PRguy101

Hey Skiergirl! Glad you have bounced back. I am curious...did you talk to those top schools about why you didn't gain admission? I ask that because your GRE score is competitive. I believe a lot of people are trying to find every way to strengthen their stats, but I think its important to point out that people with "perfect" stats were rejected this year, while others with less than stellar numbers were admitted due to other factors like work experience in the field, etc...I guess what I am saying is why spend time say on your GRE scores when it was perhaps your SOP or something else? I know you will kick butt next year regardless....

Oops and by "financial aid" I mean TAships, fellowships, etc..not student loans.

The Council of Graduate Schools really only covers offers of "financial aid". They DO NOT cover offers of admission. You do not need to ask for a release at all. You owe them nothing except for common professional courtesy (which I recommend you give.) You lost your seat deposit perhaps, but you don't need to "ask" them to do anything. This is a common misconception with the council of graduate schools and offers of admission. Good luck!

The question I would ask myself is if the PHD program that you were accepted to has a history of "placing"/or a history of its students working for public policy think tanks or the private industry. On the other hand, MOST people I know that work for think tanks (I have several years of fed govt experience)have public service experience at some level. In that case, would racking up tons of debt really be the best option for public service? Since, you seem geared toward the private sector, I would ask the first question first!

Well looks like you made your decision according to your signature block. If you haven't made a decision and want help, you might want to remove that. If you HAVE made a decision, lol, then congrats!

I checked them out when I was in town two weeks ago. While I didn't think they were for me, you could do worse (I saw worse downtown and they wanted $800 for it and it was a one bedroom!) I applied as a backup and I was told that demand was high this year. I am not sure which complex is near the workout/gym facility but it was only a walk from that. The Cambus also is a good deal for you. I will have to take the city bus, even though the Cambus goes right past my apartment to get to Hawkeye Court! Booo.

I recently got back from apartment hunting in IC. Slim pickings if you want to live downtown (after looking at some places I decided downtown wasn't for me due to size, cleanliness of places, etc. This also made me happy that I didn't rent sight unseen!)The apartment complexes were quick to inform me that they started renting in Dec and that I was behind the power curve. Ya think? As you make your way toward University Heights (near the law school and hospital) there are tons more options. Much more quiet out there, but not a walk to campus. I ended up getting a nice two bedroom in University Heights not far from Kinnick Stadium for about $600. Happy Apt hunting future Hawkeye family!

Depends....did you get a funding offer or just an admissions offer?

You don't seem too happy about going to UCONN. Are they offering full funding? Regardless, I guess the real question is do you see yourself being there for 4-5 years? Will the department offer you what you need in terms of a positive/productive work environment, research opportunities, more advanced teaching opps (u already have pretty solid teaching experience), and good placement? Go with your heart, but don't settle for significantly less. Especially, when the alternative plan can do nothing but boost your chances of future success. It isn't like you will be working at the GAP! Good luck with your decision.

Congrats Naptown on all of your acceptances. You surely had your pick of the best schools in our field. Good Choice with Ohio State! I hope to see you out and about at conferences etc. I am still deciding between two schools, but I will most likely go with my first choice (I am going back to visit this week, just for peace of mind). @Skiergirl, chin up my friend. Did you get anything saying your file was complete? If not, I'd use that as a pretense to call. If so, heck, I'd still call OU.

I am considering it RoRo. I went for a visit a week ago. I am most likely going back before I make a final determination on my future

Phd in geek, one way to find out what type of graduates they really produce is to do a nice google search or contact them to find where their graduates are teaching right now. Then look at how their graduates describe their research and what types of research interests they list on their faculty profiles. I would also then see if they fall under certain departmental section titles. To me, this is the best way to determine if "cultural studies" is really a strong component of the program. They do offer classes in your area. I didn't mean to imply that you weren't a good fit. My point is "what are they good at?" I think it is the more technological topics under Media and Design and Communication and Computers. They have a critical-cultural background too, but it may not be the strongest component. Plus, also consider what happens if you get into the literature and you want to expand critical cultural understandings outside of the internet and onto other cultural products? At RPI, it is a very narrow focus. That is NOT a bad thing if you know what you want to do. But as you said, you only have a BA and you are entering the program with just that? Most people have a MA in which they were able to explore their interests, read the literature in depth and wrestle with what they want to study at the PHD level (and even then when they get there most change their mind.) You may not have that flexibility at RPI. You will be in this program for 3-6 years. If you are sure about what you want to do and don't anticipate ever leaving the "technology" arena, then go with RPI. It is a solid school.

I assume you are a technology and communication person? Or only rhetoric? It isn't a top program ( I think NCA ranks it #15 for Comm and Technology, I would expect it to be higher given the school, but hey, maybe because it was new in 2004), but I would venture to say that technology and communication is a field with many opportunities. It depends on your future goals and your specialty. The program is very much computer-human interactive, game studies, etc. There is little room for much else outside of the technology umbrella. If that is where you see your future study and scholarship going, then I think it is a good choice. People in Comm know about the program, but I assume most faculty would only look to RPI's graduates if they were looking to feel a very specific niche. The good thing is that niche is on the rise because the place of technology as it relates to comm/mass comm is pretty hot right now. To me the degree is limiting if you want to do more than that, but perfect if all you care about is technology. The question is one of personal taste and future aspirations. Good luck!

I was warned by my future adviser to stay away from downtown if I want peace and quiet. When I visited, I stayed in a hotel downtown and my word can those "kids" party!! It was a Wed night! It was pretty loud. On the other hand, downtown living is convenient and a walk to campus. I am thinking about getting something on the west side of the campus near the law school and UI hospital. Btw, I checked out the graduate housing and yeah.....pretty shabby and small. Looked like a bomb shelter. It is pretty inexpensive though, so that is a plus. It isn't near campus (close but not a walk) so you have to take the bus. If I have to take the bus anyway, why stay in graduate housing?? Apartments are filling up fast already for the Fall 2010 season. I plan on taking a spring break trip to look around, but this time just for housing. Maybe we can all have a gradcafe drink in August! Nice to meet new colleagues and friends in other departments A couple Apartment links http://www.barkalowhomes.com/properties.php http://www.aptsdowntown.com/