twentysix

I'm from North Dakota and it gets down to -40 degrees with wind chill in the winter. California weather would be a welcome change. If I decide to go to UCSD, I'm hoping to live in the grad housing. However, in LA, I have a place to stay with a friend until I get set up. Either way, California will offer great weather, but the cost of living is a lot higher. Good luck to you too! We'll see what happens with the UCSD fellowship in March.

I was rejected from UT last week, so UCSD is looking like a great option. However, I have been checking the UCLA website. I found this link to the decision status: https://appstatus.grad.ucla.edu/account/login.aspx. It seems like most people are accepted to UCLA through email though. When I looked into the San Diego fellowship at UCSD, it said that departments can nominate up to 6 students. However, I didn't find any information about the number of students who are awarded the fellowship. I read an article (https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/san-diego-fellowship-awards-record-number-scripps-students) about a program bragging about four of their students winning it, so that makes me wonder about the likelihood of actually being awarded it. I assumed that all of the deadlines have already passed. Tulane was the latest deadline for me (February 1).

Is there a bus between UCSD and SDSU? I'm potentially taking classes through the consortium and this interests me. Also, how much are UCSD parking passes?

My girlfriend is currently finishing her MA in English (composition) at NDSU with a teaching assistantship if you have any questions that she can answer.

I ask this question honestly and not to start a firestorm. Are certificates respected in academia/PhD application period?

Anyone else applying to LAS programs? I saw a second acceptance to UCSD on the results board.

Yes, you'll need a winter coat when it's winter. However, you can buy one once you get here. In late August/early September, it'll be in the high 90s. It's not always winter. 2 bedroom apartments are between $500-$700, depending on the area. If you don't care about living close to campus, look for apartments in South Fargo. The commute is 15-30 minutes, but the apartments are much newer. I live in an old triplex near campus and it's crappy/cheap. It depends on the quality of apartment that you are looking for. The apartments around campus are older except for T-Lofts (http://www.roers.com/t-loft-apartments/home), a new complex South of campus. It's overpriced though. I know many grad students who live in T-Lofts their first year (for convenience) and then move to other parts of the city. There are also apartment buildings further south of campus (on College Street) that are newer. Also, there are newly built, 3 story town homes within walking distance of campus for $1100/month. For on-campus apartments, the Niskanen apartments are newer and located in the University Village area NE of campus. There is a bus that continually takes students from University Village to campus. The apartments that are labeled "University Village" are older/cheaper and in the same area. However, mainly international students seem to live in those. Downtown Fargo has been revitalized within the last 10 years. There are unique restaurants and shops. Also, there is a rather large bar scene downtown. We have at least 3 small breweries in Fargo/Moorhead. The art community is growing too. It's a nice place to live, except for the terrible temperatures in the winter and the humidity in the summer. However, every place has something that sucks about it. On the plus side, NDSU also has a great football team (4 consecutive D1 national championships) and is an R1 university.

I honestly have fantastic fit at all 5 schools I applied too. Funding will be the largest deciding factor.

There is nothing that I can really do but wait on the other three schools. UCSD has been very helpful and has had prompt responses to all of the questions that I have asked. Also, funding looks promising, as well as priority housing status. The University of Wisconsin outrightly told me that no RA/TA exists within their LACIS program (and since submitting my application to the University of Wisconsin, their university system is under siege by their governor... to the tune of $300 million). I am pragmatically waiting for responses from Tulane, Texas, and UCLA.

Were you offered funding at UT? I am still "in review" at UT.

I wanted to create a thread for Latin American Studies for this application year. I am starting to hear back from universities. Where have you applied and have you received any acceptances/rejections yet? Also, what is your focus within Latin American Studies? I applied to: University of Wisconsin (accepted, but they do not fund any grad students) University of California, San Diego (accepted and nominated for a fellowship) University of California, Los Angeles (no response yet) University of Texas, Austin (no response yet) Tulane University (no response yet) I am focusing on the history and archaeology of colonial Mesoamerica. In May, I will earn a BS in Anthropology (Archaeology) with a Sociology minor and a BA in History with Spanish as a foreign language.