spicyartichoke

Having a number of friends who are middle and high school teachers I can't think of any who have education degrees. (I do have one friend who is under contract with an M.Ed. but is not currently teaching.) Most states have a short certification process that you have to go through that may involve a few college level courses but do not require degrees in education. In Florida you have 2 years that you are allowed to teach while you work on that certification.

You sound bitter, selecttext. I highly doubt that my experience in grad school will be of "little consequence," but, um, thanks for the input.

This just begs the question of why you chose a program with no funding over ones with funding? 

I think everything I say is absolutely awesome. I blow myself away.

If you look at this chart, and observe the lower left quadrant, you see that mean scores are pretty low for sociology and psychology.  Then if you trace down and to the left from there, you see how much they drop off for public administration and social work programs.  To the degree that those fields correlate with a criminology masters being an application of sociology and psychology, semperfi 101's experience with scores probably does not say a great deal about where cutoffs peg for sociology PhD programs.  

MTurk is cheap but you can't restrict location more specifically than countries. Though there are ways around it: You could post a prequalifying task that asks people for their location for a few cents, then create a second task and invite only the people from Atlanta. They come from all over the U.S. though, so I suspect you'd need to prescreen thousands of people to get your Atlanta sample. Or, you could ask people to participate only if they live in Atlanta. This depends on their goodwill and you'd never know if people are deceiving you about their location.
 
I've used the survey panel from the company Toluna before. They're reputable and have a bit panel, but I suspect they'll cost more than you'll want to pay-- a representative U.S. sample is about $4/person and cost goes up as your requirements get more specific. I expect your sample would cost thousands of dollars (but quotes are free!).
 
Frankly, you're probably better of posting on craiglist and putting up posters around town, and doing a prize draw for participants.

My thoughts exactly.  Not to minimize your problems, but babies are so amazingly wonderful!
As others have mentioned, I've heard dissertation phase is actually a relatively good time to have a baby, because you have the most flexibility in your schedule.  Our department is more family-friendly, I think, as some of the students had kids before they joined the program.  Another person in the program had a baby in what would have been her second year of classes; they arranged for her to do more in the summer, to make up for not getting a stipend one semester.  Now she's back in classes, and besides all the normal mom craziness is back to the normal routine.  So, even when it's at a less convenient time, it can be done.
All this to say that your DEPARTMENT is the problem, not you or your baby.  If they want to be sexists (I don't use that term lightly) and seek to further limit the opportunities of women to be in academia, you don't have to apologize to them.  (I'm really ticked off on your behalf right now.)
In addition to scoping out your school's policies (the graduate student center or student senate may point you to the right sources, if you don't know individuals), it's worth scoping out what benefits your boyfriend has for "paternity leave" -- some companies are actually pretty generous.  If you come to your adviser with a plan in place -- how much time you'll need off, how your boyfriend is also making sacrificing, how you will arrange things after maternity leave, etc. -- then I think you will still appear like your professional self.  Rumors do spread quickly though, so I think it's best to tell your adviser once you have a plan in place, before it spreads to everyone else in the department.
Lastly, you need to buy this:
.

Lots of women have babies during a PHD.  Probably not ideal but it happens, it's doable, and you shouldn't be worrying about your committee's reaction.  If they care about you, they'll be supportive!  Congratulations are in order!!

I would say you need a phone, but you DO NOT need a smart phone.  Yes, there would be times when it would be nice to look something up, but I've survived just fine without one.  Still, my professor has often called or texted to reschedule appointments, and it's nice being able to coordinate at the last minute with classmates for studies groups.  I am old school enough that I like to have a plan in place ("we'll meet at the coffee shop at 4:00") but for a lot of people, their "plan" is to call when they get out of class and figure things out last minute -- for all of this, you need a way for people to reach you in real time.
  I like the suggestions about pre-pay, which, ironically, are often less than plans if you limit how much you use the phone.  AAA had some good deals worth looking into.
I kind of skimmed the responses... did anyone recommend Google Voice yet?  You should get a Google voice number now, and give that out as your number.  Then, if you have a phone you can link it to google, or if you find out you don't need one, you can still use the google number for voicemail and texting (and calling out like Skype), and then link it to some other phone.  You could even, for instance, set it so that if, say, your parents called, it would ring your roommate's number or something, just for emergency.

I think you need to be realistic. Extremely low GRE scores will keep you out of programs, even less competitive ones. They will also be a hindrance to funding and other opportunities at certain schools.
 
It's not a matter of raining on someone's parade by stating that GRE scores do matter to some degree. A quant score in the fourth percentile or lower is a red flag.

Anyone else had a cat that refuses to eat wet food? I've tried getting her used to it, but she just will not eat, so in the end I've relented and feed her purely dry food, but I'm worried it's not that good for her. 

I would never cynically use my cat for internet upvotes. This isn't reddit!

Which food should I feed my cat? I hear good things about both programs.

Go to MIT.

I'm in a similar situation - admitted to 10 programs, most with decent to abundant aid. The one exception? HKS, where I too got $0. Sure, going to HKS might offer some tiny marginal benefit over this program at MIT. That marginal benefit, though, evaporates in the face of the type of debt Kennedy expects you (and I) to take out. Think of it this way: if you weren't able to save hardly anything on $45K/year, how will you pay off $140K with a slightly higher income? Probably not very comfortably. Also, I don't think you should worry about worrying about money. Worrying about money, within reason, is the smart thing to do.

To me, it's simple. I've read this forum enough, though, to recognize that there are plenty of others who don't feel the same. I'm sure others will chime in and can maybe enlighten (us) about why HKS is worth $140K in debt.

Just out of curiosity, how in the heck do you think you're going to be able to afford doing development work with $140k in loans?  140k in loans at 6.8% for 10 years is $1600/mo, or $193k total.  Unless you plan on winning the lottery or are independently wealthy, that's not going to be feasible in any sort of development job.

The waived my app fee so that's a no go. I just feel so let down. This entire process has been such an eye opener, ya know. I did not contact the department because I had the tracking info from the overnight package I sent, and my adviser told me to basically leave the schools alone once I have applied. He said they are extremely bogged down and I should just let them be. Basically, don't be "that girl".
I guess you live and learn.
Oh, and the only reason I even found out about all this was I sent an email asking if all the interviews had been offered yet. That's when the responded saying that they had no app for me. But, the plot thickens.. dun.. dun.. dun..
She tells me they have no app for me but she somehow hows some of my info that was only supplied via the app process. Sounds to me like someone dropped the ball while entering my info or something. Guess there is no use crying over incomplete apps but shessh.. I guess the moral of the story is:
Don't listen to anyone and go ahead and bug the crap out of admission offices.. Wait, no that's not it. Hmm.. Hand deliver all applications.. Nah.. I am sure there's a moral in here somewhere. Oh, I know. I am the most UNLUCKY individual on the face of the planet! I mean really, have you EVER heard of something like this happening before?

The usual drivel from asleepawake. While it may be helpful vis-à-vis funding to study for an MA at a school with no PhD, it is almost always more advisable to study at a school with a PhD otherwise. My experience has been that talented, hard-working MA students receive equal attention to doctoral students and that MA programs that also offer PhDs offer an early focus on professionalization that is helpful when applying to doctoral programs. I've never heard of a school giving away an MA as a "consolation prize" to those unable to handle the workload; generally, departments don't want to put their name on unworthy candidates regardless of the degree. And speaking as someone who received an MA from a large research university, my personal experience has been the opposite of what asleepawake described; I was pushed early to present at national conferences and publish, and that certainly seems to have helped me in the doctoral application process and beyond.

If you paid an application fee by credit card, file a chargeback.

you guyyys make sure to eat at northstar and 2nd & high!
and check out the NORTH MARKET! spruce street! i'll be working
at the greener grocer there this afternoon if you want to say HI!
coolest indoor/local market evvvvvz.
 
(also seriously JENI'S SPLENDID ICE CREAM. try the absinthe + meringues or savannah buttermint.
you won't regret this. unless you are a vegan. and even then prolly not!)
 
GOOD LUCK !!!

He definitely makes more than I do! And we've discussed the possibility of my turning into a mooching academic for awhile in order to keep living expense loans at an absolute minimum. We've got it figured out.

Listen, guys, it's not that I don't appreciate the advice. I do. And I don't want this to come off the wrong way, but honestly, I didn't start this thread so I could get a bunch of people telling me to change my decision. I'm well aware that the prevailing opinion on this board is against unfunded MA degrees. I respect that opinion, I understand it, and this is a decision that I've wrestled with heavily. However, none (or at least very few) of us have any real sense of each other's real life circumstances, and none of us are in a position to dictate what is or is not right for each other.

I did not start this thread asking for opinions as to whether or not I should attend an MA/PhD program with one unfunded year. I started it because I was interested in the experiences of those here who have gone through a similar process and may have some anecdotes or insights about taking out loans to share.

Again, I respect your opinions and appreciate the advice but it is not necessary at this point. Please take it elsewhere.

"why are you paying for an MA?" and related comments. argh. i have a totally oddball niche interest, even within an already-niche-ridden field of study; there aren't even that many schools that offer what i'm looking for at any grad level, and i've decided that an MA is the right plan for me right now, since i'm not committed enough to a research topic or career path to pursue a PhD right off the bat.
 
i've been getting a lot of lectures from friends, past classmates, coworkers, etc. about how it's ridiculous for me to take on loan debt to go to the only place i can really study and research what i want in full at the right degree level. the worst is when they start to ramble about how there are oh-so-many funded MAs out there, or that i should've done a PhD then bail after finishing the MA portion so i could save money, as if i hadn't done tons of research on my own about programs that suit my wants and needs, and how to fund my studies.
 
gee, i'm sorry, i forgot that everyone else and the entire peanut gallery of people i talk to grad school about is an expert in my small, unusual field of study/interest and knows everything about every program out there.   and, of course, i haven't put in, y'know, literal hours upon hours of work to ensure i'm doing the right thing to meet my goals.

Dad - "Don't worry, you'll get in somewhere"
 
Me - "Well, I didn't"
 
Dad - "You should contact where you went to undergrad. They should be helping you get in!"
 
Then I attempt to explain how that isn't their job... (Father doesn't have a B.S. so it's not entirely his fault he doesn't understand how the system works I suppose).
 
Also,
 
Professor writing letter of recommendation - "Why are you applying to that program? I thought you wanted to get a PhD. It would be a big disappointment if you had to pay for school. I'm sure you'll get into a good program." (good thing I didn't listen to him)
 
Parents - "You should apply to this program, they sent some information to the house." - not realizing that ETS sends out my info and tons of pointless crap gets sent to me
 
Scientist at work that hated his PhD program - "People with a B.S. end up making just as much money in the long run." (not really, since he makes triple what I do)

Looks like i have the unpopular opinion, but from where I stand (under a mountain of debt with no outside aid), I'd take the free school in a heartbeat. Are your parents involved?  Would you be able to present your case for the dream school to them and potentially get some support to offset the difference?
 
If not, I try to live by the "no student debt higher than your future salary," rule, and SLP's make good money, but I don't know if it's that good.
 
 
What if you went to your "free," school and search all over the country for a bilingual place to do your (paid) CFY?
 

Do you have other deadlines this week? Maybe I'm jaded by my own procrastination, but starting an essay on Sunday that's due on Friday sounds pretty good.
  I work similarly to bedmas when I need to work late at night. I'll work until 12 - 1 AM, sleep either 3 or 4 1/2 hrs, then get up early and finish. This works for me because I don't work in this way constantly: I usually only have to do it on occasions when I have two deadlines the following day. I don't worry or guilt myself about my procrastination anymore, and I am feeling and working better because of that.    I think often the worst part of procrastination is worrying/feeling guilty about it, so if working hard tonight will make you feel better, then I think you should do it this time.  It sounds to me that maybe the anticipation of getting started makes you feel the most anxious, so in your case perhaps it would be helpful to start things as soon as possible, even if you need to start with what seems to be a "simplified" approach. Good luck; you'll get it done.