socnerd

I'm going to be honest and I hope it doesn't sound too mean. This is just from personal experience but it doesn't look like you have a very good chance. I had the same GPA as you but with a 1200 GRE and I applied to some of the same PhD program and got rejected from all of them. I got into a few good master's programs but I know the requirements for them are not as high. A 3.3 is simply too low for acceptance into a PhD program, even the mediocre schools I applied to said they wanted at least a 3.5. I would recommend re-taking the GRE and getting at least a 1300 and taking some non-degree courses to get your GPA up. I was coming from a top tier liberal arts college with a great reputation as well, I don't think UNC Greensboro will help you.

I'm on the waitlist for Delaware and it's my first choice so I really hope some other people decline the offer. I know probably very few people on here applied there because it is such a low-ranked program but I would be so happy if I got in. I have other offers but this would make my life so much easier so I am going to wait it out as long as I can. I've wondered too about whether to contact them often but I imagine that they already have a ranked waiting list and annoying them isn't going to change my number on the list.

I got the feeling that it was a reasonably competitive program, they said they were aiming for a cohort of 20 this year. I know that American is listed on USNWR's list of best schools for Sociology. It isn't actually ranked but it's still on the list, I think this is because they used to have a PhD program. They said in 2002 the school overhauled all of the PhD programs and only kept 5, so most departments lost their PhD at that point due to budget constraints. Yet they have kept a lot of the same aspects of the program they used to have which makes it a pretty good program as far as Master's goes. They make you take more theory and methods than most schools do for a Master's so I think they are pretty good. As far as any scholarships or financial aid I didn't get the impression that they offered much. They gave a little presentation on where to look for outside funding and they said that they only offer 2 TA positions every year. I'm not sure if those are tuition-waived or stipended or what. I mean it's not THAT expensive of a program so I imagine most people find a way to pay for it on their own. The biggest issue for me I think would be the cost of living in DC. I am not a city person at all so it's very unfamiliar to me but it looks like I may end up there anyway because I've been accepted to another program in DC. I haven't heard anything from them yet but we'll see. It seems like a nice place with cool people but I wouldn't expect any funding from them.

I just went to their open house for prospective graduate students this past Friday and met with some people from the department. They were so nice and I really loved it. There were only 5 people there for sociology and all but 1 still had applications that were pending. They said they hadn't looked at mine yet because one of my letters of recommendation got lost in the mail. I talked to them about it and they seemed so lax about it, they just told me to have my professor e-mail it as soon as they could. I have no idea if I still have a chance at getting accepted but the way the professor we met with spoke (he said he was on the admissions committee) he made it sound like they were still giving out acceptances and it wasn't a big deal. He said that he hoped I could get my letter in soon so they could take a look at my application and "give me a green light." They were so adorable and nice.

I don't mean to discourage you but I've heard some very unflattering things about Ryerson. I've heard that it's not respected at all and that people consider it somewhat a community-college-level place. This may or may not be true but I've heard it from more than one source so you might want to take into consideration if you will be able to get a job after going there. Definitely check out where their grads are now and if they were able to get jobs in the field that you want. I'm sort of the opposite I guess, I didn't get into my first choice or anything but I got into a few schools that I know are very good and I realized I spent way too much money applying to places schools that were really no good because I thought I wouldn't get in anywhere. But it's so hard to know before you do it, it can really be a crap shoot.

I was sort of wondering about this too because I've been waitlisted at my first choice and will gladly wait at least another month to hear anything. They said it was a "short wait list" but didn't tell me how long it was or where I was on it. I just assumed it would be rude to ask those questions. They said they are only aiming for a cohort of 6 and I don't know how many offers they already made. I suppose I could wait a few weeks and then ask where I am on the list, I didn't think they would tell me something like that but I'd sure like to know!

I just found out I'm waitlisted at my top choice, they said it's a short waitlist but they're not sure if they'll get to me.. I have several other offers I'm considering but I am going to wait as long as possible to see if I can get off the waitlist. It kind of makes it complicated in terms of housing though because my current lease is up at the end of May and I have nowhere to go. I was hoping to know where I was going to be so I could just move straight there, but it's looking like I might have to throw my stuff in storage and camp out on someone's couch for a few weeks until I find out and am able to find a place wherever I end up.

Someone finally e-mailed me back and said I am on a short waitlist. They said they'll keep me updated, so I guess I'm staying in limbo for now. I have a couple other offers but I would go there in a heartbeat if I got accepted so I'm going to wait as long as I can and keep my fingers crossed.

Well I've e-mailed twice now, once to the college and once directly to the department and no response from either. I'm certain it is a rejection at this point so I should just move on but it would be nice if they could at least tell us for the money we paid.

I know that you don't even start having credit history until you've had a credit card for 6 months and I seriously doubt you can rent without one, at least not on your own. Thank you everyone for the advice, this has become a huge nightmare and the happiness of getting accepted to grad school has been overshadowed by the fact that I might not be able to go to the place I wanted because of the high cost of living there. I know every time your credit score gets looked up it goes down because it counts as a "hit," so I don't want to do that, although I have used the online estimators because and it's estimated in the low 400s. I might have someone who could co-sign but I'm not sure if they'll do it, and I don't think I could get them to come down and do it in person anyway. The university housing options are very limited and likely require the same qualifying characteristics as other apartment buildings. It's apparently impossible to find a decent place (even a studio with no actual bedroom) that isn't overrun with roaches and crime for under $1500/month. I guess I'll just have to keep trying, thank you everyone for the advice!

I haven't heard anything from them at all, I'm waiting on their Master's program (fingers crossed). I wonder if I should e-mail them or just wait?

Probably not, my rent at the place I am living now (not technically college-owned but still campus housing) was always late. They even had to threaten to evict me a couple times because my mom was never able to pay it on time. I could have my parents co-sign but that probably wouldn't mean anything because their credit is worse than mine. I feel like I am completely screwed

Hi there, I didn't know where else to post this but I had a question about trying to find a place to live. I have horrendous credit (20k in student loans, another 5-6k in credit card debt and over $1,000 in medical bills). The medical bills and credit cards have been in collection for literally years, I'm surprised they haven't sued me yet. I can only imagine that my credit score is as low as it can possibly be and I know that is going to be a problem when I try to find a place to rent. I know almost all places check your credit score, so I guess I'm asking is it going to be possible for me to find a place at all? I am likely going to be in DC and don't want to have to rent from some shady person in a bad part of town. Would it be impossible for me to get into an apartment complex? I don't have a job or any income but my parents will likely be paying all of my bills (as you can see, they are not so good at remembering to do that, they are very irresponsible with money and have passed it on to me). I feel like I am doomed and I am going to start grad school being homeless. I'm going to try to get a job but even if I do find one I'm sure it won't pay much. My program is Master's, not PhD so no money from the school. Even if I do try to pay off some of my debt my credit isn't going to look better for years. Also, I will not under any circumstances entertain the idea of having a roommate, I have had nothing but hell for the past 2 years with roommates and I need a space to myself, so that is not an option. Does anyone have experience with this situation? I am very worried. Thanks!

I appreciate all the responses, I know that person was probably just angry and that's why they said that. This still makes me worry though, is the consensus that Master's degrees on their own are worthless? If I don't want to go on to a PhD is there going to be no chance of getting a decent job? I do not want to teach or go into academia and I am not aiming for a very high-up position where I would get my own research grants. I am getting a Master's for several reasons, I want to stay in school, the job market is bad right now and I thought that getting one would help me find a job. Not a very prestigious job but something I could support myself on. Is that just wishful thinking?

I saw that someone on the results section wrote this about their acceptance... "Some bullshit MA program. Who wants to go to an MA program anyway? Especially when it is not funded." I find that very offensive. Is the point of this forum to say that if you are not applying (or aspiring) to only PhD programs that your program is "bullshit"? Honestly some people can be so arrogant and stuck-up, it's no wonder that person, whoever they are, didn't get in to the program they wanted. Master's programs are included in graduate school, but I feel like they are not included (or respected) in this forum. Not everyone wants a PhD, it doesn't mean they aren't qualified or good enough for one and they had to settle for a Master's. Sorry, I know that is not everyone's opinion, that comment just bothered me.

March has definitely been it for me, I got my first 2 acceptances yesterday and I am so relieved. I was so panicked about where I was going to be and what I would do with myself next year if I didn't get in and it is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I got into a decent MA program and I couldn't be happier. I feel like it's all about PhD's on this forum and that MA's are sort of looked down upon as a last resort but that is what I wanted - I don't even think I want a PhD at all at this point so I am happy. Now the next hurdle will be trying to find a place to rent with my horrendous credit..

I think you might have to be a registered sex offender to have access to an ice cream truck

I would never try to get into academia, I know I'd never be competitive there. As for this, I felt like I had no way of knowing what school would be a match for me because they don't post their stats anywhere. I applied to 14 schools and I have no idea where I fall with each one. I foolishly applied to 5 PhD programs but have already been rejected from 3 of them and expect 2 more. T I spent a lot of time looking for schools that might remotely appeal to me based on location and research and tried to cast a wide net, I really have no idea how I stack up at the places I applied to. I looked forever for average GPA/GRE scores but they don't release that kind of information. Guess I'll just have to see. Thanks to all the replies!

So yesterday I had a conversation with my advisor about the fact that I am broadening my net significantly in terms of applying to grad schools. I don't have very good grades/test scores (3.1 GPA, 1200 GRE) and I am very worried that I won't get in anywhere (This is all for Master's, not PhD). I've decided to apply to some lesser-known programs that may not be very good and she said to me "You know, if you decide to go to a lesser-known, lower-quality program you will have to explain that decision for the rest of your life." She was concerned that if I can only get into a school like say, West Virginia University or Ohio University that it will hurt me forever in trying to get a job or go on to a PhD (which I don't think I want to do at this point). I understand this but my thoughts were, I am not trying to get a really prestigious job. All I really want to do is work for the government or some company doing research, so I thought that if I just get my Master's from someplace that would be good enough.. Am I wrong? Should I be really concerned that if I go to a less-than-reputable program that I'll never find a job? I know I should check out where their grades are now and I am planning to do so if I actually get into any of these schools. I know it would be easy to say if you don't get in just wait a year and apply again, but I really need to be in school this fall. I don't have any other options and the job prospects are very bleak. Just wondering what other people thought about this, I'm sure you all have more experience and insight into this than I do. Thanks

I just feel like I don't have any other options. Most people I know who only have a Bachelor's are working 4 part time jobs just trying to make ends meet. There are very few job prospects out there for my field with only a B.A., I'd probably look for months and end up doing something I wouldn't have needed a college degree for anyway. Things look so bleak out there that I'm afraid of what will happen to me if I don't get into grad school, like I'll never have a chance at a decent-paying job. I can't afford to just float around for a year and go through the application process again. My parents have moved 3000 miles away, I have nowhere to go home to and I have no other connections/opportunities to get it together, this is my chance, I just hope I don't screw it up.

I might get to see what the inside of a homeless shelter looks like.

Got 2 rejections via the website today, no e-mails.

3 rejections today.. what a day! At least they waited until after my birthday, which was yesterday.

Hi barilcious, Yea I've heard American is nice, I had 2 good friends from high school go there for undergrad. I applied to American for a few different reasons, mainly being that it was one I was familiar with in the area of the country that I wanted to be in. I applied to 14 schools so it was an obvious one I wanted to throw on the list. My main area of research is in criminology and sociology of medicine so I was interested in the work that Dr. Newton-Francis does with deviance and cultural criminology. I'm fairly flexible with my research interests and I like a lot of the things the professors there were doing. I have no idea if a stand a chance at admission, I'm not too hopeful at any place because my GPA/GRE isn't really up to par but right now I'm just waiting to see what happens. It looks like a lovely place

Hey, I noticed there was someone who said they were rejected from American and I was just wondering if anyone else had heard anything. They "invited" me to their open house in March but I know that doesn't mean anything because anyone who wants to can sign up to go, so have they started notifying people already? I know probably very few people on here applied there because it's only a lowly Master's program and it's not even ranked.. Just wondering!