GreenEyedTrombonist

Back home from Madison! The visit was awesome and I really liked getting the chance to chill with the other prospectives in my track.

Congratulations @surprise_quiche! I'm visiting Madison this week and will hopefully be able to make my choice after that point (though I may end up visiting Boston at the start of April-not sure yet).

@SetDec It really shouldn't. On top of that, I have to put an alternate last name in my apps because of a poor decision to get married. I really don't like reminders of that relationship and this school decided that, since it was my alternate name, it gets to be my official name unless I go through this detailed process to change it... I'm like, really?

This sounds like a really fun thing to do! I turned down one school today so I'm down to 4 to consider. :/

Rejected a school (for the first time) today. It just didn't have the same funding opportunities as my other schools, had way more fees (like, double the fees) of the other programs, more requirements for classes, work, and living situation, and, on top of that, they misspelled my name in their docs. :/

Make sure the fellowship comes with a tuition waiver. If it does, that sounds like a great offer!

Got my rejection from Davis today. Actually glad since I've determined since applying it isn't the best culture fit for me (but it's the closest to my family). Only 1 decision outstanding still and it's probably a rejection. Next up, making the choice. x]

Just checked and still nothing.

Sometimes it's a slog to get myself started, but writing isn't too difficult for me. Editing is the difficult part, haha. That's part of why I utilize a network of people to look over my academic writing before I submit it. Working on a 30-page paper now that I should finish by next weekend. Plenty of time to get it to my reviewers before it needs to be submitted. Experience: Academic writing (courses, conference presentations, grad report, other materials based on research projects), professional (geeky articles, blogs, social media posts), fun (more blogs, tabletop rpg campaign building, short stories, etc).

@cinderellasyndrome you're posting on last year's thread. We're on the 2018 thread now.

Fellowships usually are funding without strings (other than maintaining good GPA/the qualities that got you the fellowship). Assistantships either require you to work as a TA, RA, or something similar in exchange for the funding. These often include a stipend as well as tuition waiver (in my experience, fellowships rarely include a tuition waiver). Each assistantship and fellowship is different at each school. Most schools I've seen say you'll be working an average of 20 hours a week as a TA/RA, but, if you're a TA, this is often less most of the time and much more right around the due date of a major assignment (students wanting help before and all the papers you need to grade after). Some fellowships may offer enough for you to live on while others are small. Fellowships and other funding sources (like grants) are great to have on your CV so you can show universities you can attract money (when it's time to land a TT position).

@E-P This is probably what I'll do. I scheduled the Madison visit before I knew about my new job, so I can work that one out, but I'll probably just ask for skype/email conversations with students at the other schools. :/

Thanks @galosh ! I'm pretty sure my two outstanding apps are rejections so I'm moving on to the decision phase of my cycle. How tf do I make a decision? haha

No idea. Sorry @galosh . UO asked if I'd like to be considered for their master's instead, but I said no so I have no ETA for them.

I currently have an hour or so drive to and from work, but will be switching to a bus route (same time, but wifi and I don't have to drive) soon. Not sure what it will end up being wherever I end up, but hoping to not drive unless absolutely necessary.

@Bayesian1701 So far I've gotten paid offers to visit three of the schools and have already attended one of these visits. The three schools all offer work I'd really enjoy and competitive stipend rates, but are in places I've never been before so I do feel the need to visit to get a feel for the department culture and if I'd even like the location. I probably won't be able to accept anymore visits, especially if they're in March. x]

Got into another school. Yay, but also, how tf am I going to visit all these places without taking time off my new job and then make a decision?

Definitely pay attention to the workload for each class (including the classes you TA for) @well_then . Ask around. Don't save all the hard classes for one semester (try and do one hard class each semester to help the balance). Don't sign up for presentations in your classes right when your students have a major paper/presentation due. Basically, it's super doable (though not necessarily easy) and just requires learning great time management.

Depends. I have one program that expects around that many in the official requirements, but they usually waive about 3 classes for students with MAs (based on previous class subject matter) so it ends up being 3 years of classes (including comprehensive exam) and 1 year of dissertation. However, the content of the classes is all set up for research, presenting that research, and getting published, so you'll be making progress on your dissertation (and your CV) while in class, killing two birds with one stone.

Just finished my interview with Temple and I think it went well. UO emailed me yesterday saying they thought I was a better fit for their master's program and asking if I wanted to switch my app, so UO is probably out for me. So, I think I'm unofficially rejected from UO and Davis, and just need to hear back from Boston and Temple before I can make my decision.

Can you start working on the apps now and accept closer to the deadline to give time to hear back from the other schools? @anthbug

@Bayesian1701 I'm struggling. Just started a new job today, got another acceptance, and another interview request. I know these are all good things (the acceptance included a TAship and an additional fellowship and I'm up for a fellowship at at least one other program), but I can't help but feel like I've tricked these people into thinking I'm awesome when I'm really not. x]

So I had orientation for my new job today (also first shift right after) and on the way to orientation I got an email from Temple requesting an interview and at the start of my shift got an email from WSU with my acceptance. In short, it's been a good day.

@synapticcat I'm still waiting on decisions, but I plan to accept in March. I should have enough information by the end of the month to make a choice and that leaves time for the schools I turn down to get someone off the waitlist before April 15th. Still doing my due diligence to make sure I choose the best program for me, but if you know where you want to go, why wait?

@sprklinthe I get that this can be a sore subject, but that's actually why this thread was made. I didn't get in anywhere last year and it hurt. Luckily, there are multiple places to discuss that (and the worry when waiting) on this forum. This thread was specifically created so that there would be a place for those with admissions to let off stress without making those still waiting feel bad. Best of luck with your programs! Hopefully, you'll be joining us in worrying over the decision process soon enough! <3