sjc93

FIRST - You as an applicant 1. What did you study in undergrad? Master's (if applicable)? Communication for both. 2. What were your grades like in undergrad? Master's? 3.6 BA, 3.9 MA 3. What are your research interests? Rhetoric of Space and Place, Art, and Architecture 4. What teaching experience did you have before applying? TA'd one class (not very much) 5. What about research experience? Did research during BA and worked as a research assistant for 2 years during MA 6. What about miscellaneous experience (unrelated to Comm/corporate/private/etc)? Several corporate internships in marketing, PR, and advertising during BA and one corporate accounting job between BA and MA 7. How old are you (or, what is your age group)? 24 SECOND - Deciding to pursue a Ph.D. 1. What made you decide to pursue a Ph.D. in Communication? I loved research and writing and couldn't imagine myself happier doing anything else 2. Did you contact faculty at the programs you were interested in? What did you say? How often did you communicate with these people (POIs)? Yes, an alum of the program I was interested in was a professor where I did my MA and he introduced me to department members during NCA. You should absolutely reach out, especially if you live closeby. I ended up meeting with several faculty members during the application process. 3. Did you visit or contact graduate students? How did thaaaat go? Yes, I actually vaguely knew two graduate students currently attending. 4. How did you decide who to ask for letters of rec? Were they all professors or did you get letters from outside of academia? I got letters from my advisor and two professors I had worked closely with doing research. THIRD - Actually applying 1. How did you look for programs? NCA doctoral guide 2. How did you decide where to apply? Best fit, then by prestige/ranking 3. What was your biggest priority in a program? Fit (always, always, always FIT FIRST) 4. How many schools did you initially set out to apply to, and how many did you actually apply to? 5, only actually applied to my top 2 5. What were your GRE scores like (either specifics or vaguely)? How many times did you take it? Did you feel good about your scores? I got a 300 total and that was good enough. Any program that wanted more than that wasn't worth my time. 6. How did you frame your experience/interests/fit in your statement of purpose? Did you focus on something more heavily than other stuff (like faculty or experience)? The PhD is a research degree, so you should focus on research goals over teaching. That is what I did. I also went through it several times and made it more and more specific. 7. Did you feel good about your applications? Why or why not? Yes, I worked on it for 5 months. 8. If you knew then what you knew now, what advice would you give yourself? Don't worry so much. FOURTH - GETTING IN (OR NOT) - feel free to update/answer later 1. How many programs did you get into (and which, if you don't mind sharing)? Both I applied to. Feel free to pm for more details. 2. How many were you waitlisted for? Did you make it off the waitlist? I nearly forgot I was WL for my top choice! Yes, that was an agonizing and horrible two weeks but it worked out. 3. How many were you rejected from? None. 4. Did you get into your top program? Did you expect to get in? Yes. No, definitely not. 5. Did you receive funding? Yes, to both. 6. Once you've made your decision...how did you decide which school to attend? I went to my top pick. 7. If you didn't get admitted to a program, will you apply again? 8. What do you want to do with your Ph.D.? Enter academia. FINALLY 1. In retrospect...what was the best part of the application process? It was mostly stressful. 2. What was the worst? Schmoozing, or...the (self-imposed) pressure to schmooz. 3. What advice do you have for future applicants? Email the faculty at the programs you are interested in! Also, ignore prestige until you narrow down to fit. If you find two amazing fits with an amazing potential advisor at each one, then it is fine to go with the more 'prestigious' university.

@DBear Yeah, it truly is. Hopefully everyone starts receiving their decisions sooner than later so some positions begin to open.

Heard from the DGS at my top choice school today. I am first on the waiting list, dependent on one person with an offer deciding yes/no. The rest of the cohort is full. Knowing I am so close but might not cut it, and will have to wait a few more weeks to find out as much, really stings.