iphi

Hm. Well I went without a car in Columbus and I wouldn't do it again! Just my $.02

You can write to USC telling them you have to make a decision for another school and asking if they will give you an indication now on if you should wait. Otherwise, accept USF's offer then back out (if you HAVE to) after you hear from the others.

I always default to "Dr" anyway. Until they tell me, "please call me (first name) it just seems like too much of a liberty.

I wouldn't call Seattle area weather "harsh". It rains a lot, but not as much as people think. It snows a few times per year. Columbus weather can get pretty cold, but nowhere near Chicago or Minnesota or other midwestern states. I would definitely factor cost of living into your decision. Columbus is far cheaper than Seattle, and in both places you are probably going to need a car. You may be able to get around without one in Seattle depending on what you do/where you go, but absolutely not in Columbus. Good luck!

Thanks everyone! I came to the same conclusion everyone else seemed to.

Just an interjection, but if you decide not to go to UF, let them know ASAP! I know someone on their waitlist who desperately wants a spot.

I am lucky enough to be in a position where the department is (somewhat) allowing me to choose the assistantship I want. My options are the following: Option 1: TA (50%). I would teach two courses (not two sections of the same course, two different courses). For one I would lead a discussion section, for the other I would be the primary instructor. Keep in mind that this would be my first semester of grad school, and I don't really have a background in either of the courses I'd be teaching. Pay scale: Grade B (A being highest). I thought Option 1 might be a little much to take on in my first year, plus I would love some research experience. So I was offered: Option 2: RA (33%). My advisor was just awarded a grant, so I would start on her project from the beginning, get to collect and analyze data and probably get a publication out of it. However, because it is only 33%, my income would be lower. I would have to make up the time with hourly work, the nature of which I am not sure of. It might also give me an opportunity for funding through the summer, whereas the TA job would not. Pay scale: Grade A (but only 33% vs 50%). It's about $3k/year less than being a TA at 50%. I don't know what the hourly work wages would come out to. Tuition remission and health insurance are the same no matter which option I choose. What should I do? At this point I think maybe I should just take the TA job(s) so I can live somewhat comfortably. But not being involved in any research (except maybe volunteering) seems like a bad move. Any advice?

Fascinating. I have lived in Seattle, Vancouver and San Francisco on far less than $25k! You have to be willing to make sacrifices (not live right downtown, etc.). Perhaps it's just a matter of perspective. Anyway, I wasn't saying OP shouldn't ask for more money, just saying that with the right scrimps and saves it can be possible to live on less.

I'm shocked that someone wanting to study History would even ask this! Oxford! It's got the longest (or one of the longest) histories of any university! Plus, as you said, it's closer to home and a shorter program.

Fingers crossed!

Unless you're moving to NYC or LA, I think $25,000 should be sufficient most places in the U.S. and Canada. Have you used a cost of living calculator? Typically, grad students really don't make that much and $25k is pretty generous. I know students at Berkeley (225% cost of living) who make only $19 or $20k. That being said, even if the department doesn't offer you more than that now, there are always external grants that can help you out. NSF is a big one for most hard/social science disciplines. It's extremely competitive of course, but possible.

I think that is a really important factor to consider! If the other one has more pros, but you're disappointed... I think you should factor it in. What are the cons? Are they major, like funding or accreditation? If not, maybe you should go for the "con" school.

NC State! Way nicer place to live and cost of living is much lower. I don't think name recognition between those two schools makes much difference, honestly.

EdS or PhD? Sorry, I can't keep everyone straight! I know I mentioned this before on at least one thread, not sure if it was this one... but I had a friend who went to TC and she says there is rarely funding. They almost always offer it to you for your first year but then once you're in they pull it away. She said it was bad enough for her (Master's) but that she knows people in their 4th year of their PhD who have to face Columbia tuition + Manhattan cost of living with NO funding from TC! Just something to consider.... I know she effectively talked me out of applying.

Congratulations! That's great news! I have this fear that the people I'm waiting on hearing from also have students who are waiting to get off other waitlists, and so on and so forth, like a giant game of chicken! haha.

Not necessarily, but that's why you have to give them a good excuse. You'll need one from your POI no matter what, but the other 2 you can try to get from profs you worked with maybe in other departments or who won't care/be mad if you switch.

Hm, you can ask but lots of departments have a policy saying there are no deferrals and you have to go through the admissions process again! Talk to them about WHY though, and you may be ok. Finishing your Master's seems like a legitimate excuse and honestly your admission might be contingent on it anyway.

I think you should consider which state you would like to work in after graduation, for licensing purposes. It would be so much easier to do it all in the same state. I know you can probably do your internship in any state though (at least PhDs can, I'm assuming EdS students can too) so I guess you have more time to decide? What I would do is weigh a bunch of categories: prestige, finances/cost of living/location and giving each category a certain weight. Then rank them and see what happens. It's a starting point, anyway, and you may see where your heart truly lies! Good luck!

My top choice is of course where I am waitlisted. I have decided on a school where I was accepted since I assume the waitlist will not come through... at this school each POI has their own waitlist and there are supposedly no rankings. So basically I have no idea what my chances are. I emailed a few times with the POI at the school and she always responded promptly (in about two days). Last I heard from her was March 8, saying she hoped to let me know within the week because she knew some students were making decisions. Well, about 10 days ago (March 20? 21?) I wrote to her again asking for an update and have heard nothing! Can I write to her again or just figure she would have written me if it was good news and let it go? I want to tell the school where I will be accepting at (assuming the waitlist school doesn't come through) ASAP because they've been so great to me and found me really good funding, but part of me (a big part!) is wishing a miracle will happen. But April 15 is 2 weeks away so I am losing hope every day.

Totally different field, but it has usually taken about a month for me to hear anything about funding. At the school I've ultimately chosen to attend it was about 6 weeks between receiving my (departmental) acceptance to receiving a funding offer. Quite nervewracking!

I don't know where you're planning to live, but I wouldn't bank on using public transit/biking alone. If you're moving to ABQ you're gonna need a car, period. Based on what you're saying (and I know others have said this) you should think about living right around campus. That being said, that place can be sketchy too. The (awesome) diner "Frontier" across the street from UNM is no longer open 24 hours because of fights that broke out in the wee hours. Basically it comes down to this: ABQ can be an awesome place to live but you definitely have to be careful in ways that, if you're coming from another city, you may not be used to. Biking is dangerous because of the astronomical number of drunk drivers, public transportation is mostly not the greatest - not like "big" cities, and gangs are a real and prevelant thing so be careful. The upside is everything is dirt cheap. Housing, gas, everything. Of course, I live in California now so everything is about 1000x more expensive.

I think you can put your question in and either the director will respond or the assistant will direct it to where it needs to go. Or you can simply state that you have a question and ask whom you should contact.

Well is their deadline April 15? Or did they state another deadline. You can just thank them and tell them you want to visit before you make a decision. It shouldn't be a big deal.