Frank&Stein

Yes, they do require a master's and they seemingly give you full credit for having it. I am thrilled at the opportunity to study with Dr. Nicole Leeper Piquero for my personal research interests and also learn from accomplished professors like Dr. John Worrall and Dr. Alex Piquero.
 
I have withdrawn my application from South Carolina and South Florida where I had also been accepted. I've officially committed to the University of Texas at Dallas!!

Yes, they do require a master's and they seemingly give you full credit for having it. I am thrilled at the opportunity to study with Dr. Nicole Leeper Piquero for my personal research interests and also learn from accomplished professors like Dr. John Worrall and Dr. Alex Piquero.
 
I have withdrawn my application from South Carolina and South Florida where I had also been accepted. I've officially committed to the University of Texas at Dallas!!

I can't claim Maryland but I did get an email from UT Dallas accepting me into their program! I'm most excited because of a few of their professors and my research interests are a great fit. Their program is scheduled for 3 years and this is also very attractive for me.
 
Does anyone have an opinion on UT Dallas' PhD program for criminology?

I just got a phone call from South Carolina accepting me into their program!

I don't think someone is being unfair by waiting to decide on multiple admission offers. There are many variables that are unknown like funding opportunities that you can estimate before applying but until a formal offer is extended; the full picture has yet to be painted. Funding can vary from year to year and you just don't know until it is in writing.
 
Even after funding offers have been extended, a top applicant who has been accepted into multiple programs may be looking at funding offers evolving from this competition.
 
I do not deny that being on a waitlist is full of anxiety but blaming the people who have been accepted makes as much sense to me as those who have been denied blaming those who are on the waitlist.

http://www.adpccj.com/documents/2013survey.pdf
 
The above link is an interesting survey that includes information about funding. They say that the average stipend in just over 16k.
 
I think the expected length of program and cost of living for the area are major factors. For me, I am not looking to create such a financial burden that my academic progress would be restricted. I'm not looking to be rich and I'm not even expecting to have money left over to save but if a funding offer cannot make ends meet because of the cost of living and length of the program I'm not sure how committed the program is to their student's success. A low funding offer also makes me question the stability of the program.
 
Getting your PhD is challenging without having to worry about finding a summer job every year and without having to worry about funding dropping off after three years. If you are entering with your master's degree I would also expect the program to recognize that value and fund accordingly. Maybe this is coming off as entitled but I have found through the corporate world that if an employer is trying to squeeze profit out of you in the beginning they will likely abuse you in the future and view you as expendable (which we are).
 
I recognize that most of us (including me) can be very swiftly replaced with another candidate with very similar credentials and am grateful for any and all funding offers. However, I think the funding offer from a program is the single greatest indicator of that program's commitment to your success. We have a lot to offer the program and there is no reason to settle for a sub par program or funding offer if you are lucky enough to have options. As one example if you are assisting in an online class as a TA you should understand the amount of money these classes are bringing in and how grad students facilitate this cash flow.

I don't think someone is being unfair by waiting to decide on multiple admission offers. There are many variables that are unknown like funding opportunities that you can estimate before applying but until a formal offer is extended; the full picture has yet to be painted. Funding can vary from year to year and you just don't know until it is in writing.
 
Even after funding offers have been extended, a top applicant who has been accepted into multiple programs may be looking at funding offers evolving from this competition.
 
I do not deny that being on a waitlist is full of anxiety but blaming the people who have been accepted makes as much sense to me as those who have been denied blaming those who are on the waitlist.