DBear
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Posts posted by DBear
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Also, this thread might be useful:
https://forum.thegradcafe.com/topic/84912-how-common-are-phone-interviews-for-comm/
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Also, it's okay to ask about admissions processes/ next steps for you as an applicant. It's a roundabout way of asking when this anxiety-ridden roller coaster ride is gonna be over. The faculty I spoke with were all really friendly and open in my case and they answered the question like it was no big deal. (This is based on my experience from last year). You can ask ques about teaching requirements, job placement for grads, too
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On 10/10/2017 at 5:40 PM, Adelaide9216 said:
What would be your advice to someone from another academic background who wants to apply to a doctoral program in communication?
A LOT of programs are interdisciplinary by nature so coming from a non-Comm background isn't a big deal for a lot of places. I applied last year with degrees in policy and English and am in my first semester now. Of my cohort, I think one out of the half dozen or so of us has a degree directly related to our subfield.
I contacted professors I was interesting in working with and did what @GreenEyedTrombonist said. Told them about my interests and background and asked if I'd be a good fit. Not one person said my non-Comm degree was an issue.
Good luck!
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19 hours ago, GreenEyedTrombonist said:
Thoughts on including a link to the larger work as part of the abstract? @DBear
Like a digital link? I wouldn't do that... Most likely these materials will be printed out... Maybe you can stick it somewhere in your resume?
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@Pencilvester @GreenEyedTrombonist I used a chapter from the body of my MA thesis which 1) I felt most confident about 2) was the crux of my argument. I added an abridged version of my intro to fit the overall length which I used to discuss the context of the work and a bit on the approach. Also had an abstract that expressly stated this was part of a larger work.
This worked for me
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1 hour ago, GreenEyedTrombonist said:
Hey all!
I'll be applying again this season as well. I've improved my explanation of my research interests and how they apply to Comm and am working on the SoP now. I am also looking at applying to more programs and have been researching colleges that might be a good fit. I am reducing that list now so I get to a good set.
I have finished my MA, so I'm hoping that helps my applications this year. I am also redoing my webpage to include my grad report and links to other important writings I've done. I am concerned about my SoP (weakest part of my application last year) and about how to make it clear that, although I have a background in anthropology, I would do well in a Comm program.
Hi all - just wanted to say good luck!! This forum was a god send last year and wanted to say that I'm here to help
@GreenEyedTrombonist I know what you mean about how to communicate that you can do Comm even though you come from a different background. Remember I applied with 2 BAs and 2 MAs NONE of which were remotely related to Communication. That was might greatest concern in writing my SOP as well. In then end, I tried to kind of not mention it and focus on what I want to study and hope that would show that my research interests are very much in the Communication world. What you do need to show is that you have the aptitude to be a scholar in general, and now that your MA is done, it'll be easier to communicate that. This is just from my experience, others may disagree
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My most recent MA is Eng Lit and I started out looking at rhet comp programs and really didn't feel all too excited and found Rhet programs in Comm Studies much more interesting. The great thing about Comm is that it's much more open to outsiders than English. I applied to 7 programs and had multiple acceptances. Several of the people at the program I ended up choosing are English lit ppl (even some of the professors). Feel free to message me if you have questions since I can't go into much detail right now.
Good luck!
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@Pencilvester I was brand new to the field when I applied last year so I don't know about rankings. Like @gradswag has stated, it really is specific to the subfield. The NCA rankings are quite old but still a useful place to start. The NCA also has a list of "hot" new publications, looking at where those authors teach may help.
In terms of "slots" by subfield, there are some schools that do something like that (UW Madison, for example) but not all do. I know what it's like applying from another field and worrying about whether I was aiming waaaaay too high or not high enough etc. But I'd still say it's best to really look at which schools best fit your research interests and talking with potential advisors/ DGS. Communications is a pretty Midwest heavy discipline so you may miss out on really good programs if you focus only on schools that are generally "good schools."
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1 hour ago, bgjoecool27 said:
Finally got closure. 0/3. Honestly, really frustrated considering I worked my ass off to present at 2 conferences and get a publication in a top journal as a masters student. Maybe academia isn't for me.
I'm sorry to hear that... But I know many highly qualified applicants who went 0/10+ schools their first cycle and got multiple offers the following year. There is are so many factors that go into these decisions that in the end, I feel like sheer luck is the determining factor... Even if a school is really a good fit and they like you, they may already have a lot of students with similar research interests and decided to take students researching other topics this year.. perhaps the professor that was fighting for you wasn't as influential on the ad comm as other students... Or maybe those three schools you applied to had a flood of applicants that happened to have 2 major publications... Who knows.. maybe try again next year with more schools? If you have the ability to be published in a major journal as a MA student, academia does sound like where you should be!!
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1 hour ago, ejpril88 said:
Hey guys, just wanted to say hi and keep this thread alive
How are you all doing?
I hope everyone has gotten closure and this season of applications is OVER!
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1 hour ago, heyDW said:
Lol just got rejected from Denver...THANKS FOLKS
And you are DONE!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Guys, it's already April 15th where I'm at. Whatever the outcome of this cycle was for you, congratulations on making it this far and not jumping off a cliff. I've done a whole bunch of things career-wise and I can honestly say that the application process is no joke, one of the most stressful processes I've ever been through. Also, just making the decision to continue with school takes a lot of courage, so kudos to us all!
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21 hours ago, heyDW said:
Yeah, it really bugs me-- my husband got rejected and a friend of mine got in, so I guess technically I'm on the waitlist but it'd be nice to hear something. Anything.
OH Dear - I just now noticed that sad little gray "nothing yet" in your signature UGH if only we could get rid of that!!!
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18 hours ago, heyDW said:
I still haven't heard ANYTHING from Denver. I even emailed one of the faculty members to be like "hey I think ur cool" and nothing. The DGS was nice to me but that was like, October.
What the ?! I guess this type of thing really isn't that rare ?!?!
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14 hours ago, I_mix said:
@DBear Yeah. I ended up choosing school 1! I don't know if this is the best choice, but I just have to stick with it. Telling my supervisor about it was really hard though.
Thanks for checking in on my decision! I appreciate your concern!
I can imagine it was absolutely terrible telling your supervisor, but congratulations on the decision and YAY for new adventures!
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1 hour ago, ejpril88 said:
Here is the weirdest thing - I still haven't heard a word from UIC
I sent my application 4.5 months ago and exchanged some emails with the Comm grad student coordinator back then, everything seemed normal. And then...complete silence. I emailed the Comm program twice, no response, then I emailed the grad office and they told me to email the coordinator. I sent her an email thinking "we had good communication earlier, I'm sure she will respond"... But again, nothing. My application page still says "referred to the program" haha. I mean, it's not that I care, I'm just surprised.
Two of my friends each had one school that NEVER got back to them with a final result and they had to assume they didn't get in when they didn't hear back by April 15. It's really not a big deal especially if you got into the school you want, but I feel like it's unprofessional of such schools... Hopefully it's just a mistake :/
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3 minutes ago, fuzzylogician said:
Ooooh!!!!! Thanks so much! Exactly what I needed to know and a site I didn't know about! Yay!
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It's really creepy but Amazon has figured out I'm going to grad school even before I've even enrolled @.@
It keeps advertising Amazon Prime Student but it doesn't really have a lot of info on what the benefits are.
Does anyone know what the difference is between prime and prime student? Pros and cons?
Why does everything have to be so confusing
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There's really no easy way about this. I have similar research interests and basically went and looked at like 100 schools that had Communication programs and looked for those with Rhetoric tracks and faculty whose research I liked. Some programs you can start with are:
U Wisconsin-Madison Comm Arts
U Iowa Comm Studies
Ohio U Comm
Bowling Green State U
U Penn Annenberg
U Minnesota Twin Cities
U Illinois Urbana Champaign Comm
U Illinois Urbana Champaign institute of Comm research (or something like that)
U Massachusetts Amherst
Temple U
UC San Diego
U North Carolina Chapel Hill
I suggest looking at the Natcom website, they have a guide to grad programs. Also, if there's a book or article you like, check out where the author is at. There's also a forum on gradcafe for Communication. Good luck!
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1 hour ago, michellelaura92 said:
That's wonderful! Is that where your husband will go too? I met him at the Iowa visit but I didn't get a chance to say hi to you!
Ooh!! Proof that it is a small world! Is that where you think you'll end up?
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On 2017. 3. 27. at 0:11 PM, michellelaura92 said:
I'm committing and declaring this week, but I think the hardest part is telling the professors who have reached out to me that I won't be going to their programs. The Comm world is so small and you don't want to burn any bridges, right? I'm such a people-pleaser and I don't want to disappoint anyone. Anyone else feeling this?
Oh - sending out those "no, I don't want to go there" letters was the WORST - I know that this is all part and parcel of the process for schools, but some of the professors I was turning down had been super helpful throughout the entire process and I'd been in touch with them since October. I pain-stakingly wrote the emails and tried my best to show that I was still interested in their research.. I hate saying no to people, I know what you mean - so I really wished I could have someone else tell the schools, like when you use your best friend to break up with someone in middle school lol
Good luck - it'll be okay!! and you'll make the school you commit to very happy! Happy to see another future rhetorician!
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Recap of programs that I know had interviews:
U Wisconsin-Madison
Temple
U Iowa
West Virginia
UIC
All of these were Skype or phone interviews.
UC Santa Barbara invited people on their short list for an open house, which I guess could count as an interview since it was held before admission decisions were sent out.
If I'm missing any, please chime in!
(Schools with no interviews: U Penn, Ohio U, Bowling Green State U, U Mass Amherst, Purdue, UC Davis)
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@MinaminoTeku messaged you!
@heyDW WOOT!!!!
Preparing for Interviews
in Communication and Public Relation Forum
Posted
One question I got that kinda wasn't expecting was "why a phd". I think this was more of a way to gauge commitment because it's not an easy process to go through.