iphi

You need to talk to the school who made you the offer, and talk to the other schools you applied to. I was told by one school that April 15 is the date you should have to choose by. They reinforced that to make you choose earlier is highly unethical, and asked me to let them know ASAP if another school tried to bully me into doing so. I would start by writing to the school who made you the offer and say that you're supposed to have until April 15, and that since your other schools are operating under that timeline, you would like to have until then to make your decision.

You can be honest with him. Say, "I was interested in your school, however given other offers I have received I am less likely to accept an offer from (Your School) should one be extended to me. I thought that withdrawing my application might be the most fair course of action." Or something similar. Then he knows where things stand, and if he really wants you maybe he will up his offer.

It's the next five (give or take a few) years of your life - you should be informed! Talking to a grad student is usually the best way to get information. If you're already admitted, asking to talk to one shouldn't be surprising at all, but even if you haven't been admitted yet talking to one is a good idea. I guess if you're really worried that what you're asking will get back to the professor just be sure you don't ask anything crazy or offensive. Like, "where are the good strip clubs in this town?" Ha. I asked for the information of a current grad student at a school I have not yet been accepted to, and not only were they eager to put me in touch, but the grad student herself was very candid with me. So ask the tough questions! Can you support yourself on your stipend? What is the best thing about the program? The worst? Do students graduate on time? (Sometimes the program website has data on this) What is it like to live here? If you could do things over again, would you still choose to live here? What is the mentoring style of Prof X? Will I have the opportunity to do (xyz)? What do students in the program struggle with?

Well, does he have the same last name? If not, there's really nothing to link you!

This is just me, but if all things are even I would definitely consider cost of living! Living is SoCal is very expensive, whereas Wisconsin shouldn't be so bad. So make sure you compare your stipends with that in mind.

Technically, yes. But be aware that this is not polite, and that your field is likely very small and you will likely run into these people again.

April 15 is the commit date. The problem with programs like the one you are applying to, is that they do not tell you about funding until after you accept their offer. So if you are planning to go there, the earlier you tell them the better because then you will be privy to funding opportunities. So your options are the following: 1. Accept at Buffalo, meaning you can not accept anywhere else. You've chosen. You will get funding info from Buffalo. 2. Weigh your options. Wait for all your offers to come in and then decide. If you end up choosing Buffalo you may be at a disadvantage, as people who have chosen earlier will have gotten the better funding packages. 3. Realize that Buffalo is not the place for you, and go somewhere else with a funding system where they don't essentially hold you hostage. Two schools that I was very interested in (and was accepted to) do funding the same way. That was a dealbreaker for me. I personally have to know abut funding before I commit. The choice is of course yours....

Nah, sometimes they ask for your name because they actually check to see if there's been a decision made on your application already. I wouldn't worry about it. Just don't call 3x a week!

No e-files, but I can type up my notes for everyone to see. Personally, UNC was my top choice until I saw what the funding situation was like. The general SoE talk about it was encouraging - and that's what my notes below are based on - but I found it to be unacceptable for my department. Also, I have to accept their offer before I find out about funding (another dealbreaker for me). Here are the notes from the general SoE funding info session: Types of funding: 1. Fellowships/Scholarships (you have to be nominated for these): 19 awards/year for SoE 2. RAships 3. TAships All of the first 3 options pay your tuition. #4 & #5 do not (i.e. just a job to pay bills, NO tuition remission) 4. GAships (General Assistantship) 5. Other on-campus jobs, e.g. Planetarium, art museum I don't know what other departments are like, but in mine (School Psychology) 31/32 students are funded, but only half of those have tution remission. Minimum stipend per semester to qualify for tuition remission is $7600. That counts as "full-time" (20 hours) and qualifies you for tuition remission. If an assistantship does not pay your tuition, it should give you higher pay. If it doesnt, you can ask for it. Out of state students: -IF you have your tuition paid for you through funding, the out of state part is waived. -You MUST apply for residency after 1st year. Miscellaneous: -You can only be eligible for assistantships with tuition remission for a total of 10 semesters. So don't take more than 5 years to graduate! -1st years will not be approved for overload (can only work max of 20 hours/week) -Supposedly after your first year it is easy to find funding (students told me otherwise - at least funding that pays your tuition) -Supposedly 1st Years and International students get "priority" for funding from SoE.

This will vary widely by program! This is really a question you should ask them. I am also on a waitlist, and I was told that I should know by sometime in March. Again, however, not sure we can really compare between programs.

Did you go to their Admitted Student's Day last weekend? We had a funding info session. 55% of students in the SoE are funded. For my program (School Psych) we do NOT get funding details until the summer, meaning we have to accept the offer before knowing about funding. Fellowship is obviously different.

Honestly, I don't pay much attention to EdS requirements/expectations because I am applying for PhD. But I think it is something you should ask the EdS program you applied to!

Call them. This happened to me with a few schools, and while it was inconvenient, it was easily solved. The problem is at this point, that your application may not have been reviewed because it was "incomplete". Tell them when you sent the scores and then FIGHT for them to read your app because it was their mistake! I had to do this with a program and was ultimately accepted. Also, a common problem with UPenn is people sending their scores to Penn STATE. Make sure you didn't do that before you call them!

I want to make sure that you know that setting up your own private practice would be an extra year of work after your PsyD, because you need post-doctoral hours. I also thought EdS could do their internships in hospitals. Is that not the case?

Sorry to be rude about the answer - basically I posted some things on this forum and went to a group interview and someone had used some of the things I posted, leaving me in kind of a pickle. I'm more careful now! My acceptance to Denver is for PhD, but I just found out that their PhD program is not accredited (their EdS is). So while I am interested, I am also wary! Their website says that they are "in the process" of accreditation, but I am not sure what that means - i.e. when that will happen.

Before applying, perhaps. But definitely not this late in the game!

Woah, you are making this way too complicated! What are your career goals? This question should answer itself! Let's talk this out. (BTW your post makes it seem as though there is an obvious choice, but I want to hear about your career goals, because that's the MOST important thing when choosing between these degree types!)

Nope! You have to come up with your own! I did relate it to my research topic of interest, naturally.

Thanks! UNC was my #1 until I found out that they don't fully fund, i.e. I'd probably have to pay (out-of-state) tuition! Congrats on UT Austin! That's a great school!

Oh boy. I suppose it depends on your career goals. Do you want to be a practicing pscyhologist? An academician? If the answers are no, then why bother with a PhD? Unless perhaps you need funding and can only get it through a PhD program?

You're welcome. Good luck, and congratulations! Those are some great schools you were accepted to!

Well, there are a few questions you should ask yourself: 1. What do you want out of this degree? Professional development? Career change? 2. What kind of degree? Not only area (looks like psych for you), but a research degree or something with a thesis that will leave an option open for a PhD? 3. Are you willing to pay for this degree? How much? 4. Are you willing to relocate? How far? 5. How will this change your life? Will it make things better for your career? Worse for your family? Balance these pros and cons to yourself. 6. Are people in your life supportive of you? If not, it will make things difficult? 7. Do you want/need to do a degree part-time or do you need to find one that works around the lives of working professionals? 8. Do you have all the pre-reqs you need, both courses and professors willing to give you recommendations (usually a requirement is that 1-2 of your references must come from people who can evaluate you on an academic level). If you need some of these things, you should look into enrolling in courses at your local community college or university's extension program. Good luck! You can post on the Psychology board too, if you want to. There are usually threads broken down by speciality/concentration.