t the most proactive student and now two years out of school so old professors aren’t open to writing any and i just

I can only control my own actions the only way out is through whatever happens i will survive i’ll be okay

[ravingxfxbrickxwall]

This is me towards PhD Admissions Committee