hejduk

Mass Comm PhD applicant needing some additional "eyes" to look over my SOP. Already sent to friends and LOR writers, but you can never have too many readers!

I didn't do a thesis, so I have very few great writing samples to send. My best sample is a paper a friend and I submitted in grad school. Would programs look at me like I'm crazy if I submit this paper? I want to be ethical, and not pretend like I wrote the paper myself.

Applying to PhD programs in Mass Comm. Didn't do a thesis in my MA, as I thought it'd be my terminal degree, and no point in the thesis. Yah, that was a horrible decision! I just recently started doing some independently-guided research (ie. I have no clue what i'm doing, but I'm learning as I go). I'm not applying to top-10 programs or anything, but want to make sure that I have a basic framework for my SOP. Fit, ability to succeed, and reason for applying are covered, but the minor details is what I'm interested in. Promise, no plagiarizing here! Just need some guidance! (Of course, I can also send my basic SOP so far for reference too!)

Bump... Looking for some more advice!

Anyone? Bueler?

In the same boat as you. Interdisciplinary/digital media really is quite intrigueing! My takes and research on the programs: NC State: Really, really focused on Rhetoric. If it's not your thing, don't apply there. (One of their profs told me this!) Clemson: Clemson has some exciting things going on, and while it's not a deal breaker, their library is really God-awful. This program really stresses rhetoric as well, but not nearly as much as NCSU. Clemson's grad coordinator (Vitenzo or something I believe) is really accessible and cool. Northwestern: Impossible to get into unless your GRE is 1250+

As others noted, just keep the email short and sweet. The profs are usually glad to hear from prospective students, but they are buried under 100s of emails daily. If you can take it a step farther, find out what conferences they are attending and try and meet them there. This PhD application season will most likely be as competitive as last year. I did the conference thing SOLELY to meet with potential programs, and it has already paid off handsomely. Give yourself as many opportunities to become more than just a "name on a piece of paper". I now have my school list down to 3-4, and will be doing campus visits PRIOR to app deadlines. While this is expensive, I have a low GRE and need as much in my corner as I can! Good luck in contacting them!

One of my schools told me just to get my entire application in, as the score shouldn't really be an issue. I've already shown them how my research interests align with their profs, so ball is in my court. They are interested in my AW score, but I won't have that for 2 more weeks. The Dean told me that if after looking at my application, and the score is an issue, they'll notify me to take again. Pretty competitive program, and one of the best funding packages in the country. Glad I took some chances at met them all face-to-face at a conference I attended! And yes, my research interests are quite interesting! I'm an Ad/PR guy, so my interests tie in with that, but I'm also interested in pedagogy, specifically new methodologies and in the integration of technology.

BTW, does it look worse to try again on the test, especially if you get a lower score? This possibility of getting an even lower score is really causing me to hesitate to retry it!

I have now taken my GRE a third time, and surprisingly my score dropped. No excuses, but I really sucked it up. Previously I split both sections 460/470, but this time my scores were Q: 350, and V: 460. I feel like my writing will up from the previous 4.0, but will have to wait a few weeks to find out. I met with two schools at AEJMC, and both were really impressed, even given my low GRE. I have 10+ years of professional experience, starting my 2nd semester of teaching upper level courses, and have a 3.8 GPA. The schools are not top tier, but still good enough schools that I can get a job upon graduation. I have focused in profs at each university who's research I want to tie into, and have personally met with them. Will these schools take the highest score from each section, or average them? Should I honestly retry and take this stupid test again, even though I don't feel like I'll do better?

I probably shouldn't use the term "stood-up", but I personally feel like it happened. I was suppose to meet with the Dean/Grad Coordinator of a program at a recent conference. We had been in email several weeks before the conference, and her last email before the conference stated she'd email me the week of the conference. The week of the conference came, but no email! I emailed her back, and humbly stated that I was sorry I missed her (even though she was the one that didn't respond). I'm really not sure if she got uber busy during the conference (which happens to everyone), or if she's just being a prick. I did end up meeting with a prof from the same program, but didn't mention anything of it to him. Should I give her some slack, or take this personally? I have a short list of a few schools, and one of the schools really jumped my list due to several meetings I had at the conference with profs/deans.

Who's doing exciting/up-and-coming comm research in advertising and branding? Interested in knowing so I can look at the programs they teach in. Richard Waters at NCSU is doing social media research, and I know that LSU is really on the cusp of becoming a hub for digital media.

That MSU program looks amazing! Probably ridiculously hard to get into...

Headed to AEJMC. PM if you wanna meet up.

Not trying to start a teaching vs research war, but I'm more interested developing pedagogic methods, rather than doing research. Are there any programs that stress the teaching part over research? I'm guessing that all programs do require research (read dissertation), but it'd be interesting to see if there are any good, respected programs that are still teaching-oriented.

What are good mass comm programs abroad? I'm in the states, but would jump at the opportunity to study abroad. While I know an American PhD can be more lucrative than other PhD's, that international experience can't be beat!

Feel like an idiot now! I had been emailing specific people from different programs websites, specifically those with similar research interests. I didn't end up having much luck in getting responses back, so I just decided to email 10-15 students I could find at each program I'm interested in. I got an email back from one of my "blanket" emails, with the responder informing me she had been out of the program for a year, and to contact the admin office for current students emails. When I contacted the admin and told them I had emailed 10-15 students, they recommended I not continue doing that. I take criticism quite well, but I felt so embarrassed! This whole application process is so confusing, and I hope that I didn't burn any bridges. I apologized for the mistake I had made, and while the conversation ended good, I still can't help but feel like I'm a candidate sticking out in a bad way. No more mass emails for me...

Sounds like you're looking for programs that I am too! Carnegie Mellon's is good, but as noted, it's top of the list and requires high GRE, etc. Checkout these two programs that are high on technology, and incorporate Rhetoric/communication: North Carolina State CRDM program: http://crdm.chass.ncsu.edu/ Clemson's RCID program: http://www.clemson.edu/caah/rcid/main.html Another amazing program is Georgia Tech's Phd in Digital Media, but it's as tough, if not tougher, than Carnegie Mellon's: http://lcc.gatech.edu/graduate/dmphd/

This forum helped me to realize that a great way to get true insight into a program is to email grad students at the schools I'm interested in. You can usually find grad students listed on the program's website, but sometimes I've had to email admins to get students emails. The questions I ask are: What is the atmosphere of the department? Are people (faculty, staff, etc) friendly and collaborative? What are the teaching assignments like? While teaching, are you still able to properly attend to your coursework? is there a strong support network for students' spouses? Monthly "potlucks"? Is there a specific focus of the department (political, digital media, etc)? Are students supported in pursuits in publishing and conference attendance? What are the department and library facilities like? Any strengths/weaknesses of the program that stand out? Anyone have any questions or suggestions to add to this list?

Another strategy I have been informed of is taking several words that mean the same thing (negligent, rash, remiss), and to do some "word clustering".

I'm doing the usual suggestions for studying for the verbal (memorizing vocab), but what are other strategies for excelling in the verbal and writing section?

Thanks for your reply! My grad searches are similar to yours, in that I am also looking to programs in mass comm. My GRE is really hot, so I'm looking for good schools, but no means Top 10 (Penn, USC, etc). My short list right now includes: University of New Mexico University of Oregon University of Utah LSU Washington State Univ. NC State University Clemson I posted about Clemson and NCSU in another thread, and asked about their interdisciplinary programs combining Rhetoric/Comm/Digital Media. That post is here: I think you give great advice on researching schools and listed faculty that are involved in my research areas, but I don't know what the good programs are! I know what the NCA rankings for Mass Comm are, but getting into my more niche interests, I've got nothing to go! Research interests: branding, advertising, social networking, new media, pedagogic methods

So, I went to seven institutions in undergrad due to having an unknown health problem. I was ALWAYS tired and could never make it to class. My fatigue was overwhelming and I eventually just gave up on classes. Not knowing about dropping classes, I transferred from school to school carrying a horrible GPA and random credits. I eventually became familiar with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), and was diagnosed and treated (five surgeries). I graduated with a Bachelor's in General Studies, and got into a state university and completed an MA in Communication. Fast forward a couple years and I am now an adjunct at a state college, and am also doing mass media research for some of my previous professors. I have applied to one PhD program and was rejected, mostly due to low GRE, but that's another topic... When I apply to schools, I must send SEVEN undergraduate transcripts. While it's expensive, I'm sure it also creates an adcomm reaction of, "What did this guy do in undergrad?" At this point, my PhD is extremely important to me and I am sincerely interested in obtaining it and teaching full-time. I'm studying to get my GRE up, my grad GPA was 3.8, and I will great LORs. Should I be afraid of potential PhD programs denying me because of the perception created from the numerous transcripts? Does undergrad really matter when it'll be my terminal degree? Do I approach this topic at all in my SOP, or just not discuss it?

Looking for some insight or opinions on the NCSU "Comm, Rhetoric, & Digital Media" PhD program and Clemson's "Rhetoric, Comm, Info Design" PhD program. Anyone attend or look at the programs? My background is mass comm, but I'm really impressed with the interdisciplinary nature of the programs. Also, the emphasis on incorporating new pedagogic methods (social networking, blackboard, etc) is really where I believe programs are headed.

My background is Mass Comm, and I'm interested in Mass Comm. I'm looking at programs at Clemson, NCSU, and Georgia Tech in Rhetoric/Comm/Info Design. They seem to be programs that incorporate mass comm research with hybridized teaching possibilities. Am I headed in the wrong direction by looking at these programs? My dissertation/research interests are by no means pegged down, and the programs seem quite exciting/interesting.