smcg

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Reading Rainbow (Starring Levar Burton... if you're old enough)

Hey PhDorBUST, I sent you a DM. I'm not sure if you saw the notification?

I MIGHT be able to help defray the cost by sharing a room. I say might because I'm not a definite on going.

Social Disorganization theory is full of positives and negatives. 12 minutes is nothing. Does the environment really affect the person? This theory basically states that it's the place, not the person that affects crime. There are a ton of arguments for and against. Either take a stance or present it as a conundrum.

In June of 2014, at the age of 37, I decide to try to go back to school for a Ph.D. I went to Barnes and Noble and cracked open a GRE prep book for the first time. I studied for 5 months and took a Manhattan Prep GRE course. I did well on the exam, but not as well as I had hoped. I continued to study and took a 2nd exam on December 16, 2014. Mind you, I left my job and was studying AT LEAST 5 days a week for 8 hours per day. After studying, I was working on applications, statements, writing samples, etc. I finally achieved a good enough score on 12/16 to feel as though I could relax... boy was I wrong about the relaxing! I never figured that the waiting for decisions would be so gut wrenching. I was accepted to a program on Jan 26th. I was awarded full tuition and fees plus a stipend as TA. I was relieved, but I wasn't happy. On March 6, I got an offer for a TA position at the University of South Carolina... I was ecstatic, but once again, starting ALL OVER AGAIN. Now, it was time to pack, sell my house, buy a house, move to SC.... holy crap! It is now June 25, 2015. It is just about 1 year later. I sold my house for $450,000. I bought a house in SC for $224,000 in cash that I got from the equity in my old house. I have never lived outside of New England. I have never lived in the shout... but here I am, with my wife and 2 dogs in 100+ degree weather. The thing that really blows my mind is that this is not the end... in fact, I haven't even STARTED yet! I start in August with TA training. How far have YOU come?

My university allows Ph.D. students to take Master's level Research Methods and Quantitative Methods classes as electives if the student feel that he needs a refresher. I sorely need a refresher in both. However, the university made a scheduling mistake for the fall semester, and both classes are offered on Monday at the same time ,so I am forced to choose. You guys have a lot more experience in this than I do. Which is the most important class to refresh? I took a quant class way back in 2004 and I don't remember any of it. Similarly, I don't remember any of the research methods class either...

I doubt this, because there seems to be very few criminology people on grad cafe, but is there anyone here entering USC or already there?

I just accepted an admission to a state that I have never even been to before over a school 20 minutes away. Forget about who you know and don't know. Your only real concerns should be cost and program. I would go Columbia.

I want to take the time to thank everyone who has given me advice about the Ph.D. application process. This was my first time going through anything like this. I have a M.S., but I didn't go the traditional route. Without your help, support and advice, I would have been lost (even you, pennywise). I was finally offered funding at my #1 school and I accepted. Again, thanks to everyone. I'm not sure I belong where I'm going, but I'll be damned if I let them know that and I refuse to fail.

Thanks. I accepted the offer today. I figured, as the saying goes, "big risk, big reward." This will be the first time I have ever lived outside of Massachusetts... big move to the south!

Thanks for the response. I was actually offered funding that day.

I was offered a 13,500 stipend for years 1 and 2 and 16,000 for 3 and 4. It's a matter of trying to get my house sold, go down there to find a new house and put offers in, etc.

Well, my first choice came through with funding today. Now I have to figure out if relocating is feasible. Not a bad problem to have though.