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lyrehc

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  1. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from balea in Contacting professors during admissions season?   
    I actually have my emails saved from when I was exploring programs so I'll paste what I used that worked (with identifying information removed).  You want to personalize the message to whatever the faculty person has on his or her page and look at articles he or she have published.  I received good responses to both queries, but ultimately only applied to one of the programs.  However, by corresponding with the professors I had a excellent feel for how well the program would meet my needs.
     
       
     
    I hope this helps.  If you have any questions feel free to ask.
  2. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    Congratulations. Knowing you found the right program is huge.
  3. Upvote
    lyrehc reacted to Ilikekitties in A couple rejections and nothing else?   
    I got into a Master's in anthropology program with partial funding!
  4. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    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.
  5. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from Sammi in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    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.
  6. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from ajayghale in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    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.
  7. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from TWD2016 in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    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. 
  8. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    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. 
  9. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from cannedheat in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    You can do it!
     
  10. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from the_queer_ecologist in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    You can do it!
     
  11. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    I look forward to meeting you then.
    Who else is it who applied to OU?
  12. Upvote
    lyrehc reacted to kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    Just got my acceptance letter to Oklahoma University!!! Weird too as i got it late 11:30pm central time. Thanks so much @God (see what i did there =) )  headed out to their welcome weekend too. Should be a fun next couple of weeks.
  13. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    They don't interview.
  14. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    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.
  15. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    @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.
  16. Upvote
    lyrehc reacted to kaoticfen in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    Hi Everyone,
    Just wanted to post here and join the party. I kept meaning to post here while i was applying but i've let it slip by somehow. Man was that stressful. I dont think i'd ever wish that on my enemies but I got through it and I think i'm done.
    So the main thing i am looking at studying is Health Communication, persuasion and computer mediated communication. I finished my MA at Michigan State in Media and Information at the Comm school and absolutely loved it. I have every intention on returning to the PhD but i've also applied to other schools im interested in working with the most. I've applied to MSU-Media and Information, Texas A&M, Oklahoma University-Comm, University of Tennessee-Comm and Info, and Florida State.
    As of right now i have only heard from MSU. FYI they are currently doing PhD interview in case anyone here is applying there. So besides getting an interview there, its been pretty quiet so far which is kinda hard truthfully. Most of my schools have later dates so i imagine it'll get busy in late Feb/Mar?  The school that i'm really hoping for (Outside of MSU) is Oklahoma University. There are two profs in the comm school there that i've conversed with that i absolutely loved talking too and they both think that i'd be a really good fit there so i'm hopeful that i'll at least get an interview there. I think there is someone on this forum that is at OU right now @lyrehc I believe. Anyways, it seems like a lot of people here have had some great advice so i thought i would just chime in, say thanks and wish everyone the best of luck!
  17. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from Satynne in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    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. 
  18. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from gradswag in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    Hang in there.

    FWIW, I'm at OU and I love it here.
  19. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from owehfsda in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    I love my program at OU and there are faculty who would love to guide you through that type of research.
  20. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from galadrielstar in Contacting professors during admissions season?   
    I actually have my emails saved from when I was exploring programs so I'll paste what I used that worked (with identifying information removed).  You want to personalize the message to whatever the faculty person has on his or her page and look at articles he or she have published.  I received good responses to both queries, but ultimately only applied to one of the programs.  However, by corresponding with the professors I had a excellent feel for how well the program would meet my needs.
     
       
     
    I hope this helps.  If you have any questions feel free to ask.
  21. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from GG in Switching from Engineering BS to Communication MA   
    I don't know anything about the programs you listed, but that doesn't mean that you can't be funded in the right program. My MS is in Emergency Management and Homeland Security and I am fully funded where I'm at. What will help you the most is determining which program(s) are best for you and writing clear letters explaining why you are applying and how your experience will lead you to succeed where you are applying.

    Good luck!
  22. Upvote
    lyrehc reacted to Ajtz'ihb in Interests So Niched, Hard Time Finding POIs and Schools   
    I think the idea that you need to apply to "at least" 5 schools is ridiculous. Apply to the schools that interest you and seem like good matches (and offer decent funding), and not one more. You'll only wear yourself out. And yes, throwing your energy into the NSF rather than a bunch of applications that your heart's not really in is a good idea.
  23. Upvote
    lyrehc reacted to rising_star in Interests So Niched, Hard Time Finding POIs and Schools   
    I think you're probably being too narrow in your search overall. Does the entire department's theoretical approach need to match with yours or do you really just need 2-3 people who are comfortable with the approach you want to take (even if they don't themselves use it)? Would you be okay with having a POI who uses the same theories but doesn't do research in the same area of the world? Would it be okay if they did research in a nearby country (e.g., you work in Madagascar, they work in Kenya)? That is, do you want someone who you can copy or are you comfortable having to pull expertise from multiple people (some in the department, some in other departments on campus)? 
    Here's why I'm asking. My PhD advisor didn't do research in the same area of the world or on the same focus that I did. I was explicit about what I wanted to do in my applications, naming a topic, a region of study, and a theoretical framework. Only the latter of those was what my advisor did. This may help you picture it. Let's say I did ethnobotanical work in the highlands of Ecuador and my advisor primarily did work with coastal communities in Papua New Guinea. When I applied, I was clear about my desire to do ethnobotanical work in South America and I knew my POI didn't do that and didn't know much about it. But, my advisor was willing to learn about it, in no small part because the research methods were similar due to using the same theoretical framework. To explain further, there were a variety of theoretical approaches in the department including some that I wouldn't be comfortable taking but, it didn't matter to me since I knew those folks would not be on my dissertation committee. Does all of that make sense?
  24. Upvote
    lyrehc reacted to cannedheat in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    I wrote the GRE again yesterday, I improved my score 5 points overall, 160V and 153Q. I started blanking on the AWA portion so we'll see how that goes, but I feel like most schools are not worried about the AWA unless it's really poor. I think this will make my application more solid than last year. Now to start contacting POIs and students if I can find them.
  25. Upvote
    lyrehc got a reaction from ajayghale in Communication/Media Studies Ph.D Fall 2016--Apps, Decisions, and Waiting...   
    Talking to current students is an excellent approach. It's easy to look at faculty and ranking and lose sight of what the experience will be once admitted.

    I'll be honest. I only applied to one program because I wanted to work with a specific professor and I was determined to do whatever I had to do to work here. I'm incredibly lucky that this program is as positive as an experience as it is for me as a student. Departmental climate is HUGE. (And it became even more important because my research interests shifted and I'm no longer working with the professor who was the reason I came here.)
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