museum_geek

Just echoing the posters above - my only funded MA offer came from the only program at which I never contacted a POI. In fact, for one of my rejections I contacted a POI in July, which in hindsight was way too early and probably hurt my chances.

I would add a caveat to this: nobody cares about the AW as long as you get a 3.0 or higher. It might be a red flag if you get below a 3, since you basically have to write less than the two sentences or go completely off topic to score a 1 or 2. But yeah, I hit the 98th percentile in AW and got super excited for about 5 minutes before I realized that it wouldn't actually help me get in anywhere

Yeah, after sleeping on it and re-reading the draft I wrote I'm going to cut that part out. Thanks for the advice!

Dumb question for everyone: I am almost certainly going to accept Virginia Tech's offer - it's a great program that will prepare me well for PhD apps in a couple years, and they are the only funded offer I have received so far. It would take a fully funded offer from either Brown or Denver to keep me from moving to Blacksburg in the Fall, and I seriously doubt either program will come through with that kind of money. However, I do feel like I have to wait until hearing back from those programs before accepting my VT offer, just in case. In the mean time - since I'm 99% certain I'll be going to VA Tech - I'd like to start discussing my class schedule, TA duties, etc with my POI and the DGS, but without the pressure of them trying to sell me on the program. Would it be unprofessional to let them know I'm 99% positive I'll accept their offer? I don't want to seem like I'm yanking their chain or trying to get them to sweeten the pot. I was thinking of throwing in something along the lines of: "I just want to mention again how excited I am about the program; I am only waiting on a couple more notifications and right now it would take something momentous to overtake your program as my top choice" at the end of my next email. Does that seem snobby/pretentious? I feel like I'm way overanalyzing this

As Faulty said, not terribly important but you do want to try and hit the 70th percentile, at least for verbal. Also, from what I've heard/read/seen the analytical writing portion is not nearly as important as verbal and quant.

My research interests are still rather nebulous at this point but I plan on studying the anthropology of sport during my master's, with particular regard to athletics as a cultural narrative (especially in regards to race relations), the role of baseball in the Cuban diaspora, and class divides amongst amateur and professional athletes. I'm also interested in early 20th century ephemera and popular culture, and my research will most likely be focused on the southern United States and the Caribbean. Not sure how well that will fit in with cultural anthro programs in terms of PhD programs, so I've been looking at American Studies and Cultural Studies PhD programs as well. I'd like to do fieldwork in the US as a cultural anthropologist but I don't know if my research interests will line up with anything other than an interdisciplinary PhD (something along the lines of the ASPECT program at VA Tech). Especially since I'll be doing an interdisciplinary MA at Va. Tech.

wedding bells

I don't think you are necessarily losing options for LoR's. I finished my undergrad in 2013 and moved across the country but I was still able to get some great letters from former professors in my old department. If you made strong connections with faculty then there is no reason to think that they would not be willing to write you a letter next cycle. I communicated solely through email with two out of three of my letter writers - neither of whom I had spoken with in person since summer 2013 - and both wrote strong recs that helped me get some good offers.

Thanks guys! I'm doubly in shock given that I only applied to MA programs - I really wasn't expecting to get full funding anywhere. VT is definitely looking like a pretty strong option now, especially since they are the only program where I won't have to pay out of pocket. Their program will probably prepare me better than most others for a PhD, but I don't know much about Blacksburg and I've already made some strong connections with the faculty at KU, so it will be a tough call. I'll wait and see if I get any other offers before making a decisions, of course. For now I'm just going to enjoy having options!

Holy crap. I just got into Virginia Tech with a fully funded GTA position and a 14K stipend!!!!! Is this real life?

TGIM! Thank God It's Monday Here's to a successful week for everyone!

I love the Rem Dawg edit: Here's another Remy/Orsillo classic:

I made Ted Danson a sandwich when I worked at a deli in Martha's Vineyard for a summer. So I guess that makes me a celebrity chef?

astral body

Glad I'm not the only one who's already thinking about the 2017 cycle

As a former UMass undergrad I can tell you that Spire is a terrible system and UMass OIT isn't all that helpful either. I really wouldn't be surprised that Spire is slow to be updated.

As marxistglue said, I was just quoting whoever posted that on the results board.

I have already accepted a PhD offer from Harvard, so this rejection is utterly inconsequential at this stage. mfw

I'm 24 but I'll be 25 when I start my MA in the fall. I'll be 27 or 28 by the time I start a PhD program.

Definitely some interesting posts that went along with the NYU rejections. My personal favorite is whoever wrote "she doesn't even go here" in the notes section. Absolutely perfect!

I can't say I blame you for wanting to buy a house Faulty! Assuming you go to UMass, the Pioneer Valley is an amazing place to live and there are some really great properties available (i.e. huge lots) available in Hadley and Sunderland. Take a drive down route 47 and route 116 when you're in the area and you'll get an idea of how much land is available for homeowners!

oh you!

Seconded. I am doing my best to work my way through my current list of light reading before classes start in the Fall. I currently work full time at an entry level job in a related field so I'll probably keep working that job right up until my lease ends in August. Other than that I expect to spend a significant amount of time planning the move - apartment hunting, deciding what stuff to take with me and what stuff to sell, travel plans, etc - I'm probably looking at a 1,500+ mile drive wherever I go so this whole process is going to be a pain in the butt.

wasting away

ghost writer