Louiselab

I know you already gave your "thank you" so this probably a done deal but here goes... I was told to get an MA because I didn't have as much coursework in history (I double majored and came to history late in life). I was also told to use it as a chance to up my GPA. Naturally, being the kind of person I am, I totally ignored this. I got a master's in an unrelated subject, and did colloquia and research courses through their history department. I don't think any of this actually helped me and made the difference between "accept" and "reject" since none of it showed up on my transcript, and while I know why I was rejected I am still clueless as to why I was accepted. The plus, though, is that I was able to use my independent research paper for a final project for one and got some great feedback on it to fine tune everything. I had a much better vision for "the future," if you will, and I definitely am not entering graduate school scared about whether or not I will be okay or feel like a stupid moron everyday. So there are good things. I would recommend the following, though: Only get the MA if you can do it through a public university and pay in state tuition. It is not worth paying a great deal of money for, especially if you find yourself at the end of the time with no acceptances to a PhD program and a history master's that prompts you to think "what the hell am I going to do with this?" This was my biggest fear and why I avoided getting an MA, personally.

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I'm waiting... and waiting on 2, I think (I lost track). I'm assuming they're coming back with an offer that is, essentially, a tenured position. I don't even have to be "tenure track," I'm just tenured. Naturally, this is what will really happen.

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I broke down and called Columbia. If you haven't heard it's because GSAS is messing up the rejections. It's not because we have secretly been chosen for a super secret historical society that admits only the best and brightest with a guaranteed tenure track position upon completion of the program. Not that I thought that was what happened or anything...

congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

i remember your pain from last year, as it so accurately reflected my own... The proverbial long and winding road I suppose. CONGRATULATIONS!!! isn't it a great feeling to be one of the "accepted" people on gradcafe? FINALLY?

Well, I know from my own experience the 4/5/6 trains tend to be a lot whiter, often cleaner, most punctual, fewer service interruptions on the weekends or otherwise, and they're also the newer trains. They service the east side to the Bronx and I forget which one goes to Yankee Stadium. Mostly, I would say you avoid certain lines because they break down more often (this mostly applies to people living out in the boroughs, especially Queens). If you're going to Columbia though, it is a good idea to find your line (I think only the 2 or 1 stops at Columbia) and find something along that route. It saves an immense amount of commuting time, and perhaps this is what they meant?

Riddle me this... Would it make you feel better to know that your were recommended by your potential adviser for admission, but due to budget cuts... you too were axed and weren't accepted by a minute fraction and then spoke with faculty who said things like, "Gee, you're so great, we really should've taken you, you'd be a pleasure to have in the department!"? I guess it's a compliment... or something.

I suppose you could think about it this way... If Gloria Gaynor could survive, you should be okay. 'Cause you're savin' your lovin' for someone who's lovin' you. You've got all your life to live, and you will survive. Now go hustle.

I went to NYU. I had a TA in every class. Even classes with only 8 people in them. so whoever put that up there is perhaps the most typical NYU person.. a little brain dead.

I guess one fundamental question to be asked is: Exactly why do you think you will have more options next year?

This opinion is actually derived in part by Allen Bloom's the Closing of the American Mind. It is true that a number of faculty were in fact leftists and to some extent radicals, and also probably could be found guilty of granting tenure to those of similar backgrounds. Prior to the early 1960s, faculty tended to be liberal but not necessarily radical.

seriously, cut me loose already.

My god, I'm not good enough to accept or reject!? Wtf.

I think CUNY's graduate structure is a little... peculiar, let's say. In part because faculty are "appointed" from various colleges (City, hunter, brooklyn, etc.) to the grad center and so the dept. does lack the cohesiveness, let's say, of a department where everyone spends all their time together (relatively speaking). I got accepted to CUNY graduate last year with no funding and passed. TA jobs are usually dolled out for the undergraduate institutions, so she would probably be teaching at Hunter or Brooklyn College, something along those lines. I think you could do a lot worse. Barbara Welter is great at Hunter and she occassionally teaches at the GC. Plus you already qualify for in-state tuition (although I think Patterson wanted to jack it up what, $600?) so it actually might be rather affordable. I could've done my MA at Hunter for under $9,000. Hope she hears soon (and it's good)!

So, with everyone getting funding information, I thought this might be helpful to people if anyone else was curious... the IRS TAX CODE for education related money! It covers, fees/tuition/fellowship/scholarship/travel money. Everything you wanted to know but made you sick to ask! http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch01.html Now... do "research costs" count as a business expense? Hmm...

My understanding of summer time is this: you are supposed to be researching and writing. You don't have class, but possibly you are the TA for a summer course, or if your field requires overseas research this is the time to do it. Second year your summer is for preparing for qualifying exams. Oh, and for living in NY cheaply I recommend: Jacks 99cent store.

I would say visit as many as possible, but talk to the grad students already there to narrow down the list, and any you know who are already in the field but not necessarily those departments. Grad students love to gossip and talk about their departments it seems [and other grad students] and might be able to tell you "STAY AWAY!!! They treat their people horribly, you do NOT want to be there!" I've had some tell me "Oh, I see the Columbia people at conferences. They're all very cliquey and their work serves to further the work of their adviser, I can only imagine what would happen if they disagreed with him." They might be the most helpful in narrowing down the list.

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Rutgers notified someone. Now, who was it?

U.S. news? Really? Okay, so I stopped reading US news in 5th grade and couldn't use it for the current events projects. it's the newspaper that is color coded, and people use this as a way of judging their GRADUATE program? There's probably a reason the New York Times doesn't do one.

For IowaPhd: I tried sending you a message back but it says you disabled it. -Louise

I graduated last spring and have, at best, menial employment. Well, I had one prof who said "you're never getting in, don't bother." and I had one who said "Oh, you're going to have quite the dilemma." I now have three offers, and full funding, to really good programs. Go figure.