gingin6789

Very late to the party; I do apologize! I'm currently at UD (in sociology, which is the same department as criminology here). I was actually invited to visit twice. The first year (2014), UD invited top candidates without offering acceptances/funding. They told me "we really love your application, but we can't make an offer just yet." They made their decisions after the visit. However, it was never framed as an interview, and you weren't sat down in a room with your POI and grilled or anything! It was a nice visit where we got to meet faculty and graduate students over meals and on campus. The second year (2016, after going to a different master's program), I was happily surprised to find that they offered acceptance and full funding *before* inviting top candidates to visit. So, they seemed to have switched from the "we are interested in you; visit us and then we'll make our decisions" model to the "we accept you to our program, come on over to visit" model. This could, of course, change. Idk much about what's going on with the decision process at the moment, as I'm still out of state (classes don't start til February here). But current students were invited via email to recruitment events that take place in early March. I sadly won't be at the opening dinner, which they have scheduled during class :-( Best of luck to you all. I hope this is helpful in some way. I know during the 2014 & 2016 cycle, I was looking for any morsel of information I could, to get me through... It's such a trying process, this entire thing, and especially the waiting.

Hi, all! *plops down in thread and rolls about* it's been a while since I've been here! Blargh! Semester is finally coming to a close. Thesis is finished. Students take their final exam on the 17th. I walk at graduation on the 23rd. I've been so fortunate and am honored to have received a Research Assistantship at the University of Delaware that begins this summer. I'll be interviewing women and providers about their experiences with contraception and reproduction, so this is right up my alley in terms of research interests. I'm very excited, and again, just so thrilled and flattered to have been offered this position before I've even started attending their PhD program!! I probably won't be as active on grad cafe. I've met so many wonderful friends on here!! Please, follow me on on instagram, or Private Message me for my facebook name. I would love to keep in touch with you all. My instagram is public: gingin6789 (totally surprising username, I know).

Maryland is an EXCELLENT program! Are you officially committing to Maryland then?? Don't feel bad about Brandeis; they are SUPER selective and only take two or three students each year (if I remember correctly). I also got rejected by Brandeis! @EdSocPhD CONGRATULATIONS!!! So happy for you!

I was actually going to suggest CU Boulder as well, especially since I had the chance to visit the program and see what it's all about.

FINALLY rejected from Vanderbilt today! Talk about waiting! It's ok though; I've already committed to another offer. My application season is officially OVER

FINALLY rejected by Vanderbilt. And with that, I've heard back from all programs.

*shakes head* unbelievable!! *huge sigh* Yes, they propose Prof Logician drop the lowest assignment because this class is obviously a democracy where students get to decide how the assignments are graded *sarcasm/eye roll*

Just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone for this thread. I've been having a really hard time with this lately, so it helps to know I'm not alone. This is my third semester TAing for Intro to Sociology. This semester, students didn't do too well on the first exam. The exam was four short-answer questions, and the exam was worth 100 points. If students missed and/or did not fully incorporate certain concepts into their answers, they received 10 points off, minimum. One thing I've used to combat negative energy from students who "aren't satisfied" with their grade (aren't satisfied AS IF they didn't EARN their grade), is a cooling-off period. Students must wait 48 hours after receiving their exam back before contacting me about their exam. This has worked phenomenally in the past, until now. Students have waited 48 hours, but they seem to think that, after 48 hours, they're allowed to contact me to negotiate their grade. This isn't a marketplace where you barter for exam points!! They've been saying things like "I do not think I deserved 20 points taken off" or "I understand losing points but is there any way that I can get some points back and not lose 10?" Um. Excuse me. I don't give grades; students earn them. I know part of this tendency to try to get me to change their grade has to do with my gender and age (26F), but I think it also has to do with the demographics of my students. I'm at a predominantly white, wealthy, male campus where there's "engineering, business, and then everything else." They call the College of Arts & Sciences the College of Arts & Crafts. So I think they go into this class taking it as a joke since it's (1) an intro class and (2) sociology (so it CAN'T be hard, right??? Right??). I basically end up showing these students the grading guide that the professor authored and the TAs agreed upon and show them all the things we're looking for. If they email me about it, I copy and paste from the grading guide and make sure to note that they received these concepts in class, the prof repeated them OFTEN in class (students complain about her being repetitive), and that they've had half the semester to familiarize themselves with the material. So yeah, if they miss a component, 10 points is indeed justified on a 4-question, short answer, 100-point exam. I hope some of these strategies help you all, but I mainly just needed to vent. I hope that's ok.

So, Vandy never got back to me, but I wanted to let you all know that I've officially committed to the University of Delaware! This *might* free up a spot or funding at NC State, UC Davis, CU Boulder, and Rutgers (although probably not Rutgers; my offer was un-funded).

Thank you so much!! It sure is! I still have to formally turn down one program, but after that, I can announce it to the world and everything!

Thank you, @Pink Fuzzy Bunny!!! Congrats to you as well!! Yay Penn State peeps! My mom went there for her Bachelors, and so did my sister's boyfriend. Actually @hippyscientist he did his undergrad in kinesiology!

Oh hi @hippyscientist <3 Thank you so much!! And yes, Delaware is beautiful and, best of all, FLAT! Lehigh has taken a lot out of me since it's on a mountain haha.

Hi Everyone! I haven't been active here because I've been traveling to the everywhere. I officially accepted Delaware's offer yesterday! Woo! It's finally all over!

@macadamia tea I was thinking of making a new thread, but what do you think? I think either way would work well!