Hey all!
I've been lurking this subfield for a little while, and haven't really had a strong reason to post, but I am having a major decision dilemma that I want some input on if y'all are willing to help!
I have been accepted to University of Cincinnati and Ball State for their MA programs (waiting to hear back from IUPUI, which is still an option, and American, which I have pretty much dismissed even if accepted). UC didn't give me a deadline to reply, and I scheduled a visit on March 2. However, BSU wants to hear back by Feb. 27. Is it normal for schools to only give you a week to accept?
UC told me upon acceptance that they were still waiting on funding decisions (which made sense, because I was accepted before the application deadline). Ball State told me I was waitlisted for departmental funding. I was told to email the director of the applied anthropology labs to inquire about assistantships. This is what I received:
"All accepted applicants are being considered for assistantships. I can say that you are near the top of our list for assistantships, and that we might be able to fund you with a stipend and a tuition waiver. However, at this time our funding for next year has not been fully determined. We have 5 grant proposals outstanding that we are waiting on funding decisions. We will probably get at least 2 of these.
Unfortunately, grant funding cycles and graduate admissions decisions do not line up in a convenient way. We may not find out about our final funding for the year until July, but at least two of these decisions should be made before the end of next month.I can say that you are near the top of our list for assistantships, and that we might be able to fund you with a stipend and a tuition waiver. However, at this time our funding for next year has not been fully determined. We have 5 grant proposals outstanding that we are waiting on funding decisions. We will probably get at least 2 of these."
Not only does BSU want me to make a decision before I have heard back from all of my schools, they want me to confirm without definite funding. I feel pressured to decide between these two schools, which were my original top choices, before I feel ready to make such a big decision. I know I can't afford a grad program without at LEAST a tuition waiver. I have a feeling BSU doesn't want to screw me over and they're working hard to make sure they can fund all of the accepted students, but I just feel like the position they put me in asking me to decide so soon is pretty crappy. All of this is happening way more quickly thank I expected, and I planned on having until April to make *the* decision.
Would it be reasonable for me to ask Ball State if I can make my final decision after visiting UC (so I can meet with the faculty, talk to them about where they are in their funding decisions, etc) on March 2? They would really only be losing a couple of days of certainty.