JBums1028

I see the point everyone is making with TFA. Yes the training isn't long enough. But you could also argue the training isn't long enough for traditional teaching programs. If we're going to use the med school analogy, I also wouldn't hand someone a white coat and call them a doctor after only a semester of training either. However, that's a separate debate, so I digress... Going back to what I think the OP is getting at, it sounds like you want to enter teaching and teach in your home state. Unfortunately, whatever route you choose to pursue is probably going to take you out of state, because even TFA can't guarantee you'll be placed in PA. I think that's something you're going to have to accept entering this profession.

Hi Meghann, I'm current doing campus compact in Michigan. The experience has been good and I like my position, but I'd prefer not doing another AmeriCorps term. It's been a good opportunity and a good "foot in the door" experience, but I'm hoping to find something where I have more direct experience and I'm responsible for more (my sites have mainly been having me "help" with things, which I think may have made my experience sound weaker in the interviews). I've already been looking for and applying to other jobs at this point. Fingers crossed I find something so that I have a plan B.

This might be more of a student affairs/higher ed thing to say, but maybe others have been hearing it. For those of us still fretting because we're waiting on news from our respective schools: "Trust in the process." What the hell does this even mean? I feel like that's the advice you give someone when you don't have actual advice to give them. Seriously if one more person uses the phrase "trust in the process," I'm going to rage...

Congrats! Are you accepting the offer? Which department is it for? I'm still waiting, which means I'm probably somewhere in the middle of most of my departments lists. I'm assuming it's still a possibility though because I'd like to believe for the people who didn't have a chance at all they'd let them know right away.

Your Mom sounds like my Mom...

THIS!!! For me I get annoyed when people refuse to train their dogs and they try to justify their giant dog jumping all over me as "oh he's just trying to play..." Our neighbor had a giant husky like this. Don't get me wrong, beautiful dog but horrible behavior. The dog got out of their yard once (I don't know how, it had a shock collar) and tried to tackle my mom to the ground (she has a herniated disk in her back, so if it succeeded it could have been awful for her). Our neighbors response? "Oh she's just being friendly..." Luckily they moved a few years later. I'm sorry, but if you have a large dog it should not be allowed to just jump all over random people. So I guess "big dogs" can also be added to my list of "things everyone loves except me" My list: - Rap music - Seasonal food crazes, like pumkin spice everything, shamrock shakes, etc. - Trendy food crazes (i.e. raw veganism, juice cleanses, gluten free diets, anything that involves kale, etc. Granted if you're making a dietary decision for specific health/cultural reasons, you've consulted your doctor, done your research etc. then fine. But if you're doing it just because it's trendy, then no...) - Smart phone apps like snapchat, tinder, etc. - Selfies - Disney movies

I think if I did defer I would definitely change a few things. I'd keep three of the schools I applied to in the mix, and I'd probably try to add in 2-3 others as well just to better my odds. I would also change up my strategy with which GA positions I'm applying to. I did take the GRE, but I chose not to apply to schools that required it because my scores weren't super strong (I don't remember the exact scores, but my estimates would be 154 V, 147 Q, 4.0 AWA). I really, really would prefer not taking it again. Setting the GRE aside, I'm not worried about getting into/invited to interview at programs. It's mainly the GA process that for didn't go well for me.

Are you currently in undergrad still? I know one common option is doing a program like AmeriCorps or City Year during the gap year (that's what I'm currently doing and I met several at my interview weekends who also were in AmeriCorps). The program I'm in has several campus compact positions across the state of Michigan, so if you're interested in more information feel free to direct message me!

Hello all! So I'm in the unfortunate situation where it looks like I (probably) won't be getting any assistantship offers this round. I'm still waiting on one school, but it's probably my most competitive option of the four. I basically have two options in front of me right now: 1) Attend a school without a GA or 2) Wait another year. I've already been applying for some jobs/paid internships as a just in case, so I feel like my chances of finding something for the next year will be okay. What I'm wondering is for those of you who did choose to defer and do a second round of applications, how was it for you? Did you have more success the second time around? Did you adjust your application strategy? If you went back to a program, do you think they viewed you more favorably since you tried again? Any advice or insight from either side (someone who went without a GA or someone who delayed the process for a year) would be great. Just trying to sort out what I'm going to do. ETA: I should probably note I'm a HE/SA applicant...

No it makes sense. I think a lot of people think that since not everyone goes to grad school that it must be easier to get in than undergrad. I don't think they understand that there are less spots available than there are for undergrad programs.

Agreed! I've been getting a lot of unsolicited advice lately too. A friend of mine keeps telling me I should call my program for a decision, even though they specifically said not to call during the first couple of weeks after interviews (and I've told her this multiple times). It is probably coming from a well meaning place though (especially if they're close friends or relatives). Whenever I'm not feeling up to talking about my decisions, I will usually just say something short like "You're right, I have a lot to consider. It's going to be tough making the final decision." Then do a quick subject change.

I need to vent about how the application process has gone for me so far. I love the field that I'm going into, but it's a complete catch-22. They expect that you'll already have experience in higher ed when you apply, but you need the Master's already to gain experience. So tell me, what exactly am I supposed to do? I'm at the point where I'm praying for a GA position.

That was the school where it was most prevalent, but I'd say at least half the applicants also did this at MSU and Grand Valley. I saw it everywhere I interviewed.

I'm an INFJ, but I'm pretty sure the last time I took it, it told me that I was a 50/50 split in two of the areas, sensing/intuitive and thinking/feeling. So I guess that means I could also be an ISFJ, an INTJ, or an ISTJ. I feel like the description of INFJ matches my personality pretty well.

My Mom did the same thing! I'm only a candidate at one of the programs I applied to, I'm not admitted yet. After my interviews, she told EVERYONE in my family that I was going there. I'm not even admitted yet! So I had to then back track with all my relatives for her. Like you said, I love her and I love that they're all proud of me but it will be embarrassing if I don't get in since she told everyone that's where I'm FOR SURE going...

My mom has also been complaining that she will "never have grandchildren" since my sister is very focused on advancing her career and I'm applying to grad school. We're 25 and 22 respectively. You're comment made me laugh because that sounds like something she'd say. Side note question for everyone: Does anyone else tell people that they are pursuing a different, but similar career field than they actually are because it's easier to explain to people? For example, I'm pursuing Student Affairs (I want to be an academic adviser) but I usually tell people I'm going into Counseling because I get less of the "What's that?" "What are you going to do with that?" "Why do you need a Master's for that?" I usually only do this when I run into people that I know, but am not really close with. Because I'd rather not spend that much time conversing with them anyway. Just curious if anyone else has done that before.

Yeah I agree with you all. I've always done email for the reasons you guys have stated. I just remember thinking it was odd because at one of my interview weekends, just about everyone did the hand written notes. So it wasn't like someone just decided to get creative. I was one of maybe a handful of people who didn't do thank you cards. So that's why I was wondering if it's an education/student affairs thing... or they all had a mentor who said, "do this, it will help you stand out" and it ended up backfiring since they did what everyone else did. I don't know... It was just really thought provoking to me since I had never seen anyone do that and no one had ever suggested it to me.

So I'm curious what everyone does for thank you notes, because when I did my interview weekends I witnessed some interesting methods I had never seen before. So what were you taught as the appropriate medium for sending a thank you note? I was always taught to do one of two things: either mail a formal business letter to the interviewer or send an email. However, I saw a lot of people at my interview weekends doing hand written thank you cards (i.e. they bought a pack of thank you cards and wrote the thank you same day. Then passed it along to someone in the program to deliver to the appropriate person). I'm wondering if this is a field of Education thing and maybe that's why I was taught differently. Just curious to hear what everyone's preferred method is!

Student Affairs focused programs usually offer assistantships that will pay tuition and a modest stipend. Some require it (Bowling Green, UConn, etc) so that means everyone who is admitted will have a GA position. Others don't require it, but usually most if not all their students will have one (i.e. MSU). Unfortunately, more generalist Higher Ed programs usually don't offer this because, as you said, they reserve funding for their PhD students. Some might offer paid internships (i.e. U of M), but they don't include tuition assistance. I'm pretty sure the two the OP has listed fall into this category.

UConn's HESA Program. I think the target time for me to hear back will be in the next two weeks.

Bumping this thread to see if anyone knows when UConn should be getting back to us with decisions by (if you know based on previous years that's also helpful)? I did some searching around these threads today and it sounds like most people knew by the week of March 17th in previous years (but for those people they were hearing rejections unfortunately). I could have sworn they said offers would go out this week, but maybe not? Any insight is helpful at this point, because I'm not sure if no news is good news for me...

I might actually have some insight into this one for you. So I initially thought that I would be in a situation where I was going to get an offer that required a quick turn around. I ended up not getting an offer at all. But I spoke to one of the other programs about this situation, and they said that they would allow me to contact them so they could let me know where I stand. I personally think two weeks is enough time. If it were a "regular" job, people would probably follow up within that timeframe. But then again, others might say differently.

I have my gmail open constantly at this point... I saw the little "inbox (1)" message pop up... took a deep breath... it was an email from Kaplan Test Prep. UGH! WHY???

Hey everyone! What would you say is an appropriate amount of time to wait before following up with a program about grad assistant interviews? I'm in the following situations with two programs: 1) I interviewed at a program a little less than a month ago and have heard very little. I'm assuming I didn't get an offer, but I'd like a concrete answer at this point. 2) I interviewed at the other program last Monday. They specifically said to wait a bit before contacting them, but I don't remember the timeframe they gave. I know they said that they're hoping to begin extending offers this week and finalize their cohort by March 24th, so I'd like to get back in touch with them prior to that date to see if it's even a remote possibility that I'll get hired. I'd like to at least send a follow up email to the first one by the end of this week and a follow up with the second one by mid-late next week. Does that sound reasonable? Is there a general rule of thumb in this process? Help would be appreciated!

I know this will probably sound stupid, but I was actually surprised by how difficult it is to get a grad assistant position. The way a lot of my mentors talked to me about the GA process in Higher Ed programs, they made it seem like they were so easy to get. Turns out not so much since I'm still looking for one...