readallthethings

I don't know much about Claremont, other than it has a very pretty campus. I know of someone who went to Claremont for a theology PhD, which was also not fully funded, and they are in extraordinary debt because of it. I honestly don't know anything about the school academically, though. Even if you say Claremont is a little bit better ranked than the program that offered you full funding, I'd say the fully funded program will probably be able to offer you more support and resources overall (financial and otherwise). I agree with what everyone's been saying thus far.

Kind of unrelated, but I thought it was more weird when a school didn't respond at ALL when I declined the offer. Everywhere else asked where I was going/wished me luck (which I thought was a pretty generic, but collegial, response), but one school just did not reply...

The schools I turned down also asked me which program I was attending instead and why I chose it. They either said they were just asking out of curiosity and/or for their records. I'm assuming they do so in order to figure out how they can better strengthen their program. I answered every school that asked, but didn't give many details about why I made my choice, mostly because I felt a little weird about explaining too much. But I agree with everyone else, I don't think there's much harm in answering. Plus, I can't imagine any one particular school will much remember someone specifically for turning down an offer, as that happens all the time.

I've heard of schools that recommend you go on the job market while you're still ABD but not to expect many interviews until your dissertation is finished and defended (at which point you go on the job market for a second year). I think the reasoning there is to gain the experience of being on the job market before your dissertation is finished. I think the stress of being on the job market while finishing a dissertation would drive me NUTS...but I think I'd be more okay if I knew I could still go on the job market later on. Does school A or B have any flexibility in how students approach the job market? For example, does University A ever let students try applying for a few jobs in that extra year?

As an applicant to English MA/PhD programs, I was told by so many people that paying for an unfunded MA is a bad idea because there is never any guarantee of stellar PhD acceptances to come after the MA and the return on the investment just won't be there. Also, I have a lot of undergrad debt which already worries me so the idea of taking out more significant loans for grad school is terrifying. In the end, I think it depends on your financial situation. If you really think you will be able to afford the loans down the road/already have significant savings to contribute, it might be easier for you. Otherwise, I'd really try to look only at funded programs.

I agree with rbamattre, I think I'd email the first choice school and ask when you can expect an answer. Just make sure you ask kindly and show that you just don't want to accept an offer before hearing back from them, which I would think would be fine. If they can't give you an answer, I'd ask the other school for an extension on your decision. If they're not offering you any funding, I don't think the April 15th deadline would be as big of a concern for them but I can't say for sure.

I'm pretty sure that you can still back out of an offer so long as it's still before the 15th, although I do think you'd still need to email the first school and ask them to "release" you so that you can accept the other school's potential offer.

If both schools have signed the April 15th agreement, then you have to ask the first school you accepted to "release" you before you can accept another offer (To the best of my knowledge, that's the 'legal' way to do things). However, as long as you explain to the first school that the other school offered you a better package that will make your life much easier, I don't see why they wouldn't let you go. Also, they should still be able to go into their wait list since it's still before April 15th and someone else could take your place at the first school. Overall, I think at this point it comes down to what is best for you, grad school is a big commitment. Plus, since it's still not April 15th, you're probably not taking a spot from anyone at the first school.

Hey all! I haven't heard anything from Temple and don't think I'll be offered funding at this point, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to remove myself from the funding wait list, so if someone else is waiting on funding I hope that will at least help a bit. But I agree with what everyone's said thus far...Temple's handling of funding is SO stressful all around.

Also, to comment on the Canadian PhD discussion, I've honestly never heard anything bad about Canadian schools in my US undergrad. One of my favorite professors got her BA from McGill, and she's incredibly smart. I would think a Canadian PhD would be just as well respected in the US.

Not sure if there's already a forum more specifically tailored to this, but here's my current problem: At the moment , I'm most strongly torn between two programs. One is a five year PhD program, and the other is an MA program that all but guarantees you will be accepted into their PhD program, but also gives you the opportunity to apply to other PhD programs. Also, both offer adequate funding, so it probably wouldn't come down to which one is offering more money (I currently only have my BA). I visited the MA program a few weeks ago and really liked it, and will be visiting the PhD program soon. Right now, I like the idea of having the opportunity to apply to PhD programs with the added experience of having an MA in progress, and the added research focus from having more study time and course work, but I'm not sure I should pass up a direct-admit PhD opportunity. Of course, if I visit the PhD program and really feel that it's wrong for me, I probably won't hesitate much to pursue the MA/eventual PhD program. Any thoughts?? Would you pursue an MA and apply for the PhD again (hoping for a perfect fit), or take the PhD opportunity you already have?

Yeah, I feel the same. The email didn't seem overwhelmingly positive, so I'm not too hopeful. Plus, the email said funding packages are only guaranteed for four years, not the full five (I only have my BA, so that makes me nervous). I kind of wish there was an organized prospective students day or something, just so I could have met with the department before having to make a decision in case funding were to come through at the last minute or something. Oh man, mid-July is SO late though. That would have stressed me out so much, at least you already lived in the same city...that makes it a bit easier. And yeah, I'm not a fan of super late notice either. I guess some departments can't help it, but it makes the decision making process so much more stressful.

I got a response from the person I emailed at Temple, and he told me that they actually do not have enough funding for all of the people they admit He told me I was an alternate for a TAship, which I guess is basically a funding wait list, so I won't know anything for sure for a couple of weeks. Also, he said that other info about the program (like how to register and whatnot) will come later on if I were to attend.

Thanks! That seems about right for most wait lists I'd think

I just turned down an MA offer at Northeastern. I was being considered for a partial tuition scholarship (which is the most Northeastern offers MA students), but I turned down the offer before finding out if I received it or not because I wouldn't be able to fund myself for the rest. I applied as a Romanticist/Victorianist!