rising_star

Volunteer at an animal shelter!

If they came up with anything, they didn't send them to me or bgk (the administrators here) so I'm guessing the idea died. I'm pretty sure I encouraged them to send me what they come up with though! We (bgk and I) are always open to suggestions for improvements. However, because we also both work full-time and do this as a service more than anything else, we do need people to take the initiative and not just hand us dozens of ideas that we don't have the time to implement.

If they came up with anything, they didn't send them to me or bgk (the administrators here) so I'm guessing the idea died. I'm pretty sure I encouraged them to send me what they come up with though! We (bgk and I) are always open to suggestions for improvements. However, because we also both work full-time and do this as a service more than anything else, we do need people to take the initiative and not just hand us dozens of ideas that we don't have the time to implement.

A lot of schools, even good ones, accept non-degree students abd allow them to enroll in classes that are taken by current graduate students. I did this when switching fields/careers, not for GPA reasons. There was a very good R1 university near where I worked and I took 4 classes as a non-degree student. My professors in these classes wrote my recommendations for when I applied to the graduate program. Obviously you would need to do well in coursework, but a lot of schools (I talked to other people in similar situations) are willing to take a chance on someone their professors have personally seen do very well. 
The obvious downside to what I did was I had to pay for the 4 courses - $4k total. And I did get an RA for my MS because one of my recommenders mentioned my name to couple of profs looking for students. 
As long as you are above thay magic 3.0 mark, I think you will have little trouble enrolling as a non-degree student at most schools.
Good luck. If you get a chance to get things back on track, work like hell to establish yourself.

Absolutely no problem. You will never get to finish a project anyway, because you can always think of future work and directions. What you could do is present whatever you have got with some justifiable conclusions, then discuss some limitations and future work. 

Personally, I'd always go with the program that is better fit and better regarded. You might be more "well-off" during your PhD at the lower ranked/less fit program, but you have to think about your research and getting a job after the PhD. 
Also, if you are a woman, look into who your potential advisor could be and if they've had female students. Have they co-authored as much with them as they have with male students? Where are the women now compared to the men? Do they have any senior female? 

Have you considered focusing on why this population is difficult to study, which might include reviewing past research, pointing out flaws in it, and the resistance of the community to outsiders?

My advice is the same as the above. Pursue your interests and find people outside your program or campus who share your interests. I still have friends from grad school who I met through a hobby (training a martial art) who I talk to more frequently than some of my friends from within my program. If you're on Facebook, that can be a good way to find events in your area that you might not otherwise hear about. Go to those events and try to meet people. 
As someone who likes craft beer, I've made a bunch of friends by simply hanging out in breweries or craft beer pubs by myself on various nights. I sit at the bar and generally someone will talk to you. I actually joined a social group that way, because something I said to the bartender led a person to talk to me and then invite me to join a social group they organize. It's all about actually getting out there and doing things which will enable you to meet people.

@janaca, if they didn't think you should continue in your program, they wouldn't have passed you. Your job for the rest of your time in the program is to prove the naysayers in your program wrong. That's it. You can quit if you want but that's not what anyone here or on your committee is telling you to do.

Have you considered focusing on why this population is difficult to study, which might include reviewing past research, pointing out flaws in it, and the resistance of the community to outsiders?

You absolutely should! I'm a Latino in the US who majored in French, and the number of times I've been told that I should've majored in Spanish instead is irritating. It's necessary and good to know one's community, but it also broadens one's mind to study other cultures, communities and languages. The background of a researcher should not matter as long as they are acquainted with a subject or field.
It's also sort of a microaggression that you are expected to represent just your community. Other people are never questioned when they decide to study communities other than their own, yet for some, minority students are supposed to just study their own communities? It makes no sense! We all have a right to express our intellectual curiosity in any way we like.
That specific 'criticism' is shallow, and you should not pay much attention to it.

Honestly, no. The Brown name isn't well-known as even being part of the Ivy League outside of the northeast/mid-Atlantic states.

So, I've been thinking on this since I first read your original post. I'm wondering why, if you're so invested in this topic and have gotten grant money for it, you aren't trying to think about ways to address the critiques of your committee to build a stronger, feasible project. If I were you, I would meet with the two representatives of the community (the one who was at the meeting and the one who wasn't) and talk to them about how you can do your project in such a way that it addresses their concerns and (ideally) meets some of their needs as well. That is, what do they think you would need to do to have closer ties with the community? Could you volunteer alongside the workers and incorporate that into your research design in some way, for example? 
Second, you need to speak to your committee rather directly about why they think the only appropriate community for you to study is one you are already a part of. I'm not sure about your field but there is tons of scholarship where people write about communities they aren't a part of. I mean, that's the foundation of anthropology to some degree. There has been a great deal of pushback against that more recently but, that also doesn't mean people have to exclusively study those of the same ethnicity as them. Or, to be more blunt, if that were the case, a whole lot of white academics would have to stop what they're doing immediately and start studying white people instead of all the other things they study. I highly recommend that you read up on this and prepare them a short memo explaining why you chose this community to study and why it is perfectly valid to study a community besides the black one. Be prepared, have references, etc. This goes for the question of why you'd study sexual violence when you haven't experienced it too.
Third, go back to what it is that you got you interested in this topic in the first place. What are the questions that you wanted to know? Is there another way to approach answering these such that you meet your own intellectual curiosity while also addressing the concerns of your committee? 
Good luck!

So, I've been thinking on this since I first read your original post. I'm wondering why, if you're so invested in this topic and have gotten grant money for it, you aren't trying to think about ways to address the critiques of your committee to build a stronger, feasible project. If I were you, I would meet with the two representatives of the community (the one who was at the meeting and the one who wasn't) and talk to them about how you can do your project in such a way that it addresses their concerns and (ideally) meets some of their needs as well. That is, what do they think you would need to do to have closer ties with the community? Could you volunteer alongside the workers and incorporate that into your research design in some way, for example? 
Second, you need to speak to your committee rather directly about why they think the only appropriate community for you to study is one you are already a part of. I'm not sure about your field but there is tons of scholarship where people write about communities they aren't a part of. I mean, that's the foundation of anthropology to some degree. There has been a great deal of pushback against that more recently but, that also doesn't mean people have to exclusively study those of the same ethnicity as them. Or, to be more blunt, if that were the case, a whole lot of white academics would have to stop what they're doing immediately and start studying white people instead of all the other things they study. I highly recommend that you read up on this and prepare them a short memo explaining why you chose this community to study and why it is perfectly valid to study a community besides the black one. Be prepared, have references, etc. This goes for the question of why you'd study sexual violence when you haven't experienced it too.
Third, go back to what it is that you got you interested in this topic in the first place. What are the questions that you wanted to know? Is there another way to approach answering these such that you meet your own intellectual curiosity while also addressing the concerns of your committee? 
Good luck!

So, I've been thinking on this since I first read your original post. I'm wondering why, if you're so invested in this topic and have gotten grant money for it, you aren't trying to think about ways to address the critiques of your committee to build a stronger, feasible project. If I were you, I would meet with the two representatives of the community (the one who was at the meeting and the one who wasn't) and talk to them about how you can do your project in such a way that it addresses their concerns and (ideally) meets some of their needs as well. That is, what do they think you would need to do to have closer ties with the community? Could you volunteer alongside the workers and incorporate that into your research design in some way, for example? 
Second, you need to speak to your committee rather directly about why they think the only appropriate community for you to study is one you are already a part of. I'm not sure about your field but there is tons of scholarship where people write about communities they aren't a part of. I mean, that's the foundation of anthropology to some degree. There has been a great deal of pushback against that more recently but, that also doesn't mean people have to exclusively study those of the same ethnicity as them. Or, to be more blunt, if that were the case, a whole lot of white academics would have to stop what they're doing immediately and start studying white people instead of all the other things they study. I highly recommend that you read up on this and prepare them a short memo explaining why you chose this community to study and why it is perfectly valid to study a community besides the black one. Be prepared, have references, etc. This goes for the question of why you'd study sexual violence when you haven't experienced it too.
Third, go back to what it is that you got you interested in this topic in the first place. What are the questions that you wanted to know? Is there another way to approach answering these such that you meet your own intellectual curiosity while also addressing the concerns of your committee? 
Good luck!

I would rule out UW based on the finances. $24K is good but, as already suggested, you should use a cost of living calculator to see what that really means for you. In terms of location, there's a train you can take from South Bend to Chicago, plus I hear South Bend has a pretty vibrant arts and culture scene because ND is there. I've also heard good things about living in West Lafayette from folks who worked at Purdue. 
Have you talked to current students and/or recent alums of these programs about their experiences? Do you care what kind of teaching experience you'd be getting during your MFA? (There's a difference between getting to teach creative writing or a literature class and teaching Intro to Composition.) Do you have prior teaching experience? (Also, I'd ask current students about the teaching load and the effect that has on their ability to complete their own writing.)
From what you've written, it sounds like you want someone here to talk you into going to the more prestigious/well-known programs. But, if your heart lies elsewhere, follow your heart. That's the path to doing the best work you can do.

The good news is that you've been admitted. They also are clarifying why you weren't admitted into the PhD program by saying that you need a master's first to be admitted to the PhD.
In this case, I would contact them and ask when they'll have an update on whether an assistantship is available. I would also start investigating other departments (e.g., student affairs, residential life, other STEM fields) on campus to ask about the process of applying for any open assistantships they may have if you're interested in attending this program. If you aren't actually interested in the program, thank them for the admission then decline the offer.

The other thing I would say is that you don't want to overpractice or go through it too many times (yes, there is such a thing). In my experience, that leads to a presentation where everyone feels like the presenter is just going through the motions.

I would do all the forms and really anything and everything you need to do so that there aren't any obstacles to deciding at the last moment. No idea about deposits because the programs I applied to didn't have one. I'm sure you can find out either online or by asking.

If at all possible, practice in front of a friend or two in advance. This is something that I think is key. They'll help point out where you could improve as a presenter but also any weak spots in the slides or the content you've included. Buy them a beverage as a thank you.

@brainlass, PhD student.

I am far from a traditional student and have a bit over a decade in both the private and public sector. I have friends at all levels of education and I have found that jobs depend largely on two things: availability of positions and how well you market yourself.
To that end, I've taken the advice of a professor I had at Texas A&M which was, "Get a bachelor's in whatever interests you, because the actual degree normally doesn't matter. Get a master's in an industry field to make money, and get a PhD in what you love because ideally you'll be doing that for the rest of your life. When the economy tanks again however, that industry masters will help you get a job to pay bills over the person with a PhD in competitive underwater basket weaving."
This professor was not an anthropologist (business/marketing actually), but had a few decades at senior levels of large US corporations. I've found their advice to be helpful over the years so far. I would say that if you are an anthropologist,  look into certifications or additional courses that can make you more marketable in the public or private sectors. In my case, I'll be sitting for the PMP exam in a couple of months and also looking to see what other industry certifications there are that I can pursue. None of these things are directly related to anthropology but are in line with current market trends and demand. In fact, my industry master's would arguably help me make more money in the long run. I'm trying to do a PhD because it is what I love while still realizing that it may not help me bring home the bacon.
tl;dr - Consider ways to diversify your experience and marketability across several sectors.

No problem! FWIW, I was deciding between two schools right up until the last minute and actually made my decision on April 15 and notified schools that afternoon.

@MandarinOtter, I would look again at placement if that's what you believe. Most people who want FT employment using their PhD find it. That may not be where you personally want to work, but it doesn't mean being unemployed by any means. It sounds to me like you've either been getting bad advice or haven't been taking full advantage of the resources out there. Think long and hard about doing the T14 law school route, especially about the debt. Are you prepared to be making $800-1000 a month student loan payments for 10 years in addition to likely being un(der)employed? Because that's the reality for law school grads these days. 
And, I don't mean to repeat myself, but asking your prospective advisor about industry isn't the right route. It isn't part of their job to know about this. If you want to get a sense of whether the program can prepare students for industry, talk to current students. But also be prepared to seek this out on your own.
From these posts, it sounds like you're having bigger/broader doubts about doing a PhD in anthropology, which is totally ok. You may want to defer and spend a year or more thinking about your options and what it is you really want to be doing.

Sorry, I finally could get the third reference letter and forgot about the post. I ended up applying to a few universities and luckily got some offers.