movingeast

Thank you both. I think we have decided. My partner will hedge his bets in FL. While Old Dominion does have funded position for their in-state cohort, and travel awards available to me, I think I need the place based option right now. I am stuck teaching intro courses at a community college, and I'd be able to teach a variety of upper division courses at USF. In all things. This has been a hard decision, but I feel like it will ultimately be the best for both of us, professionally. Thanks again!

USF is funded. Old Dominion is not. It is online program. They admit half their cohort as distance learners; I am not so much concerned about the cost, however, because my partner's fellowship is excellent in Boulder and tuition is effectively "instate". I have no debt load from my BA or MA. I suppose I am most curious about the two programs' reputations. If one is even marginally better than the other, that simply tips the scales. My unfortunate predicament is that I found out about this field last Fall, after having been out of school for two years, and the only people I know who know anything about rhet/comp are the adcoms at the various schools I applied to...and gradcafe. Thanks for the insight.

Also declined a funded offer early last week. Hope it helps someone out.

I am utterly torn between these two PhD programs for Rhet/Comp. Clearly. I haven't yet made a decision. I have declined funded offers from GSU and NDSU, if that matters. I would attend Old Dominion via their distance option while living in Boulder, CO as my partner earns his PhD. Otherwise, he'll wait until I am done at USF, or work to get into a program in FL, if we go to USF. Any insight?

Thanks, Datatape!

Has anyone heard anything concrete about Georgia State's funding situation this year? I was accepted but have heard nothing back from the DGS about funding (whether I'm funded, what funding looks like this year, etc). I'd appreciate any insight!

I have been with my partner for nine years and we have two children. He applied to PhD programs in History; we applied to three schools together (17 between us, total). He was rejected by one that has given me a funded offer, I was rejected from the second program (he hasn't heard back yet), and we both are waiting to hear back from the last. As thatjewishgirl said, it is really tricky, and I feel bad, almost, that I have gotten acceptances and he hasn't gotten one yet. However, hearing back from programs, even with bad news, has helped us prepare for the move we will be making. We cannot fathom living apart, and our children would suffer most if we did, I think. That being said, the one program we are both waiting on is the one I am least interested in, and I would probably end up attending a university that gave me a funded offer that is 4 hours away. At that point, if he got in to the institution I am less interested in, we would need to figure out how a crazy commute will work in our lives. These discussions have LITERALLY been my life for the past month. What-ifs are utterly pointless to me yet they've been addicting conversation starters. The beauty of applying to multiple places together, though, is that he has a guaranteed network of graduate students and faculty at the institution I will likely be going to. Our hope is that, worse comes to worst, he can take some classes non-matriculated and get into the program that way. At the very least, he be able to take classes that interest him and find a job outside of academia (I have held a full-time job for the past four years- he has been the one in school) and explore the world a little more. So, even if I am the only one going to school, we're thinking it's win-win at this point. It's been a rough and interesting (and expensive!) application process for us both. We moved for his MA and he feels obligated we move for my PhD, but he is far more attached to academia than I...so I don't know! I am interested to hear other's stories and situations. Good luck to you. As AurantiacaStella said, it's about compromise...

Interesting to be sure, and rather odd. We'll see what happens.

Been lurking the whole season, but now that I am hearing back from places and am looking for insight into programs, I thought'd I'd begin to post... They actually contacted me in early Feb. because I had begun, but not finished, my application by the original deadline. They emailed me and let me the deadline had been extended and suggested I complete my application! I ended up doing it (it was just a matter of revising a statement of purpose for them specifically). What does a deadline extension indicate? My partner and I (also applying to PhD programs this round) spent a while talking about all the possibilities. Not enough candidates applied? Did they receive extra funding? Are they trying to scoop up the top candidates that were feeling shaky about their chances? I know it's speculation...but it's interesting!