vexedscholar

You're all terrific! I really appreciate being talked down from the precipice. I actually talked to the DGS at the MA institution, and she essentially said exactly what you all said. (Particularly you, @TMP and @Sigaba) I also spoke with a professor at one of my local universities (a rather well-known, respected school), and he basically gave me good tough love and told me to appreciate that I have it good, and that this all is paving the road to a great future. He's right, and I'm appreciative of it all. And it *is* nice not to have to think about re-applying to another program in two years...if I even want a Ph.D. I tend to overreact(note to self: get to know the university's counseling center very well), and I'm prone to anxiety, so thanks for assuaging my neurosis! Thanks!

Hi, everyone. I think that I was unclear when I described the terminal MA; it was completely funded with a stipend, TA job, a generous scholarship, and some summer support in addition to the funding I could apply for to travel during the summer. When I said "great little funded," I should've said "great, funded MA in a small department." ("Little-funded"--with a hyphen-- would have meant that it wasn't really funded well.) Sorry for the clarity issues. No lies, though, the school I chose offered me a TON of funding. I still can't believe what I've been offered. But, as I said, it wasn't my top choice, and tthe MA was 100% funded, as well, and was better for me, as I don't want (or need) a PhD. Also, this particular MA has been on my list for years. It's unique in that it doesn't offer a PhD, so MA students automatically get lots of attention, AND the programs got good reviews from both current students and alumni.

Hi all, I created this account just to post this. I'm in the humanities, but not necessarily History. Sorry for the ramble. So, I've just had a terrific application season. I was admitted into several programs, both MA and PhD, and I'm very much thrilled because I didn't expect to get in anywhere at all. (And who does?) It's exciting to have the acceptances, and I'm very grateful, but I realized after the first acceptance that my number one choice was a great little funded, terminal MA. Originally, I *only* wanted to apply to funded terminal MA programs, but I was told that my professional field (which isn't 100% in academia) usually wants people with PhDs, never mind that many people have done just fine with MA degrees. So, it took me forever to accept an offer. (I made my decision ON April 15.) After I decided to *apply* to PhD programs, I ended up eschewing many top/favorite choices because I was so afraid I would not get in; I didn't think that I ever had a shot at them, let alone even a "third-tier" program. (I applied to good "mid-to-upper tier" programs that were all great fits, but my heart wasn't really into them.) Now, I just wonder, "what if?" Long story short, I ended up accepting an offer to a great program (excellent, actually), but it's a) in a location that I'm not itching to move to for various reasons, and b )is a PhD program. I know that I can step out after the MA, but it just doesn't feel right. I just have so much regret about turning down that MA; it was perfect for me professionally, academically, and geographically. I think that it was a terrific fit. How am I supposed to move on and do excellent work if I'm miserable? Of course, I don't know how I'll feel this fall, but it's still disconcerting, nonetheless. Anyway, I know that I should be grateful, and I am; I mean, like, REALLY. I know that there's no real future if I stay where I am now. If I don't go, I know that I'll end up depressed in a way that I won't be when I *do* go. However, I just feel like I've painted myself into a proverbial corner, and I'm beating myself up over it in a way that's exacerbating my anxiety. Woefully yours...