Katzenmusik

You should definitely go to these socializing events to get to know the cohort even if you don't drink. The most important part is the sitting around and socializing, not the alcohol. If you don't want to call attention to your non-drinkiness, just order a Coke or a club soda with lime so you have something in your hand to sip like everyone else is doing -- people won't ask "Where's your drink?" Also, cider-type beers are great for those of us who aren't in love with regular beer - like Woodchuck, Strongbow, Ephemere.

I was in a mid-level management position of high responsibility at my job before I left for grad school. I gave 6 weeks notice - enough time for them to conduct a job search and find a new person. If it will take 3 months minimum for them to find a replacement for you, and if you're feeling nice and generous, I might go with 3 months' notice.

Ugh, yes, there is definitely a bias that certain academics have against museum/public history people. Don't let it get to you! Here are a few things to consider: - Brown and GW are both good programs, but as mentioned above, I would ask for placement rates. What kinds of jobs do people get after graduating? Since Brown leans academic, it might be that more people go on to get PhDs, which is what you eventually want. - Would the "resume builders" offered by a more practical program be of value to you? It seems like you already have experience in museums -- will class projects related to collections management, how to set up exhibits, etc. add to your curatorial skill set? - What about funding? Is GW or Brown offering you a better deal? Let us know what you eventually decide!

I would advise against this. A lot happens in the spring--interviews, campus visits, first conversations with potential advisors, etc. You wouldn't want to skip that, especially if you're deciding between two places. Plus there is paperwork to fill out. You might want to wait until the end of the spring semester, once everything is settled, to go traveling. Summer will be more of a down time, and you will travel with less stress and uncertainty.

Yes, I must admit, I can't relate to the "I hate grad school" threads at all. For me, this time is a complete privilege. Like a few of the posters above, I was stuck in HORRIBLE desk jobs for four years after graduating from college. The pressures of grad school cannot begin to compare with the pressures of these jobs (fundraising amid tons of deadlines and ridiculous office politics and a recession). I often had to work through lunches, holidays, evenings, vacations... the stress was overwhelming, to the point where I would wake up and cry because I had to go to work. And now? I spend my days reading, writing, having intellectual discussions. My program organizes fun work projects and field trips. There are a raft of grants and fellowships that I'm now eligible to apply for (as a student). And I'm going to an international conference this spring, which should be pretty fun. Grad school is paradise. It sounds cheesy, but every day I am grateful for the chance I was given to go to grad school with a full tuition waiver and stipend. And I am taking advantage of every opportunity that comes my way and working to derive every possible benefit from my program. Would I have valued this right after college? Absolutely not. It was the prior years of drudgery that make grad school so fun and rewarding to me now.

My mother and I also have different last names. My last name comes from my father, who I didn't live with and who was not the primary care-giver. I therefore have no problem with shucking my last name off eventually when I get married. It's a patriarchal name whether it comes from my future husband or my father. It doesn't have anything to do with my identity or autonomy. It also happens to be a common, boring name shared by at least one other person in my field. Do I sound defensive? I just am already anticipating conversations about how I've sold out feminist values by choosing to lose my own last name!

One good tip I heard was to think of at least one or two interesting things to say in each class. That way you don't end up blabbing endlessly about nothing (my usual prob!) but you also don't seem like a potted plant who never contributes due to intimidation. Just have one or two well-thought out comments--like things that surprised you about the reading, questions you would have for the writer, challenges to the argument, etc. Good luck to you!

I am in a similar situation. I worked for years before my masters and saved up a lot. Meanwhile certain other students can barely afford to buy groceries or textbooks. Just paying the student health fees wiped them out for the month. It never occurred to me to feel weird or awkward about this, though. I'm older and worked insanely hard at a job I hated in the non-academic world after college. In exchange for this drudgery, I was making money. The other students have gone directly from school to more school, starting their academic careers right away, which is its own form of luxury. We made different choices at different times in our lives. But it's not some sort of insurmountable social barrier that means we can never be friends. I don't go out of my way to talk about this with other students, but when it comes up ("How can you afford not to have roommates?" etc.) I just explain simply that I worked for years before grad school and have savings as a result. They don't seem bitter about it.

This guy seems kind of... strange. If he makes you feel bad about yourself and your teaching ideas, I'd say to avoid him. He seems like a jerk who just wants to be "the influential one" in your department, and his strategy is to get to new cohorts first. Possibly he has annoyed or alienated everyone in his own cohort and is now seeking to start afresh with yours.

Do most people in this program get funded? Acceptance without funding is often considered a "tacit rejection," a lighter way of letting people down. Perhaps the department didn't actually expect that you would come, and now they feel awkward about it. I do recommend that you sit down with the DGS, as Medievalmaniac suggested. If no solution can be found, perhaps you should cut your losses and leave the program.

Hmm, but presumably masters programs count as "time," right? Two years spent reading and learning things isn't exactly a waste when it comes to comps. For what it's worth, I'm glad I turned down a PhD program to do a funded masters instead. I'm learning a ton and feel infinitely better prepared for PhD applications down the line! To the OP: Why not apply to some PhD programs and some masters programs?

I believe Yale offers a 1-year MA in American Studies, if you're interested in that!

Yes, you can do this. I was accepted to one of the PhD programs on your list with a much, much more mediocre application than the one you are describing. (To be honest, my undergrad is well known and prestigious and all that jazz--but I majored in a COMPLETELY different subject and my qualifications were nowhere near as good as yours otherwise.) If you are still worried, try throwing a few (funded) MA programs in the mix. The MA can strengthen future PhD applications.

There is NOTHING wrong with having a business card to hand out when people ask you for your contact information. It's either that or scribble your name, cell phone number and email address on a piece of paper which the person will likely lose and/or read incorrectly. Why not give them a nice, legible card which they can file away for future reference? I know plenty of NON-businessperson types who pass out cards--for example, an artist friend who makes and wears her own jewelry. When people compliment her on her earrings, necklaces, etc., and ask where she got them, she has a card to hand out with her name and her web site where they can purchase their own versions. She doesn't go around pushing cards on people, but gives them to those with a real interest in her work who would otherwise not know how to get in touch with her. Why would grad students not want to have such cards? I'm in the humanities, but I've also been in the "real world" for five years, which is perhaps why it doesn't seem at all strange or faux pas-ish to have a card. It's just normal and useful. If it helps make the concept seem less pretentious, think of it as a personal card and not part of a "professional identity."

Great topic!! The perfect environment for writing is super-important to me as well. Like others here, I'm into natural light or soft lighting from lamps, real wood, antique-ish thrift store finds, etc. I truly dislike the plain IKEA throw-away furniture that can't survive a move. I also enjoy having a generous wheely chair that I can lean back in. In addition, I've found word processing programs like WriteRoom to be helpful--you can fill the whole screen with your text and block out all distractions. I was looking forward to creating a little study nook for myself at home. Unfortunately my grad student living space will be a narrow basement room with a terrible carpet and a tiny casement window at yard level. Even if I do find the perfect desk and bookshelf, they likely will not fit down the stairs. On this theme, would anyone like to share tips for making a crummy space seem like home?

Perrier: it's a bit odd that your first interviewers had a negative reaction to your other applications. MOST people apply to multiple places, so that in and of itself would not be a reason for them to reject you. Perhaps they could tell from your tone of voice or body language that a different school was your first choice--that they were your Plan B or C? Or maybe they thought you were applying to the wrong places and must not have researched the departments well enough? Or maybe they have some personal rivalry that you aren't even aware of... it just seems very strange. For the second interview, I hate to say it, but you really just should have been honest. There was no point in lying, and this could easily turn into a very embarrassing situation for you. For example, what if you hear back from another university tomorrow, and they make you a MUCH better offer, which you decide to accept--you will then have to explain to the professor that you didn't exactly tell the truth. In addition, since he believes his university isn't competing with any others for you, he might not give you as good a financial deal. And he might interpret your answer to mean you were rejected from everywhere except his school, but you didn't want to admit it. But what's done is done. Best not to call attention to it and hope that the awkwardness fades with time.

It's been a while since I studied film, but to me that sounds like far too broad of a question. Perhaps you could pick one country or region and focus on the development of its film industry, in the context of its history and social/cultural change?

I planned to apply to 12, then knocked one off my list at the last minute for a total of 11. It was too many. The schools that rejected my application are definitely the ones with the worst fit, which I would have removed from my list if I had tried to narrow it a bit. In addition, I should have stuck to MA programs only, since I have no prior experience in this field. I had a feeling I'd be rejected from the ones that did reject me, but I wasted lots of time and a few hundred bucks anyway, just to see what would happen. The adcoms obviously could tell my interests and experiences weren't a great match with their program. Also, with the increase in quantity, you start to lose quality on each application. Twelve is do-able. But you'll find yourself frantically ordering documents, trying to coordinate a long list with all your letter of rec writers, and slapping together statements of purpose at the last minute. Often transcripts and other docs are lost en route to the ad com, meaning you have to re-order things again and again. It's easy to get disorganized with so many moving parts.

I DID have an office job (full-time and beyond!), but I resigned upon being accepted to grad school. I made significant money and had a fancy title, but it wasn't worth the whole soul-crushing, hating life, being responsible for boring but important things and never getting to take a day off aspect. Now I am working part time at a museum for the summer! It is AWESOME. I greet each morning with joy and seriously love what I do. What a refreshing feeling!

Hmm. I am mainly familiar with the American grad school process and have no idea about European schools. Perhaps it would be possible to defer your TU Vienna admission one year so you can apply and hear back from elsewhere?

It's totally fine! It's an analogy that illustrates your passion for the subject. The phrase is different than the expected LOR verbiage, sure--but it's meaningful and it paints a very positive picture of you compared with the average student. Professors are people too. I highly doubt they're thinking "So and So's professor used the term 'keg party' in her LOR. Automatic rejection!!" If anything it gave them a chuckle and another reason to put you in the "yes" pile. EDIT: Whoops, I'm now seeing this thread was from early March, so of course my consolations are not timely! OP, did everything work out for you?

Three tips which worked for me: I think it is helpful to try and figure out what exactly the program and its faculty are looking for, then mirror that (VERY explicitly) in your SOP. I know that sounds obvious. But try to speak the department's language. Take a look at the current grad students, recent dissertations, the faculty's most recent work, and what the department's web site says about its own approach. Then draw links between yourself and the program's view of itself. Also, if the department has sub-programs--like specializations or certificate programs that you're interested in--it doesn't hurt to mention those, either. This can get your application reviewed by additional faculty who might be interested in having you as a student. Anything that gets your application in front of more potential advisers is a good thing. Finally, AVOID being a generic applicant with interests that are too humdrum or dull-seeming. I was a relatively non-traditional applicant with no prior experience in my field, so it didn't hurt for me to take a gonzo approach. My SOP was wacky, but I managed to frame all sorts of strange/interesting experiences and goals as a compelling academic project that the adcom could relate to. A few of the professors I met told me directly that they loved it and it really made me stand out as an applicant (in a good way, as I was accepted)!

Here's my opinion: I don't think changing your mind about masters programs is quite as serious as doing the same with PhD programs. When you accept a PhD program, you're embarking on a 5+ year relationship which is typically funded. You are one of relatively few students selected. The professors may have had to fight behind the scenes to get you accepted. To go through all of that, accept the offer (meaning other potential students on the waitlist were bumped off), and then turn around and decline it? Pretty rude. It seems to me that master's admissions are a TOTALLY different ball game. For one thing, they are not as selective due to the fact that most master's students pay their own way. (I mean... I personally was accepted to three Ivy League masters programs despite the fact that I had a mediocre GPA and hadn't even studied the subject as an undergrad. I doubt I could have had ANYWHERE near that success if I were applying to the PhD.) It is often the case that lots of masters students are accepted so help to help pay for the PhD students and/or fill the department's coffers. For that reason, there's usually less issue of taking a spot that could have gone to another qualified person on the waiting list. And the program is only expecting to have you around for 1 or 2 years. That's not quite the same level of commitment as a PhD program. Reading between the lines here, it seems that you may not be planning on an academic career. (Good job prospects after the MA?) If that is the case, I wouldn't agonize too much about upsetting the university. The situation is a bit different for people who are planning to spend their entire careers in academia and don't want to risk ruffling the feathers of people who will be their colleagues for the next few decades. Finally, you have a VERY good reason for changing your mind. You have the chance to save $60,000. That's a significant amount of debt that anyone would want to avoid if possible. To deny the full aid package would mean taking out a $60,000 loan just to avoid being rude. No one can blame you for going with the full aid, even if it was offered late in the game. My advice is to contact School A. Explain your situation--funding is very important to you, and to your own surprise, you were just offered a full tuition scholarship (out of the blue--not even requested) from another program that you had previously declined. Can School A match this offer? Give them the chance to respond. If they can give you equivalent financial support, stick with School A. Otherwise I'd go with School B. Side note--I'm not sure exactly what the potential legal ramifications would be, so of course you should look into the fine print of School A's offer before taking action!

Wow. How completely rude and unprofessional of the DGS. Seriously try not to let that comment get to you. The DGS sounds like a sore loser... who knows, perhaps s/he has lost applicants to School A in the past and has started to feel bitter about it. The only person who doesn't seem like School A is their rival, so pay no mind to that!