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BeeKayCee

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  1. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from elizbiz in FLAS 2017   
    Hello all,
    I'm a prospective Masters student in Theology and Middle Eastern Studies, focusing on Islam and Arabic.
    First of all, how many people are applying for the FLAS? What kind of information did you put in your statements? I felt that it was really difficult to fit everything I needed to say into 1 page.
    Second, a question:
    Does anyone know if FLAS committees have access to applications for individual schools? I asked two schools, Harvard said that their FLAS was a separate committee and therefore did not see apps, but Columbia hasn't responded yet. Does anyone know, is the process the same across the board in general or does each school have their own FLAS process?
    Good luck everyone! 
    B
  2. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to caffeinator in Master's Admissions 2017(MA,MTS, ThM or Mdiv)   
    @Johnny.S The Financial Aid dept. at HDS will work with the student provided they submit updated info after admission.
    As a side note, the Admissions Dir. said decisions would come out on March 15th, give or take a day.
    It was mentioned in this video (fin. Aid toward the end).
    I hope that's helpful 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKo181PuoPU
     
  3. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to Kld89! in Master's Admissions 2017(MA,MTS, ThM or Mdiv)   
    How are you guys doing out there? I'm sure we're all feeling the stress right now. 
    Good luck and all the best!
  4. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to bijou2017 in Master's Admissions 2017(MA,MTS, ThM or Mdiv)   
    If it makes you feel better, I emailed another school I applied to last week and was told "by the end of the week", and it was actually the next day that I heard back.
  5. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to Johnny.S in Master's Admissions 2017(MA,MTS, ThM or Mdiv)   
    Thanks for the info @misterrager, @suhba7, @xypathos, and @theophany ! 
     
    I think we'll hear on March 15th(tomorrow). It seems like they're sticklers in terms of releasing decisions (although it may not be 11:59 AM). Plus, considering Harvard is on Spring Break this week and that snowstorm has been well forecast far in advance, it is possible that they've already finished all the necessary step except for a (formal) notification of (pre-processed) decision on 15th. 
  6. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from LibbyCreek in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    I say go for it! That sounds awesome. Worst comes to worst you have a bit of stress to distract you from an even more stressful situation. 
  7. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from Photogeographic in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    Two things to note about what I am about to say. All fulbrighters i have ever met are ETA. second I am currently a Peace Corps Volunteer and most fulbrighters I know are previous PCVs too. 
    Every fulbright I have come in contact with lives at standard of living for their respective countries. They are able to save a small amount of money, and are not short on cash, however they are not living large either, but they do have the money to travel around. 
    As a fullbright I assume you will not be living in a nice apartment with all the ameneties you may be used to In NYC, (also lived in NYC for 6 years, 1k a month doesnt do jack i know), but youll have a place to stay, money for ameneties (perhaps not a restaurant every night tho), pocket money, and some extra. 
    The stipend is based on standard of living so a country where you need more you should be getting more, meanwhile a country where you dont need as much you wont get as much. 
    I have never met a fulbrighter who needed money, but dont plan on being able to make a nest egg or pay off loans while in fulbright. 
  8. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to TakeruK in Funding: How much is left after taxes etc?   
    It's not automatic. Your school may ask you to fill out Form W-4 (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf) when you arrive, however, this is mostly used for American earners (if non-resident aliens fill out this form, we have to do special things to it, as specified in the instructions for non-resident aliens). I honestly do not remember if I filled one of these out 5 years ago, but I know my spouse definitely has for their "real person job". The W-4 is the form that tells your employer how much to withhold etc.
    Your school and country's treaty may be different than my school and the Canada-US treaty. In my case, my school's HR department knows nothing about my treaty. The international student office always try to stay out of taxes because they don't want to give advice they are liable for. The office won't advise me on taxes but they do run workshops led by actual tax attorneys to help us.
    The Canadian-US tax treaty is simple: Canadians who are non-resident aliens in the US earning less than $10,000 in a tax year are exempt from all US taxes on that income (they will still claim this income in Canada though). However, this is not a "progressive" limit. If you earn $9,999, you pay no taxes. If you earn $10,001, you pay the full amount of taxes. I am not sure what happens if it's $10,000 (i.e. I don't remember if the wording is "$10,000 or less" or "less than $10,000"). 
    Because it depends on the total amount earned at the end of the year, there's no good way to get the school to withhold less taxes. It is something you have to pay first and then claim later if you're eligible. I am not sure if this is true for all tax treaties or just the Canada-US one. In order to claim it, you fill in a part of the 1040-NR (the main federal tax form) citing the specific section in the US Tax Code. I use tax software designed for non-residents that figures out automatically whether or not I'm eligible each year based on my income. The school provides this software for free, and if yours does not, make sure you buy specifically the non-resident version of any tax software!
    Finally, no, I don't think state taxes are part of these tax treaties. State taxes can run very differently. For example, as a non-resident alien in the US, I do not pay US federal taxes on my worldwide income, however, as a California non-resident, I still pay California taxes on any income earned while in California. For example, I had a Canadian fellowship for a few years and the payment came in the form of a cheque sent to me by the Canadian government. This income is not taxable by the US federal taxes but I still paid California tax on it because it was income earned for work in the state, despite the foreign source. State taxes are usually way less though: it's about 1% to 2% for me, and California has one of the highest state taxes.
    As your quote says, funding that pays for your tuition, required fees, books, supplies and equipment are tax free. So if your tuition is $15,000 and you get a total package of $25,000, then the first $15,000 is tax free. However, with many grad programs, we get a tuition waiver plus a stipend of (for example) $25,000. In this case, the entire $25,000 is taxable (minus any deductions) since you already got a tuition waiver. 
  9. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from Beamesly in Middle Eastern Studies/NELC Masters/PhD   
    Just got accepted to UChicago's MA in Middle Eastern Studies. If anyone else applied they're sending out answers! 
    GOOD LUCK!
  10. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from _sawyer_ in Middle Eastern Studies/NELC Masters/PhD   
    Good luck! You'll hear soon. No news is good news. 
  11. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to tt_ in Middle Eastern Studies/NELC Masters/PhD   
    @BeeKayCee and @Alan.N
    Congrats on CMES! I'm a second year in CMES now, graduating this year and accepted to start a PhD in the Fall. CMES director Paul Walker should send you a separate e-mail soon with details of the accepted student visit. Feel free to contact me with questions about the program in the meantime!
     
     
  12. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from _sawyer_ in Middle Eastern Studies/NELC Masters/PhD   
    Just got accepted to UChicago's MA in Middle Eastern Studies. If anyone else applied they're sending out answers! 
    GOOD LUCK!
  13. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from Alan.N in Middle Eastern Studies/NELC Masters/PhD   
    Just got accepted to UChicago's MA in Middle Eastern Studies. If anyone else applied they're sending out answers! 
    GOOD LUCK!
  14. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from rheya19 in Master's Admissions 2017(MA,MTS, ThM or Mdiv)   
    Got emailed to check the website for Uchicago MES MA, 50% funding so spot on with what you said @rheya19
    Good luck everyone! 
  15. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to orphic_mel528 in Reactions to PhD Study   
    Just curious: What have the reactions been from family/friends/whoever regarding your PhD plans?
    About an hour ago, I told a friend I was starting my PhD this fall, and he made a wisecrack: "Putting off non-academia and a real job for a few more years? Good idea."
    First off, I was shocked he would say this, even jokingly. He's known me since I was 15, therefore he knows I've been working since I was 15. I worked full-time through the entirety of my undergraduate and graduate education. I had three jobs during the latter, actually: one full-time and two part-time. I haven't been unemployed more than a month in my adult life. I had a career in a different field for a decade. So it was super bizarre and insulting to think about the possibility that he was making some kind of crack about my work ethic. 
    Second: Why is it that no one seems to understand that most people are working while doing their PhDs? Teaching undergraduates isn't considered a job, orrrrr? Because that's what I'm doing now, and I get a paycheck...that's what having a job is, right? Or am I confused?
    A close family member reacted to my plans as follows:
    "Why would you want to do that? Who's going to pay for that?"
    After I explained why I want to do that, I also explained that only a small number of applicants are accepted and are given jobs/stipends to pay for their studies.
    "Why would they do that for people who want to read books?"
    http://gph.is/1sCcMr3
     
  16. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from Dilemma1 in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    So I know there's speculation and it COULD be only certain countries and it COULD be all of them, but what's everyone's gut feelings about delays in answers this year? Do we think they're all going to be late? Or do people have faith? 
    I feel like I'm a kid waiting for my birthday with multiple grad answers, and Fulbright coming up. But more like, a kid waiting for a birthday except no one remembers exactly when that birthday is...
  17. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from maelia8 in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    Same boat. Good luck! Take up a hobby! (It's what im trying to do)
  18. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to rheya19 in PhD at average Grad School: What's even the point?   
    You'll never make any money no matter what. That's all you need to know about religious studies.
  19. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from Photogeographic in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    Im in Georgia and theyre letting me request an early cos (granted by like two days) if i hear back positive. Its worth asking your CD if theyd let you do the same. 
    Good luck!
  20. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from indexes in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    Im in Georgia and theyre letting me request an early cos (granted by like two days) if i hear back positive. Its worth asking your CD if theyd let you do the same. 
    Good luck!
  21. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from Emma987 in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    Hey! Congrats on semi finalist status!
    I'm also a semi finalist currently applying to grad school. I would say no, theres no reason to let schools know at this point. Yes it is impressive but in my opinion not impressive enough if you dont have answers from them yet. If you get a finalist status then I would certainly tell them, but at this pointI'dd say no. I don't know though, maybe someone else thinks differently.
    Best of luck for both Fulbright and Grad! Im jealous tbh all the grad programs I've applied to dont accept deferments...
  22. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to _sawyer_ in Middle Eastern Studies/NELC Masters/PhD   
    Hi tt_! I was hoping that someone would resurrect this thread. Congrats on U Chicago! I've been creeping around for a few months and finally decided to make an account.
    I'm applying to masters programs at GWU, UT - Austin, NYU, U Chicago, Georgetown, Columbia, and Harvard. Have not heard from any of them but I guess it is still early for masters.
    Anyone else, sound off?
     
     
  23. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to indexes in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    Real life image of me after crawling into my bed after my interview:
    (Less dramatic explanation: Didn't blank but, flip-side, felt rambling and could have had better answers to their questions! Got nervous and went into a weird flight/fight mode.)
     

  24. Upvote
    BeeKayCee got a reaction from Photogeographic in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    I've been having those crazy dreams too. I'm applying to Universities as well and I had a dream I got turned down and they sent back all my applications covered in red pen explaining exactly what was bad about my application.
    and EEEEK PDO dates? It's causing anxiety for me just to have exact dates that I MAY have to plan around but am not sure yet. 
  25. Upvote
    BeeKayCee reacted to Photogeographic in Fulbright 2017-2018   
    Not sure why this made me anxious but PDO dates have been posted! http://us.fulbrightonline.org/pre-departure-orientation-schedule-2017-2018 

    I also had a dream last night that I was rejected as a finalist and they told me it was because I was not skilled enough 0_o 
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