DigDeep(inactive)

Since the topic at hand is funding, we should all pay close attention to current legislature affecting social science research right now: "A House of Representatives subcommittee on Wednesday advanced legislation that would keep total funding targets for the National Science Foundation at roughly their current levels but would slash the agency’s budget for social and behavioral science research. The bill would cut social and behavior science research funding to $200 million, a 22 percent decrease from its current $256 million. Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/03/14/house-subcommittee-approves-bill-would-cut-nsf-social-science-research#ixzz2wEwvAumB Here's a link to the bill: http://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/HR4186.pdf

Simply put: no.

Hipsters... ASSEMBLEEEEEE

NYU Anth = 36,900/yr stipend. But, it's NYC so it probably is equivalent to a sub-par stipend.

If you can get your hands on one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Archaeological-Theories-Alexander-Bentley/dp/0759100330/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394736204&sr=8-1&keywords=handbook+of+archaeological+theory I would suggest perusing through that, paying close attention to authors/co-authors whereabouts (and references, of course).

Here's a link to some info sarab and I worked up! It's only focused on accepted students, however.

Woot! Definitely. Thanks for doing the survey, sarab! solidarity!

=D maybe if it gets to another large benchmark - like N=50 or something I'll redo them!

Here are some preliminary results, I added my MA to make N=25. I realize I left stuff out, but I don't have too much time to waste on this! ha! Perhaps I can do more later. Enjoy! N =25 Participants 19 (76%) Participants entered PhD Program 6 (24%) Participants entered MA Program Field of Study 9 (36%) Participants applied to Cultural Anthropology 3 (12%) Participants applied to Linguistic Anthropology 11 (44%) Participants applied to Archaeology 1 (4%) Participant applied to Biological Anthropology 1 (4%) Participant applied to Medical Anthropology Funding: Average funding package = $16,610 Maximum award package = $36,900 Minimum award package = $0 19 (76%) students had tuition waived 6 (24%) students did not receive tuition remission Funding Continued: Average amount of years funded = 3.5 Maximum years funded = 7 Minimum years funded = 0 Health Insurance: 10 (40%) of participants received full coverage 6 (24%) of participants received no coverage 5 (20%) of participants unknown 4 (16%) of participants received partial coverage

Where are you in your decision process Daykid? That looks to be a tough one!

Yeah. We could do a "pin" of some sort on the lapel. Since some of us will have talks and perhaps be dressed up!

I'll hop in from time to time I'm sure! <3 Also! His acceptance was unnofficial e-mail from POI!

I know him. He's Evolutionary side (PhD).

Well, I suppose I'll have to wear a Star Wars shirt. Pretty sure this is shaping up to be quite the gathering of awesomeness.... I appreciate it! I will definitely pop back in. Actually, I'll be finishing up my Masters this next quarter and I plan on writing up some advice for the Wisdom Repository soon. I just wanted to make sure I said thank you just in case I DID get sucked in. Cheers again! P.S. if this meeting does happen in the future remember to PM me even if I have dissappeared!

Hello everyone, After a month of being nervous, a month of finding GradCafe and being obsessed with the Results page and lurking, and then a month of contributing to discussions, I just want to say thank you for all those who have been so supportive in this process (you know who you are). Initially coming to this website, I was quite skeptical and, frankly, thought that it was simply a place for people to brag about what schools they applied to and where they got in. I couldn't have been more wrong. I was greeted with open arms and shown such support in times of distress and received numerous pms and it really made a difference. I can't say I was ever physically or mentally distraught, like some seemed to be, but nevertheless any stress I did have was mollified by the amazing support group that this years Anthropology applicants and gradcafe veterans exemplified. Since this time is over, and I'll be succumbing to the ordered chaos that is doctoral research, I will more than likely move on. But, I didn't want to do this without saying thank you for proving me wrong about my initial skepticism. For those of who you who have been accepted into programs, congratulations. For those of you who did not, please keep trying. Best of luck to everyone in their future endeavors. I wish you all success, happiness, and many amazing beer-driven anthropology discussions with your new cohorts. "The empires of the future are the empires of the mind". - Churchill

Sounds like a great position to be in, Khan! Congrats on your achievement - best of luck to you whatever you decide!

Completely understandable! My roommate feels the same. Suffice it to say, I have loans and he doesn't!

I'll paste some advice I gave to a student facing this dilemma a few weeks back, she/he wanted to go to a school but did not have any funding. This was my advice and I think it applies to anyone having to make that hard decision. In brief, I think if you are going to your dream school with no funding you should go for it - but be prepared to do what it takes to get funding! I know multiple people who have made this happen.

Sounds like you are already in some great hands! That's great to hear. As for maternity leave, they will absolutely work with you (and frankly, are bound by law to). All you would have to do if this happened is fill this form: http://gradschool.wsu.edu/Documents/PDF/Short-TermParentalLeaveForm.pdf or a Leave of Absence: http://gradschool.wsu.edu/CurrentStudents/PoliciesAndProcedures/Chapter5/OfficialLeavesOfAbsence.html Also, here is some great information on Pregnancy, Parenting, and Student Rights: http://www.nwlc.org/resource/pregnant-and-parenting-students-rights-faqs-college-and-graduate-students

Mod - You can delete this, thanks!

Clearly, there are lots of floating variables that are going to be unique to each individual (i.e., how much money you/parents have, if it's an M.A. or a PhD, etc.). Given your question, my answer is fit - always. No matter how much money they throw at you, your happiness is the most important. Even if they gave you full funding with "all the fixin's", if you're miserable and hate the research you will have a hell of a time finishing. That said, if it's only an M.A., perhaps you could suck it up and finish. If it's a PhD, you never want to get into any situation where it's not good fit - you will never finish. But, given the question, I'll assume you're not looking at PhD programs. Regardless, I still stand by that answer - fit = happiness = finishing = succeeding. Funding and opportunity come with success, which is grounded by passion. If you follow your passion there are no limits to what doors will be opened. People will feed off your energy and come out of the woodworks to help you succeed.

Yes, that's my suggestion. If both places are awesome research that you would like to be a part of you have nothing to lose. Although you did mention SAD (which is a serious problem we both share) I think that if you take the proper measures to combat it you will be fine. Since Pullman is on the Eastearn side of Washington, all of the horror stories about rain in Oregon and Washington (that are true on the Western sides) will not be as applicable. When I lived in the PNW my first year, it was terrible, but you learn to adapt. I would like to say that getting into a PhD program after your MA is actually not hard. The sample size on this forum is quite small, and plenty of people post-MA go on to a PhD. Worrying about not getting into a PhD program with an MA is definitely not warranted for many reasons. I, myself, just got into a good program with an MA. It bought me time to figure out what I really wanted to do, gave me ample opportunities for research, conference presentations/posters, develop networks, read widely, and I learned how to do science, not just about it. Definitely do not look down on an MA - it's very valuable. If you're in it for the long haul (academia) education is a marathon, not a sprint. If you do go to WSU keep in mind that you can always leave after you get that MA if you so choose. It's not permanent and it's no big deal if you do decide to go! I wouldn't pay to go to school if you don't have to - especially if the research is interesting and it's something you think you can do well and succeed at. I know both departments are good. I only know Geoffrey Smith and Gary Haynes (archaeologists) from UNLV. I know two post-UNLV grads who are faculty now. I know the aforementioned profs at WSU, two current grad students, and 2 post-grads who are faculty. Although my experience in the departments is non-existent, all of these individuals that are products of these departments are stellar-academics and great people. So, I'll say again, you'll be in good hands whichever you choose! The best choice is where you think you will be the happiest!

I don't have time for a full answer now, but what I would do if I were you first (before I made any decisions), is try to get more money out of UNLV. Since your funding package is so great at WSU - they should give you more. You can do this very respectfully, without coming across as demanding or belittling. Usually, they will simply ask for your WSU admissions letter (for proof) and send it to higher ups. They won't always offer more funding (sometimes they simply don't have it) but it's worth a try. The reason I suggest this is because it sounds like you're not completely sure you want to go to WSU (hence the thread). Therefore, I would not dedicate my self to ~10 years on a whim. UNLV is a great program and it seems you fit well. If they offer you more funding, I would go there and excel. After 2 years you get to decide to stay or go with your new sparkly M.A. in hand. You will be a great candidate for lots of programs, and you will have the benefit next time of choosing between all kinds of schools! That's just what I would do. If they didn't offer me funding I would go to WSU. This is because after you get your MA from WSU you can always transfer somewhere else if you are not happy. Two years in a program is not that big of a deal, Pullman is not bad, WSU has great Anthropologists (Andrefsky, Grier, Quinlan and Quinlan, are the ones I know particularly), the research is good, and you will have zero debt. Plus WSU does a good job of encouraging their students to publish and go to conferences. They have a rating system that gives grad students points for doing these things which creates very collaborative and successful cohorts. Either way you are going to be in great hands. Good Luck!

I didn't have an interview. But, I also haven't seen others accepted. I don't know if I'm a unique case or what? (Not trying to sound pretentious, just really don't!)

Nice job! Congrats! I visited and decided not to apply, but it was nothing against the department. Great people there! Best of luck!!