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the17thscream

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    Art History PhD

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  1. I made a similar fit vs. rank decision and choose fit. I also agonized over my decision between a huge #1/2 ranked program (X) with big name profs (though none in my subfield) and impressive/competitive grads and a tiny #9/12 program (Y) with two profs in my subfield (which is quite small) and chill/happy grads with whom I could actually see myself being friends. Coming from an Ivy undergrad, I am admittedly super competitive and probably would have done well in program X, but ultimately my loyalty lies in my subfield (extremely well represented at program Y), and I felt at "home" there. The professors I will be working with at Y took immediate interest in me and my research (which fits perfectly with their own) and spent nearly two hours discussing intersections between their stuff and my thesis. Contrastingly, the profs at X struck me as friendly but super busy; while they thought my research is "fascinating", my subfield is admittedly ill-represented at program X. As recommended by my profs at my Ivy undergrad (the grad program here is the primary competition of program X) my decision was based on the question, "Where will I write the best dissertation I possibly can?", and program Y was by far the winner. Besides its superior fit with my interests, it offered me more money (enough where I don't have to worry about debt or additional jobs) and had a nicer, happier environment. While I certainly feel some anxiety about my decision, particularly whether or not it will handicap me professionally to move from an Ivy undergrad, top ranked in my field, to a "lesser" program, I remain relatively satisfied/excited about Y. The program is ridiculously flexible, allowing me to tailor everything to my own interests, and even though it's small, the personal attention is unbeatable, particularly since the profs there already seem invested in me. I've spent four years orienting my studies towards making the academic institution happy, and now I'm ready to focus on myself and my research. That said, I fully intend to kick ass at program Y, using my competitive nature to rise to the top of the pile, all big fish/small pond style. ;-9
  2. Ana (or anyone else in need of funding for NYU), I declined my acceptance, so hopefully, my scholarship $$ will go to you! That's right, guys, I ended up deciding to go to Bryn Mawr! I got to campus, and everything just clicked. Hertel and I spent the first 45 minutes of our 1.5 hour meeting talking exclusively about our research, and I've never met anyone whose research interests match mine so perfectly. The grad students I met with were awesome, in that I actually thought, "hey, I'd totally be friends with these people outside of school", and my field is very represented between Hertel and Saltzman. Other notes: --lots of academic freedom in that students choose not only their committee (profs on the committee can also come from outside the dept and from any affiliated institution including upenn) but also their pre-lim topics (must fit distribution reqs but can be any topic) --the speakers at the visual culture colloquia, held once a week, are typically chosen by the students (as in, you are researching, and you find someone whose work you're really into...you tell the colloquia programmers and they basically pay that person to come in, give a lecture, and have dinner with you) --no grades! Instead: written evaluations for every class that will actually help profs to write better and more substantive LORs (which are second most important to search committees after the dissertation) So, all in all, I'm really psyched. I love the IFA, and declining that acceptance was absolutely devastating, but BMC is a much better fit for me. I know that between being happier with the fit, not having to work, and studying under two people in my (generally underrepresented) field, I will turn out a better dissertation at BMC than at NYU, and that's what I based my decision on. (I'm totally going to be living in Philly though...the campus is beautiful, but if I had to live in the suburbs I'd go crazy!) Congrats to everyone else on their decision! I hope lots of late money is coming everyone's way!
  3. I'm actually going to attend Bryn Mawr next fall for the art history PhD program, but I am definitely planning on living in philly (I'm coming from nyc and am completely a city person). I've never been to philadelphia though, so all I know is that I have to be near the R5 septa train and possibly near upenn since I will have access to their library and that might just be more convenient as a commuter. Any neighborhoods particularly good for a young small female type? Someplace with good restaurants, interesting culture, and that is relatively affordable on a humanities grad stipend? Do such things exist? (the latter certainly hard to find in nyc...) Any advice is appreciated!
  4. CONGRATS lxs!!! You totally deserve it!
  5. rising_star, Thanks for the advice...between a fantastic overall program with great professors outside of your field or a strong overall program with professors that are an excellent with your interests, which would you pick? I'm aware that my interests may change, but I don't anticipate it since I've been in the German art thing for 6 years now with shifts in interest remaining within my subfield.
  6. Should I email BMC beforehand and tell them about the offer? I feel bad since I sent notice of my intent to accept their offer this morning--perhaps it is something better left to my visit tomorrow, but I also don't want to drop the bombshell when they are fully expecting me to come to BMC and create bad blood. I am postponing my final decision until I visit BMC tomorrow, since I will inevitably be comparing it to my NYU visit the whole time, and have no problem with turning down NYU if I really fall in love with BMC...
  7. I'm honestly torn between the two. NYU typically does not fund first year students at all, and they seem to really want me. While I prefer the overall program at the IFA, Bryn Mawr has professors that are more appropriate to my specific field. Although the IFA is offering me full tuition, I know how difficult it is financially to live in New York, and Bryn Mawr's offer would ensure that I wouldn't have to work beyond perhaps a workstudy job in the library or something. On the other hand, the IFA is certainly a top rated program, and it is always at least somewhat of an advantage to have a big name behind a resume. Should I place more emphasis on the program or the professors? The funding or the prestige/placement? Should I email Bryn Mawr and ask them for more money? This new development has thrown me for quite a spin...24 hours to decide where to spend the next 7-10 years of my life!
  8. I'm honestly torn between the two. NYU typically does not fund first year students at all, and they seem to really want me. While I prefer the overall program at the IFA, Bryn Mawr has professors that are more appropriate to my specific field. Although the IFA is offering me full tuition, I know how difficult it is financially to live in New York, and Bryn Mawr's offer would ensure that I wouldn't have to work beyond perhaps a workstudy job in the library or something. On the other hand, the IFA is certainly a top rated program, and it is always at least somewhat of an advantage to have a big name behind a resume. Should I place more emphasis on the program or the professors? The funding or the prestige/placement? Should I email Bryn Mawr and ask them for more money? This new development has thrown me for quite a spin...24 hours to decide where to spend the next 7-10 years of my life!
  9. NYU just gave me full tuition...after I've essentially accepted BMC...SHIT. What the hell am I going to do?
  10. ...and I just got full tuition from NYU...24 hours to decide. ::freaking out::
  11. Ana, April 15 is the standard decision deadline in the US. If you accept someplace without funding and then hear about funding from elsewhere, I have a feeling that most schools will be willing to release you from your initial acceptance, since money is always an issue, and no school wants pissy mutinous grad students. Here is a good article (for everyone, really) that really lays out your options: http://www.uni.edu/~gotera/gradapp/results.htm
  12. Hi Ana, When I visited NYU, they did mention that they are hiring another modern prof for next year though they haven't decided yet. Thomas Crow did just move there, and he's absolutely amazing. I think the other major modern person is Professor Lubar, who struck me as very intelligent but also very candid to the point of being tactless. When I spoke with him he went on a whole anti-theory/anti-Columbia rant that was a little disconcerting. As for funding, according to the people I spoke with there, there is funding for a little over 50% of students in the second year and 80% of students in the dissertation stage. Apparently they determine the people receiving the award and then match money to that (the IFA is independently funded), and financial aid is based upon a combination of merit and need. Hope this helps!
  13. Congrats on UMich, charis! You should definitely try and visit if you can, since you also visited BMC. After that, just write a list, literally, of the things you like and don't like about each and compare. It sounds stupid, but it really helps to see everything written down. Or, flip a coin. If you are unhappy with the result you get, go to the other place...in other words, go with your gut. BTW, luckily I kind of hated the advisor I would have at NYU even though I loved the rest of the program. He just spent the entire time badmouthing Columbia, and even though I agree with some things he says, if he can't say nice things about someone as respected as Krauss, then I fear what he would be like when advising my dissertation. Also our interests really didn't match up at all. But I do still prefer the program overall, so if I feel at least equally about BMC I will go there
  14. Yeah, I don't have a driver's license either...yay boarding school followed by 4 years going to college in NYC...I've never been behind the wheel of a car. Not gonna lie, the idea of it is pretty terrifying to me.
  15. Hi all, So I went and visited NYU...and I actually really really liked it. The professors are fantastic and approachable, the grad students are intelligent and friendly, and the building is beautiful; everyone who has decided to go there is very lucky indeed! Unfortunately, funding (or lack thereof) is certainly a huge issue for me. I brought up my situation, and they are looking into it. An increase in funding is "very possible" but by no means guaranteed, and it is very unlikely they will match Bryn Mawr's offer. The professor and admin I talked to both said BMC is an excellent program and they can understand how difficult the decision is. What I was less than impressed with: -apparently ALL students there work one or two part time jobs, and the jobs available at the IFA will only cover "food and books", not rent and tuition, so another part time job is necessary. At BMC I would not have to work beyond a work-study job in the library or something to pay for books/food (everything else would be covered by my fellowship) -grad students do not receive a huge amount of feedback from their professors--usually a couple of comments and a grade on written work (I only asked this because one of my profs here told me that it is standard to write pages of comments on student work and meet with students to discuss submitted seminar papers, etc.) -some, but not all grad students I talked to have trouble meeting with their professors whose offices may be downtown and who are jetting off to conferences all the time So this all gives me a lot to think about...I really love the overall program and the environment and the faculty, but unless I get more funding, it looks like BMC (which I desperately hope to fall in love with on Tuesday!). If I do get more funding, I'll be in a whole different boat...
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