grad_wannabe

I find the overall sentiment in this thread against the pursuit of multiple degrees to be a little odd. I'd surmise that many of us value lifetime learning, personal growth, and exploration of unknown topics. Why can't someone who has gone through a biochemistry PhD, but come out the other side with an interest in how legislation shapes the landscape of scientific advancement, go for a JD afterwards? What's wrong with that? I have a deep respect for the aforementioned schools that combine two degrees into one program. I believe that the combination of disparate worldviews and disciplinary lenses make for richer and more expansive modes of thought. I know a woman with two PhDs - one in marketing and the other in neuroscience. She's now doing groundbreaking work at the intersection of those two disciplines. I'm saddened by the comments perpetuating the sentiment of "there's a time to stop learning and start contributing back to society" as though those were mutually exclusive endeavors ... especially among the users of GradCafe, people I had hoped would have a different outlook.

what do the funding packages look like? are these paid programs?

quick update: I have an interview Thursday!

Hi st1980! Can I ask how your admissions process is going? A friend of mine is a licensed NY attorney and is applying to Art History PhDs and having little luck ... interested in your experience with j-schools.

I've heard my PhD app result. No idea about the master's programs though.

what a fun thread! For Acceptance #1, I was sitting at my desk refreshing my email every two minutes, and it popped up! No doubt about the contents, it said ADMISSION OFFER LETTER in the subject line. I gasped and told my LOR writer (who's also my boss) and emailed a ton of people at work. A good friend of mine came running over from his office and we went to have a celebration piece of cake at the cafeteria. Acceptance #2, I was at a birthday party on a Saturday night. We were playing some kind of RPG board game, I checked my email and there it was! Again, no ambiguity: "Good news from [school]!" in the subject line. Acceptance #3 was the big one. I did not anticipate getting into this school AT ALL. I never contacted any POIs, had zero interactions with the program, never visited the campus, nothing. It was a total shot in the dark. On the Monday morning after my email from the Acceptance #2 school, my phone rang with a call from an unlisted number. I figured it was School #2, because they had called from an unlisted number to set up the interview some weeks before. I was at work so I let it go to voicemail. I was busy with a bunch of other stuff, so I distractedly hit the play button assuming I was going to hear "we're calling to confirm the email sent on Saturday..." Instead, an unfamiliar voice said "Hi [grad_wannabe], this is [Grad Chair] from [unobtanium University], I have some good news for you! I'd like to deliver the message as directly as possible rather than via voicemail, here are some numbers where you can reach me..." I started shaking instantly, I could barely pick up the phone. I ran out into the hallway and called the first number he'd left but got his voicemail. I turned to a friend of mine who happened to be in the hallway and said "I think ... I think I just got into Unobtanium!" and then I started screaming and literally jumping up and down, still shaking like a leaf.

Ah bummer kadel, sorry to hear that. but this was your first round! lots learned for next year, maybe?

business insider is the Buzzfeed of industry publications. this is clickbait, nothing more.

I'm still flying high on an acceptance I got one week ago - on a Monday! Keep yours heads up everybody!

in any regard, you should definitely make sure that the schools know you're bringing funding with you. can't hurt.

Damn hermes, you must be butter, cause you're on a ROLL.

CONGRATS museum_geek!! That exhilarated thrill of disbelief is AMAZING. Are you leaning towards VT? As for me, I finally got the official rejection from MIT HASTS. I knew, thanks to gradcafe, that interview offers went out a month ago and so I obviously wasn't going to get in. I'm glad I was able to cross them off my list early rather than keeping my fingers crossed for this entire extra month.

I'm in the same boat. Three admissions, only one of them has given me any funding info. The others say they are "coming soon" or "as soon as academic budgets are finalized."

I did read one horror story on this board about this exact scenario -- someone was recommended for admission by the program, they celebrated, told their friends and family ... and then the graduate division decided not to accept the recommendation. it's possible.

why would they email to tell you that?!

This is a good question. I need to pick up a second language during my doctorate, it would be nice if the program picked up the tab for summer classes.

That way lies sorrow. I tried to re-read mine and was a little disgusted (which always seems to happen when I read my own work). Don't do it! There's nothing to be gained.

I've posted this in other threads, but I just wanted to share the news here in this context: that other school I applied to, the only remaining option in the northeast? The only option for staying close to this amazing person I just met? I got the phone call yesterday. I got in. He did his master's there, and immediately offered to go with me on my campus visit and show me around. Feel a little bit like I'm in a fairy tale. Unreal.

Sometimes fairy tales do come true ... I got the phone call this morning. I got in. I have my fingers crossed for you! May the gods look with smiles upon us both.

you GUYS. YOU GUYS YOU GUYS. i got into Columbia. holy moly what the heck is going on what [and thanks so much for the congratulations! you guys have been my rock these past few insanity-instilling months. a rare and precious resource of friendship, you all are.]

this is the best way to spend any summer!

The biggest difficulty for me is a "what if" scenario -- there are a couple schools to which I did not apply, for reasons that in hindsight seem silly, and I'm mightily regretful about it.

It can happen on the weekend -- I got an acceptance email yesterday, late Saturday night while I was at a party.

Thanks, everybody! I'd be interested to hear everyone's decision algorithms...

I'm turning 31 in April.