the green saint

Just been accepted in Sociology Might be looking for room mates, PM me if interested.

So I have now been told that I am number one on the waitlist - with only one place left to be accepted. So if by chance that person reads this message, I would be grateful to know what they are thinking! I can not wait until the 16th. This process has been far too antagonising!

I agree with amblo, you might be able to get on a good Masters program - and if a PhD is where you want to finish then at least you can work hard on those grades. My only advice given your situation is that you might want to be careful how you frame the reasoning of your poor grades - it can be good to highlight why you have bad grades, and perhaps you can emphasise some relevant units that you did better in? - also your GRE scores are extremely good, so that shows that you are capable and no mug But, (without trying to pry) if by any chance your depression reasons were anything to do with high workload or anything that might be replicated in grad school, i'm not sure there will be too much sympathy from selection committees, as after all, they will only pick you if they think you are capable to see it out. All the best and I hope it works out!

An update for anyone interested (I also posted my outcome on the results page). I emailed the DGS to ask for my outcome today. He replied saying that the first offers had been made, and they are waiting for their responses until they make any further offers. He also added that I was high on the wait list (whatever that means), but it looked like a 'cut-and-paste' email, so who knows. Said it could take a week or up until the 15th of April. Understandable, but urgh! I feel bad too, as I have one offer but would really like to see the outcome of this before I decide - so I am also probably keeping someone hanging. Sorry!

Congrats! Are you accepting? I was hoping after I saw your result that they would get it over quickly! I'm looking for a PhD so am convincing myself that they are doing those separately! Was there any general information on acceptances? At this stage I just want to know either way so I don't have to keep looking at the results page!

I see that someone got offered a Masters with TAship.....anyone claiming that? Any other news? I'm not sure why they need to take so long!

I think you probably have the idea by now...... An added anecdote: In my first set of applications I had constructed a solid research proposal and sent it to a few professors in the field (all in the UK) - all replied, and pretty much said it was a cogent and exciting research proposal and that I should definitely apply there. I took that as a sure foot in the door. Big mistake! I only applied to 4 last round and got 0 offers (with funding- although I did get accepted to all four without funding). I have since realised that professors don't have much of a say on the funding panel - and the funding committee will differ year on year. This time round I applied to 12 selected universities that would match up with my research, both in the UK and US. So far, I have been accepted, with funding, to one in the US, and still waiting on the UK ones. Positive feedback from professors is a good start. Maybe put forward a research proposition (if relevant in your field, mine is social sciences) - the benefit of this is that professors can usually tell who would be interested in the department, and what they have to offer to complete it. Therefore, you get a feel where would be a good fit - and this is vitally important in both the application process and your willingness to accept the offer. All the best.

A Wildcat Vs A Bighorn. Well that's sorted then.......

I am going to add an extra dimension to this thread. I'm from the UK, and put in 3 US applications and about 8 UK ones. My preference is to go the US, and I have been accepted with funding to one, rejected by another and still waiting on the third - the last of course is my first choice, so I am just waiting in agony. However, the UK system is different to the US one. So on top of the standard PhD application (I feel like they accept most people if the have the minimum standards), to get funding, I have had to work with a variety of potential supervisors in creating, amending and adjusting research proposals that fit the criteria for each funding opportunity. And this process is ongoing, as even today I've had a request to amend my proposal after I got through the first round of cut-off's. My problem is that I want to go the US, and now I have an offer, the UK doesn't matter. However, I don't want to burn bridges, and some professors have put in a lot of their own time into helping me out - and I may need them sometime down the road..... So currently, I sit here, trying to update a proposal, because the stated objectives are a little 'fluffy' to the committee, knowing that the same proposal has already been accepted and well received in the US. It's all practice, right?

'This week' has just about passed. Anyone got any news yet?

There is definitely a bitter-sweet moment about failing first time round. A year is a long time to be waiting around, but a year out can really help! For me I'm from the UK, and applied to 4 PhD programs here whilst I was studying for my Masters last year- although I got accepted to some, there was no funding, which meant I couldn't go. By the time the second applications came around I realised I wanted to shift my perspective in my studies, given what I had learned in the rest of my Masters. In preparation for the second round I researched all the places I would be happy to go, who I would want to work with, and got in contact with some professors - most to my surprise were really willing to give advice. I wrote a strong research proposal (i'm in the social sciences, so I know this might differ for you) and because i targeted those who I sent it to, most were really enthused by it, or at the very least sent me in the right direction. I also broadened my horizons. Applying to 3 US universities, and in my first response, I got accepted with funding (still waiting on the other two). I will only find out UK ones much later (I applied to 8 here - but mainly because its free to apply, and didnt have the cost of sending GRE/Transcripts/Application fees), but I think the challenge/experience of the US will suit me, and I'm really amped I have a place in something I love to research . One final point - Although I have an OK academic record, it's by no means exceptional - what I did was to make sure that all my experience and educational background lead to this point (it helps that it actually does !) And why my 'unique background' was the 'perfect fit' for their course - try and make yourself incomparable in something you've done. All the best, and enjoy deliberating your options.

Hi, Although I think most of your questions might have already been answered, I thought I would add my experience here. I have no anthropology background, and have just been accepted, with funding, to the cultural anthropology department in Kentucky. About myself: Born in South Africa, but schooled in the UK. Have a BSc in Accounting and Finance, and a MA in Critical Global Politics (so I've strayed quite far!). Research interests in Fair Trade and global commodity chains. I also worked for a film production company in SA for 2 years. I have good results but nothing extremely exceptional. GRE V158, Q155, AW 4.5 I got to anthropology (cultural), basically through my research interests - my main interest of Fair Trade (interactions with values and global commodity chains). I think I got accepted because I am the 'perfect fit' for the course and supervisor - I really emphasised why my unique background would be of benefit to them . I would say that my MA definitely helped - although as I did it in the UK, so it was only a one year course . However, much of the social sciences overlap - so I think that although i didn't have specific anthropology units, i have covered a lot of the same topic area's - globalisation, gender, class studies. I also used my South African background to explain that I want to do research there - an added bonus because Kentucky have links in the area. My advice is to really research who you might want to work with - what the departments have to offer - what research is already being conducted. Although many departments say that you dont need a specific topic area, I think it really helps, and means that writing your SOP becomes easy - make sure to explain why your MA gives you a different perspective than the usual route. In addition, if you can write a well formulated research proposal to back this up (as I did) that should help. It's all about taking your background and making it fit to where you want to go. All the best, and make sure to STAND OUT