Grad Panic

Accepted: UPenn, U OK, WKU, SIUC, USC & Brandeis. Rejected: Michigan, Wisconsin, UCI, Syracuse, WUSTL, Oregon Still Waiting: UC Berkeley, UT-Austin, UCF I assume the "still waiting" list is falling under the rejection category.

It's come down to USC (no funding for MA Anthro), U Penn (no funding for MA), SIUC (full funding), U of OK (still unsure if they will have funding), WKU and Brandeis (with partial funding and hopefully a TA position in the spring). At this point, I'm leaning towards Brandeis. U of OK, SIUC and Brandeis are flying me to do campus visits, so we'll see...

Same thing happened to me. No funding whatsoever to MA Anthro students.

I was accepted to University of Oklahoma, U Penn, SIUC, WKU, USC & Brandeis. Finally decided: It's Brandeis!

Some of you may have already seen this, but in this time of rejection/ admission stress and making decisions about our schools, I thought others could use a laugh: March 27, 2010 Herbert A Millington Chair - Graduate Studies Committee Whatsa Matta University College Hill, MA 01610 Dear XXX, Thank for your letter of March 16. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me admission to your department. This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of candidates it is impossible for me to accept all refusals. Despite W.M.U.'s outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at this time. Therefore, I will join the ranks of graduate students in your department this September. I look forward to seeing you then. Best of luck in rejecting future applicants. Sincerely, [your name here]

So, I have thought about sources for funding: 1.) becoming a drug mule for a South American drug cartel 2.) selling my students' kidneys 3.) pimping my husband. Pros: I get to visit South America, the students have extra kidneys, I don't have to undergo surgery and my husband gets laid on a regular basis. Cons: The drug cartel can be a tough life, possible arrests for getting kids to give up their kidneys, the black market is sketchy, the kidneys might not be top quality, and some people might ask for their money back with my husband. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I just need to vent... If anyone else wants to share in creative ideas for funding (while we take five minute breaks from grant writing and scholarship applications) please contribute to this thread. I need a laugh, guys, so post away. If you don't have a warped sense of humor, then don't contribute. p.s.: my husband knows I wrote this, thinks it's funny and is not offended.

I am deciding between three schools... One is at a safety school with full funding. Not exactly jumping for joy at attending this particular school, but grateful nonetheless. Second school: A top 20 research one school with partial funding. They are flying me for a visit, so the jury's still out on this school. Reach/ top school: One of the best Liberal Arts schools (step below an Ivy, but great) with partial funding. Oh, and I was offered an admit to UPenn, but 0 funding. They must either think I'm independently wealthy, are trying to take me for a ride or think I'm on crack. Any advice?

Anybody out there attending or accepted to SIUC Anthropology? Anyone with some opinions about the school? I'm tired of looking at Phds.org, a million different college guides, etc. and would like to hear back from anybody who has actually visited or attended the school...

Does anybody have any input for the MA/ PhD program at Brandeis? I have been offered admission with partial funding, and am weighing my decisions... I would love to have someone's insight from an insider's perspective. Is Brandeis worth attending, even with only partial funding?

Hey All, I'm at a crossroad right now and would welcome any input. I've had my share of acceptances as well as my rejections/ ejections/ dejection. So I'm paring my choices down. At this time I am seriously considering two schools. One is at my safety school, and they offered me full funding (assistantship, fellowship, scholarship). The other is my top choice and offers many advantages if I attend due to consortiums offered, potential connections, etc. That school offered me two scholarships and they are also requesting that I be considered for more aid. Here's where it gets even trickier... They do not offer any new MA students a TA position, and wait until at least the second semester to offer these to students. There are also several jobs I can apply for on campus. The top school also is for one year only, and selects only their MA students to be considered for the PhD program. If I am matriculated to a PhD program, then I will be considered for full funding. I am not entirely thrilled about the safety school, but full funding is definitely enticing. However, I love my top school, and I know it offers many more opportunities for me in the future. So... there's my quandary. Any thoughts? Opinions? Any advice pertaining to my query would be greatly appreciated!

Ok, so I have been admitted to U Penn, but they offer NO internal funding for MA students. I have also been accepted to University of Southern California and Western Kentucky with funding (relatively similar and still waiting for more funding info). Would you attend an Ivy with no funding (so you are in essence, paying for the name) or USC or WKU? Anybody have any advice about these institutions?

Hey All, Good news: I was accepted to U. Penn for an MA in Anthropology! Bad news: They do not offer funding to ANY MA students. Advice? Would anybody go? Does anybody have suggestions where I can find funding/ scholarships/ grants to support me going to U Penn? Help!!!!!

Awesome responses. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply and giving me feedback:)

Thank you so much for posting back:) My GPA in my major is a 3.65. I have some friends who have PhDs from Harvard and assisting me in editing my SOP. I did teach at college level in Freiburg, Germany, presented a paper for publication, and I have attended several conferences on semiotics and linguistics. My writing sample is, evidently, very, very good. I'm just so embarrassed about the dismal GPA. I really appreciate your feedback - you have no idea how much this helps me:) I have taught theatre for 8 years (which is what I want to do in Cultural Anthro - ritual & performance). I thought about explaining the bad scores in the letter of intent, but from what I understand, they don't want to hear any sob stories. What do you think?

Ok, so I am applying for MA programs in Cultural Anthropology. In a nutshell, I was at Loyola U., and failed a semester (not to get too personal, but my mom & I were the victims of a random assault and carjacking on the way back to college - should have taken a semester off to get a grip, but didn't and there you go). I studied for a semester at Oxford U. and in London with Sarah Lawrence (got a 3.5 from these institutions) and finished at USF. The last 2 semesters of school, I finished with a 3.9, BUT my cum GPA is now a 3.2 b/c of grades at Loyola. I did re-take the classes I failed while I was at Loyola, but they didn't have a grade forgiveness policy, so they are still shown:( GRE: V (680) Q (450) AW (5.5) I know Quantitative is pathetically low, but from what I understand, Quantitative is not taken as seriously for Cultural Anthropology (it's more humanities than social science as I understand it) Should I throw in the towel? Start grabbing kleenex? I do have several friends who are PhD profs at a private university helping me with my writing process for the letter of intent. Do I even stand a chance, though? Should I start applying to the University of Idiocy and Embarrassment? Apply to the Jedi Academy instead and give up on grad school altogether? Seriously, any feedback will be appreciated!