Danger_Zone

Thank you for the advice! It's definitely true that Chicago would carry more prestige.. I just honestly can't think of anything appealing to me other than that. Chicago is a pretty bad fit for me in terms of research but I applied to it because a few profs recommended it and I knew it was a well-respected school. It's also going to cost me nearly 50k in tuition alone and I'll probably have to go home for a year (unless student visas cover gap years?) But it's still a big opportunity.. I've definitely been thinking it over. I still need to email Chicago and try to get a better idea of what the program is like at least.

That's definitely good advice! I went on and e-mailed somebody from Purdue recently and he has been very helpful in discussing where graduates have ended up. I need to get more details but it sounded fairly positive.

Yes, granted my campus visit goes well (I still need to do that in a few weeks!) But so far I've heard nothing but great things about the school from people who have attended or know people who have, and everyone I've contacted has been very friendly and helpful. My potential faculty advisor is also a really great fit for me. So I hope I don't end up hating the school when I visit (that probably won't happen though? )

Thank you both. It's just difficult to accept that I'm probably automatically at a disadvantage because of my school's ranking. But I'm absolutely determined to do the best I possibly can, and I hope that takes me somewhere eventually.

I really wish ranking wasn't so important. I was absolutely elated to have received an acceptance to my top choice.. but now all I can think about is how its lower ranking is going to hurt my chances to do anything in the future.. I didn't even realize it at the time of applying (I guess it was my ignorance that got me here), I was only concerned with how I felt I'd fit into that program.

Did anybody else apply to Indiana's History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine program?

If it makes you feel better I have a publication and everyone is still rejecting me... Jokes aside, though, I think other relevant experiences (research, teaching, conference presentations, etc.) are very helpful. I don't think it's nearly as common for undergrads in history to have publications, as compared to the sciences, for example, and many schools are happy to take students into their PhD programs straight from undergrad. I don't think this would be an option if programs didn't think you had the skills in order to eventually produce good publications, which I think is the important thing. I don't know as much about Master's students, but I know a lot of the TAs (MA and PhD students) that taught me during my undergrad did not yet have publications themselves.

I'm hoping to work with Dr. Leslie Reagan. I honestly just find all of the research projects she has done super interesting, and heard of some of her work before I even looked into UIUC. So I really think she would be a great match for me. I feel like maybe I should have e-mailed her to convey my interest, but at this point I'm too scared to hear that she isn't taking any new students or something like that and wouldn't even know what to say.

Thank you! That'd be great. I'm interested in the history of medicine/science. I definitely think my POI would be a good match, both her current and past research projects (I did mention two I'd like to work with but I am leaning more towards one of them; however, I'd be happy to do research with either), but I'll have to see whether others agree!

I would very much prefer to be put on a wait list than to hear nothing, even if I happened to be low on that list. At least it gives me a better idea of my potential options. Being on a wait list is by no means an acceptance, so I don't know if they just don't want to get people's hopes up or if there is another reason. Also, I definitely agree that it's important to visit before making your decision, I learned that personally. For my undergrad I was set on attending one school, but during the visit I absolutely hated the campus and atmosphere and people actually seemed pretty rude. I was there for an audition, so the person who looked at my portfolio was pretty nice to me, but everything else made me uncomfortable. I took another campus visit to a school I was considering and it was not only beautiful, but people were incredibly helpful and friendly and it just made me feel "right" to be there. It's really important to me that I have that feeling or I'm probably not going to be very happy about where I am!

Unfortunately no, the grad secretary just said she didn't have a definite answer for me and apologized for it taking so long. I just really wish if it's a no that they would tell me. I only have a limited opportunity to visit campuses before the deadline, and it's really expensive for me to do so. So I don't really want to go all the way to Illinois on the very small chance that I'll get a yes...

Oh I meant UIUC. Do you have any idea if they have sent out all acceptances then? I think my application was strong but if they are being even more cautious then I'm worried.

I haven't been admitted, but I emailed about my application and got this response: "Our initial admittance letters have gone out but the Graduate Studies Committee has a wait list and I do not know how long they will wait before sending out the second round, if any, of admittance letters." So.. I guess that's a bit vague but there does appear to be a wait list. The more I look into Illinois the more I think it would be a great fit for me, but I'm not very hopeful about receiving an acceptance at this point.. But who knows what could happen I guess. Maybe if people who do not want to go there start turning it down?

Thanks for the help! I don't think I would even be considering a partially funded MA offer if it wasn't Chicago...But now I have something to think about I guess.

So I have just been offered admission to the MAPSS program with a third tuition covered. I think if I had more options I would immediately turn down this offer, as I've already been offered funding to a PhD program (Purdue), but obviously this school isn't nearly as reputable as Chicago. Purdue is a really great fit for me, and I wouldn't have to worry about applying to a PhD program next year (the application process was extremely stressful to me) but I just know Chicago's reputation would probably take me further... Does anyone have advice? I really did not expect any sort of offer from Chicago, and was reluctant to even apply because of how competitive it is.

A professor at my undergrad university did her PhD at Notre Dame and said it's a wonderful program and school, so congrats!

Does anybody know about the MAPSS program at Chicago? Unfortunately they rejected me for the PhD program (as was expected) but I've been offered this which I didn't expect.. It sounds like they can only cover partial tuition, and I'd have to apply to a PhD program after, but is it worth considering since it's a top school?

That's awesome, congrats!!

Yeah, I completely trust my professor's judgment, but I just have that anxiety over not knowing why schools haven't wanted me. Was it something more I could have done or am I simply not a good fit? It's difficult to know whether you just needed to improve things or if you never had a chance considering how competitive things are. I guess what's done is done, though.

I think my statement of purpose might have been a little weak. My professors said to focus on my research and professional goals, so I never really discussed why I had poor grades early on in my undergrad or why I think I had more difficulty than the average person even getting to where I am academically. But I didn't want to sound whiny or as if I was making excuses... But I think without mentioning anything I just look like I was a lazy or unmotivated student, which is very far from the truth. So I don't really know if this was a mistake or if I did the right thing, but it bothers me regardless. I also applied to schools thinking working hard and getting a PhD would get me a job as a professor. I didn't take into account the rank or reputation of schools, or how most people can never land this job anyway, so I guess I feel like I'm going into a program knowing I probably won't end up where I want. So that sucks. I mean, I would do it regardless because I absolutely love research, but I hope I can find a decent research job eventually.

I think it is worth applying if you're sure that it's something you want to do, but you do need to realize that many, many people are going to have a higher GPA than you, while being equal to you in other qualifications. But I'm sure it differs from school to school in terms of competitiveness, how the GPA is weighed vs. other things, etc. as well as the layout of your grades overall: did you have a 3.3 throughout, or did you start out with a poor GPA and bring it up to a 3.3 in your last years? What is your major GPA and how are your grades in history courses, especially upper level courses? I think committees that take the time to look at these things will at least take them into consideration. A lot of people screw up early on in their undergrad - myself included. I can't say I know much about how funding works, but I think you would need to look into specific programs to find out how they determine who gets financial aid and who doesn't. I know I was very worried about my undergrad GPA - I finished with a 3.3 as well after working to bring it up from a 2.3 - but I have been offered a nearly full tuition waiver and teacher's assistantship. Mind you, this wasn't from a top program, but it does happen. (I didn't notice this post is a little late, but I hope it helps...?)

I was in the McDonald's drive thru.

I don't think anyone takes it personally when you turn down an offer. As long as you do so in a courteous and polite way I don't see any problem. After all, it was these professors who have gotten you this far, they should be happy for you. I also think it's good to keep in contact with faculty from your undergraduate school, especially if they had a significant influence on your decision to attend grad school or wrote you letters of recommendation. That might help make you feel less anxious about the whole thing.

Okay that makes sense. I guess I will go on and contact her fairly soon then if I don't hear anything, I was planning to visit the campus sometime at the end of March.

I still haven't heard anything from 3 programs who have given out acceptances/rejections to others. Oh that reminds me, I don't know if anyone else is waiting to hear back from Chicago, but I sent an e-mail inquiring about my application and was told they should have all decisions out by March 15th.