dilby

Rice's visit program was spectacular. The way they run their program is super sharp and very attentive toward the needs of 2019's job market. A big takeaway for me is that they dedicate a lot of attention to training grad students in styles/genres of academic writing other than criticism: conference proposals, book reviews, etc. But the biggest takeaway is that EVERYONE WAS SO SUPPORTIVE OF ONE ANOTHER. If you had told me that a graduate program could be so tight-knit, I would not have believed you.
Some takeaways for you all:
Really ask what a department's professionalization philosophy is. What is the theory behind their "Intro to graduate studies" course, if they have one? And if they don't, why not?? How do they intend to make sure graduate students aren't teaching themselves how to apply to conferences in the fourth and fifth years, when it's too late? Think about the distinction between "guaranteed teaching" and "required teaching" — what is the quality of the teaching experience you'll get, not just the quantity? i.e. does the department view teaching as an opportunity for you, or a way for them to make sure all of the discussion sections get taught? Ask about the relationship between mentors and advisees: Do the department's most well-known (and/or most ego-driven) professors allow students to latch remora-like onto them and produce methodologically identical work? (Spoiler: this kind of mentorship model often does not yield exciting job applicants) Try to have dinner/drinks with groups of graduate students and see how they interact with one another. Is this an environment where you feel at home? I'm not gonna lie, Rice really blew me away on all of these fronts and more. I'm going to enjoy asking Yale to compete with them next week.

Rice's visit program was spectacular. The way they run their program is super sharp and very attentive toward the needs of 2019's job market. A big takeaway for me is that they dedicate a lot of attention to training grad students in styles/genres of academic writing other than criticism: conference proposals, book reviews, etc. But the biggest takeaway is that EVERYONE WAS SO SUPPORTIVE OF ONE ANOTHER. If you had told me that a graduate program could be so tight-knit, I would not have believed you.
Some takeaways for you all:
Really ask what a department's professionalization philosophy is. What is the theory behind their "Intro to graduate studies" course, if they have one? And if they don't, why not?? How do they intend to make sure graduate students aren't teaching themselves how to apply to conferences in the fourth and fifth years, when it's too late? Think about the distinction between "guaranteed teaching" and "required teaching" — what is the quality of the teaching experience you'll get, not just the quantity? i.e. does the department view teaching as an opportunity for you, or a way for them to make sure all of the discussion sections get taught? Ask about the relationship between mentors and advisees: Do the department's most well-known (and/or most ego-driven) professors allow students to latch remora-like onto them and produce methodologically identical work? (Spoiler: this kind of mentorship model often does not yield exciting job applicants) Try to have dinner/drinks with groups of graduate students and see how they interact with one another. Is this an environment where you feel at home? I'm not gonna lie, Rice really blew me away on all of these fronts and more. I'm going to enjoy asking Yale to compete with them next week.

owo I did not know about this at all, and it could potentially allow me to work with some of the major POIs put other schools higher up on my list than Yale
thank u for bringing this to my attention ?

Has anyone done this exchange? I'm really curious about it but can't seem to find as much info as I would like. How feasible is it? Can you do it more than once (it seems like you can)? Is it more difficult at some schools than at others? Does it change the conditions of your stipend? 
If anybody has any info on this, it would be much appreciated! Hope y'all are having a peaceful decision season (or at least as non-stressful as is possible lol)

Gradcafe is a wonderful place, y'all. I had the BU visit yesterday and I was super nervous for it to be full of forced interaction. But as soon as I got there, so many people recognized eachother from GC!!! It was so amazing and so nice to talk about things we've discussed on here in person. It was also nice to discuss how we thought the visit was going when there were no faculty or grad students around. I also am feeling a little more positive about the waitlist and am desperately hoping to move off of it! Good luck everybody!

GOT INTO THE VILLANOVA MA! Funding pending, but I am OVER THE MOON! 

Will probably be Texas (Austin). I did my undergrad at Texas, but there's been a significant time gap. So now I will Texas my Texas again in Texas.
 
 @dilby I got, and still get, a lot of vicarious excitement and happiness from your Yale news.

Visit #1 for me is tomorrow & omg I'm so excited & suddenly terrified

still deciding between UMass Amherst and Buffalo ? I'm talking to several professors on the phone this week at UMass because they don't have a prospective students event, which is really throwing me decision off! I hope that plus the April 2-3 visit to Buffalo will help me decide. it truly feels like a 50/50 coin toss.
I'm literally writing this from a bar because I'm trying not to stress out so much  

Helpful information:
1) UCSB, Michigan, and Northwestern all have a policy not to offer feedback (citing volume of apps received)
2) UCSB's adcomm chair told me that this year they had around 200 applicants for 6-8 positions.
3) Michigan's director of graduate studies said that admission is very competitive, and "historically only 8-10% of applicants are offered admission"
4) Aaron Barstow from UC Davis said they had 156 applicants this year; didn't say how many offers were made. 
Hope this is helpful in getting a sense of the lay of the land!

I don't expect to make my decision until next weekend, but I went ahead and made the thread because I don't mind getting a notification every time someone posts.  

Okay, I heard back from the grad program coordinator at Davis! He was very friendly and helpful, and even gave me a few direct quotes from the Adcomm. Ultimately, there wasn’t much to work on—he said that my app was highly rated by all 3 profs,  the comments were almost entirely positive, and that they thought my WS was “very competently written” and “strong,” but not as interesting as some other applicants, and that they think I would probably benefit from getting my MA. The transparency and clarity of his email makes me feel better about the denial letter, and encourages me that the Adcomm had positive feelings about my app as a whole! Might look to get this kind of feedback from other schools. 

I agree, thank you for making this thread!

It's between U Missouri and U Nebraska, I think.  I can't decide! 

So, where are you cool kids going this fall?  

I don't expect to make my decision until next weekend, but I went ahead and made the thread because I don't mind getting a notification every time someone posts.  

ucsd! it’s a drag i hate the sun though

I don't expect to make my decision until next weekend, but I went ahead and made the thread because I don't mind getting a notification every time someone posts.  

I don't expect to make my decision until next weekend, but I went ahead and made the thread because I don't mind getting a notification every time someone posts.  

I don't expect to make my decision until next weekend, but I went ahead and made the thread because I don't mind getting a notification every time someone posts.  

I love this thread b/c of the role reversal!!! So nice to see students doing the rejecting, for once

I just got my Yale visit itinerary and I have visits scheduled with SEVEN professors, plus a couple of graduate students. This double-department PhD situation means I have a lot of reading up to do in the next 8 days ?

Declined UCSB and Duke.

In off the waitlist at Loyola

NYU finally came through with the rejection so I have no more unknowns. Just gotta wait for GW and Virginia to say something. I think the UVA visits are today so perhaps some things will move this week but have not heard of a single GW acceptance so not sure what to expect there.

I just got my Yale visit itinerary and I have visits scheduled with SEVEN professors, plus a couple of graduate students. This double-department PhD situation means I have a lot of reading up to do in the next 8 days ?