bettafish

I chose University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. I had a situation where I had to decide between amazing funding (30k) and better placement record. I chose placement... along with not too much money (18K) but I've been really good at applying for fellowships and scholarships so far and 18k is decent anyways for grad school.

Declining my offer at UVA. Good luck everyone

So I am deciding between three programs. A wonderfully funded Ph.d offer at UVA, a less wonderfully funded but perhaps more competitive Ph.d offer at UNC and a funded master's at UCLA. This year is the monkey year so perhaps thats why my luck has been going good so far. I feel like getting a funded master's offer from UCLA could signal the high likelihood of a Ph.d admit. Or maybe not. I wouldn't see any point in getting the masters if it didn't give me high favor with UCLA. UVA gave me a very good funding package with a fellowship so I wouldn't have to worry about money there. The problem is the faculty I'd be working with seems to be very highly regarded but is new at the university and as such has no placements. East Asian history also seems to be less established at this school but I would also have a good amount of faculty attention as there is only one China student currently. UNC seems to have more highly regarded East Asian history and the faculty has good placement history. I would be one of 5 Ph.d students under the faculty person though and the money at UNC is definitely not as good. 30k at UVA vs 18k at UNC, a difference of almost half. I've gotten some decent advice from my undergrad profs but I don't think anyone has been blunt with me. One prof said I should follow the money but more importantly is I want an advisor who will advocate for me and I want to be a in place that will prepare me to enter academia after I get my degree. Thoughts? Anyone else facing/faced similar decisions?

One thing I would say is just sound very gracious and happy and hopeful for that spot and then even if you don't get off at least the person will be more considerate in responding to you.

I'm visiting a bit earlier but was also admitted. It'd be cool to get in touch if you want.

Sorry it was actually from EALC department but since I got rejected there expecting the same from history department. I applied to both. Good luck just in case! Looks like we are applying to the same schools with similar interests.

Tfw you get a 3 sentence website rejection from UChicago. Its kind of hard not to be a little annoyed when the POI is still friends with you on skype.

Congrats! Boston and Amherst are awesome places and the area BU is in is amazing.

Congratulations to all the Chicago and Stanford admits! But hearing that the Chicago and Stanford people have already found out kind of sucks. Not really prepared for the wave of rejections that are going to happen shortly. I'm hoping that at least these schools give out rejections concurrently and not weeks after. Anyone know if thats the case or we will just be stuck waiting? Also congratz torideutch!

Pm'ed you sorry to butt in but I'm also curious

Uhhhh so has everyone got updated by Princeton. I still have nothing. I wonder if they are sending rejections in waves

Same, I was also waitlisted to UCLA today and I'm expecting a Princeton rejection pretty soon. Does anyone have any experience getting off the waitlist and how much does placement on it matter?

@wluhopeful I got the official acceptance letter from UVA Jan 28th. Based on what I heard from my POI about visiting days it doesn't seem like all the acceptances are out yet. Good luck, dude. I'm very happy to have an acceptance at one of my top choices and I hope we all make it bros.

The calm before the next storm of rejections

This is my first year applying and I'm really new to all the subtleties of communication with POI's. Today a POI sent me an email that seemed to indicate acceptance. It didn't at all mention rejection but it doesn't directly mention getting accepted either. They basically said "you will hear from the committee soon. I hope you consider our university. Please direct any questions you have to me." Anxiously awaiting hearing back from committee but I wanted a second opinion. Does this sound like an acceptance to you all?