Cryss

Curacao!

Just got an email from my embassy saying they will open limited appointments from July 14th specifically for student visas and petition-based visas. Will keep you guys updated.

Important stuff, thanks for posting. I wonder where that leaves those just starting with new visas and wanting to do a first semester remotely online then start in-person in the spring.

As far as I've heard (from my program), the September deadline isn't school-mandated, it's actually the law (I guess according to USCIS) that if the international student can't arrive by then, they can no longer come for that semester. The fact that a lot of these schools have been cool with us deferring to Spring, I think, is a big plus. Of course, this whole trainwreck of a year is unprecedented, but I was afraid that schools would force students to defer by an entire year since many PhD programs don't allow you to start on a Spring semester. I am glad that (at least for now), we can start in the Spring semester if we can't make it by the end of September. To me, this is what actually seems harsh. Is there a reason you will be charged? Are they admin fees or straight up a percentage of tuition? This seems unfair to me.

Just amending my post to say that the end of September is the correct deadline to make it in the US for the semester, not the beginning of the Fall semester.

No slots where I am either. They haven't reopened the appointment system at all yet, although the country is open.

My school told me that legally, international students cannot begin a semester after it has begun, meaning, if you can't make it in time for the start of the Fall semester, you must wait to start in Spring (and of course you can't enter the US more than 30 days before the beginning of that semester).

yay!!! So happy for you!! I've been hoping for good news for you.

I am too!

Yay!!!! Let's do this!

Wait as long as you need. It sure is nice to give a quick answer and free up the waitlist for other people, but you should do that for schools you are sure you will be turning down. Sounds like the responses you're waiting for are essential for you to decide between these 2 schools. Therefore, you shouldn't rush to make a decision when you're still waiting on more information to get the whole picture.

I'm heading to WashU and must admit that the teaching load was absolutely a draw for me. I must say this point is often overlooked during the honeymoon phase of being accepted somewhere and being excited to go, but it is so important. If you'd like more detail, here's what the professor I spoke to said about the teaching load at WashU: "The teaching doesn’t begin until your 3rd year, when you would serve as essentially a TA for both semesters. After this, you teach 1 course each semester of your 4th and 5th years (usually Writing 1, but it can vary widely depending on your situation, interests, the department needs, etc.; normally you’d co-teach an undergrad class with a professor one semester too). Your sixth year (like your 1st and 2nd) is fully funded with no teaching obligations." Imo, 2:1 teaching load for 4 years is a lot, but not impossible. It will be stressful but give you a lot of experience and some people really enjoy teaching.Teaching while writing a dissertation is another story. That would be a big deal and a huge drawback if required. If you haven't already, I'd reach out to advanced and ABD students at Penn State to find out what they thought about their teaching loads throughout.

Considering these points, I'd definitely go with the one offering more money. Furthermore, if you're able to save money during your time, that may help you in the long run with the state of the job market and all. However, money truly isn't everything. If you think you'd be significantly happier at the program which offers less money, that you'd fit in better there, and that you'd regret long-term not accepting, you might as well go that route for your mental welfare (even though this is difficult to predict regardless).

For reasons I prefer not to go into, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place and had to do an unfunded MA. I'm not totally against them. Some people really want an MA and there aren't enough funded MA spots for everyone. However, I will say that I did not have any undergrad debt. Since you already do have debt, if I were in your situation, I would not go further into debt. I would use the year to get a job in the industry, present at conferences if possible, strengthen my application and apply for funded MAs and PHD programs next year. Of course, you need to take into consideration the effects on the economy the pandemic is having. There is a possibility that the same opportunities this year will not be offered again at some schools for a couple years, but there is also a possibility that this school year will be trash anyway, and you'd be better offer trying to make money while strengthening your application. Ultimately up to you based on the things you value including timeline, cost, what your life would look like with more debt while facing placement problems in academia, etc etc. But if it was me, barring any pressing issues, I would not do it.

This just brought a fresh wave of anxiety. I hope this will change by May/June. But that also means that it will probably take longer to get an appointment.