Academics Now

Right now things are bad.

Its a really bad time to go back to school, which also means its a bad time to be in school. Why? Because that's where everyone is right now. Currently we are flooded, for lack of a better word. Schools are overwhelmed with applicants, and students alike. There are just too many of us, and universities have become degree factories. What does that mean? Well if everyone has a degree, it means yours isn't very special.

The same holds true for graduate school applications. This year, more than others, the amount of applications has been overwhelming. Schools are swamped with so many applicants all hoping to get into a grad program. It doesn't even matter what grad program you're applying too. Everyone I know hasn't gotten in, and these aren't your slacker, average students. But when a grad program with 6 openings gets 200 applications things fall through the cracks. Not to mention the fact that they only have 6 slots because they don't have any money either.

I'm just glad that I wasn't applying this round. But is the next round going to be any better? Will my program be flooded with applications from those returning to their education because their job let them go. What does that mean for me? I, who haven't even had a chance at a career, losing out to someone who has lived half their life and are now going back for a second try.

That means I have to be more competitive than I previously realized. I need to be published, I need to give talks, I need to do all the things that graduate students do, but I need to do them as an undergrad. Good luck.