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human
Rejected from all PhD applications, feeling directionless. Where to go from here?

Here's the deal. I applied to 12 grad schools for political science studying contemporary China in the 2018 cycle and did not get into any of them. I don't know why I was rejected completely - I was told by my advisors and grad school admissions staff that my application made me a strong candidate, I have internships and a great GRE, and I had great personal recommendations - but just that there weren't enough spaces and very vague advice about 'fit'.

I'm not completely helpless though. I had my masters in public policy and I have a job (just under $20/hr and with great health insurance) in university administration where I'm using my Chinese language skills. So I could be worse off. But I'm just coming out of a nasty cycle of high-functioning depression and now that my mental health is getting better I'm looking for ways to boost my application for next time - I don't know if it'll be this cycle, but maybe the next one.

I've talked to several professors of mine and they've suggested working on a study-abroad research fellowship in Taiwan to give my language skills that further boost, and I'm working with a former thesis supervisor of mine on an essay on stages of US foreign policy that might be published soon. Not in a peer-review journal, though, but more likely a regional affairs website and a public affairs magazine.

I've also entertained the idea of teaching as an adjunct for a semester at a local community college to at least see if I'm suited for teaching and to see if I can contribute in some way.

I do have my MPP already. I've thought about working in government but a few applications I have fell through there as well. So I'm really not sure where to go. I've felt stagnant over the last few months and I want to get out of this rut.

I know this is a really long post, but I'd appreciate any advice you all would have.

Edit: Seems like my issue was not having done enough to build up connections with potential advisors. I'll work on that ahead of the next application cycle as a priority. Thank you all for the feedback.
gpt
Don't give up. One application cycle doesn't make or break an applicant. They type of fortitude you need to keep applying in the face of rejection is the type of fortitude that will be needed to actually complete a Ph.D.