grouchobarks

Thank you!! This is a helpful suggestion.

Hi everybody, I'd love your perspective on this. I graduated three years ago with my undergrad in political science, and had/have very little sense of what I wanted to actually do - only had a strong sense of what I cared about (which is a common and odious pattern and way to feel, I've noticed). The fall after I graduated, I was accepted to an Ivy League one-year international education program, with no funding, which thank heavens I was able to decide not to do, since 1) I didn't even know what I wanted, 2) the program was not that good or skills-driven, and 3) it would have financially crushed me. After bouncing around the ideas of public policy, law, language, and journalism programs (and many more, trust me - I'm the worst), I decided to travel to and live in the region about which I had written my thesis and in which most of my interests were centered, and to study the language for a year. After that I did a research Fulbright in another nearby country, working in the humanitarian sector on roughly the same issues. Uncertain of what to do next (I kept thinking, at every step, that I would figure it out - but of course I didn't) - I put out a few options into the ether, including an application to a prestigious area studies MA concentrated on the region I had just left. Knowing full well that I was leaning more strongly toward eventual law school and that I felt very uncertain about my chances of getting in, let alone with financial aid, I didn't count on this option at all, and planned to find a job after I finished Fulbright and take it from there. But then, unexpectedly, I was accepted to this MA program, with a full scholarship, but in a big city with no living stipend. Long story short: I accepted the offer, thinking it would help springboard me into law and/or my next thing, and also give me further good language and, crucially, a good network (since the area I work in is more about connections than skills). I felt so uncertain and sick and scared about this decision, and sometimes very confident, and then sometimes awful again, especially when it came time to face up to the idea of taking out $15000 to 20000 of loans just to LIVE in this place. But, terrified, I signed the papers, and here I am. I'm about a month into my program, and I don't know how to feel. I'm not sure if this program is the dreaded cash cow exactly, especially for students in my position who are paid for (some international students also have stipends), but it seems clear that most of even the most prestigious schools have had to drastically up their numbers in the past few years just to continue their MA business model (fewer people are buying into the degrees, and/or able to pay for them, and the jig is up - a lot of people know by now that a Master's is not, in this day and age, often very worth it, especially if it comes with no practical or technical skills attached). My cohort is usually between 20 and 30 people, and we have 30 this year. We have language scholarships for any undergraduate language courses we want to take, which is nice, and my tuition is all covered for now, and funding for the second year is contingent upon my good performance this year. But: the program leans heavily toward theory and academia. We have no statistical or analytical course requirements, and are able to declare one of four concentrations (i.e., politics, society, etc.) within the area studies topics. We have great networking opportunities, but the language training is weaker than it's been in past years, which is odd since it's touted on the program's materials as this really great and defining aspect of the program. Most of my cohort is younger than me, even some fresh out of undergrad, and it makes me so sad to see how hopeful and vague they are about tripping over themselves to do this program, when it seems murky at best as to whether or not the program prepares anyone for employment, or is more objectively worth it to have done compared with, say, a few years of work in the field. There are days when I sincerely want to quit this whole thing, and just get a job on the bottom tier of the sector I care about. There are days when I want to add a new focus to my MA, something more technical, and apply for fellowships that lean more toward tech/data skill sets, and make myself competitive that way. There are days when I sincerely don't know. So: is this The Right Thing? Should I stick it out? Will I be stuck with my already-spent loan money and tuition repayment (about $4000 worth, just for the first months of rent and health and living costs), and is that not worth it? How will I know if this is preparing me for anything? Should I talk to an adviser in my program, at the risk of damaging my reputation? Sorry, I know this is long and complicated - thanks in advance. I guess the underlying question is: under which circumstances is it worth it to do a non-practical master's degree? (I.e., not one that comes with skills that prepare you for a particular technical sector).

And yes, I received it on the 7th.

Thank you! Yes, it was from Kelli Harris. It specified a funding amount but said it was contingent upon a higher Board's decision so...staying cautiously optimistic.

Yep, I got an email too! Does anyone know how likely it is that the formal offer will differ from the informal one?

Okay so I know this is kind of a dumb and premature question, but for accepted people: how does it work for accepting the award? Are there any immediate next steps? I know there are the forms you have to submit, but it doesn't seem like there's a very clear timeline. Congrats to everyone who's found out and good luck to all waiting and making new plans!

Hoping to do refugee and migrant issues on the southern border (I'm an Arabic speaker and currently working for UNICEF in Amman). Good luck! Sending you good vibes. The Bulgaria ETA notifications should be out later today, I'd guess? ❤️️

Selected for research to Bulgaria! Congratulations to everyone else, and patience and good vibes to the alternates! You're all amazing. Anyone else going to be in Sofia this fall?

Bulgaria is awesome! I lived there for a service year before I graduated and it's the best. Good luck to you, and keep me updated!

Anyone else recommended for research in Bulgaria? And congratulations to everybody!