Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Welcome to The GradCafe

Create Account

Hello! Welcome to The GradCafe Forums.You're welcome to look around the forums and view posts. However, like most online communities you must register before you can create your own posts. This is a simple, free process that requires minimal information. Benefits of membership:

Participate in discussions
Subscribe to topics and forums to get automatic updates
Search forums
Removes some advertisements (including this one!)

Really Confused & A Fresh Rejection.

Posted by cokohlik, in Waiting, Grad School 07 March 2012 · 295 views

funding M.A. waiting news accepted semi-official rejected

Quite a bit has happened since yesterday afternoon. At first, I was excited. Now I'm sad and confused.

Yesterday

Yesterday I got the official departmental letter from the MA program I was admitted to. The letter said that the graduate school will be sending out official letters (that include the official funding) in the next two weeks, but what I can expect is this, and all of this is a maybe for right now: tuition + maybe a small stipend for the first year. They don't have their allocation for TAships yet so they didn't include that in their offer for the second year. The second year seems like, judging by their letter, it will be out of pocket (nearly $20k not including living costs), which is simply not possible for me. There are other small funding opportunities that I can apply for for the second year, but the amount would be enough to cover 1 quarter of 4 and that's if I was awarded said funding. The last quarter is usually $200, bringing the cost down to around $10-15k, depending on what funding I would get. I'm really excited about this program - everyone is unbelievably friendly and nice and welcoming. I am worried about the cost, however, and I know that if I accept their offer and go there, that I'll probably be "okay" in the second year; but not knowing certainly isn't assisting me in making a decision.

Today

That being said, it is the only acceptance I've received so far and ... as you're about to find out ... I just got rejected from our "practical top choice," UCSB, which really, really stung. I drove out there, visited the campus, met with my POI and spoke with him for a few hours, learned about the program, signed up for the housing because they have like a year long wait list, etc., etc. We would've been close to family, my husband probably could've kept his job. For all practical purposes, it was the dream program. Academically, it would've been fine, too.

This leaves me with the following:

Accepted: to an MA program that I'm not sure I can afford (although I am so grateful for the funding at all which I know is rare)

Rejected: from two PhD programs (UCSB & Northwestern).

Unofficially rejected: from Emory (I wasn't invited to their interview weekend)

Still need to hear officially from: lots of schools - UVA, Emory, UMD, UDel, UMICH, Williams, UNC, Bryn Mawr, U of Toronto.

Of the schools that I still need to hear from, the following have sent out acceptances:
- UDel (top choice) - sporadic acceptances in Feb. via phone.
- Emory - interview invites
- UVA - a couple sporadic acceptances, 1 for PhD and one (maybe irrelevant) for the MA program
- Williams - sent out acceptances in a big batch last week juding by the GC.
- Bryn Mawr - sent out acceptances in a big batch last week juding by the GC.
- Toronto - sent out acceptances the last week of February via snail mail. I haven't received anything. Probably didn't get in.

Also, UMD historically has sent out all their acceptances in January (for art history). Haven't seen anything this year except for 1 acceptance in February. Not sure if that's good/bad/what.

Based on that, what would y'all say my chances are? It's not looking so good, right? I certainly don't think so, and I feel ... like... crap.

Canadianlinguist

Mar 07 2012 06:36 PM

I am sorry, but believe me I feel like crap too. I have heard from no where, and yes I literally mean no where. ALthough I only applied to MA programs, I am waiting on the U of Minnesota, Michigan State (where i'd do anything and to go with funding), Mankato State, Colorado, Syracuse, and Eastern Michigan Univeristy. I am terrified because I really need funding (and by that i mean at least tuition covered). I am acutally Canadian, and therefore an international student (with an American undergraduate degree), hence part of the reason I need money.

Having said that, I am from about 4 hours north of Toronto and very familar with stuff there. I do know that they (at least in Linguistics because I have friends who applied) send out there acceptance and rejections at the same time. I also know that Canada to the U.S Mail is reallllly slow... If you want to message me feel free too, I don't promise I can help you out at all, but especially with toronto I'll try.

jdharrison

Mar 07 2012 08:21 PM

Yeah, the bad news probably is that you can expect a rejection from those schools you haven't heard from yet. But! There may be a silver lining...

Do you have any debt from your undergrad (or does your husband?) Obviously, I have no idea what your financial situation is (credit cards, car payment, etc.) and I have no idea what your husband does or what your annual income is together. So this is a hypothetical assuming all the stars aligned, so to speak. If you could take out a small loan just to cover tuition at this MA program and get away with only 20-30k in debt, that probably wouldn't be the end of the world.

It sounds like a lot! But hear me out...

Doing an MA would definitely bolster your chances of getting into a PhD program (especially because you're in the humanities.) It will give you the opportunity to prove to programs that you're capable of doing graduate level work. A 3.8-4.0 GPA from a grad program goes way further than from a UG. It will improve your writing skills. It will help you narrow down and even better articulate what you want to do in a PhD program and what you want to do once you're done. Ususally, LoRs are better coming from graduate level professors because you've probably worked a lot more closely with them especially if you have to write a thesis to finish the MA.

If you could get into a fully funded PhD program that will also offer a stipend, you could use those 5-7 years to pay off the any interest (and probably more) on your loans from your MA. You wouldn't be able to pay it all off maybe, but you could put a nice dent in it, and believe me, walking away with only 10-15k in school debt and an MA/PhD in hand... some people would kill for that. =)

Again, I don't know what your financial situation is, so this may not be all that helpful, but I hope that it is!

Fell4Ever

Mar 07 2012 09:02 PM

I really hope you the best! I'm sorry it didn't perfectly work out! I wish you the absolute best.

see_bella

Mar 07 2012 11:39 PM

I am siding with jdharrison on this. I also know of museums and other organizations (nonprofit and all) that give grad scholarships and fellowships. The amounts are not huge but they add up. I know a friend from my former masters program who was able to scrape $5000.00 in said outside scholarships from different organizations, in addition to his half TA. I may have to ask him for information but I would suggest researching organizations in your field as well as those not in your field for some of those opportunities. Some organizations set up scholarships for women furthering their education, first generation grad students, in your field you could find ones sponsoring the preservation of art, history, culture, etc.

In the meantime you're waiting to hear from these other schools, you can start researching about other sources of funding that are not loans which could help minimise your post-grad debt. And keep an open mind about taking a small if necessary to add to your funds. Get on Google and just go! You will be surprised as to what you can find; every dollar counts!

cokohlik

Mar 08 2012 08:48 PM

Thanks everyone!

@jdharrison - your post was very helpful!

Large loans unfortunately aren't an option for many reasons. I suppose a small loan (like $3k or something) wouldn't be so bad if that needed to happen. I'm hoping not. I scoured the Department's funding information website, and they offer a number of grants, TAships, and readerships. I think if I had to, I would be okay in the second year. I still of course don't know and I'm still anxious and worried, but reading the funding website over and over helped a bit.

@see_bella - you're absolutely right that every little bit counts. In fact, I may have a position coming up where researching grant information would be something that I would be weaned into so that's a good opportunity to start seeing where this money can be found and how one can get it. CAA (the art historians' big association here) offers excellent grants and has a good page where they list them, but I just haven't had the energy or motivation to wander over and read it. I think most of them are for PhD students or recently graduated PhDs. But I should head over there and read it. For everyone's sake. Hah.

I didn't get any news today, although I suppose since it's only 3:45 on the east coast there's still time.

I've been a bucket of tears all day long and I'm not sure why. I just feel heavy and sad and unmotivated. I hope we have mail... I keep bursting into tears at work and people give me weird looks but... I'm just sad and really, really scared.

Sorry, I'm starting to rant. Thanks for all your advice, everyone! I really do appreciate it!

laurissimo

Mar 08 2012 09:38 PM

Don't believe for a second that if you haven't heard, you're not in! There are a ton of schools who waitlist without telling you-- and a waitlist is better than nothing at all. Schools do the whole "wave" thing, meaning they send out acceptances and rejections in batches. Add that to the list of schools who send out late acceptances... I've got my fingers crossed for you!

cokohlik

Mar 08 2012 09:42 PM

Don't believe for a second that if you haven't heard, you're not in! There are a ton of schools who waitlist without telling you-- and a waitlist is better than nothing at all. Schools do the whole "wave" thing, meaning they send out acceptances and rejections in batches. Add that to the list of schools who send out late acceptances... I've got my fingers crossed for you!

Thank you!!!! That's encouraging

I'll try to keep hoping. It's tough, though. How fun would it be to be on a secret wait list...

Well, if I hear anything ... you will know!

cokohlik

Mar 08 2012 10:54 PM

Well, I got my official offer letter... today! Not two weeks from now like I thought. In a way, this is good because it allows me to immediately begin thinking about finances, but in another way it's bad because I need to let them know "ASAP" since funding is limited, and I wanted to wait to hear back from other programs before making a decision.

Humean Nature

Mar 09 2012 08:21 PM

A lot of programs will request that you reply "ASAP," but I've heard and read that there's a general rule of April 15th. Don't hold me to that precise date, but I don't think your spot will be given up if you wait a week or two. You just received word, and this is a huge decision.

cokohlik

Mar 09 2012 08:25 PM

A lot of programs will request that you reply "ASAP," but I've heard and read that there's a general rule of April 15th. Don't hold me to that precise date, but I don't think your spot will be given up if you wait a week or two. You just received word, and this is a huge decision.

Thank you! It is huge... It's a little daunting, especially after beginning to consider moving, leaving family, giving up our salaries, etc. Whew. I'll see if they're signatories of the April 15th document (I think that's what the rule is?) and hopefully they'll stick with me while I weigh everything.

Humean Nature

Mar 09 2012 08:40 PM

1) This: http://gradschool.ab...ce/a/accept.htm

and 2) The third comment down (as of now) on this: http://talk.collegec...line-later.html

These both state April 15, but again, not all programs may follow this. Just something to ease your mind a bit. I would think if you don't reach this date and their deadline is approaching that you would receive an email asking your intentions or telling you you need to decide by date X.

greencurtain

Mar 09 2012 08:46 PM

Doesn't the Apr 15th rule apply to a spot but not necessarily the funding? I think it's easy to believe that funding is limited and may not be available come April 15th.

CALL or EMAIL the professors (or chair admissions, if you know him/her) of a few of your top-choice universities that have not yet sent you an acceptance or rejection. Tell them that you are really interested in the program and that you were wondering if they have made decisions yet. This worked for me - I figured it could do no harm, and if I hadn't contacted them, I might not have been accepted. I gave the same advice to an undergrad applying to a grad school - he didn't hear from them so he called the professor and the professor called him back and told him that his call made all the difference. Now he's in the program of his choice. I have a feeling this works because a) it shows you are especially interested and perhaps

schools will have accepted applicants who decided not to go there and will have room for others.

I wonder if anyone else has had the same experience...or if they would caution against this approach.

That being said, it sounds like the program that accepted you is a great match, and if you are considering obtaining alternate sources of funding in order to go there, that can only be a good sign. Clearly furthering your education is more important than finding a full time job to stay afloat. good on you.

You might also want to look at generic assistantships positions posted by the university for a large range of grad students. We are always getting advertisements for tutoring jobs, outreach jobs, writing center jobs, even jobs to help out international students at the uni.

octopi

Mar 11 2012 09:41 PM

I don't know if this is helpful, since I applied for neuroscience/biomed programs, but I just got an acceptance from UVA (3/9). I was almost certain it was going to be a rejection since I didn't interview for the program (and they had 2 interview dates already according to the forums) and I hadn't heard from them. So, I'd say that maybe you're in a "maybe" pile and they are waiting to hear from other students or decide from those they did interview. I think they would have sent you a rejection by now if that weren't the case. Or they review only a certain number of applications every week and say yes/no each week in waves. Not really sure, but maybe this will keep your spirits up! Good luck!

lslavic12

Mar 12 2012 02:09 AM

laurissimo is exactly right- I hadn't heard from three different schools, and after emailing them two basically said I was on the waiting list, part of that second wave, and the third didn't give too much information, but is sounded like the same situation. So it is definitely likely to be on a waitlist and they just didn't tell you! I'm the optimist here.