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This came in today on the IE-L listserv. If you have forensics experience it's a good opportunity. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is seeking applicants for a forensics graduate assistantship, starting in Fall 2016. This is a two-year position which provides a monthly stipend for coaching, in-state tuition waiver, and funded conference travel opportunities. Unlike many programs, forensics graduateassistants are not required to teach courses in the department in addition to their coaching obligations. The UTEP forensics program is relatively small (10-12 students, on average), and competes in parliamentary debate and individual events. We welcome applicants with experience in either or both. The Department of Communication at UTEP offers an M.A. in communication studies. This position is ideal for those seeking a smaller department that emphasizes close mentorship with well-respected scholars in the field. Our faculty includes several prominent scholars whose research interests include: rhetoric, environmental communication, critical-cultural studies, gender, health communication, public participation, and intercultural communication. There are numerous opportunities for funded, international research and the department is currently working to develop a Ph.D. program in communication. UTEP is located in El Paso, TX, which is situated on the US-Mexico border, and is part of the largest international metroplex in the world. The University has recently celebrated its centennial and has been ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the United States by Washington Monthly (including a #1 ranking for promoting student social mobility). The El Paso region is one of the fastest growing areas of the country and boasts a robust multicultural environment. If you are interested in applying or would like more information about the program, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at: catarin@utep.edu<mailto:catarin@utep.edu>. The departmental deadline for application is April 1, 2016, but early applications are highly encouraged. For more information about the department and team please visit: http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?alias=academics.utep.edu/comm

Congratulations. Knowing you found the right program is huge.

I have not but I've heard good things about the program. Lexington is very pretty.

That's fantastic. Knowing you've found your fit is huge. Congratulations.

This program went out on CRTNET this morning. If anyone is still looking for a program or has not been admitted elsewhere you might look into it. http://arts-sciences.und.edu/communication/graduate/index.cfm This is the message (since it was on CRTNET today I'm guessing she means April 16, 2016): Pamela Kalbfleisch, pamela.kalbfleisch@icloud.com New Doctoral Program in International and Intercultural Communication at the University of North Dakota The intent of the Ph.D. program is to graduate students with scholarly competencies enabling them to assume roles as intellectual leaders in international and intercultural communication as well as public intellectuals stimulating discussion of significant communication issues. Program is accepting applications from those with master’s or bachelor’s degrees with interest in advanced study in communication. Submit complete applications by April 16, 2015 for best consideration. For more information about the program go to http://arts-sciences.und.edu/communication/ Pamela Kalbfleisch, Ph.D. Communication Program Graduate Director

Minnesota State University, Mankato has a reputable online program.

I lived in Oregon for several years (my undergraduate is from Linfield College and my husband was a grad student in COMM at Oregon State). U of O is in one of three uber-liberal areas of Oregon. The rest of the state is extremely conservative. Graduate students are part of a union and their health care plan back in the early 2000s was some of the best in the entire nation. They have a nice library system, and Eugene is only an hour from Florence which is a very nice Oregon beach community - I love the Pacific Ocean and its rugged terrain. In Oregon you don't usually swim in the ocean but you'll get great seafood and the beach is a lot of fun. I've heard good things about the U of O faculty but don't know any specifics. The down side for me is that Oregon public schools are on the quarter system. This means you only have 10-11 weeks to get into a class, so the pace is faster and often you'll just start sinking your teeth into a course when it ends. On the other hand, if you have a class you hate you'll be done with it sooner than on the semester system. Oregon is in a rain shadow. You get rain most of the fall/winter - it's not usually heavy and many people refer to "wet rain" or "dry rain." Frequently the rain is enough to use windshield wipers but even standing in it you won't be soaked through for a while. Summers are gorgeous - clear, beautiful. The best thing for me about the Oregon geography is that I could within an hour be in the mountains, be at the ocean, be at a lake, be in a city, be in a sleepy community. Florida - You also have ocean - it's a little further away to go to a developed area and the beaches are more conducive to sunbathing/swimming so they are a lot more crowded. You're 2 hours from Disney. Climate is warmer in the fall/winter than Oregon and overall more temperate. The school is the 8th largest university in the US. It is HUGE. It is also on the semester system, which allows you to spend more time in a class. You were admitted with the advisor you want. Recommendations - Ultimately, what appeals to you more? Are there faculty in OR you want to work with? Would you prefer the quarter system or the semester system? Since you are admitted to study under a faculty you want to study with in FL, I'd be inclined to lean that way, but at the same time I wanted to study with someone before coming to Oklahoma and my entire focus changed so that he is not even on my committee. That's not uncommon. If I were picking based on climate I would go with Oregon. But you can live anywhere for the length of time you are in a graduate program because you know that eventually you'll graduate. Sit down and write the pros and cons of the academic program as they apply to you. Then go with the one you feel fits you better.

In my cycle I only applied to one program because I KNEW it was the right one for me. My husband and I decided that if I didn't get in my first try we'd move here and try to "back door" my way in - but fortunately that wasn't necessary. Anyway, I hadn't been here before I was admitted and moved. Not only that, but I'm a cold weather person - my favorite place in the world is Anchorage, AK. I've liked the area a lot more than I expected to, but seriously, grad school is only a handful of years in the grand scheme of things. If the program is right, it's right.

You can do it!

I have not been there but I've heard good things about the Utah faculty and department. Outside the university the culture is heavily Mormon, but inside is an academic oasis. The people I know who were there still like it. And Dr. Middleton is great help to me with my forensics team.

I look forward to meeting you then. Who else is it who applied to OU?

FYI, Boulder is a lot more expensive than COLA reflect. I can't answer for UNC's COLA, but I know someone who lives in the area (not a PhD student) and they were shocked by how much what they thought they would have to spend does not compare to what they do have after expenses.

I don't know about those schools. That said, I think you'd be very competitive for the Gaylord College Journalism and Mass Communication program at OU if you are interested - and their application deadline for the fall is June.

They don't interview.

I didn't receive admission to the program until March in 2013 so hang in there. I haven't heard about offers being sent out yet, but I've been super busy the last month so I'm not as in the loop as I would normally be.

@kaoticfen - I LOVE being at OU. Good luck. Good luck to everyone. I'm in my 3rd year of my program and I still remember how tense I was until I received the acceptance letter.

I'm different but currently in my 3rd year. I only applied to one school because I knew that was where I was meant to go.

It really depends on the university. Each has its own culture. I lived in west coast states most of my life and there are schools where the faculty are extremely formal there as well as schools that are informal. There are faculty who went to east coast schools at my university and things were very informal. Not only that, but faculty members are individuals and how things operate can vary widely even in the same department. Where I attend there are faculty who go out to have a drink with graduate students and faculty who never meet with students outside of their offices. The best advice I can offer is do everything you can to get a feel for where you apply. I *love* OU. Seriously I cannot imagine attending anywhere else - the fit has been amazing. But I am an individual - one of my cohort members has felt like a fish out of water because that person's research interests do not mesh well with the department which is not something that was considered at the time the admission offer was accepted. Fit with faculty research interests, fit with other students in the department, fit with personalities - these are all valuable considerations.

If you're admitted (and decide to join us) let me know. I'll be happy to help you navigate the area etc.

Look for fit. How will your references hold up to scrutiny? What are your grades like? Depending on the school those are much more important than the GRE.

Hang in there. FWIW, I'm at OU and I love it here.

I don't know of one. Most people I know use CRTNET - the NCA listserv.

I love my program at OU and there are faculty who would love to guide you through that type of research.

As an instructor I don't have a problem with students hiring a proofreader. I want the ideas and content to be their own, but some people need more help in the presentation than others. Plus, I focus on students using the speech format of narration, thesis, intro, body points, review, conclusion, peroration whether assignments are written or spoken. A writing center or proofreader may be able to help with mechanics, but they aren't going to be as aware of format - that is all on the student. Haven't you had classes or taught classes where students exchange rough drafts for peer edits? Or group papers where students divide up the work - someone may focus on technical information and someone else may polish the writing because the group members have different strengths. Hiring someone because you're shaky in mechanics is, in my opinion, using resources that are available and not cheating. I'm in communication so maybe this is more discipline specific.

Top universities usually look at a student holistically. GRE scores, letters of reference, undergraduate institution, GPA at both the undergrad and master's levels, area of research interest, publications, etc. I went to an unknown school for a degree in a field that does not relate to my current field at all. I got into my first choice school on the first try and am fully funded. There are those who look askance at WGU but if your entire application packet looks good I don't think a degree from there would be a deal breaker.