Tiglath-Pileser III

coin collection

unhappy spouse

Nope, I'm not in that position unfortunately. But I would definitely give greater consideration to a school that was actively courting me. While it is not a guarantee, a advisor and school that is actively interested in recruiting me, may be interested in my continued success. It would be a terrible to have an advisor that ignores you even if the school is otherwise very good.

At least you got in somewhere! If I don't get accepted somewhere, I might have to do a qualifying year at the Masters level and do this process all over again. Never look a gift accept in the mouth. If you don't like the schools that accepted you, why did you apply there?

It's really hard to say if an adcomm has (1) not yet decided who's in or out, (2) put you on a waiting list until those who were given acceptances decide, or (3) made their decision and have not taken the time to inform those rejected. I'm still waiting for decisions from two schools and it is most aggravating. But I've also been told that it isn't uncommon for offers to go out until March. Nevertheless, the wait is driving me absolutely buggy.

wedding cake

golden gate

Because the secretary looked at whatever paper was on top for an email address. Who knows? You might be on a wait list.

I lived in Milwaukee for 2 years. I would concur that it is definitely one of the most under-rated cities in America. The city is generally clean and safe. Food is inexpensive. Wisconsinites like their beer and brats (a kind of sausage). Most of what they like is in their taste buds. There are a lot of festivals, which are really excuses to eat, drink, and listen to the best live bands of the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Definitely, take advantage of the many smaller festivals; they are quirky and fun. It's the only place I've ever lived where really fit trophy wives have beer bellies. I loved living there and really miss it. I would like to spend my retirement in Wisconsin. PM me for more info.

No. Not at all.

I lived near Reno for two years. For outdoor activities, you will need to go to Lake Tahoe or Truckee. There is not a lot to do outdoors in Reno itself. The climate is too hot to promote a lot of outdoor activities. I don't gamble myself, but you will want to consider going to the casinos for cheap eats. Most casinos have lunch special buffets that can be as low as $7 per person. You will notice that there are a lot of cattle in Nevada, so beef is cheap and plentiful. There is high demand for prime rib in the casinos and the rest of the cow trickles down to the locals as cheap beef. I would highly recommend the Atlantis as the best buffet in Reno. I've never been on the UNR campus, so I can't say much about that. Most areas of Reno are pretty safe. You will need some kind of motorized transport to get around (you can easily get away with a motor bike); but, it's not a city designed for commuters. PM me if you want more info.

Not to discourage you, but I received financial aid forms from a school secretary at a school where I was ultimately rejected. Forms and information regarding financial aid in no way allude to the possibility of acceptance. Finaid is always contingent upon acceptance. However, information is just information. We are all anxious. No need to fret. The answer will come soon.

Actually, job applications are much better. If they aren't interested in you, you never hear from them again. They are only interested if they contact you. And if a batch of job applications don't pan out one week, you send out more next week. You don't pay employers to apply for a job, and you are not stuck in limbo for a year if there are a flood of applicants and you get rejected. And if you don't like your job, you only keep it until you find another. There's a lot less at stake with a job application. Job applications are a lot less nerve wracking than PhD applications.

When I told people I was doing a degree in archaeology, I got "ohhhh, like Indiana Jones?" I've never fallen in a temple full of snakes, never had to out run a boulder, don't carry a bull whip, and don't even wear a funky hat. No, I am the boring kind of archaeologist who spends all his time in the library scouring journals. Perhaps, I'm missing out on something.

It depends. At my current institution the following is true. For PhD applications, the adcomm consists of the tenured and non-tenured (full-time) professors. These decisions are made entirely at the departmental level. For MA applications, the adcomm consists of university administrators, who are filling a certain number of seats and are making decisions based upon requirements and the amount of volume that they receive. These administrators have a minimum MA but at least one PhD must sit on the adcomm.

I got one of these this year, although I did not "already know it." I had to talk to people on the inside and figure it out for myself, although it wasn't obvious. It could be couched as a either a "qualifying year" or "one year master's program"--I have to admit that I had never heard of a 1 yr masters until I was offered one as my current institution does not offer either a qualifying year or a 1 yr MA. My offer letter contained the verbiage, "Nonetheless, in light of you academic achievements, the Committee Members recommend that you be admitted to..." after pretty standard phrasing for a PhD rejection letter. Of course, this also shows that you need to read the entire rejection letter, not just the "has not recommended" portion.

I wouldn't bring it up. But if they ask you, you might want to say that you plan on going into Academia and you don't want to commit intellectual incest. Diversity in educational experience is considered a good thing.

golden eye

I am very ashamed to say that I envy you so much.

acid rock

I just tell people that I'm a graduate student and leave it at that. It's just too difficult to explain why I left a 6-figure career to go back to school.

I have yet to hear from two schools: my number one choice and a real long shot. At least I have a fall back plan, although it is not a great plan. Worse comes to worse, I'll accept the consolation prize, since I'd have to wait out a year anyway to apply again. I need to decide by March 16, so I hope my two other schools send me word soon. Here's praying for the best!

Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Those who dwell upon the past are doomed to relive it.

swing shift

If you want to read the Epic of Gilgamesh in the "original" language, be sure to add the Old Babylonian dialect to your list, although it is also available in the Neo-Assyrian dialect as well. Be warned, sight reading Akkadian is very difficult to achieve. Huehnergard will become your best friend. I picked up five languages while doing my masters degrees. So, I would concur that it is a very important part of a masters degree.