titaniasummer

I was amused to receive this mail today. Especially since one of their promised outcomes is getting into a PhD program in universities like Minnesota with a multi-year fellowship offer. Interestingly, I AM ALREADY going to Minnesota this Fall for for a PhD with a multi-year fellowship. While NYU is a great school, I've always believed that some really fantastic schools have these cashcow masters programs to attract lots of hopeful students who just want the name of a particular university on their records and/or feel thrilled to live in a city like New York. I'd have been happy to consider a PhD offer from NYU had I made the cut but the thought of paying for a masters is appalling to me. I earned my first masters from a modest urban university in India while I was working in journalism and the total amount of money I could afford to spend on my undergraduate and graduate education was Rs. 13000 ($260) thanks to my extremely lower-middle-class background. I am already studying in London for a second masters on an international scholarship and thats on the file that the Dean's office so carefully evaluated and sent this mail to me after reading. I wrote back to them very politely saying that if I thought an unfunded third masters would significantly improve the quality of my doctoral work, I'd have been honoured to be considered for their program. I would strongly suggest you guys give this a miss. If you have $32,000 dollars you are really dying to spend, why don't you just buy yourself a refurbished Porsche and scope around for a PhD program next year instead

I wrote to Mitchell, I don't want to call him from London; its an unnecessary expense for me. I'm pretty sure those who are in have been informed already, the reason I want to be clear about things is that I'm expecting a call from my Minnesota POI and just want to tell her clearly where I stand with other offers and potentially accept hers. I am also sorry if I have contributed to the misunderstanding in any way!

Congrats on Berkeley! I honestly think it's a better dept for South Asian studies than Columbia, so this is excellent for you. Did you get in for an MA or a PhD?

Sigh, I'm really bored of waiting for MEALAC now. I'm mailing them for a decision because Minnesota has offered me their Graduate Fellowship and will be calling me this week to chat. It's pointless for them to wait so long to reject/waitlist people. Someone on the forum seemed to have mailed them and got a negative response, I am following suit. Haha, I forgot to write Dear Ms. Whatshername. The mail went as Dear <blank>

Hello, Nice to meet you! What will you be studying? I think I will be attending Minnesota starting Fall 2010, for a PhD in Asian Languages and Literatures. I'm originally from Bombay, India but I'm currently doing my second masters in London. I'm really apprehensive about the weather in Minneapolis but would love to know more about the city, particularly things to see/do and what sort of housing budget I can look at.

I'm actually dreading getting their rejection. My week has already been ruined by Chicago.

Washington is not promising me funding, so well. Minnesota is my most likely option currently, they've offered me a solid and safe package. What's your area of work FDT?

Chicago SALC rejection reached London today Ironically, at the same time as UWashington ALL acceptance.

Wow, I was told specifically that I will know by Mid-March. So I guess I can safely assume I'm out. Could you share your profile in any case?

I wrote to Columbia and received a reply from the MEALAC graduate advisor saying decisions will be out by mid-March.

SOAS is great actually. My Hindi professor is very reputed in her field, Dr. Orsini. Her mere endorsement has got me three absurdly early positive decisions from Purdue, Minnesota and Washington. I think doing a Masters before applying is always a good idea, some of the other applicants have said this as well. My Masters at SOAS has entirely broadened and shaped my perspective. I also think its fairly rare for Indians from India to want to study South Asia even in India, let alone abroad. I don't understand why so many Indians take their automatic native proficiency with 3-5 languages for granted. In India, there is this conception of an educational pyramid that places Engineering and Business Management at the pinnacle with regional literatures way down at the bottom. It's really a pity that I've had to come to SOAS to find the right tutelage but I'm not complaining! SOAS is really excellent.

I was turned down by Berkeley too, keep your chin up! UT Austin actually told me that I'd be under-qualified for their PhD because my Indian and British Masters (both of them!) were not 'up to American standards', which is just extremely odd. Good luck for MEALAC.

You know what sucks immensely about MEALAC? They probably send out acceptances by feb end and rejections in April!! And judging by the gradcafe results, barely anyone gets in anyway. To top this, hoardes of people get into Columbia for unfunded masters and look down upon PhD rejects. Like the process is comparable! Whew. Sorry for the rant.

Our languages are the same! *avoids competitive squint* I'm currently working on my second Masters at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London where I am a Felix Scholar (a fellowship given to Indian graduates). My background is in literature and my proposed research has to do with contemporary retellings of the Mahabharata in Hindi Drama in the post 1947 period. I've been accepted into Minnesota and Washington for PhDs so far and I'm waiting for decisions from SALC and MEALAC. Any idea on the timeline one can expect? Have you been in touch with faculty members?

Yup. I have. Not sure about it though. Their acceptance rate according to the Petersons site is 48%. Sounds absurdly untrue. However, I have been rejected by Berkeley with a kind personal email from my POI, which makes me doubtful of my chances at either UChicago or Columbia. I think I'll choose Minnesota over Washington because of a better fellowship offer. How is it going for you kandeya? What is your research interest/background?