Partinrn

Well if I get funded then I'm going to FSU hands down. It really depends on the funding package though. I like Sam Houston for my area of research, but Florida State is still better in my opinion. Fingers crossed for both of us getting funded for FSU!!

Hopefully this will help any newcomers to the thread- I have heard from all of the schools I applied to (Cincinnati, IUP, UMass Lowell, FSU, USF, and Sam Houston). If you have applied to any of these schools and not heard anything back, it wouldn't hurt to email or call the graduate director.

Yeah I'm not complaining at all. I'm lucky to have what I have so far (fingers crossed for FSU funding as well!!). Congrats on USF, good program and I love Tampa. On a side note- is funding a school decision or does your advisor step in and give their own money? I've heard FSU isn't great for funding, though my advisor may push a little harder (hopefully to some avail).

Well USF rejected me. Nice enough letter, but it's alright. Good luck to everyone else who applied; you should be hearing soon!

I'm sorry you didn't get in, but am glad they gave you more than the usual "thanks but no thanks". I'm not sure what your future endeavors are, but I know you will go on to do great things.

@nerdyjilly have you been rejected everywhere or just your top pick?

Thanks, Fish. It definitely helps to have people who know what to expect. I'm just nervous now because I haven't been on a plane in over 10 years!

A tad off topic ladies and gents, I apologize: I've never been to a graduate "open house" where they essentially try to sell you the school. They are paying for everything (flight, hotel, food, etc.). Is an open house the same as an interview?? To me it would seem odd to invite someone down, all expenses paid, unless they were pretty much all but accepted.

That's what Dr. Nedelec, the professor I worth with now, said as well. It's definitely a relief hearing it from you too. What Dr. Beaver studies is pretty exclusive in comparison to something as large as policing, so it does make some sense. Thanks!

Definitely a relief to hear. I heard they will be meeting next week too, but was unaware about their funding. Thanks for the info.

Yeah I'm praying FSU gives me something; with that being said though, I am more than happy to go to any one of the schools I applied to. I do agree with the rankings being over stressed, but there's just something about name recognition. (I must qualify this also: a UC grad is the director of Sam Houston's program and they have a dual appointment with the forensics lab looking at DNA and all that good stuff if you are interested in the biosocial perspective like I am).

Absolutely: I was accepted into IUP, Sam Houston and FSU so far (according to Dr. Sullivan I didn't get into UC, at least this go around). IUP and Sam Houston are funded, FSU won't let people know for a couple of weeks. Still waiting on USF and Umass Lowell.

I am quite worried about funding with FSU, however. I know they a fund a majority of their students, but this is stressing me out.

Yep, biosocial is my main focus. My alternative focus is policing. I would not be upset attending any school I've been accepted to and I do think schools without the prestige have many things going for them. My concern would be job prospects after the PhD.

That's a great question, fish. Personally I feel that fit and prestige or recognition are my driving forces for my decision. As I have stated before in this thread, I have been accepted to a couple "lower" ranked programs as well as FSU. For what I want to do career wise (research with a little bit of teaching on the side), FSU has the other schools beat, hands down. That being said, I don't see myself attending a school without some sort of funding, so that plays a part as well. As of right now I'm definitely attending Florida State. Top notch research university and Dr. Beaver's work is in the same vein as what I've been doing for a couple of years.

I agree. You definitely have the drive, will, and determination. You will do great things and any school would be lucky to have someone with your qualities.

It was both face to face and over an email. I work with Dr. Nedelec and am very close to Sullivan. They have picked the 15 but may not have sent out the emails yet. They have received over 100 apps for 15 spots, which is extremely high for UC.

They *may* meet a second time in Feb if people decline offers but unfortunately final decisions have been made. Now we just have to hope that a few people decline offers. Then they will look at the applicant pool a second time, as per Dr. Sullivan.

I'm not sure who informed altikr but Dr. Sullivan, the graduate director, informed me. I live in Cincy and work with a couple of professors at UC; they have chosen their 15.

My quant was 146, verbal was 151 with an AWA of 4.5. My letters, GPA, statement of purpose, and thesis (writing sample) were my strongest points. I have no publications but have a couple years of research experience at UC. I'm 29 (boy do I feel old). I also believe in being a good fit. Florida State accepted me because of Dr. Kevin Beaver, a man whose interests are closely related to my own. Personally I think the GRE (and other standardized tests) is a horrible predictor; I flunked the SAT and ACT but did extremely well in undergrad and in my masters program. That's why I meant what I said: all of us on this forum have something special and will end up doing great things, regardless of our GRE scores.

That gives me some serious hope. My GRE was horrendous but so far I'm 2 for 3, with one of them being FSU (didn't think I'd get in...now I'm praying I get funded). It's better to be in our situation rather than the alternative! To be honest though, I'm sure everyone who's on this forum will get in somewhere; we're all talented and not defined by a rudimentary test.

That does make sense, fish. I thought it might have something to do with expanding your mind, so to speak. Did you accept UCF's offer?

On a somewhat related noted: what do you guys think about getting all three degrees from the same institution (Bach, master, PhD)? I was told by one of the professors I work with that some employers (read as academia) don't like to see the same school from start to finish; I'm not sure I fully agree with that premise. Thoughts? (Maybe it's me trying to rationalize not getting into UC!)

Yeah Dr. Sullivan said all 15 had been sent out this past Friday. That being said, you know how UC works (he said they all went out, but Jean Gary may not have sent them yet). All I can confirm is that the 15 have been chosen; I don't know if they have been delivered to the email addresses yet as I'm not one of the 15 per Dr. Sullivan.