A bit of a roller coaster week here on the Bench, with a splash of good news and a dash of bad news.
The Good: Looks like I’ll be getting something printed in a relatively important academic journal. I have to make a few minor changes, and it won’t go to press until May 2011, but it’s still Something Published. I started work on this project back way back in 2006, so this is pretty gratifying. The Adviser thinks this is kind of a big deal, so that’s nice. And I needed win this week, because of…
The Bad: I have now officially been rejected by all of the fellowships for which I applied. Every one of them. As you’ll remember, I kind of expected this. Applying for fellowships is like shooting craps, except you don’t get the joy of instant gratification and it takes way, way more of your time. I gambled with about 100 hours of my life (20 hours/fellowship application, which is a low estimate) and I lost. I’m sure that a lot of very qualified people applied for these fellowships–at least 400 applicants for one of them, I know–but there were only 150+ applicants for one particular fellowship that I thought I had a pretty good shot at. That is a bummer.
In the long run, getting something published should more than make up for not getting these fellowships. If the article helps me get one of those mythical Tenure-Track Jobs, then I’ve come out on top. But that assumes that I finish my dissertation, for which I need time to research and write, and fellowship money would help give me that time. Still, I’m feeling good, so I’ll ride that out for a while.
Congratulations (& commiserations…)! If only you’d had the publication to wave in the faces of those fellowship committees, huh? There’s always next year, right?
True: there is always next year. And I will definitely be waving the article in their faces. Of course, they may just turn around and wave money in my face and then take it away. Jerks.
Anyway: thanks.
Great job on the article! I love the blog. Just went ABD myself last June and I understand exactly where you are coming from on all your comments. Money will come one day.
Thanks, MGB, and congratulations to you! Let’s hope you’re right about the money one day. I’m also hoping for fame and respect. But the money would be a good start.