transrelativity

Thanks so much, @DannieGirl and @jmc117!
I'm still figuring out details with Temple (how much can I work and when, what's the travel budget, etc. - I learned that fees aren't covered by the scholarship, unfortunately) but I'm strongly leaning towards accepting, since they are my top choice school. I asked if there is some kind of prospective students day, and there doesn't seem to be, but my adviser has agreed to meet with me and arrange for me to sit in on some classes and meet current students.

I have a Temple funding update! I received the official offer by email this afternoon. It's a Presidential Fellowship with four years of funding, two with service requirements and two without, and a $32k stipend. I'm so happy and grateful! Wishing everyone great offers at their top choices!

I have a Temple funding update! I received the official offer by email this afternoon. It's a Presidential Fellowship with four years of funding, two with service requirements and two without, and a $32k stipend. I'm so happy and grateful! Wishing everyone great offers at their top choices!

Congrats @IBrakeForVanJohnson!! That's awesome news!
I have an update about Temple funding: I received an email from my potential adviser to say that I've been awarded a University Fellowship! She said the details would come by mail sometime this week, so @jmc117, keep an eye out in your postbox, too! 
Funny story, though: the email actually came last Thursday, but it got caught by my spam folder, probably because it was titled "Good news" and mentioned a large dollar amount in the body, haha. I only caught it because I was looking to see if I got into the Broad Street Run lottery.
I'll update with the details of the fellowship whenever I get the official letter. Fingers crossed for everyone who's waiting for news!

I have a Temple funding update! I received the official offer by email this afternoon. It's a Presidential Fellowship with four years of funding, two with service requirements and two without, and a $32k stipend. I'm so happy and grateful! Wishing everyone great offers at their top choices!

Thank you so much, @transrelativity and @Melisa!
This whole community has been so supportive of each other, so thank you for renewing my faith in humanity! 

Oh, and here's another thing I did, though I'm not sure if it has influenced me yet or not. I added both schools/programs on Twitter and I've been watching what they promote.

Hi all! I want to start a thread that's about general decision-making practices rather than asking for input or advice on one individual's choice between specific programs. I think it might be a helpful exercise for folks to post two things: the factors they're considering when making a decision, and the process they're using to sift through those factors and arrive at a conclusion. I know it would be helpful to me to hear what other people are doing.
I'll go first.
Factors that are important to me:
Funding offers (How much is the stipend and what, if anything, are my teaching responsibilities? Can I hold other jobs while funded?) Adviser/faculty members (How close is their research to my interests? How well do we get along?) Program requirements (e.g. one program requires master's-level statistics competency coming in, while the other teaches it as part of the degree) Course offerings (Which courses interest me the most? Which offer the best preparation for my dissertation?) Institutional resources (campuses abroad, research and conference support) Additional credentials offered (graduate minors or certificates) Department character and priorities (Is the atmosphere competitive or collegial? Are they focused on academic or non-academic career training?) Location and commute (If School A offers me more money but is a two-hour round trip from my home, is it still a good deal?) Placement of graduates Cohort of dynamic, engaged, and diverse students Processes I'm using to sift through these factors:
Listing courses that excite me at each school and comparing Attending advertised recruitment day; seeking an individual visit if there is no recruitment day. Would like to meet and talk with current students. Emailing/meeting with faculty and potential advisers Discussing the options with my current colleagues and previous advisers Talking it over with my spouse That's where I am so far. I'd love to hear what others are considering -- maybe you're thinking about something that hasn't occurred to me!
I did also look up the rankings of the two schools I'm considering, but I really don't know if that's an important factor for me. I'm also not sure whose rankings (if any) to trust, or what metrics are most important. If anyone out there uses rankings as a decision-making factor, I'd love to hear more about where you got those rankings and how you use them.

Hi all! I want to start a thread that's about general decision-making practices rather than asking for input or advice on one individual's choice between specific programs. I think it might be a helpful exercise for folks to post two things: the factors they're considering when making a decision, and the process they're using to sift through those factors and arrive at a conclusion. I know it would be helpful to me to hear what other people are doing.
I'll go first.
Factors that are important to me:
Funding offers (How much is the stipend and what, if anything, are my teaching responsibilities? Can I hold other jobs while funded?) Adviser/faculty members (How close is their research to my interests? How well do we get along?) Program requirements (e.g. one program requires master's-level statistics competency coming in, while the other teaches it as part of the degree) Course offerings (Which courses interest me the most? Which offer the best preparation for my dissertation?) Institutional resources (campuses abroad, research and conference support) Additional credentials offered (graduate minors or certificates) Department character and priorities (Is the atmosphere competitive or collegial? Are they focused on academic or non-academic career training?) Location and commute (If School A offers me more money but is a two-hour round trip from my home, is it still a good deal?) Placement of graduates Cohort of dynamic, engaged, and diverse students Processes I'm using to sift through these factors:
Listing courses that excite me at each school and comparing Attending advertised recruitment day; seeking an individual visit if there is no recruitment day. Would like to meet and talk with current students. Emailing/meeting with faculty and potential advisers Discussing the options with my current colleagues and previous advisers Talking it over with my spouse That's where I am so far. I'd love to hear what others are considering -- maybe you're thinking about something that hasn't occurred to me!
I did also look up the rankings of the two schools I'm considering, but I really don't know if that's an important factor for me. I'm also not sure whose rankings (if any) to trust, or what metrics are most important. If anyone out there uses rankings as a decision-making factor, I'd love to hear more about where you got those rankings and how you use them.

Hi all! I want to start a thread that's about general decision-making practices rather than asking for input or advice on one individual's choice between specific programs. I think it might be a helpful exercise for folks to post two things: the factors they're considering when making a decision, and the process they're using to sift through those factors and arrive at a conclusion. I know it would be helpful to me to hear what other people are doing.
I'll go first.
Factors that are important to me:
Funding offers (How much is the stipend and what, if anything, are my teaching responsibilities? Can I hold other jobs while funded?) Adviser/faculty members (How close is their research to my interests? How well do we get along?) Program requirements (e.g. one program requires master's-level statistics competency coming in, while the other teaches it as part of the degree) Course offerings (Which courses interest me the most? Which offer the best preparation for my dissertation?) Institutional resources (campuses abroad, research and conference support) Additional credentials offered (graduate minors or certificates) Department character and priorities (Is the atmosphere competitive or collegial? Are they focused on academic or non-academic career training?) Location and commute (If School A offers me more money but is a two-hour round trip from my home, is it still a good deal?) Placement of graduates Cohort of dynamic, engaged, and diverse students Processes I'm using to sift through these factors:
Listing courses that excite me at each school and comparing Attending advertised recruitment day; seeking an individual visit if there is no recruitment day. Would like to meet and talk with current students. Emailing/meeting with faculty and potential advisers Discussing the options with my current colleagues and previous advisers Talking it over with my spouse That's where I am so far. I'd love to hear what others are considering -- maybe you're thinking about something that hasn't occurred to me!
I did also look up the rankings of the two schools I'm considering, but I really don't know if that's an important factor for me. I'm also not sure whose rankings (if any) to trust, or what metrics are most important. If anyone out there uses rankings as a decision-making factor, I'd love to hear more about where you got those rankings and how you use them.

@jmc117 Omg, congrats on the Temple acceptance! That's awesome news!! Now we await the funding notifications together... 

@transrelativity I just received my Temple acceptance in the mail yesterday ? I had a good feeling about Valentine's day! My advisor would be the scholar I want to work with the most. But funding...will have to wait and see about that!

Congrats, @Psyhopeful! That's awesome news!!

Got my Penn rejection too! Now I’ve just got my interview weekend at UCSB and to hear from one more school that I interviewed at and it will be decision time. I really didn’t expect to have choices, so I’m happy despite the 8 or so more rejections that will soon be making their way to me!

@kaithewriter I've been out for a while, too. I finished my masters in 2011. It's exciting that you have schools to choose from! I'm sure it'll be a long discussion between you and your partner.

UPenn decisions just went out. I did not get in...
BUT. I got into the LSE MSc in Gender, Media, and Culture this morning...

I got into the Communication Ph.D at Michigan State! They actually sent me the formal letter on the 8th, but they made a typo in my email address so I only found out today. 

@jmc117 The Temple letter came by standard mail. I never got anything by email, and when I logged into their application site just now I didn't see any status indicators, either. I did actually get two separate letters, though; one came from the program, and a day later I got one from the dean of graduate studies. Both were by standard mail.
To my fellow UPenn wait squad: I'm guessing the results are going to come out on the 15th. That would be the middle of the month, and they've done the 15th in the past, according to the results page. Maybe they felt bad about doing it on V-Day last year!

@jmc117 The Temple letter came by standard mail. I never got anything by email, and when I logged into their application site just now I didn't see any status indicators, either. I did actually get two separate letters, though; one came from the program, and a day later I got one from the dean of graduate studies. Both were by standard mail.
To my fellow UPenn wait squad: I'm guessing the results are going to come out on the 15th. That would be the middle of the month, and they've done the 15th in the past, according to the results page. Maybe they felt bad about doing it on V-Day last year!

Absolutely brilliant

I have been a longtime lurker in these forums and finally decided to join the convo.
I'm writing about a topic that is relatively sensitive and in a 2019 context is highly charged so I'm hoping this dialogue can be productive and respectful.
Full disclosure, I am a woman of color and this has been the most emotionally taxing process I've ever been through, and I've been through some shit.
I know this is something everyone has to accept, but I feel terribly alone at the moment. The silent but toxic stress of carrying all of these identities is killing me. 
After being one of the few members of my immediate and extended family to complete a bachelors degree, I entered the workforce for several years and after mind numbing work, I decided to re-enter academia and apply to PhD programs. Though I am not first generation, I might as well be. My mother has an associates and my father completed his masters shortly after I entered college myself. Beyond that, I don't know anyone who has ever ventured into getting any sort of advanced degrees of any kind let alone bachelors degrees or high school diplomas. My parents, though supportive, proved quite useless during this process and many of my other family and friends didn't understand why I'd give up a great career to "go back to school." It's draining at family functions to have conversations about things no one understands and judges me heavily for. Navigating the application process was such a difficult process. I reached out to other minorities and POC (person/people of color) during the initial stages but they too vocalized how taking on this endeavor can be very difficult if you're the first to do it. 
Not to sound like a martyr but for much of my academic and career journeys thus far I have always been the first and only in the spaces I exist in. I am one of a few POC at work and  I was one of 3 POC women in a group of about 10 total in my undergraduate program. The stress of constantly feeling like I need to represent an entire group is draining and the burden of not feeling like I can measure up is exhausting. Imposter syndrome has been real. At every step of this process I have been filled with self doubt. I waited 2 years to take the GRE just because I was afraid of failing. I did not I got 160Q/167V/5.5 Writing respectively. Then I applied to programs and felt like my statement of purpose wouldn't be good enough, I was told by many that it was great. I went to open houses and info sessions thinking I didn't belong only to walk away feeling empowered. 
But now, that has all come to an overflowing boil. I am at a point in the PhD application process where it's becoming more readily apparent that I will probably get a flush of denies to every program I applied. I have seen acceptances and invitations for interviews go up and my inbox remains empty save for the 4 denies I've already received. When people ask me how the process is going, i can't bring myself to tell them I've been denied so I just keep saying "I'm still waiting to hear back...". Though this is true, I have no faith that I'll get into the remaining 3 programs I'm waiting on. Even my 'safety school' denied me already.
What's more frustrating is the current undertones that exist in admissions -- the Harvard case against affirmative action, the feeling that spots are "deserved" rather than earned, this idea that POC are given spots in program. I was not expecting to be admitted based on some diversity metrics, and I don't fully believe at the PhD level special considerations are made based on race, religion, ethnicity, or gender. But to continually get denied makes me feel double as bad as I feel like I truly was the worst of a group that already gets special considerations/concessions. 
I am not sure how to move on from these denials and face the hoards of family who thought I was crazy for considering this, the coworkers and friends who have supported me with a zeal that honestly made me even consider doing this in the first place, and the countless other marginalized groups I wanted to encourage through my application and acceptances into programs.
Though I identify (and exist) as a woman of color, I know I am not alone. I know there are countless women, people of color, international students, immigrants, LGBTQ, and other underrepresented or marginalized populations who hopefully can identify with these emotions and I just wanted to allow for a space for folks to be vulnerable. 
 

Sorry it didn't go your way at U Mich, @jmc117. But hopefully now you'll be getting news soon from your other options!
I got my official rejection from Drexel today. I thought I'd feel bummed, but I don't. I think they made the right decision; the interview showed that their program and I weren't a good fit for each other. I'm still waiting on UPenn (like half of this thread lol) and on funding from Temple. Hoping to get some news from at least one of those this week!

I hope some from this thread gets into a UPenn! It seems like most of the comm people in the results don’t post here. I want to be happy for someone I actually “know”.

Hey everyone!
I just came back from Penn State and wanted to put it out there for next year's applicants/readers of this thread that their resources and faculty exceeded my expectations. It was my first time visiting a Big 10 institution and it was impressive. Great people-super friendly/collaborative environment, nice facilities (beautiful Carnegie building on historic part of campus next to the main library). The PhD students were getting faculty mentorship for various grants and Fulbrights and succeeding with their applications. Also-the standard acceptance package: stipends were 20k, tuition and student fees included, excellent health insurance, plus optional summer stipend and a 1k per year travel money included with option to apply for extra. Cheers!

That's fantastic news! Congratulations!!!
My story of the day: I emailed the Rutgers graduate director and asked when I could visit campus and meet her. Not two hours later, I got an official invite to recruitment day. Face, meet palm! That's what I get for being overexcited!