halcyonday

lol taken off the waitlist for UT just now too! Already accepted at UCSD, so hopefully this will reach someone who needs it

Lol I'm having exactly the opposite problem leaving the Midwest for California... good luck to the both of us edit: or, perhaps, exactly the same

Leaning UCSD, but going to approximately 1000 more meetings to solicit more unhelpful opinions. I love the program, but I'm struggling with how far away it is... so if anyone has any thoughts on moving 30 hours from family and support I'd be interested to hear it.

Yeah, I'm considering it right now--UCSD offered nearly double what Illinois did (also thanks to a competitive fellowship surprise) and either would be a good fit, but I'm seriously considering Illinois because their institutional resources/position could really mean a lot for my project in a way UCSD doesn't. I also have strong ties to that area, though, and the personal/familial support I feel like would counterbalance (some of) the financial issues at play. If you think your stress would be noticeably more/quality of life noticeably less with the stipend difference, don't feel ashamed in making a choice based on finances if that's what's right for you--when you think about the burnout rate in academia, prioritizing those concerns isn't selfish or petty or whatever, it's thoughtful and practical.

I didn't visit (I'm from that area originally, so hard to justify time off), but I had some very nice Skype/phone interviews with faculty. Would you mind sharing some of your friend's concerns? I'd appreciate hearing them (or by personal message if they're too sensitive for the open forum!)

Welp, shut out at Northwestern so that's a wrap on application results for me. I'm deciding between University of Illinois (ICR PhD) and UCSD (dual Comm/Science Studies PhD). Coming from another field I've been having trouble figuring out the reputations of different programs, so I'd be interested to hear your opinions here. Illinois seems to place their students better, but I don't know much beyond that. My work is broadly media/cultural studies (and my MA is culture studies) but I do science texts, if that makes a difference.

What a nice sentiment I washed out on american studies but have some options in comm, so it looks like I'm jumping fields again. This kind of attitude is something I'll miss though, AMST and identity studies folks are always so kind in a way that doesn't seem to be true in every field.

Ugh, I really hope that doesn't mean they're gonna wait another whole week to release decisions..... what program did you apply in?

Do you mind sharing which department you spoke with? I know they all do things a little differently, but I think funding decisions have already come down from the school since apparently someone in performance studies was notified...

Did anyone else here interview at one of Northwestern's comm departments in Feb? I thought decisions were gonna go out yesterday/today, I'm pretty jittery waiting....

Late to comment, but I deferred from my current MA for a year for relationship reasons--wanted my partner to finish his MS so we could move together. The program had no problem with my deferment, didn't even care why. I know several other folks who've done so as well, for a variety of more and less important reasons. I don't know why everyone in this thread seems to think they're impossible--they're somewhat common, at least in my experience. Though it depends on the program and the application year, a lot of places are happy to hold your place/funding for a year because that means they can admit someone else they were excited about (real applications this year are always more exciting than giving up a spot for a hypothetical application next year). If you've already been accepted, I don't think it would hurt to at least put some feelers out. I wouldn't broach the subject til I had an admissions letter in hand, though.

No clue, but I hope someone from here gets in! After seeing so many waitlists, it'd be weirdly fulfilling to see someone I "know" get that brass ring. Good luck!

Hey, I'm really sorry. For what it's worth, I don't think it's at all about "good enough," I think it's just an ever-tightening needle's eye of scholarship. I'm just finishing up an MA in AMST, and was told by several programs my work "didn't feel like American Studies".... despite having been produced in that field...... I think it's incredibly difficult to get a foot in when the field is so small.

Haha, Brown must've heard me! Aaaaand... rejection. Oh well, still looking forward to my trip to Northwestern Thursday. Good luck to @magnegresswrites getting off their waitlist now that other decisions seem to be out!

Well, good luck to all you Harvard applicants regardless! I'll just be here... checking my watch... waiting for Brown.....