socnerd

I think it can matter, but it depends on where you go and where you apply. My experience was that I applied to a bunch of schools not expecting to get in because my GPA was only a 3.1 at that time. To my surprise I got into a bunch, some even with full funding and an assistantship (in a Master's program) and when I went to visit them to decide where I wanted to go they said that even though my GPA was not the best they knew that coming from the school I was coming from that it meant a lot more. My undergrad had a great reputation (tier 1 liberal arts place) and was known for grade deflation so they knew that my 3.1 was more like a 3.5 for regular schools and that they were very impressed. I was surprised when they told me this, but I guess to some places it really does make a difference where you're coming from. That was my experience anyway.

I am moving about 500 miles, to a place I've only been once to visit the school. I used Craigslist although I was pretty apprehensive about it, I think you just have to learn how to weed through the fake ads and people who are trying to scam you. I got really lucky actually, I signed a lease without seeing the place first or even talking to anyone in person or on the phone. In retrospect it really wasn't a very smart thing to do, it could have easily been a scam but it turned out to be all legit. The place is beautiful, much nicer than the pictures, the rent is cheap and my landlord is wonderful. I finally got down to see it a few weeks ago and was very happy. I'd recommend using CL but just be wary of it all.

Hanging out and relaxing on the beach.. I can't wait! I am totally looking forward to having a few months break to just do nothing and get acquainted with a new city.

Funny, I guess some graduate students have the ultimate sense of entitlement. Not that we should give our talents away for free, but you'd never see anyone else in any walk of life making such an audacious claim.

I am moving into my new place at the end of this month after I graduate, I can't wait to have a whole house to myself and not have to deal with my awful roommates anymore. I plan on getting a small dog and hanging out at the beach every day, catching up on my reading and hanging out with my new cohort. It will be a very relaxing summer and I'm looking forward to it.

No offense but if the requirements for the program were clearly stated then you have no cause for protest. Yes the requirements may be very high but it's not their fault if you don't meet them. The only way it would be unfair is if they never stated what the standardized testing requirements were for their program, and my guess is that they are likely listed somewhere.

Alpha Phi

If you go to community college for financial reasons thats perfectly acceptable, although there is still stigma attached to it because some of the people who are there are those who got such terrible grades that they couldn't get accepted into a 4-year college. Just go and get straight A's, transfer to a 4-year college and they may give you some financial aid or scholarships. If you're grades are really stellar right now that might be a possibility right off the bat, maybe apply to some places and give it a shot, don't sell yourself short. If you end up having to go to community college to start it won't make a huge difference once you get to undergraduate. Grad schools do typically give out full ride scholarships, in the form of tuition remission, assistantships and stipends, but that is usually only if you're going for a PhD. My advice would be to check out some 4-year colleges and see if it's possible to get some financial aid or scholarships from them if you can, then wherever you go make sure you get great grades (above a 3.7 or an A- average) and you'll have a good chance of getting support once you get to the grad level. Good luck!

It just shows that the world isn't as tolerant as we sometimes think it is, another reason not to come out of the closet. It should probably be on a need-to-know basis because you WILL get discriminated against, possibly violently.

I actually had a pretty good experience, places got back to me in a timely manner and I ended up with two fully-funded offers, which I hear is rare for a Master's. I got into 6/12 places I applied and there were no real disasters as far as lost materials or miscommunications. I'm extremely happy with my decision and am looking forward to moving and starting the next phase of my life. Maybe I'll do it all again in a year and a half for a PhD, I haven't decided yet. I'm just going to leave that door open and enjoy the next 2 years.

Certain programs might have specific trajectories they try to get students on so they might have a better idea. Master's programs are obviously 2 years so in that case they would know.

I would take Tulane just so I wouldn't have to live in the Temple area. I've heard is very bad- crime-ridden, unsafe, unpleasant, etc. If they both have good programs there is no reason to live in the ghetto if you don't have to.

I think you should only consider not going to the top school if you really think that you are going to marry this guy. And even if that is the case, if you guys have the kind of relationship that is going to last anyway being apart isn't going to change that.

AHH I remember Elementary Forms! My soc of religion professor made us read the whole thing cover to cover... actually not a terrible read once you get into it. Durkheim certainly had some interesting ideas in that one. I think it's important to read these texts in their original form (not just summarized by someone else) because a lot can be lost in translation. Plus, you aren't actually getting what the author wrote, you are getting someone else's interpretation of what the author wrote and that doesn't help you in terms of analysis. The Marx-Engels reader was a great one that we used for Theory, my professor also made sure that when we read Protestant Ethic that we didn't read the Parsons translation. He said that Parsons interjected too much of his own ideals and purposefully skewed the translation of Weber's work in order to get his own political point across.

Hey funny you mention that place, I actually just got accepted today but I don't think I'm going to go. It just doesn't seem like the right program for me even though they have been very generous with offering funds. I'm still mulling it over but I'm leaning towards other places just because it doesn't feel like the right fit for me.

All very good choices, most of which I have been required to read as an undergraduate. Hopefully most good programs require them because they are all very valuable.

All of the rankings are somewhat subjective and it depends on which list you look at, but we all know that people do look at them and they do matter for life outside of grad school. I've been wondering lately how much the different rankings matter if you're not going into academia. For instance, I am not planning on going into academia so I am considering going to a school that has a more prestigious overall name and reputation over another school that is ranked for sociology. I know the ranked school technically has a better program, but I figure my future employer will probably not be familiar with the specific sociology rankings and might be more impressed with the overall reputation of the other school. I haven't made any decisions yet but this is the logic I am leaning towards. It can get pretty confusing sometimes

I know everyone always says "Go with the money" but if Ole Miss is as bad as your advisers are saying it is, wouldn't it just be a huge waste of time? If it is an 'intellectual wasteland' and has such a bad reputation then getting into a decent PhD program from there (or getting a job) is going to be very difficult and you may just waste 2 years and screw yourself over for the future. Seriously look into where their grads are because it might not be worth it. My advisor told me that if I chose to go to a place that had a bad reputation then I would have to be explaining it for the rest of my life and it would just make me look terrible.

I wouldn't rag too much on not wanting a roommate, I personally will never under any circumstances consider having one again after the terrible experiences I've had in college. I am planning on going to school in DC and will have to budget at least $1500/month for a decent studio apartment, now I'm sure I might be able to save some money if I had a roommate but the hassle is NOT worth it for me. I have had 2 years of hell being forced to live with the people I do now, things are so bad that we can't even be in the same room together. One of them even committed fraud by making unauthorized charges to my bank account. Everyone I know has had awful experiences with roommates, you start out liking each other and then end up trying not to kill each other. I think as an adult you need your own space and I am prepared to pay whatever I have to to get it, so I totally understand that argument.

I mean this is just speculation but there is probably a difference between taking out a loan for room and board (which gets paid to the school) and taking out a loan so you can live in a fancier private apartment.. But I guess if you qualify for the loan and you take out a lot of money for that it'll just be your responsibility to pay it back if that is what you want to spend the money on.

I would take a good hard look at where the graduates from both places end up. Going to the one where you have funding is great but if you won't be able to get a job after you graduate it's basically pointless. If going to the New School will give you a better shot at landing a good-paying job then you'll be able to pay back the loans instead of having no debt but also no employment.

I was under the impression that you can't take out student loans to pay for anything other than school tuition. You can't just use that money for anything you want (like rent) even if it does have to do with going to school, that's fraud.

I've sort of wondered how this worked too.. If my parents are paying for grad school do they fill out the FAFSA with their information and just leave mine off? I mean I really don't have any information to add anyway.

Unless you think that going to Georgetown would provide significantly more opportunities for better employment upon graduation I think GW would be a good choice. They are both great schools, Georgetown does the the better overall reputation but if it wouldn't make a ton of difference when it comes to jobs then it's easy to go with the money.

I wish this were possible in DC but there are no places to rent that aren't managed complexes. It does look like I will have someone to co-sign with me so maybe that will help, I'm waiting to hear back from a few more schools before I really commit to any place but I thank everyone for their advice!