DTY

Epic Disaster

My pleasure, it's hard to make these decisions... My other thought would be to do Russian and _________ at OSU (pick a highly marketable PhD minor and do a few papers and publications in it)... I don't know OSU well enough to know if that's a possibility, but it could be worth researching! Of course, I have three degrees (2 BA and 1 MA) in 3 different subjects so I'm a bit biased about having multiple concentrations!

If I were making this decision, I would take the OSU offer - you can always apply for fellowships and other awards to cover more language study (such as a summer FLAS, etc.), and dissertation awards later down the line. To be perfectly honest, it's very competitive right now, there's no guarantee that after MAPSS you'll get a funded offer elsewhere. While Chicago is certainly more prestigious, OSU isn't so lowly ranked that you will be without job prospects when you graduate, and you'll be finished earlier with a PhD than if you go to MAPSS, so less years until you can get into the workforce.

Magic Beans

I just wonder, since he is in the military, how likely is it he'll be stationed in the same place for the entire duration of your program? If you settled for the geographically closer program, and then he gets transferred in two year, would you regret/resent it? I'm of the opinion that if this is basically your dream program with amazing funding, go for it! The time apart might suck, but it won't be forever.

Has anyone seen this article? I never knew this could happen, and since I've worked for both universities I attended, I received FERPA training at both and never knew this was a possibility. It's scary that there's no expectation of privacy or even that in the case of litigation only the relevant records would be available to the institution. Some links: The first story I saw: http://jezebel.com/university-of-oregon-uses-a-womans-medical-records-agai-1690452569 And the original NPR story, that one links: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/03/09/391876192/college-rape-case-shows-a-key-limit-to-medical-privacy-law And background on the case, that the NPR story links: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/09/justice/university-of-oregon-title-ix-lawsuit/) For those of you who don't want to or can't click on the link, a little tl;dr: A student at the University of Oregon is suing the school for Title IX violations over the "mishandling of her assault" (direct quote, not assuming that UO did not mishandle, just for clarity). The student was gang-raped by three athletes who were subsequently removed from their team and the university, but one of the players had a prior history of assault which the recruiting coach was aware of... however, it appears UO took some time to take action on the case (the assault occurred in March but players were not disciplined until May) and no criminal charges were ever filed against the players. The issue that has been raised in this suit is that UO has complete access to her therapy records because of FERPA, without the right to have them reviewed in camera: "I would think, in almost any case anywhere in the country, in a fear and emotional distress claim, those records would be relevant, and you would get them through some process," McDonald says. Under FERPA, at a health clinic run by a university or college, the school has a legal right to get access to student medical records — if they're relevant for a legal defense. That may come as a surprise to anyone who assumes that doctor-patient privilege is the same regardless of where the care is received. Gonzaga Law School professor Lynn Daggett, another FERPA specialist, agrees that the university is within its rights. The situation allows universities to avoid an important legal process, she says, simply because the therapist is a university employee. "The way the school would access the records in the situation with a private therapist," Daggert says, "is that during discovery, before trial, they would ask her to voluntarily agree — or issue a subpoena for them. She would have every right to make a motion to the court to quash or modify the subpoena — have the court look at her medical records in camera, which means in secret in the judge's chambers — and have the court sort through what appropriately would be shared with the school and what would not be." (NPR) I ask - not so much because of the rape issue (though, I think sexual assault on campus and how victims are treated is something that needs to be addressed), but because of the FERPA issue and its implications for seeking medical or mental care at (the usually more affordable) university facilities. Thoughts?

My department is open during break and it's business as usual, except for no classes.

I use a MacBook air for travel and daily use - but I have an iMac at home and an iPad. My iPad has really held up (I've had it 3 years). However, the iPad isnt a replacement for a laptop. I can't comment on the surface pro - but I would suggest actually having a laptop for grad school.

Advisors from undergrad, and they said that Chicago was a place that really nurtured students, and their committees allowed for collaboration and really specialized study. Hope that helps!

I got my undergrad in Anthropology at UA - I absolutely loved the school - Tucson is a great community. When I was there, the department would occasionally send out emails about perspective students coming to visit and seek hosts for them - I had a couple potential PhD's stay in my spare room while I was at school there, so I am assuming they will be amenable to you visiting, but they may not fund it. However, like I said, the department did reach out to everyone looking for hosts and such. What sub-field are you in?

You are very welcome, krolechka! I hope you get off the wait list, and if not, try again!

I was never promoted as an alternate, but know people who were. I get the impression it's similar to PhD wait lists. They do a first round of promotions of alternates right after the initial deadline, and after that if not promoted, your chances of getting promoted go down. But they do promote rather close up to the time people are scheduled to leave the country. Hope that helps! Also, if you have questions, call! The staff are very helpful and always apply again!

If you are on the wait list, we were given until 3/16 to accept or decline, just to give you a timeframe. Good luck! I've been there myself, so I completely understand the wait list limbo.

I'm going to Turkey!!! This was my fourth time applying, first time making it all the way through! I've been an alternate, a semifinalist, and just plain rejected. So I am beyond thrilled!!!

I actually seriously considered applying to that program, but settled on another Chicago committee instead, since I couldn't spend $100 on two different Chicago applications. It's a long program (longer than your average PhD), but I've heard good things from advisors about it.

Just turned 30 recently.

A friend emailed them yesterday and they emailed back and said likely early next week... someone else said they were waiting for State Department clearance.

I just had the head of my department tell me that the closer we get to March 1, the better, so I'm banking on no news is good news right now. Also, one school I applied to that's near my top just had a lot of people post rejections in the results search, but I'm still in limbo... I wish the PhD apps were more like med school and med residency, one app and everyone knows on the same day, lol.

ToTheBalkans, I applied for intermediate Turkish, I've had two years university level Turkish.

I had a dream last night I got into my top choice school with a great funding package, but to a slightly different program than the one I applied - and then, while still dreaming, I realized I was dreaming and got really mad at my dreams for creating unrealistic expectations... then I woke up.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-17/carnegie-mellon-mistakenly-admits-800-students Ouch.

I got 4 rejections last week alone, I was expecting a high number (I applied to a lot of schools because I don't exactly "fit" in any one discipline), but still, it stung a little. Hoping for some good news this week!

I'm a semifinalist for Turkish, about to get to that "hit refresh every minute" phase waiting for final notifications, lol!