urbanchic

Trying to get this bachelor's degree.

It's like a catch 22, either way you might lose. I say go as for as you want and hope for the best.

The limited profile options will come in handy!

They're not allowed to do April Fool's jokes, right?

Yea, if schools would only make admissions and funding decisions before April, it would help out everyone.

Life doesn't suck, you got into Alabama with funding!

Still waiting on UNC and Boston University. My UNC status page has been updated recently, so I'm assuming I'll be getting the decision this week.

2 more schools. Hope to hear by April 10, so I have a weekend to think about my decision.

Bump. What do grad students do for fun in Newark? Or do you visit Philly or Baltimore alot?

I'm also waiting for UNC-CH MA. Have you heard anything from them about when or how we here back? Or about MA funding? When did you submit your application?

I hope you don't mind me asking this here, but can we rent without a credit card? Or should I get a credit card and start trying to build up credit now ASAP if I want to lease this fall?

Yea, I know what you mean. I had to transfer schools my undergrad. I have 3 options so far, and I'm terrified of making the wrong choice again even though I'm more aware of what I need/want in a school than I was when I was 18.

I just checked the website and I'm in at Rutgers! But I'm not sure about funding. Do they fund Master's students?

Ok, I really feel like Rutgers didn't update the application decisions on that day...or by few hours to process they mean a week.

One of my schools told us that we should address low GRE scores in our essay and I did. Another school said they required a certain GRE score that I didn't meet, so I addressed my weak GRE score in my statement. So if a school is really hung up on GRE scores, I would address it.

Well, luckily, you applied to 12 schools. You have 9 more tries. I think you'll be fine.

Sorry to hear that. Mine didn't change yet. And, wow, I didn't know Clark was so competitive.

So I'm assuming we're going to wake up tomorrow with Rutgers online decisions?

March it was!!!!! I still can't believe it.

Ooh, yes, there will be some March Madness going on.

I've noticed that this board is a bit Anti-Master's/Pro-PhD, so the answers you get in this thread are a bit biased. I'm all for getting a master's before a PhD if the person thinks it will help them be more prepared for the doctorate. 1. It doesn't have to be expensive. Try a state school. Work up and save money. Many employers will pay for your degree. Some schools do fund Master's students. Look for one. If you have to get some loans, it's only for 2 years max (hopefully.) You can work and start paying them off before you start your PhD. Peace corps? 2. Getting a job. Actually, having a Master's over a BA/BS can help you get a job...and get paid MORE. For the jobs I want, having a Master's would be a great asset and they even say graduate students get paid more. In fact, I applied to one job a few months ago that was open to both undergrads and grad students, but they turned me down because they told me they only want grad students now. 3. Almost everyone has a bachelor's now. Having a grad degree will help. Saying a Master's will not help is like saying a PhD will not help. The article fails to mention how having a PhD does not automatically equal high pay or employment either. 4. Experience. Getting a Master's and taking some time off will give you great experience and academic training to prepare for the PhD. It shows that you have the ability to complete graduate level work and conduct research. I'm sure you'll go into the application process with a lot more confidence too. Although I've applied to a few PhD programs, I feel more comfortable starting a Master's program this Fall. Getting my master's will help me clarify what I really want to study before I make a long-term commitment to start the PhD. I can also get plenty of work and life experience that will help make the PhD experience more meaningful. In fact, I even met with some schools and they questioned why I wanted to go straight to the PhD. They highly recommended I get a Master's first. 5. A waste of time? How is getting an education (Master's) a waste of time? It's what you make it. I never understood this rush of wanting to hurry and get the PhD over with. Why not just enjoy life as it is? You'll still be 40 whether you get your PhD at 26 or 28. If you're in a hurry to get the PhD process over with, you make it seem like a horrible experience. Why try to get one in the first place? If you have thorough research experience, have successfully taken many graduate level courses as an undergrad, and know exactly what you want to research then going straight to PhD may be good for you. If you want more academic training and assurance that getting a PhD is for you, then getting a Master's may be the better option. Overall, I really don't understand the discouragement towards getting a Master's and don't think it's necessary to knock those that want to get a Master's before a PhD. Having a Master's does help. off soap box. lol

Yup, getting a Master's will definitely help you. What program are you interested in for your Master's? Also, try to get some field work while you get your Master's and raising your v+q GRE scores could help too.

I can continue making posts here at gradcafe.

Maybe some of these We'll-tell-you-in-February-schools-but-lied think that this year is leap year.