Coffee Snob

@DBear I understand this "international struggle". Although I'm a passionate globetrotter, I genuinely hate flying. 18+ hrs flight is such a pain, but I'll go for the visit anyway. I have commitment issues, so I need to make sure that I can work well with the POIs. One of the programs partially pays for my trip, but since all campuses I want to visit are only 2-3 hours drive away from one another I feel that I should at least try to picture myself living in the city/town. I'm lucky to have friends/relatives in the city who can host me. Since my travel plans are tied, I will miss one program's open house day, but I emailed the graduate assistant and asked if it is possible to visit while I'm there. She is very welcoming, and she also advised to visit on a certain day of the week when most graduate students and faculty members are present. I was actually thinking about applying for a Canadian visa (ugh! I also hate applying for visas...) since I'd love to visit UBC, but I then think it won't be a wise decision, financially

candy wrapper

Quick update: I just did an interview yesterday for a B1/B2 (business/tourism) US visa. After 2 hours of queuing and 2 minutes of interview (haha!), my visa is approved.

The Twilight Saga and 50 Shades of Grey

Act cool

Thank you for your comment @GreenEyedTrombonist @CoffeeFueledAnxiety Haha, I might have spilled too many details about the scholarship then. Also, congratulations to your acceptance! I guess we're both pretty lucky compared to many of them who do not have options but to sign the contract.

I was actually on vacation in Bali! It was such a pleasant time - I was at a friend's house in Ubud, a quiet village in Bali. Just the right time to celebrate. A POI notified me of my acceptance by email, but she emailed me to my institutional email, which I do not check regularly, instead of the email I registered with for the online application. At the time I checked my institutional email because I had to submit a recommendation letter to my student, so I only saw the subject "congratulations!" and I did not read the email right away because I was prioritizing submitting my student's recommendation letter (which was literary minutes before the deadline!). When I finally checked the email from the POI, it was sent three days. I was probably lazing in the beach when the email came, so I did not even think about checking my institutional email. The second acceptance came by phone the next day at exactly 6 a.m. in the morning (there's a 12 hours difference) when I was still in Ubud. Thankfully I was already awake, and I was still processing the good news from the day before. I was sipping my coffee, gazing the picturesque sunrise (true story!) when the phone rang - a U.S. number! The graduate director called in person to tell me the good news. It was surreal. The third acceptance came in about a week by email. I was excited, but it was less dramatic.

Good governance

Thank you. As difficult as it may sound, a good friend reminded me yesterday that this is such a "wonderful problem" that I have. Many of my friends signed the gov's fellowship contract anyway (despite the risks) because they did not have other options. Some others are still struggling to get acceptance to graduate school, while many of my friends in the US work 2-3 part time jobs to pay their student loans. I am still extremely grateful for this two options that I have. Last year, I didn't think it would happen to me.

Thank you @JJCA! Yes, the research I really want to do is on the hegemonic power in the Pacific, so it might be prone to censorship in my home country. @TakeruK thanks for your constructive feedback! Allow me to clarify... The 4 year funding + USC funding might be possible, and is definitely something I've been thinking about. But no, I'm not leaning toward the gov's fellowship. As for "top off", unfortunately this won't be allowed if I take the gov's fellowship. They make it really clear in the contract that I am not allowed to secure any other grant/fellowship/top off or work during this 4 year - not even in the summer. With USC's fellowship at least I can seek TA/RA during the summer or apply for Summer grant. Actually I am already working in my home country as a tenured professor, and during my PhD study I will be on academic leave. Worth noting that there are other funding opportunities from my home country, not only from this particular government institution (although it is known to be one of the most generous in my country). It will be fixed at 22,950 in US currency, so no fluctuation and it'll not be taxed (nett). I'm aware of the license of dissertation distribution from the university, and I think what is said in the government contract is a different thing. It is rather unclear in their contract, very slippery. I've asked them to clarify, and they said that there will be another process (a separate contract) of copyright transfer IF they demand. But if they don't even bother to demand the copyright transfer (they have thousands of awardees so they might not scrutinize each one of us), then nothing will happen. However, having the contract allows them to have a certain level of power on publishing my dissertation. I know that I am worrying about the worst case scenario (which might not happen): not being able to publish my work or being censored. My country has a history of intellectual censorship, so yes, it is something scholars in our field (humanities & social sciences) in our country are always worried about. I have not signed any contract from the government yet, so nothing is binding for now, but since my name is already in their awardee list, hence the blacklist. I might try negotiating with them and see if it is possible not to be blacklisted (I've done some volunteer work for them anyway, and planning to keep contributing in the future) I've shared this issue with my POI at USC, and she's been very supportive, but basically they are waiting to hear what my gov's fellowship think about the double fellowships. It feels like I'm playing poker right now. Wish me luck.

@Aurél Yes, I will visit the campus, but only if my B1 visa is approved. I'll have my visa interview on Wednesday. Now I'm nervous about that

Hello beautiful & intelligent people, First of all, allow me to share a backstory. I was not so lucky last admission cycle. I applied to 3 PhD programs in US and UK, and failed big time - rejected to all! This year, I'm beyond grateful. Not only that I secured a generous scholarship from my country's government to fund 4 years of my PhD study abroad, but I am also accepted in 3 great PhD programs. One of which is USC, and they offer me a generous fellowship regardless knowing that I applied with external funding secured from my home country. I'm considering of accepting this offer. However, I have to choose one out of this two offers. To break down: USC's fellowship benefits: will cover 5 years with minimum stipend $26,000 annually (I'm eligible for stipend increase) before tax, full tuition waiver, insurance (+dental!), and student fees. This 5 year funding is actually 3 years of fellowship and 2 years of TA/RA. I am also eligible to apply for other grants (summer, travel, etc). Downside: does not cover my visa fees, flights, settlement allowance, etc. Required to teach for 2 years. Home country government scholarship benefits: will cover 4 years of full tuition at my chosen PhD program, insurance (no dental), $22,950 annual stipend (not taxed). They will also pay 1 return tickets from my home country, visa ($180), application fees ($100), 1 settlement fund $3200, annual book allowance $750. In addition, on my 4th year I will receive dissertation research grant up to $9,000. They have publication incentives too (about $750 per publication for up to 2 publications). I'm not required to teach. Downside: It only covers 4 years of my study, so I still have to find funding for the 5th and remaining years. I am also restricted to work or apply for other grants during this 4 years. Most importantly, since this is a government funding, I will not have the same academic freedom as I normally have. For instance, I have to restrain myself from criticizing my government in my research (this is very hard to do in my field!), AND the contract says that the government institution granting me the scholarship has the right for copyright transfer of my dissertation (which means shared royalty if published... or worst, CENSORSHIP! *yikes!*) I am leaning toward accepting USC's fellowship and turning down my government scholarship because my academic freedom is everything to me (and I hate the idea of sharing my dissertation copyright), but since I am already on their awardee list, turning down my government scholarship means that I will be blacklisted for their future funding projects. If you were in my/similar position, what would you do? Thank you in advance for reading and sharing your thoughts in this thread

Congratulations, @The Shade King I've just received a rejection from UC Berkeley's Ethnic Studies. It sucks a little, but it's fine. Poor match anyway, so it happens for a reason.

fried ice

chopped ears

I know. I'm nervous too right now because next week I'm having a visa interview for a short business trip. I'll update here.

I've been notified by UBC! I'm admitted! Horraaaay! Is there anyone else applying to UBC's Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality & Social Justice? Is anyone attending at the moment? I'd love to learn more about the program before deciding where to enrol (also admitted to USC's American Studies & Ethnicity as well as UCSB's Global Studies). I've never been to Vancouver, so any insight about being a grad student in Vancouver will be great as well. I'm wishing everyone here who are still waiting for good news the very best of luck (although you might not need one) -- Sending unicorns of hope from rainy Jakarta

I applied my J1 visa as a Fulbrighter before Trump era and I've had 1 visa rejection too. But it went okay and my J1 visa was approved.

Have I mentioned that I called in sick today? I'm blaming my lack of sleep from waking up in the middle of the night several times having an impulsive urge to check my email. I've got nightmares too. Last night my nightmare was being chased by a gigantic school bus -- some kids (or racoons, can't remember) drove the bus!

A quarter of chocolate cake all for myself.

My poor heart skips a beat every time I receive an email notification I even wake up in the middle of the night just to check emails Help!

I'm worried too. My country is not on the ban list, but it has the largest Muslim population in the world, so...

Last orgasm

This is so true! Although one offer is from my top choice... I still need to hear from the other 3!!!

I don't know about your field, but I've been offered 2 acceptances so far without interview. I did contacted some POIs from the programs and we corresponded either by email or skype before I sent in my applications. One offer even include full funding - they told me the good news by email first, then a second POI requested to talk by skype. It wasn't really an "interview" as I was already offered the admission with funding. She just wanted to talk about the details of the funding and the department, and persuade me to accept the offer. I'm still waiting from 3 other programs. It feels like forever.