rising_star

OMG, go with the money!!! Going to the top program is much less important for a MA. You just need to prove you can do research, handle the classes, and maybe start getting some manuscripts drafted so you have things to submit early in your PhD career. Going into debt for a MA is just silly, imo.

There have been lots of new ones lately. Mel Gibson spanking Celine Dion facestanding (note, facestand is not in urban dictionary so I don't know what it is) Pamela Anderson in nylons I find them rather annoying... We need more moderators or something. Especially since things will get crazy around here next week and I'm going to be without internet all week long.

Why not go where the money is? Do the programs have the same appeal to you?

If the PhD is your end-goal and your happy with the school, why wouldn't you go to SUNY-Albany?

I'd go to the place with funding. The MA program will let you acquire more skills (archaeological training, languages, going on digs) that will help you get into an excellent PhD program in the future.

I'd say pick Stanford. Palo Alto is a bit cheaper (you can get a 1bd/1ba for about $1200 that's within biking distance of campus). The weather is nicer, the name is better for your field, etc.

I'd pick the school where you'll be happier. 6 years of grad school is a long time not to be happy.

Are they a member of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)? Does the offer that you have include a financial award (assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship)? If yes to both, you shouldn't be required to answer before April 15. That said, decisions are kinda non-binding before April 15. So you could accept at the school that's admitted you and later change your mind.

You usually just need to send a letter or email to each school letting them know your decision. They'll tell you if/when they need other documents.

That sounds very positive, mythsayer. Is Hawaii your first-choice?

Is the MA program offering you funding? Where do students that complete the MA program go afterwards? Do they get into top programs? How compatible are you with your potential advisor for the MA program? How happy would you be attending that university and living in that city? Just try to imagine that you accepted the MA program and had to attend there. Would you be happy/satisfied or depressed/sad/unsatisfied?

Definitely search the individual websites of professors and the department website. Then contact specific professors you'd be interested in working with. Don't forget to contact the Director of Graduate Studies as well. Good luck!

polisci07, it might be better to accept one of the PhD program offers, get to know professors, and then transfer to a better PhD program. Or you might find that your "bottom" schools are actually better for what you want to study than the top-tier schools. You never know. In Chicago, you'd have to come up with living expenses and that's not all that cheap. Would you work an outside job or take out loans for the entire amount? It's a lot to think about.

I don't know specifically how U Chicago revamped... I didn't read the whole article.

Given that this thread is almost a year old, I'm wondering what dettociao actually ended up picking...

If you've studied before, get the books and tapes that the Foreign Service uses and then pick a classic French text and practice translating it with a dictionary. That would probably be just as good of prep as paying for a course.

I'm not sure quite what you mean when you say that Ohio State limits your opportunities in a number of fields. It doesn't seem like a good idea to go somewhere without enough funding to make sure that you could finish. What will you do (how will you fund yourself) for the other 2-3 years? Have you asked current students about what they do...

Last year people talked a lot about how MAPSS is just a money-maker for U Chicago. Check the MAPSS thread in the Social Sciences forum.

The program won't pay attention to it but the only way to be eligible for federal funding (Perkins loans, Stafford loans, work-study) is to apply for the FAFSA.

U Chicago has revamped their funding and it's now guaranteed for 5 years...

My friend got a rejection from Harvard PhD English last week.

Miami University (OH) or University of Miami (FL)?

Well if nothing else, I'll be at the Georgia party (Thursday, April 19, 2007, 8:30-11:30pm, Nikko Hotel, Room: Monterey II)

I think that you could. Small World is great and there are several cafes on campus (one in East Pyne and Cafe Vivian in Frist). It's hard to judge since I lived there as an undergrad. The real key is being willing to ride the bus or drive a car to Route 1 to go shopping. ShopRite is great and affordable; Wegman's is nicer but more expensive. Shopping only at the Wild Oats that's walking distance from campus will really eat into your stipend.

Haven't seen much from newbies yet. the who_got_in community on livejournal is pretty quiet too this year. but that doesn't lead me to believe applications are down. I think UGA got the same or more than last year. P.S. Am I the only one excited for prospective grad students to start visiting?