RoadtoPhD

So where did everyone else end up?! 

Yeah, I have a call set up with him tomorrow to go over some details. I haven't made my final decision but I am definitely leaning toward the program. Plus, being in Chicago is definitely a bonus.  

Hi guys! Congrats to all of you who have made decisions on great programs. I'm officially going to attend Northeastern in the fall. It was a little bit of a tough choice between there and Cincinnati but I feel like I picked the best fit for me!
 
Good luck to everyone making their decisions

Hi guys! Congrats to all of you who have made decisions on great programs. I'm officially going to attend Northeastern in the fall. It was a little bit of a tough choice between there and Cincinnati but I feel like I picked the best fit for me!
 
Good luck to everyone making their decisions

Hi guys! Congrats to all of you who have made decisions on great programs. I'm officially going to attend Northeastern in the fall. It was a little bit of a tough choice between there and Cincinnati but I feel like I picked the best fit for me!
 
Good luck to everyone making their decisions

Hi guys! Congrats to all of you who have made decisions on great programs. I'm officially going to attend Northeastern in the fall. It was a little bit of a tough choice between there and Cincinnati but I feel like I picked the best fit for me!
 
Good luck to everyone making their decisions

Hi everyone! 
Just wanted to post that I'm attending UAlbany's PhD program starting this fall. Albany was my top choice for awhile, and after attending the visiting weekend I knew my decision was made.
Good luck to everyone else who is contemplating decisions and nervously waiting replies. Just remember in the long run nothing is ever worth worrying about because we are all in the same situation. Everything happens for a reason! ? 

Good luck to all of you still trying to make decisions.
I'll be honest my decision was pretty simple, UCI had been my top choice entering into the application process. Although I was admitted and waitlisted at other programs I made my decision based on the impression I got during my visits. The faculty members, the students, the feel of the campus were the most important factors for me. Although I think I would have been happy with any of the programs that I applied to. 
Best wishes to all as you make your final choice. 

Thanks! I made one last week or so I'll be doing the same.. hopefully it'll get some action at some point haha 

Congrats !! And yes I didn't apply but I heard Maryland is one of those schools that does more than one round of acceptances 

You can PM me if you want specific information.
I got accepted with full funding to a top 3 PhD CJ program and it was my first time applying. My grades are nothing special. I have lots of work experience as a security guard and recently as a mental health case manager, but that's not what got me in.
My point is, getting into a PhD program is much more than grades or work experience. Your statement of purpose is the MOST important thing, followed closely by your letters of recommendation.  
If you don't know how to articulate WHAT you want to study, and how it is original AND important to the overall understanding of your field, you won't get it anywhere. If your professors cannot say anything positive about your academic rigor or insight into a specific research topic, you won't get in. The purpose of a PhD is to conduct groundbreaking research, and if you cannot convince the admissions committee of your ability to do this, then you are never getting in.
 
BTW I don't mean to be facetious or blunt, but I am just trying to help you out. I'm sorry if you're frustrated. Keep revising your research interests and rewriting your statement of purpose. Ask previous professors to critique your writing too. Last but not least, make sure you go into it with a positive attitude. It will only help you if you remain positive.

Now that I've received my revised funding offer from UCI, I'm ready to submit my SIR. It's a relief to finally be done with this part of the process. 
Best of luck to all those still waiting and in the decision process. 

Anyone like the idea of making a new thread for decisions? I know there's lot over in the general decisions forum, but it might be helpful to make a thread within the C&CJ forum to discuss stuff like factors being taken into consideration w/ choosing, post-acceptance communication w/ faculty/DGS/etc., & other miscellaneous stuff related to the post-waiting stage? 
I just feel like with this being centered a lot around waiting for decisions it might be shitty/annoying to have this thread used for those types of discussions simultaneously. 
Just a thought! What do you guys think?

Congrats !! And yes I didn't apply but I heard Maryland is one of those schools that does more than one round of acceptances 

I got into Maryland on Friday- but that doesn't necessarily mean anything! I heard back from Cincinnati a few weeks after others on here got in and I'd been convinced that I was waitlisted when I first saw those posts!

Confused....

No offense Brooke, I know it can be hard sometimes, but don't you have two offers? If it makes you feel better at all I'm an academic and nobody picked my up at all. Straight rejection. Being down on yourself won't make your situation any better. Maybe try to get a job with the Department of Public Safety at a school you could possibly go to and take classes on remitted tuition until the professors know you and you can apply again.
I'm gonna have to be smart about going to school since they don't think I would make the cut/aren't willing to pay for me. If you want to feel sad for yourself and work at Walmart you definitely can, but it's a little hurtful to pretend that everyone with an academic focused application is just getting into all the schools. We're not.   

This sucks... no one wants a former cop with an MA who was almost killed twice in the line. I don't have the publication and research experience that all of you do, but I've lived it. Have fun with your f'ing studying..... I'll be greeting you at Walmart.

Personally, I would go with school B. You don't have to worry about money (which is a concern for me, but may not be as much for others), you'll have the advantage of a small cohort which will hopefully manifest with a lot of personal attention from faculty and more funding for travel, and having three profs there with similar interests means that you get support and guidance for your research, but you also will have the benefit of differing perspectives. And, if one leaves or goes on sabbatical, you have the other two as backups.

I think definitely the fit in terms of the faculty and the program in general. Look at where you want to be in a couple years and which program can get you there!

I think definitely the fit in terms of the faculty and the program in general. Look at where you want to be in a couple years and which program can get you there!

For those of you who applied to UT Dallas - admissions decisions are on the galaxy portal

I think I've been considering three main factors
1) Fit
2) Program quality
3) Quality of life

Not sure if anyone is waiting on American, but I received an email to check the website and was admitted with funding ($20,000 stipend and $1,000 for research travel)
 
PS This is the only Criminology program I applied to, the rest of my apps went to Sociology programs with a criminology focus.

I'll claim one of the UCI acceptances!