Tiglath-Pileser III

A Master's degree may or may not be helpful for overcoming a low undergraduate GPA. But, it probably won't hurt either. It sometimes can be useful to give apcomms an idea of what your performance will be like in a graduate setting. While the graduate school is more variable, getting A's is no less difficult. So, if you have mostly A's in your graduate GPA, it does give some indication as to the probability of success. However, if you have mostly B's, your chances of getting in would not be improved. Also, those who pursue a masters prior to a PhD are often more successful than those who go straight into a PhD from a bachelors, since there is less of a shock when they arrive at grad school. And there has been some push in recent years to get PhDs through the system rather than having them languish as ABDs. So far, it hasn't helped me get into a PhD program but doesn't seem to have hurt either. It has compelled one school offer me a "try before they buy" MA. So the next time I apply for a PhD, I'll have 3 MAs. Sooner or later, someone may give me a shot at a PhD. Of course, if one of my PhD applications pans out, I will add a reply (or edit this one) to reflect that a masters degree does help. Stay the course...

Here's to a better month all around. February kinda stunk. May everyone receive the acceptance letters of their dreams!

I care to give people accurate information about my application process because they have given me accurate info. And I care enough to encourage others through this tough time as others have already cared for me. It is part of that maxim, "Do for others what you would expect them to do for you."

While I still have a couple of PhD applications out there, I was offered a 1-year masters program (instead of a PhD) from the University of Toronto from the department is Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. Does anyone out there know anything about the 1-year masters at U of T? Does the program require a thesis? They are expecting an answer really soon, and I'd like to get some info about the program before I accept or reject the offer. Thanks...

split decision

I'm sorry. I don't see any upsides right now. All I see is the miserable end to a life dream.

Speaking as someone in the field, I can say that the competition for PhD seats is absolutely cutthroat. Your best possibility is if one of your potential advisers sees something distinctive in your application and is willing to take a chance on you. Yet, given all the crap that's happened this year, advisers are behaving much more conservatively than they have in the past. But then again, I'm just one of those brainwashed MA's in Archaeology.

I got my second reject today from the school that I felt was the best fit. I just want to crawl under a rock and die.

Amen to that! In my undergrad, I was accepted everywhere I applied so it never occurred to me that I would not be accepted. With my Masters, I was accepted at the school of my choice one week after I got the last of my paperwork submitted. It was the only school I applied to, as I didn't want to pursue a masters degree but wanted to pursue a masters degree at that particular school. I wasn't expect to be accepted there at all and I was expecting a long wait. This time, however, I know how fierce the competition is, I know how few seats are available, and at my adviser's encouragement did not apply to safety schools. Then, my first contact from a school was an outright rejection. Too much knowledge is not a good thing. And it's turned me into a nervous wreck.

love lost

It could mean one of several things: You could have passed the administrative elimination and your application is waiting to be seen by a prof.The department you applied to is on a different schedule than the other departments.You are on an unofficial wait list.You've been rejected, and they are just giving you the silent treatment.You've been rejected, but the secretary has not entered your name into the auto-reject email system.You've been accepted, but the prof has phone anxiety.You've been accepted, but they are waiting to scrape together the best funding they can.My guess is it is option #1.

Yes, your GPA could hurt you. Archaeology is a highly competitive field. The leap from a BA to a PhD is usually reserved for exceptional students. If I was in your position, and I was so I this advice I actually used, I would apply for a master's degree. Work experience is great, but it only goes so far. You may have to prove that if you are admitted to a graduate program that you will excel at it. One way to do this is by a master's degree.

pad thai

There is the presumption that if you receive an offer for a PhD that you would take it over a masters degree. And the majority of PhD acceptances are supposed to go out prior to the end of March. The April 15th deadline is a general agreement among those schools and applies to those offers received before that date. There's a lot less riding upon master's applicants if they choose not to attend. The deadline is a problem that schools do recognize. If you have an offer in hand (and it's a good one), by all means take it.

March is going to be the month for me also. For the programs I applied to, most tend to respond later than other programs. One school has sent me email saying that a decision is going to come March 1. However, it is possible that the bad news could linger into April.

No need to apologize. We all can take a joke. However, there is no need to give up hope quite just yet.

He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep his commandments.

Quite right. Master's programs report much later than PhD programs. MA programs can report into May. The master's degree program that I applied to five years ago reported to me in June (for the following spring admission). Master's program decisions are often made after PhD programs. Admissions offices like to get the PhD letters cleared through before focusing upon Master's admission, which they have more direct control over. Several master's degree programs also have rolling admission. So, there's less need to panic if you don't get a response in March.

Yes, it is very stressful. I have both some MA work that I'm finishing. In fact, my comprehensive exams are in three weeks. I also have a part-time job. And I'm finding it extremely difficult to concentrate on anything at the moment. I am glad that I took less credits than I would normally in a semester.

I think that it's more than the snow, because I applied to some west coast schools and they are also behind. My guess is the volume of applications that were received this year.

I would prefer to wait longer also as long as I get in. However, I need something to come in before my contract comes up for renewal with the university where I teach. If I get at least one accept, then it at least takes the pressure off of the choice of whether to teach at my current institution. I think a lot of us are in the same statistical boat; however, I wished the seas weren't quite so rough.

You know... it wasn't killing me until my adviser told me, "It's February, you should be receiving word any day now." Up to that point, it never really struck me how soon a decision was coming. Now, I'm totally on edge, checking my email every 30 seconds, refreshing the "results search" between email checks, and hitting the plunk red wine pretty hard. The wait is killing everyone. You're not by any means the exception. March it will be!

Hee hee hee... I feel your pain. Fortunately, my parents are 3000 miles away. Thank Ha-Shem.

That's okay. Master Shifu doesn't have any either.

mad machine