whitmanifesto

When I got my funding email I was getting off the elevator to the Chancellor's and Provosts area, and was so excited I couldn't speak, just skipped through the lobby and offices. I am so glad there was not senior leadership meeting that day! @sriracha18 Is Bloomington (Indiana University I'm assuming) your only option? Because I will warn you, since they merged into the Media School it is NOT the same program most people remember. I was wait lists in the 2015 session when the re-figuring was happening and I really dodged a bullet. UIC profs were telling me some of the inside stuff, but almost all the big researchers have left (the two I was interested in have since left the state, ones in Oregon now I think). A lot of the Phd candidates jumped ship the last two years. Be very careful in making your decision. It may have gotten better since, but the re-figuring brought a lot of damage to their reputation, particular their telecommunications/media industry and cultural studies focuses. Also, I just got off the phone with the NU communications department, apparently they are waiting until Mid March to make their decisions, she was very snippy, so I'm assuming they aren't making their "decisions" until after the general visit and they already sent out their first picks for the RPC program.

I sat in on a RPC course last semester when I visited the campus, and they are VERY theory heavily. It wasn't to the point that I didn't understand them, it just seemed too much. Like the tv representations of Ivy League schools, almost like a cartoon. I think a lot of their grad students come from Literature backgrounds. @Ajensetta congrats on the RPI acceptance! Thats a very good program! I know a candidate there!

I was just in this situation. I was accepted to the "safety" school, but had already attended campus events twice. I knew I really liked the program, but I was accepted to my first pick with guaranteed funding and a much better fit all around. The visit was set for Feb 23rd, but since I already know that my first pick is not only a good fit, that I have funding and the safety school was footing the bill for my visit, I sent a decline of the offer with 2 weeks room for them to invite someone else to the visit. Since I had really already made up my mind, I thought it only fair to give someone else a chance at the visit, especially if they were unsure. You can still network with the professor if you feel the connection is genuine.

Wednesday Feb 21, I'm going to UIC for a campus visit. I requested it, but they're going to show me around in depth and I'm going to sit in on a course. This time Ill be able to see the graduate office spaces, the research resources and the grad rep is going to show me the best places for apartments.

This completely falls within Communications, specifically programs that focus on Cultural Studies, Critical Studies, Discourse Analysis, and Political Communications. Herman and Chomsky's "Propaganda Model" and works on cultural hegemony are the major influences on studies of Propaganda and Fake News. This year these topics are the one of the main focuses in the Union for Democratic Communications (I'm on the steering committee, so I've seen a lot of the upcoming papers) Conference in Chicago. If you visit the website, you'll see the program in a month or so and you can scout out what professors are focusing on this right now. Also, Discourse & Society is a good journal for this kind of work. Programs that focus on New Media, like UCLA, UC Irvine and UIC are good your particular interests. Try to get stuff written, like for conferences. With that many Masters degrees you will be expected to have a lot of writing out there, maybe even a publication. Too many degrees and not enough research could actually put you behind, not at an advantage. You don't want to look like a "career student" they want researchers. International Communications Association and National Communications Association (US) are our main conferences, but look for regional places as well. Political and Religious studies conferences are also good.

Is this dispute also including the Chicago campus? That campus has been successful in increasing their stipends recently.

@deshypothequiez Thanks for the update! I know last year, people that were waitlisted weren't invited to the Recruitment week, but it seems strange for RPC to have waited so long. Maybe they have already sent them out and none of the accepted posted to TGC. I just sent in my acceptance of the offer to UIC, so even if I get any emails, I'm out of the running for NU. A lot of the profs in this department and friends with the RPC and MTS profs at NU. (and the GSD responded after only 3 minutes, they are by the far the best Comm department at communicating I've interacted with so far)

you as well! i hope you get info too. i just got done with a 6 hour skype meeting session with UIC and im almost positive im going to accept, even if NU offers me something. they are SO GREAT and NU would just be ego at this point.

We're expected 12inch still tonight. And it's going to continue all weekend. But it's actually really warm feeling. 29F. For people who don't know this kind of weather, when it snows it feels SO much better in Chicagoland. The wind is what kills you. Outside my house. I'm going to loose all that I've gained in the morning.

Congrats! But it's the funding thatakes the final decision. There's a big snow storm in Chicagoland today so I don't think Northwestern will be sending out notifications. NWI unis all closed down because we get heavier snow with the lake effect.

@deshypothequiez yes, they take it out. They do for mine as well at Purdue. I used a tax calculator to figure out what mine would be at UIC, but my partner just told me what his is. Since he lives in Indiana, he will get a lot of it back in tax returns, but there's paperwork he didn't fill out to that they take the taxes for the state you live in not the state you work in. Illinois taxes are very high.

I was accepted to the UIC Communications PhD program with a 3 year funding offer, but I was asked to return the "initial interest" form in 2 weeks. Is this a binding acceptance? Because I'm still waiting for Northwestern, and the conversations with the department so far have been "we're hoping to convince you to attend" we're "looking forward to you agreeing to attend" etc. They lose a lot of their first picks to NU's Rhetoric program and I was told this during my visits before applying, but I have applied there and am waiting. If I sign this interest form am I agreeing? I don't want to ask the DGS because she was the POI I am most interested in (she's great!), and don't want to ruffle feathers until I know if I will be having UIC and NU bidding for me.

@GreenEyedTrombonist My parents would have if they had had the money. I live with them now, and they've been living in one state and working in another for over 10 years now so I can continue my education, but I still have to pay them rent because they just can't do it without me. When I leave for PhD they will probably move to north Michigan now. I already drive 45 minutes to an hour a day on way for work/school, I have to move closer to Chicago.

@deshypothequiez Oh it is so bomb! $30,000 a year! for 5 years! My partner takes home over $2,000 a month post taxes. I'm so jealous. @GreenEyedTrombonist I wish I has been that lucky. i'm into 6 digit debt. I went to a private school for 2 years and then bounced around public universities. I had no help at all from family and had to work through all of it, but still couldn't survive without taking in loans every year. I also took an extra years in Undergrad and in MA for financial reasons, but it payed off, cause I got extra research grants and stuff from knowing the systems a year longer than most. But I feel better now, even with the struggle its going to be. Working class kid getting into a top Phd Program in my field!

I've gone straight through from undergrad to masters to phd. I haven't paid any loans at all, and don't plan to. Even if I get a tenure-track job, theres almost no chance Ill be able to have a house or new car for 20+ years post graduation. I understood that going into it. Me and my partner prob could have done it, but we haven't been together long enough to move in just yet. Chicagoland is great, but so pricy for what the wages are. Thats why I'll prob stay in NWI for a while more with some friends. I only just calculated the time and money of going CTA/Metra transportation in Chicago compared to driving and paying my car insurance. Urgh, no difference in price and I gain 30 minutes a day driving despite UIC giving me free transport. If anyone moves to Chicago, do NOT get a car. It's a complete money drain.

I get a 18,000 a year stipend at UIC, but after taxes that's $1500 in Chicago, and about 16,000 in Indiana. Rent is about $900-1200 in Chicago for a studio and I have pets so very limited options. Even with the stipend, tuition waiver and healthcare, this is going to be tough. Loans will still probably be needed to help me start out. I wouldn't go anywhere without tuition remission and a stipend.

Now that I know what city I'm going to, I've started deeply crunching the numbers on stipends, fees, living costs and man is it depressing. Gonna keep being poor and more stressed for another 3-5 years ?

Northwestern decisions should be out any day now! I'm waiting for them as well. If I'm accepted to both that is such a difficult decision.

I just got into UI at Chicago's Communications Studies PhD! 3 years guaranteed funding! Where they house New Media & Society! I get to stay in Chicago!!!!! I am so excited!

I didn't hear anything from my programs today, but I did find out that my best friend in my program got into Bowling Green's Phd program! Im so happy for her! And I will be able to continue to work on research with her!

Yes that means the department recommended you for approval. Now the school makes the decision.

@SomeoneThrewMyShoe if they provided fudnign gift travel they probably would have told you in the email, and that's usually on reimbursement. When you leave the appointment, it being via Skype wouldn't be uncommon. You can politely confirm that these are e-interviews or in person and ask if reimbursement is available. But usually they should have stayed already.

@nesasp your welcome, it sounds like a breach of procedures but seems like a very positive outcome for you! I'll withhold my congrats until you hear a more definitive response ?

@nesasp it sounds like the director/department has recommended you for admission to the graduate school, who will then verify your application to determine you meet university standards. Generally, departments don't get acceptances until after the graduate school has approved your acceptance. But it can also mean recommended to the committee for approval. Either way it's sounds very informal and not normal procedures. Did it say "congrats" anywhere?

It's less likely, especially if the program has PhDs. The funding for teaching assistantships always goes to PhDs first, as do research positions. I'm in a program with only an MA housed in the department but the funding is still not guaranteed. It's based on who was accepted first, if the department prioritizes some funding or full funding for MA (some department argue that all MA students getting 1 class will lower tuition costs, but students will still need to find another job or take out loans) and enrollement numbers. I was accepted too late my first year to get a TA position, but I searched for and got an administrative graduate position which secures funding for 3 years (most MAs are maxed at 4 semesters funding). If you're not offered full funding immediately, always search out graduate positions in administrative departements (Deans of students, student services, library, etc). They usually are much easier to secure the following year for MA students t and have fewer restrictions.