======= Date Modified 22 Aug 2008 12:48:56 =======
It really does seem brutal Wanwan.

And this forum ate the rest of my post (!)

As you say, you have other plans. I guess in other years, we might have made the cut: but this time round, it's worse than ever. Perhaps some reassurance is that the panel member partly responsible for our rejections is in my dept., and he's er., eccentric (e.g., I once witnessed them sitting through a seminar eating their arm - no, I am not making this up). Anyway, I hope everything will work out.

I think it's good advice to focus on doing well in your dissertation. Like you, last years rejection arrived in the middle of writing it: my then-sup. said if I did well, my chances should be improved this year. On paper I improved, but I was rejected again. Not to say it will happen to you though.

Sounds like you're doing philosophy, which is what I'm doing. In which case, also check out the awards from the Royal Institute of Philosophy, which I also applied for this year - their announcements are made after the AHRC awards, presumably going to those who were rejected.

Really sorry to hear that Dervish. The only consolation is knowing that perhaps, the process is particularly brutal this year. :/

I'm just speaking in an ideal situation, and thinking out loud. I do know some who have their parents paying, or older people who freely admit they can pay their own way. Of course, I realize it's not at all feasible to put into practice.

I'm sure many of wish there was a more equitable playing field, and that we had a better idea of how our applications are assessed. That's all.

I think so. But my income doesn't come from work, so it's a moot point.

I know of quite a few people in my subject who simply would not be able to do a phd if it were not for AHRC funding. To me, that seems a v. risky proposition. Without going into details, my income is slightly more than an AHRC award, so I can cope - in reality, if I were given an award, I would have just stashed it away in a high-interest account. I realize that puts me in a v. fortunate position.

I've often thought that awards should go to those in greatest financial need. Most of us applying are at a similar level academically. I know this is contentious, as there is a worry it might devalue those with particularly outstanding achievements. But it would, I think, help those who genuinely need it.

I don't think not getting the AHRC is detrimental to an academic career though, as presumably, the ratio of funded people to non-funded people is low.

This year, I had my sup. confident of my getting a grade 3 or 2, at least. It's one thing to get a rejection, another to be told you have become worse!

I wish the process was more transparent, but then, don't we all. I really feel for those who don't get funding and run out of options. It's a great shame.

The rejection letter said that 3300 people applied, and 30% were funded.

Said friend is quite competetive with others: I really dislike competition at phd level since we all have our own areas and it is chalk and cheese. I'd say there is a reasonable chance she will get it, as she has the better marks than anybody else applying.

I think I'll take a break from work stuff this weekend, do something I like, and hopefully come back a bit more focused on Monday.

Hey. Yeah. Thanks for the reassurance. I know we all have similar stats. Just can't believe I went down in the grades, esp. since I was told having the dist. would help this year - clearly, it didn't!!

Plus I don't want to deal with my friend telling me she got it, as if anyone does, it will prob. be her. I'll be happy for her, but still feel annoyed at the process, you know.

Yeah. I can still do it. God knows what happens to people who can't. It does make you feel lousy, as if you're not good enough for academia. I did apply to one other thing, but that has a success rate lower than the AHRC, so not optimistic.

My rejection arrived just now. Grade 4. That's even worse than previous years. God knows how I've managed to go DOWN. Oh well, kind of expected this.

Also, having checked the AHRC stats, I'm surprised that my uni has an overall acceptance rate of almost 50% !! Perhaps some unis skewer the statistics somewhat? I also know that of the v.small number of people that apply in my dept., about half get awards. The quota of 4 this year was supposed to reflect the fact that 2 typically get it, I think.

Panel 8, PhD Philosophy.

In previous years, my rejection arrived mid-August. The latest acceptance I know of was in the first week of sept - wonder if there is a reserve list incase a small number decline awards?

I think, this year, I'm prepared for rejection. I was rejected for MA (grade 3), then for 1st year PhD funding (grade 3). I think the biggest problem those times was that I did not have a 1:1, and the MA results were not yet out (I had no idea whether I was going to get a Dist. as it all hinged on the dissertation). This year, I'm in a better situation, but realistically, I know I'll just blend in with all the other distinctions and 1:1's applying. Not down about it, just pragmatic.

You're so right about being relieved to find a bill!!

15% (?!?). I really resent the way the humanities is often pushed to one side. I checked that link about the distribution of awards, and really must refrain from comments that make me sound like an intellectual snob. In an ideal world, the situation would be much fairer.

It often feels like a constant uphill battle with funding. And the AHRC is just the start. Then there will be other grant applications, some rejections, and on it goes.