hopefulPhD2017
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Posts posted by hopefulPhD2017
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Yeah. It's super hard. I love it and feel crippling fear all in the same day.
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1 hour ago, cabraloca said:
I have a letter from my Program saying that they have recommended me for Admission by the Graduate School, but the Graduate School has yet to send me an official letter offering me admission. Is that normal? I am so worried that something could potentially go wrong! Shouldn't I have like my finalized TA appointment by this point as well or is the letter detailing the ranges of payment for TAships enough at this point?
I'd get it in writing before you sign. Funding matters.
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Welp. It's April 14 today.
I wrote to the school asking if it'd be possible to put into writing multiple years of funding to match another offer. That was 4.5 days ago. I've gotten no response as of yet and since we're 10 business hours (if you count Saturday as a business day) away from end of day on April 15, I guess that's that and that I'm turning down the offer entirely.
I wish they'd respond, at least, but I feel confident that I will be better supported in the long term at another school.
Again, thanks to you all here, especially @TakeruK, @AP, and @rising_star; your thoughtful responses are what I needed to think this through in agonizing detail.
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55 minutes ago, TheHoff said:
I just went to a solid 9 now that I received a rejection from my desired school.
Hope to have better luck next year or get an acceptance from another choice
Oh no! That sucks. So sorry.
@light10491 I'm calling my POI later today and then accepting on the portal. Tomorrow is my day to celebrate!!
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Like you @ZachGv and @sweetoflove, I've also been torn. I think I've made my decision but it's scary.
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1 hour ago, mspeech said:
I feel like it's kinda the same thing as people who accept an offer then choose to later go to a waitlist school they got in to. I don't reallly know what else to do
That seems unethical to me. I think you should be upfront and honest with them about this. Academia is a small world.
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46 minutes ago, enc said:
When I got an email with an offer I need to sign and return, I can just scan it and return it by e-mail right? or do I have to physically mail it before the 15th? It is not specified explicitly.
No, it's not. That's why I asked. I'd suggest you do the same.
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4 hours ago, vstrindberg said:
feelsbadman
To me, this seems more like a 9/10 situation.
If you'd inserted spaces here--the deep breaths of typing--I might believe differently.
Amirite?
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53 minutes ago, sociologicalpizza said:
I'm like an 8 but lying to myself and everybody else pretending I'm a 6
Ha! Totally. This.
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30 minutes ago, Marshall said:
I'm probably at an 8 as well. 3 rejections and the final school has me as an alternate. I'm really trying to send telepathic messages to that one person who was accepted ahead of me, regardless of what their decision is, just so I can have an answer (although, I'd obviously love for them to accept a wonderful offer elsewhere so I could get in).
Wow that's tough. I hope they carefully calibrate such things, i.e., normally two don't take the offers, so they waitlist two applicators m as they know you have a good chance of getting in. Good luck to you!
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46 minutes ago, vstrindberg said:
I am at 0 cuz I didnot get any offer. Guest will be rejected by 3 schools feelsbadman
I'm sorry to hear that!
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33 minutes ago, AnniKatt said:
I'm probably at a 7 or 8. One school needs my answer by the 15th. Really, they want it tomorrow but I requested an extension. My top choice, meanwhile, hasn't sent out decisions yet. All I can ask is WHY.
Argh!!! So frustrating.
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I asked the head of my program what all I needed to do because there's about five ways we've communicated: an an online portal, a hard copy contract--attach to email or snail mail it back in--, emails, phone, and carrier pidgeon
I can understand why you're confused and would just ask for clarification from someone in the department.
And congrats!!
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@rising_star great point. After reading this it occurred to me that I had no idea and all that I'd been guaranteed was one year of funding. So, I sent a few emails describing my reluctance to commit without a plan for years 2-5, effectively declining the offer without a full funding package. Thanks for your help! I feel like these comments from you and @TakeruK helped me towards a decision I feel really good about.
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Thanks to everyone who took the time to weigh in. @TakeruK I think I needed the extra reminder that nothing is certain and that I really do need multiple years. So, I told them that and am glad to effectively have made a decision!
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7 hours ago, TakeruK said:
My understanding is that this is typical in many programs outside of the STEM PhD programs. GA work basically exist to fulfill a service/administrative need for the school/department. Even in STEM PhD programs, TA work will also be worked assigned based on what the department needs, it is not meant for students to have work aligned with their research interests. So, I wouldn't think that you are being cheated but if a school can offer you something more relevant to your interests, then that would certainly be a plus if you are deciding between programs.
My advice for this particular situation is if you choose to attend this program (in another thread you said you were deciding between two possible programs), then you should convey this concern to your advisor and ask if they can offer you an assistantship in their lab for 2018-2019. It is not likely they can promise you this in advance because very few programs will promise you this a year in advance. But you can gauge how likely you are going to get the offer based on your interactions with this advisor. If you are not satisfied with the response, then perhaps you would consider the other school's offer more appealing?
It's helpful to know that this is not atypical. Sometimes my assumptions are not correct, which is why I ask more questions.
You're right, the other offer is more appealing in many ways.
I was told there would be a spot in '18 pending a successful grant application, so that's something.
Thanks for taking the time to help me think through this!
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I am trying to make a decision, and soon. For school A, I have a letter describing my advisor and four years of funding.
Whereas at school B, I was told verbally who my advisor would be. I got a one year graduate assistantship and a one year scholarship.
I'm now wondering, should I ask for a letter detailing my advisor at school B? Or is that a moot point?
I guess what I'm wondering is: how much should I have in writing?
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Hi all! My dept has offered me a GA position for my first year of a PhD program, which is great. I'll get a stipend and tuition remission.
However, it's assigned to me and I was just told what the work will be. It's not in my focus area and it's not going to fit it with my program or research at all. I was disappointed to say the least.
It's going to fill a need for the university, which is good for them, and I'm not opposed to service, but to my mind if I'm going to leave a job to be an impoverished scholar-in-training, I'd like to actually apprentice under my advisor or someone else who will help me build my CV and applicable research skills.
My advisor has indicated that there will be a position in her research group next year, which is what I'd like to be doing, but nothing has been written down and I'm nervous that I'll be doing this unrelated grunt work for years to come.
Should I just be grateful that I'm being offered anything at all? Ask if I can have another GA position instead? Attempt to get a future GA-ship under my advisor put into writing?
Is this kind of thing typical? I guess I thought I'd have some say in the work I'd be doing as a GA.
Thank you for any advice on how to navigate this.
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On 4/4/2017 at 9:56 AM, Whalerider88 said:
Hey guys,
I was fortunate to have stumbled upon these boards after serious contemplating doing a second Masters in Education.
I am Canadian, and I'm interested in pursuing a Masters in Education in the U.S., but never dared to try because of my poor undergrad grades.
It's now been 6 years since I completed my undergrad and after working in both in the business/education world, I've decided I want to start up my own Educational consulting company after completing a Masters in Education.
Background:
A little about myself.
Education:
1) Graduated from UBC in 2011 with a poor GPA (~2.8). Without a doubt, this is the glaring weakness in my profile. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I spent more time than I should have participating in extracurricular activities (Emerging Leaders Club, a Greek Fraternity, Rotaract, etc). I also swapped between full/part time jobs throughout my undergrad. I realize that I didn't spend enough time on my grades. I received multiple Cs and Ds while dropped my GPA by a lot.
2) Did a Business Management diploma at a Technical Institute in 2013.
3) Received my Real Estate License from UBC's Sauder School of Business in 2014.
4) Received my TESOL teaching certification from a 120-hour classroom-based program.
5) Currently doing my MBA at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Matriculated 2016, graduating 2018.
Work Experience:
1) Worked as a water safety instructor for 4 years during my Undergraduate days. Also volunteered as a HS Tennis Coach.
2) Started a career in Real Estate in 2011. Started as a Real Estate assistant. After getting my Real Estate License in 2014, worked with a partner and did 110 million (CAD) in sales between the years 2011-2015.
3) Also worked as a Licensed Sales Associate for a Real Estate Developer in 2015. Generated about 20-30 million in sales (CAD) with team that year.
4) Started my own real estate fund, managing $2-3 million in various commercial real estate projects for private investors.
5) Came to Shanghai and worked as an English Teacher at a University.
6) Got into Education Counselling in mid 2016. Currently working as a senior Education Consultant for the same company.
Future Goals: While working in luxury Real Estate, I somehow got into involved in private educational training. It started off first as customer service for the kids of my clients. But as time progressed, I really started to enjoy teaching and working with kids. For me, To me, it's more special to be a contribution to the happiness parents and their kids feel after getting into the school of their dreams than making any house sale.
Now, I want to work in Education Consulting full-time. I want to attend an Education Masters program at an Ivy League school (Harvard's M.Ed, Columbia's TA, etc). Upon graduation, Using my previous business experience, I want to start-up an educational consulting company,. I've met so many brights students who can't get into their dream schools simply because of one glaring weakness in their profile (Ie- poor interview skills, poor essay writing skills, etc).
My goal is to start an Education program once I graduate from my MBA program. I realize I have glaring weaknesses in my academics. Given my certain circumstance, do I have a shot at these prestigious schools? If so, what work will I have to do?
I appreciate your time and effort to give feedback. I admire all of you, as this forum seems to be filled with many intelligent, diligent individuals.
Sounds like You've had quite a journey! You didn't mention GRE scores. For this schools, they matter somewhat.
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10 hours ago, Butterfly_effect said:
Just curious, what do you mean by this?
I mean that the dating scene is better in some places than others.
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I do think they are, yes. I have met with resistance and rudeness from men who I would now, in retrospect, call sexist d-bags. This is both in the work place and in the dating field.
Now, I have met more men who have mentored me professionally and I have had relationships with some, as well. Some good, others not so. But there are good guys out there
I think geography matters. A lot.
I learned a lot from reading dating advice (Evan Marc Katz is great and writes on this very subject) which helped me better understand how to date and feel good while doing so.
Finally, some of the sharpest, coolest ladies I know had no serious relationships until they were older, like mid-20s. I know someone who never had a serious relationship until she was 40! Nothing wrong with them, just perhaps less willing to settle or "out themselves out there."
Dating women might be a thing to try, too.
Good luck to you. You're not alone.
- hantoo and namastayingalive
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I'm in the same boat. I've tried not to be pushy but APRIL 15 IS IN ONE WEEK.
That's seven days.
I have sent an email a week to different people: chair, Dept head, my POI. I understand they've got committees and such but how can we be expected to make decisions without hard, real facts and numbers?
Sorry no answers here either but I'm glad I'm not the only one still waiting. Gah!
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