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.

I have been accepted to a school to get y Ph.D. I was informed that there were 10 of us admitted out of 40 applicants. The faculty decided to fund 5 (I was not 1). However, I have been in constant contact with the grad admissions director and he stated that they have a few people who have not accepted their acceptance and if those people choose not to, they will move down the list of other accepted candidates for the funding. It is now April 10. In your opinion, should I pretty much give up hope of being offered funding since there are only 5 days left until the deadline? Thanks.

Which is more desirable... Lexington, Irmo, Lugoff or Columbia? How is the Lake Columbia area?

Thank you so much for that info. You have pretty much solidified my decision.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice (especially sword saint, who I'm sure I pissed off a while ago in a different thread). I'm going to give the other school until 4/14 to offer me funding and then I'll make my decision. I know what the right decision is...

I am if only for the fact that I feel extremely fortunate to have been accepted into SC, as I have no publications and no experience. I will have to pay $30,000 for the first year and then it will drop to in-state tuition. Also, there is a possibility for funding in the future. This is probably the hardest decision I've had to make in my 36 years. Are there any pro's to attending a school that is unranked and has no reputation yet? It's only 3 years old.

I was all set to go down to South Carolina (#25 program in the country). However, they have yet to offer me funding. On the other hand, I was offered a TA at U of Massachusetts (a very new program) that covers full tuition and fees and provides a $16000 stipend. I am at a total loss of what to do. Any suggestions?

Can you guys please guide me as to where I can search for job openings in this field? I've tried indeed.com, but there really isn't anything available. Are there are sites dedicated to research jobs specifically? Thanks.

Well, I finally heard from South Carolina today. Apparently, I made the short list of 10 to be accepted out of 40 applicants. However, I did not make the shorter let of 5 to be funded. I know everyone here has strong opinions about being funded and not funded and the respect and disrespect that that entails, but I'm not in a position that most of you are. I will be accepting with hopes of funding in the upcoming years/semesters. And, to the person who stated that they must think very little of me not to fund me, all I can say is this: I received an acceptance which is an honor in itself for me. So, sorry, but I don't think that they feel that lowly about me. Depending on the schools that you have been accepted to, I may not be as "elite"as you, but I feel pretty damn good about myself. I'll be looking forward to holding seniority over you if we ever end up working somewhere together. Don't ever underestimate the underdog. I will work twice as hard as you, do three times better work that you and make five time more money than you.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully the funding comes through. I'm very happy with my acceptances so far. For someone who didn't do enough research into this process, I fared very well.

CJ