earlymodernist

This may not be the best advice, but I would say go for the MA. It is so rare that MA programs are willing to offer you money (especially 9k more than a PhD program!). So if I were you, I would take the offer. It's in the right location, the money is right, it's a more highly ranked program, it really does sound like a perfect fit for you. While having the security of a PhD program would certainly be a nice thing to have, I think taking a chance here will be more worthwile for your future interests. You could apply to that particular school's PhD program or to more highly ranked programs after your MA is complete. Do what you think is best for you. Good luck!

Funding for stand-alone MAs is rare, but it can happen. I'm still waiting to hear from one more fully-funded MA program. If doesn't work out, looks like I'm taking a year off!

Hey guys, I just got my official letter. No funding I knew it was coming but I just thought I'd let you all know. Hope everyone else's luck is a bit better!

Well, and I may be thinking ideally here, our situation seems to be a little different. Because we applied to the PhD program but were bumped to the MA we are all still eligible for funding. Those who apply specifically for the terminal MA are not eligible for such funding. I'm not looking for full funding with a stipend or anything, maybe just a tuition waiver or something like that. Anyway, it is bizzare for any department to kick back so many people to the MA, and I don't know if that means that they did anything differently with us than say those MA applicants who are applying specifically for the terminal MA. I would say that you are probably right though, that they like us, but they can't afford to fund us. I would almost rather be rejected than be accepted to a school that I can't afford to go to :\

I also received an e-mail from the department. The part where they talk about "limited funding" makes me justifiably concerned about the funding situation. I wish I knew how other MAs in our situation were treated in the past. Did they even have a wait-list? What if those who are admitted to PhD have other offers and don't take their spots? Ugh. I just want more information... :\

Wow, only 5? Do you know how many MAs they admitted by chance? From looking at their website it looks like they have about 15 or so MAs each year (acceptances anyway). I don't know if this year is any different because so many of us were bumped to the MA program. Perhaps what makes it more bizzare is that the actual deadline for their MA program isn't until April 1st. So odd...

Wouldn't it be nice if they put MA on the general letter but actually meant to put PhD instead? Fat chance, but it would be nice. The fact that you were accepted last year with funding gives me a little bit of hope. That you applied twice with similar credentials and got accepted PhD in 2009 and MA in 2010 seems to indicate a shift in the direction of the program. Obviously all the acceptances so far applied to PhD directly from BA programs. We were all kicked back to MA...coincidence? I think not. I will gladly take your funding! I mean that in the nicest way possible, haha.

Also I've done a little bit of research which may or may not be a good sign. All of the PhD students receive fellowships- we know that from the GWU website. Students on fellowships can (but certainly don't have to) TA or work as graduate assitants. GW's History department DOES offer TAships...even if we aren't getting a fellowship, a TAship still could be a possibility... I need to let this go. >_<

One of the things that we should consider is that by applying for the PhD program we were automatically considered for funding...Any MA students applying by April 1st will not be eligible for any of funding. We therefore have priority on available funds (under the PhDers I suppose). Just like that example you gave, the guy there got rejected. They could have just as easily rejected us but they liked something about our application that made them decide to keep us. I live near(ish) to GWU and I should get my letter within the next few days. I must try to be patient.

I COMPLETELY agree. I mean, honestly, the tuition at GWU is far too high for them to not offer something. It does look like there were more acceptances than rejections so far which may be a bad sign for funding but who knows. I might call the secretary tomorrow to get the low down on the funding situation. They seem to have bumped people to MA in the past but never at this level. Maybe they (like every other school in the country) are suffering budget cuts and are using this is a cash cow to fund the lucky PhDers. Maybe they are offering more MA spots with significantly reduced funding because they can't secure 5 years of funding for any students right now. At least for the time being we should celebrate our acceptances and fret about the details later. Again, I'm just happy for something positive....FINALLY!

I'm just happy to finally be in somewhere! I had given up hope...Terminal MA or not an acceptance is cool. I'm more interested in funding..it looks like they are bumping a lot of us to the MA program so I don't know what that means for the funding situation. It looks like the make an effort to fund all of their PhD students, but for the MA im not so sure. One of my LORs went to GWU for his MA, and he said that they offered some tuition remission and sometimes TAshis for Master's students. I just want to get my letter so I can have more answers. Anyone else have any more info?

That seems to reflect my experience so far... I would take it then that no word is a bad sign...sad!

I just don't know if everyone receives them, or if they are sent to all the applicants that are in their database. Crossing my fingers for you though

Has anyone heard anything about USC? There were a couple acceptances in mid-February, but since then the news has been pretty silent. I saw that a couple of applicants have received something about financial aid recently, but no affirmation was sent from the department directly. The trend on the results page shows that the majority of applicants are usually admitted in early to mid February... Anyway, would anyone like to claim the USC admits? Thanks

I know where you are coming from. I crossed myself off the Rutgers list a long time ago. Sometimes hope isn't realistic, but until we receive the rejection letter that's all some of us are clinging to. I've given up on that and started lining up Plan B. We'll see how it goes for all of us who are still waiting for some sort of positive affirmation...