MelMcC

Well it doesn't seem like there are a lot f UT applicants on here but I was accepted and will be attending so if anyone else is also going to UT feel free to contact me.

Just got a letter of acceptance from UT Austin. I did not apply in the early admission phase so this was quite a surprise I wasn't expecting anything until March. So yeah! early valentine's present for me.

Well I feel a little better that people who had been accepted into other stellar programs still got rejected from UT makes me feel that maybe I would've had a shot getting other programs had I not been restricted geographically to Austin. But I did get good news this morning. I had applied to UT's Social Work program (with research not clinical studies as my concentration) and I received a first round acceptance. Since I wanted to study gender issues in welfare reform this is probably a better fit. So although I'm only in a masters program now it is a top ten and will hopefully lead into an acceptance into the PhD program down the road. So I have a bright side as well.

OH THE IRONY! As I am typing this my status changes on utdirect with of course bad news! I checked this morning, no change, I checked just now and REJECTION! And of course they it didn't send an email. So ignore the previous post! Good luck to all. This was my only shot to do Sociology so I probably won't be on again.

I have checked that and still no update, however, my B option is another program at Texas and when the status of that application change on UT direct, UT direct immediately sent me an email stating that there had been an update to my status. My husband applied last year to the Physics program and he received an email when he was accepted from UT direct about 24 hours before the official email from the department. So I think if UT direct changes you'll be notified via email, I still check UT direct anyways just in case. Sorry about the repetitiveness of saying "UT Direct" over and over but I wanted to be clear.

So a few weeks ago I couldn't wait to check my email, hoping there would be something. Now I open my email cringing because I'm scared there will be a rejection. We are getting to the point where rejection letters started to appear in previous years and I and SUPER nervous!

Hey I thought I'd start a thread for all the Austin hopefuls. I already live in Austin since my husband started his Phd here last Fall so I know I'll go to Austin as long as I'm accepted. But I was wondering if anyone knew about tuition cost compared to other programs and the possibility of funding. I, in turn, can answer any questions people might have about the city and/or the UT family housing since I live there. Plus I'd love to start with a few friends to make the process a little less daunting.

@M10 - My husband is foreign and I don't know about you but he preferred a manual transmission when we bought our car so if you have this preference you can shave off some of the price for used cars by getting a manual transmission considering most Americans prefer automatics. Just a thought.

Austin - I know someone has already mentioned this but I have several friends who are international and don't have cars and I can post of their experience. I think of all of the southern cities Austin is probably one of the best for public transport, especially for the students. UT has the biggest shuttle route system in the country so you don't even have to live next to campus to have a fairly fast (20 or less) shuttle ride to get to campus as long as you live in the northern part of the city. Of course you could live in West Campus, that's where most of the international students I know live, and then you can walk to campus. Also there is the E-bus that shuttles people back and forth from West campus to downtown for free on most nights and it runs almost all night, so you don't even have to pay a taxi fare as the previous Austin post mentioned. The only downside is rent in West Campus is pretty high unless you find a roommate to split it with. Also there is a great international program here that takes trips to different tourist places around Central Texas on Saturdays; big museums, San Antonio, the big outlets in San Marcos, stuff like that. In conclusion, it's no New York but for the South Austin is a great place to be without a car.

So I am new at this whole grad school application stuff and this post might show off my ignorance but I was under the impression that Phd programs gave some form of funding to most of their students. Whether it be fellowship or TA position. So I was surprised to see so many of you worrying about the funding from Wisconsin. Like I said I know that I don't know much and I didn't apply to Wisconsin so I have researched it very little but, is it really possible that so many of you with such stellar stats might not get funding? If so I wouldn't blame ya'll for going soemwhere else dispite Wisconsin's high ranking.

yeah I love happy endings!

Sorry if I offended anyone, maybe I was being TOO sensitive. I just originally read her post as stating that appearing to have children would be a bad thing and considering I fight the assumption of "mom = not dedicated" everyday I can be a little sensitive. Sorry ticklemepink and melusine and anyone else who thought my post was unwarranted.

Also just to add this because it made me feel better. My husband, being his positive self, gave me some very good advice that is helping me with the waiting process. He said to make sure not to put to much weight into any one post in forums like these. Take him for example, at the school he ended up going to people started reporting their acceptance in early February, this made him sweat because he hadn't heard anything. Then on March third someone posted that they had checked their status and they were rejected and told that all acceptances had already been sent. After that my husband was devastated and sure he that he'd been rejected. But low and behold on March 13 over a month after first round acceptances he got accepted with 5 years TA funding. I know that not everyone has a happy ending but don't lose hope until you know for sure, because this process can be unpredictable.

Not to one up you, but at least your both applicants. I waited a year to apply after my husband got admitted. I had already decided we'd go wherever was a better fit for him and I would apply there for the next fall. So I have someone already in a Phd program being all positive and "I'm sure you'll get in." On top of that all of our new acquaintances are also already in grad school so they are much the same way. Although this website can be depressing when others are getting acceptances, I like to know that I'm not soo crazy and there are others who are waiting as well. It's good to know your not alone.