CulturalAnth

Congrats!!! I love San Diego! I wish there was a fit for me there!

It's official! I accepted at UNLV, and declined at WSU. I let all my POIs know, and my WSU POI was really happy for me and my choice to attend UNLV, and totally understood that it was the best decision for my family. Since I've made this decision I have been very, very much looking forward to moving to a new city (I was dreading moving to Pullman), and have been really happy overall Good Luck to those still deciding! P.S. Is it weird that I haven't heard from Oregon State? I should email them and let them know I've accepted elsewhere.

Ack! Now that I have pretty much made up my mind about UNLV, I feel like I am breaking up with my POI at WSU! I know she will understand my reasonings for choosing a different university, but I know she has also put a lot of effort into me, and I don't want to be a disappointment! How are you all letting down your POIs with the news of accepting elsewhere?

Sure, I'll PM you

I am going to sit on it for a few days, but yes, I think so. I also told them about my pregnancy and received yet another happy, positive response about it. They also told me that I could push back my acceptance for a year if I wanted to, but I think going part time will be just fine for me (I get bored staying home all the time, I NEED school!). I am feeling really good about UNLV now, especially now that I've told them my pregnancy news and got a positive reaction from them.

Well, I received a fantastic email from one of my UNLV POIs. I am going to temporarily post it here to get some thought feedback, removing names. I think this email seals the deal for me:

They do allow grad students to apply to the PhD after the MA, so long as one doesn't get their B.S/B.A from UNLV. When my POI originally emailed me the decision for an MA, she also mentioned that she encouraged me to reapply to the PhD after my MA, and that I would have a good chance of getting accepted so long as I do well with my masters. But, there is still a possibility that I wouldn't, and I have been thinking that I want to stay somewhere for a while, for my family stability sake. However, I was also thinking that I don't want to live in Pullman so much that after 3 years of being at WSU I was going to ask to move to the Vancouver campus, so that kind of contradicts that logic. lol.

Eco- I posted on the Waiting Game thread for Option1 Since my little confusion with UNLV surfaced yesterday, I am back to being torn between WSU and UNLV. Basically, where I've been was coming to terms with accepting WSU because I was accepted into the PhD, and at UNLV they said they accepted me into an MA (see Results thread). But, I am still not thrilled with the thought of moving to Pullman. I applied there because I thought I had a good chance of getting in, and it was #4 on my list of 5. I would be very happy living in LV. I have family nearby, I have friends already living there, my SO can get a fantastic-paying job, I can go PT my first year if I want (and I DO want to, because as most of you know I have found myself unexpectedly pregnant and due in the middle of Fall semester!). If, for some reason, I didn't get much or any funding at either WSU or UNLV it is MUCH cheaper at UNLV to pay out-of-pocket/student loans (almost half as much!). And finally, I need sunshine, and warmth, desperately! I am so tired of living in isolated, cold, small towns. So, here is my question: If UNLV made a mistake and I did not get accepted into the PhD, and only the MA (and still no word on funding), yet at WSU I have been accepted for the PhD and only have my first semester guaranteed funding- with the possibility of next spring but will be unknown until right before the semester starts for every semester . . . What should I pick? UNLV = happiness, family, financially comfortable, but possibly only an MA and uncertainty of maybe not getting into a PhD (if, in fact, it was a mistake). Or, WSU = PhD. Does my happiness (etc) weigh more or less than *knowing* I will get a PhD, for sure? What would you pick? Why? Thanks!

Eco- It sounds like option 1 will make you most happy as well as give you ample teaching experience- and that is something that you would really need for a long term prof. career.

UNLV does accept people for PhD without a MA.. it's called their "Streamline" PhD. And that is what I applied to, and my POIs know that is what I applied to as well. I figure it can go one of two ways: a) A PhD spot opened up and so they bumped me from MA to PhD, or since I applied to the PhD, the system or the graduate college put that instead of MA on my acceptance. I'm really hoping it's not a mistake. UNLV is so much better for me in a lot of ways.

Today I received a letter from the graduate school at UNLV that has said I was accepted into the PhD program, which contradicts the letter I received from the Anth dept. that said I was accepted into the MA, and not the PhD. So, I am confused. I emailed my POI about it, but received an auto-generated out-of-country response. Anyone know what I should think? If this does mean that I was accepted for a PhD, then I want to go to UNLV! The biggest thing leaning me towards WSU was that I was accepted for a PhD program. On another note, I talked to my POI at WSU today and she has been working on trying to get me some funding there, and has so far only been able to possibly get me a one semester RA position, and doesn't know if she can renew it for the Spring (15). So, funding is totally up in the air at WSU still, but I know that my POI really wants me there and is trying to work something out. I would love some advice, insight, etc.

If they tell you that you have until May 1, then that is your deadline, not April 15

Canis- Wow. I've always been told by POIs to put thesis/disertation research topics in the SOP, but that didn't mean after being accepted that I couldn't pick a different topic instead. On my SOPs, I mostly just said I want to work with POI on their XYZ research from which I will formulate my own research topic regarding ZYX, etc. There was only one that I was extremely specific what I wanted my dissertation to be about. My area of study is both very specific and very broad (reproductive anthropology), and I picked the few universities that have POIs doing that kind of work. Anyway.. I'm glad now you know and were able to make the best decision for you!

I'm also waiting to hear on funding. I got an email from my POI at WSU today saying she is still waiting to hear about funding decisions too, but will hopefully be able to update me by Monday. *crossing fingers*!!!

I am still waiting for funding decisions too!