coped

Just wanted to bump this topic. What is UNCC's PhD in geography ranking/reputation. I know it is relatively new.

Question. I have two decent, funded offers at well-regarded schools (not top 10s, but good flagships with solid placement records). One is fairly prestigious for the two fields in which my research interests intersect. That one also has some rising stars with whom I would get to work. The problem is, the stipends just aren't that great and I also have a job offer, which would allow me to pay off a decent chunk of my undergrad loans. Has anyone been successful turning down an offer one year and being re-admitted to the school in later years? Would turning down an offer put me at a disadvantage the next year?

So, here is my dilemma. I emailed a very big-name professor in my field for ideas about sources related to my topic. He e-mailed back within a day, saying he knows of few sources, but says he thinks it's an excellent topic and I should be encouraged because it is original. I am drafting a grateful response but I would like to keep the conversation going. I would like to get my work in front of him, but I'm worried that sending the paper would be presumptuous or in bad form. Thoughts? Suggestions?

In looking at history programs for students entering with master's, South Carolina's catalog indicates that only 18 hours of coursework are required before comps and dissertation. Is there anyone here who has experience at South Carolina? Can you really finish the coursework in one year, then move directly to the dissertation? Or is that just on paper. Also, how is their reputation in modern US South?

UNC Charlotte offers a part time Public Policy PhD program with emphasis in Urban Regional Development. I'm interested because I will be working in the area. I know the school is not well known, but does anyone know of this school's reputation, grad job outlook, etc.?

This site seems pretty comprehensive. You can search by placement rate, time to degree, GRE scores, etc. Does anyone know how accurate their stats are? http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/political-science

I'm looking for an American Politics and Public Policy/Admin as major fields. Will my low UG GPA and mediocre quant scores keep me out of the better schools? Undergrad GPA: 3.1, second-tier state school Master of Public Admin: 4.0, second-tier state school Master of Arts in History: 3.8, second-tier state school GRE, Verbal: 710; Quant: 580 5 years work experience in newspaper journalism and some freelance curator work I want to apply to the following schools. Does anyone have experience with these? Am I setting my sights too high? My top schools would be as follows: Columbia UNC Chapel Hill Michigan Others: Indiana Texas Maryland