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Congrats! First of many I'm sure. At very least, I hope they know that they have an uphill battle if they don't offer you funding. Any idea why you didn't get the POI you were expecting? Neither of my schools have even mentioned my POI; I figured that the "assignment" would happen after we met in person, but maybe that's just me. I'm glad I have good company in the Madison reject pile. Do you have other schools you're waiting on, or have you gotten any other acceptances?

Okay! Two more updates: Rejection from Madison, acceptance at MSU (Information & Media). Now just waiting for the RTF department at UT to make decisions. The real question is: MSU and Purdue have about the same "welcome weekend" dates (MSU is Thursday-Saturday, Purdue Friday-Sunday). Do you think either school has alternative dates for people who can't make it because they're going to the other school?

Within my field (and maybe everywhere?), it's normal for schools to invite their accepted students to campus to visit for a couple of days. Unfortunately, my two schools overlap, and I've already RSVP'd at the one that contacted me first. Does anyone know if it's normal/acceptable to ask for an alternative date? If so, how do you position the "why?" Is it, "Sorry, I RSVP'd at another school, can we do another weekend?" or something more like, "I have out-of-town that I can't move that weekend." I'd like to visit both (and not have to pay my hotel when I get there), but I'm not sure what the normal way of handling it is.

@WhyTry Haha, yes, that's quite the difference. Yeah, I only know the approximate cost of living in Seattle, but from what I know, you'll end up with waaay more pocket change in Austin, especially depending on where you live. If you need advice on that front, feel free to DM me.

@WhyTry Really, you think? I used to live in Austin, and it seemed pretty significantly more expensive than Madison. Although maybe the extra expense is negated by the lack of state income tax? Wait. I know. You get TexMex and Blue Bell Ice Cream. Nevermind, you're totally right, Austin was clearly the better choice.

How did it go?

Here's how I'm thinking of it. Let's say I have two offers. School A is offering me 31, and I have to teach 2 courses each semester, for a total of 16 courses over 4 years. School B is offering me 24,000, but I don't have to teach the first year. School A's city's cost of living is 20% higher than School B's city. So, first I calculate the apples-to-apples rate based on cost of living differences. If school B were the same "cost" as school A, I would be "making" 28,800 instead. So, now my offers are effectively: School A: 31,000 per year, 4 years, 16 courses total School B: 28,800 per year, 4 years, 12 courses total (remember, no teaching the first year) Then, multiply and divide to determine the amount of "work:" School A: 31000*4 years/16 courses = $7,750 per course School B: 28800*4 years/12 courses = $9,600 per course School B wins. HOWEVER....then negotiation happens. I go to School B and say, "Hey, School A offered me 31. I'd prefer to go to y'all, because I really like your program, but it's tough to say no to that much more money." And hopefully school B makes me a better offer. If they don't, I can still accept their offer; they don't need to know they were the better deal all along.

TV comedies (Examples: The Office, How I met Your Mother, Friends) Twitter (despite that my research will certainly touch on social media) Swimming (Just not into it)

Neither of my parents finished college. One of my grandparents has a master's degree (Education), the other three did not. Of my generation, my cousin and cousin-in-law both have terminal masters degrees (architecture and theatre, respectively). Nobody has a PhD or other doctoral degree (MD, JD, etc.). Well, I guess I have a step-aunt who has a PhD, but she's a very new entrant to the family; I can count the number of times I've met her on one hand. So I don't think she counts (although she's a delightful person). That said, nobody in my family was surprised to hear that I'd be pursing doctoral work. I've always been the kid who was far more interested in her book than in playing. Still am, although these days I'm better with faking it with conversation. :-) I think that "first generation" usually only applies to parents and grandparents. So I don't personally identify as a first generation. But I do think that the social pressures of someone whose parents finished college are very different from someone who only had grandparents. I would imagine that the former would hear a lot more about college than the latter, and it would be more an assumption than a question.

Congrats on your funding! Don't forget that if one school offers you more, you can ask your top-choice school if they can match it. Worst case scenario, they say no, right? It's a better in-person conversation (or at least over the phone), but this is an area where it is okay to negotiate.

I don't have anything to add to your funding question, but as a fellow proud cat mom, I totally looked at your name and thought, "I wanna see her cats!" Cat people, eh? I kind of get the sense that schools know you won't go there if they don't provide funding, so, at least in our field, it's not a matter of IF you'll get funding, it's a matter of if you get accepted. Thus, I think that graduate GPA is probably more important. I have a similar GPA breakdown (3.4 for UG, 4.0 for grad), and I have a solid funding offer on the table. Especially if you took time off between your BA and MA, or have gone above and beyond in your MA work (which it looks like you have).

@Matt Minich Jeez, they're really pushing the February timeframe. Well, that's better than, "Sorry, E, you missed the boat." What kind of research are you doing?

Still waiting on Madison for Communication Arts in the communication science & media and cultural studies track. Did anyone with that particular interest get an interview request yet - maybe I just missed the boat entirely?

Thanks! I'm sorry for my assumption. It sounds like you're in a good place. Good luck! I see you're coming to Chicagoland - if you haven't been here before, let me know if you think you'll have any time to explore, and I'll suggest a couple of spots.

Congrats on your transition! I don't know what your new outfit is, but here's the approach I'm taking. I have a pair of black slacks and black jacket from Kohls, and I'm going to go get enough differently colored blouses to last me through the visit. I would suggest black pump with no heel, but that's just because I can't do heels (I blame a battle with a kick scooter many years ago). If you can walk comfortably all day in heels, go for it. It's a good opportunity to make sure everyone knows that you're female, so I would avoid the long sleeved button up look and go with a short-sleeved blouse instead (Potential ideas here, but go with what you love, I'm just some stranger on the Internet). Bring a pair of jeans as well. I would suggest a dark blue pair. Your blouses will be able to go well with the jeans as long as they're dark for a less formal look. Find out where the dinner is, since it may be a less formal option, and thus jeans would be cool. Plan on your suit on Day 2 and Day 3. If you're going someplace cold, I recommend bringing some layers with you as well. I like Cuddleduds the best, since they're super cozy and go under most clothes just fine. And they're sold at Kohls, so...even easier.

Yeah. I choose to believe that the 4.0s who are totally secure and confident and not at all worried get accepted and don't post here.

It's kind of a kick in the **** that so many Comm applicants with 4.0s get rejected.

I was looking into moving to the UK as well, and the answer is a little more complicated than just a quarantine. Basically, you can do a quarantine (which sucks, and you have to pay them for), OR: 1. Get a rabies vaccine 2. Wait a while (I don't remember how long is required) 3. Get a rabies titer test (basically, to make sure the vaccine is active in the pet 4. Get a microchip that is 15 digits long. For the microchip, I recommend finding a vet who uses PetLink. They're the only common one I've found in the US. Here's the link: https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad I would suggest calling around to a few different veterinarians and ask if any of them have experience helping a pet prepare for UK migration. Finally, I would consider the age of your cat. In my household, I have one 15 year old cat, and two 2-year old cats. I wouldn't move with the 15 year old, simply because I don't think he'd be physically up to such a long trip.

One of my schools has offered me a Ross fellowship. The main "rules" seem to be that: - You don't teach the first year, but you teach subsequent years (cool by me) - You have to take at least 9 hours of classes during the long semesters, and 6 hours of classes in the summer. If you don't take classes in the summer, you don't get paid for the summer months (fair). Of course, I'm full of questions: Is there any tension/drama between people who have TAships, versus fellowships? Am I opening myself up to be, I dunno, ostracized? Is it something that looks good on one's CV, or is it not "important" enough to go on there? Do most programs offer enough classes during the summer that there are 6 hours of summer courses available? Is there a reason *not* to take classes during the summer? I'd rather get done with coursework and go onto the dissertation sooner rather than later.

Personally, I treated it like a job interview, and sent a thank you letter to both POIs who interviewed me. I thanked them for their time and reiterated my interest. But otherwise, I left it. I don't want to come across as "needy." That said, I do think that, regardless of the choice they make (and you make), you could reach out to the professor after the decisions and ask if you could schedule time with him. I think most schools don't require one's dissertation committee to be all faculty at your school, so you could end up with him there, if you choose to go elsewhere. I'd say something like, "Although I won't be attending <school>, I did enjoy our conversation, and I have a lot to learn from you. Would it be possible to skype periodically about where our research is? Perhaps I could even help you with <paper you're working on>?"

Whoa, do Canadian PhDs really only require 4 classes plus a dissertation? Or am I misinterpreting Carleton's webpage?

@Ishouldbewriting At Michigan State, it's Media and Information. At Purdue, it's MTS. Basically, I'm interested in how we communicate emotion online and form communities. I'll probably continue my research into the gig/sharing economy subculture. How about you? And how are you getting to the welcome weekend? Spouse and I live in Chicago, so we'll just be driving. He'll spend the weekend with his friends, I'll spend it with my future friends.

@GreenEyedTrombonist I know those feels. I've been alleviating stress by creating degree plans for each individual school, based on their graduate handbooks. My next step is to track down syllabi and start putting together book lists. I'm also adjuncting an undergrad class, doing transcription work, writing a book review for a journal, and drinking more than I usually do. Because, evidently, I hate having free time.

@GreenEyedTrombonist I'm freaking out less now that I've heard from one school. Before, I was thinking, "Okay, I'm unemployed, there's nothing academically I can do to better be qualified. What do I do if everyone rejects me?" Top choices: Try again? Maybe? Keep trying to get a corporate job? Join the military (some branches will take you if you're 34!) Take out a large life insurance policy that will ensure that Spouse has enough money to grow old on and have a devastating car accident. #MostlyKidding I'm glad the military and suicide options are off the table.

I forgot to post an update. I had my Michigan State interview on Wednesday. One POI seemed interested, the other did not. So we'll see. Still waiting on UT, but I would think since I did my undergrad there, I'd have a leg up. I mean, they're considering me a Texas resident, so...we shall see. Still no word from Madison, but at this point, I'm betting on a rejection. Which is fine, because I got an acceptance letter from Purdue! And I found out that my funding would be via a prestigious fellowship. I'm super excited to go to their Welcome Weekend next month. I'm kind of hoping I see some of y'all there!