kglad

aspireperspire- congrats! That's a nice set of options. I was accepted by one program and it felt like a good fit. I wouldn't have applied if I wasn't serious about attending. We'll see if I'm still enthusiastic when I actually start in the fall. geographyumd- I hope you get accepted into the MLS program at UMN-Duluth! It's such a lovely area and I'm sure the program will be great.

Weird!! I don't know what happened there, but when I searched, nothing showed up and I started a "new" one with the same title. And now, voila, it's showing up as a comment. *sigh* I must have some seriously bad computer or internet fu lately... Awex-- Thanks for the offer!! I'm actually IN Harrisburg right now to look for housing (found three to see so far!) and fill out paperwork for the assistantship, et cetera. Visited PSU today briefly and walked around a bit in the chilly winds to get a sense of the campus and see where things are. I go back tomorrow for an appt and possibly to meet the American Studies faculty and staff. Depends on what HR says. I just today completed the criminal background check and I might not be allowed to do much on campus until I'm officially "cleared". I dunno. I wasn't able to sit in on a graduate class tonight because I hadn't completed the required steps. I can't afford to lose my funding or acceptance status over a miscommunication or breaking a rule, so I might not even visit campus again while I'm in town. So far, Harrisburg is pretty neat! I've driven around a bit just getting to know the east side of the river going between the hotel and campus areas, visiting my new credit union, and just sightseeing. This place is easy to get around so far, a long as I know where downtown, the airport, and the river are, I think I can find just about anything eventually. Sadly, I've only eaten at Applebee's so far. I'm sure there are great local places to get dinner or lunch. What are some of your favorite restaurants here? K

I thought I started this topic a little while ago, but then it seems to have either disappeared or I imagined starting it to begin with LOL! My spouse and I are moving to the Harrisburg area sometime this summer for my American Studies doctorate at PSU-Harrisburg in the Fall of 2014. Hopefully, it will only take 3 years or less, which seems doable, since they've had at least one person complete the program in 2 years, and a few more completed it within or at the 3 year mark. Anyone else out there in Grad Cafeland attending PSU-Harrisburg starting in Fall 2014?

I've had to find a rental that allowed a 88lb dog and five cats, too, in a large city. The best luck I had was posting to craigslist for housing wanted. I got a fantastic second-story 1200sf flat for $850/mo in a cool duplex with off-street parking from a guy who saw my ad. In St. Paul, MN. Normally that type of unit by size and bedrooms would run in the $1100 range. He lived in the 3rd floor unit as my "legal roommate" since the house was, eh, not legally a triplex. It was awesome. You might try posting at craigslist and see if you can find something pop up like that, especially if you are not in a huge hurry to move. The guy that contacted me had just gotten the place ready to rent and did not post it anywhere. I was the only person who viewed it before he rented it out. I wish I still lived there, actually, because it would be less complicated than selling the house I bought after that. Ugh. Another option, which might not be workable in your area, is to find a clean, quiet mobile home park and buy a used mobile home. If all you need is a studio or 1br, a smaller mobile home could suit you ok and be pretty affordable, just make sure you look into "good" parks vs "crime-ridden" parks. That's our game plan for my doctorate, since we're in the same boat-- too many cats to easily find a place to rent. Good luck and I hope you're able to keep your kitties.

The spouse and I are moving to Harrisburg PA so I can attend PSU Harrisburg for the American Studies program. We'll be moving sometime this summer. I'll be on a housing-hunting mission sometime later this month. Anyone else going to Penn State Harrisburg in 2014?

To reply to the original post- the MLS degree can be a way to pursue interdisciplinary studies in areas personally interesting or relevant, like what you listed, but not necessarily a career-driver unless you're very focused and have specific career goals in mind. The degree may be difficult to use toward a Ph.D. if you eventually want to pursue one, but it's not impossible. The fields you listed could mean that the MLS leads you to a Ph.D. in Communications-type degree, Sociology-type degree, American (or American African, Women's, Asian) Studies, and so forth. I finished a MLS and will be going on to the doctorate program in American Studies at Penn State in Fall 2014, for example. Most of the people in my MLS classes already were in careers and appeared to be designing their MLS to be relevant to their current and possible future careers in their respective fields. Many students were in their 20s, and a handful in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. It did feel like it was geared toward "lifelong learners", but the courses were rigorous and I was able to take directed studies to pursue specific topics deeply. Many of my instructors had Ph.D. degrees and a deep knowledge of their subjects. Overall, I wouldn't change a thing except I probably wouldn't have tried to pursue a minor. It got a little bit in my way and wasn't as relevant to my thesis as I'd hoped. In the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area of Minnesota, at least four universities offer MLS or similar degree: University of Minnesota (where I earned mine), Metropolitan State U, Hamline U, and St. Mary's University (Minneapolis branch) offers a Master of Human Development, which appears to be student-designed in a similar way. Haven't looked into other large metro areas, but I'm sure you could find dozens more MLS degrees in or near California. Dig deep, they could have obscure names like Master of Interdisciplinary Studies or whatnot (MSU-Mankato has something like that). I'm glad I went to the U of MN, because it's a research university and has the associated amazeballs library resources, staff, faculty, and overall student support. Penn State hasn't been in the American Studies game for long in the Ph.D. arena since their first cohort started in 2009, but they are a Big 10 university with similar resources to the U of MN. Best of luck in your grad school research and applications!

Anyone still waiting on University of Kansas? They have the priority deadline of December 1 and a final deadline of May 1. I apparently didn't get admitted during their first priority round or waitlist crew. I haven't bothered contacting them again, either, to find out any more info. Do people actually get acceptance letters after the May 1 deadline? Also, I wonder how much they get slammed by later applications from people who got rejected elsewhere during earlier admission seasons.

Have you visited university websites? For a directory of graduate programs in American Studies, try the American Studies Association website (www.theasa.net) and specifically their directory at http://www.theasa.net/publications/grad_programs/letter/. Off the top of my head, I know Penn State offers funding for a MA in American Studies through an assistantship, which you must be nominated for. It is not automatically assigned at acceptance into the program and you would need to talk to your program coordinator. Their MA funding info is http://harrisburg.psu.edu/programs/master-arts-american-studies#Graduate_School_Assistantships. I only know about Penn State because I was accepted to their doctoral program and some of the assistantship opportunities for MA and PhD are similar. Best of luck!

Have you talked to anyone in the department at U of Arkansas directly to inquire? U of Arkansas' program may allow for you to focus on theory or concentrate on say, reviewing literature through a legal theory lens in your final papers/projects. Your electives or, if you take a minor, could also steer the degree to theory. Best of luck with this difficult decision.

I feel your pain, actually. I just got a voice mail from the admin asst at U of KS. I emailed last week, then left a voice message later last week just asking about my status because I hadn't received anything yet. The U of KS American Studies dept hasn't made a decision about my application. I'm rather shocked, actually. I mean, most other places wanted a decision by now or the end of the month to have time to reassign funding to other candidates, etc. and for U of KS to not notify me of even waitlist or "pending decision" is disheartening, to say the least. I'm on a cusp, but I have no idea which cusp. Cusp of rejection and wait list? Cusp of underdog "surprise" admission? ACK.

hidalgo- Have you heard anything yet from the school you want to attend? I hope it works out for you-

s0classic- Congrats!! Lots of cool things going on here in the TC. If you need any help vetting neighborhoods, let me know. My hubby and I have a combined 60 years of experience living and working here. Some really neat things going on for the arts and cultural side of entertainment, lofts and other housing going up near or along the light rail, too. I recommend taking advantage of that if you can- the light rail will be operational in 2014 and go directly to campus from the east and west. The cost of living here is somewhat expensive, so I'm glad you got a great funding package! I was called off the Penn State waitlist and will be attending their program. We will either sell or rent our house in St. Paul, MN. I will likely defer until Fall 2014, though, since most or all of the grant, scholarship, or fellowship-type funding has been depleted or the deadlines have passed while the first round of admission letters went out. I am waiting to hear back on a possible assistantship for Fall 2013, but I think I'd rather start the first year with a little more than that.

Just got my notice yesterday from Penn State- I was accepted off the wait list!!! YAY!! Super thrilled and I hope we can make it work!! No assistantships available in the American Studies department, however. I will receive a packet from them soon. I'm really excited, but without funding, I can't afford to go. Mortgage here (until house is rent-ready and rented or sold) plus rent there would mean we would live on ramen and have to basically sell everything we own just to afford the move. Hopefully, another option will present itself. If not, I'll have to decline, but would stay in contact with the department with the intention of applying for 2014.

Two weeks since any updates here- anyone else heard good, bad, or waitlist news? I'm still on the Wait List from Penn State and haven't heard from U of KS.

I missed this news, phigirl. Congrats and here's hoping!!