LondonFog27

Same to you! I absolutely have not been following reddit to be honest...:)

I did not look into rankings when I applied and I ultimately think that "rankings" vary based on what you want out of your PhD and your particular needs as an individual. My own ranking system considered compatibility with the department, stipend amount, healthcare (What is the deductible? Is dental and vision included? Are dependents covered ?), the mean and median rent in the city (Will I need a guarantor to have my own apartment because the stipend is so low?) , teaching responsibilities (Is there a union?), alumni job placement, and summer funding. My focus overlaps with the museum/visual studies so I also narrowed down by applying to programs with a strong Museum Studies/ Public History department and applied to work with faculty who had some form of affiliation with Art History or Museum Studies in addition to their American studies appointments. Additionally, I looked up fellowships POI's and students had, their existing relationships with various cultural institutions, and any ongoing consulting/advisory roles. For this reason, some of the "top" schools did not interest me but that simply means that it was not a good fit for my researc and standard of living.

Anyone else on the Northwestern waitlist?

My campus visit got cancelled but I am still going to go and conduct an independent site visit ( if they let me on campus, that is) I do not have the time to reschedule a trip because I work full time and I absolutely cannot commit to this school unless I have seen it.

Geez....Helpful info! Rutgers the only school I have not heard from. I simply need this nightmare to be over. Immediately.

I've been waitlisted since January for a program. The director recently told me that no one has accepted nor rejected their offer of admissions and to check back in when I am on the brink of accepting another offer. This entire process is so wild!

I Applied to Rutgers too.. I have not heard anything from the program.

I recently received an offer from UCI but I am concerned about the low stipend. How does one live on 21,000 USD in a county where the average salary is 90,000 USD? Is the subsidized student housing worth it? ( I see that there are graduate student housing options but does it still feel like a dorm?) Do you need to buy a car? ( I currently live in a city where the rent is more expensive but you can rely on public transportation) Do people hold part time positions in addition to TA requirements to make ends meet? Is it common for them to offer relocation funds? Thanks in advance!

I recently received an offer from UC Irvine but I am concerned about the low stipend. How does one live on 21,000 USD in a county where the average salary is 90,000 USD? Is the subsidized student housing worth it? ( I see that there are graduate student housing options but does it still feel like a dorm?) Do you need to buy a car? ( I currently live in a city where the rent is more expensive but you can rely on public transportation) Do people hold part time positions in addition to TA requirements to make ends meet? Is it common for them to offer relocation funds? Thanks in advance!

I recently received an offer from UC Irvine but I am concerned about the low stipend. How does one live on 21,000 USD in a county where the average salary is 90,000 USD? Is the subsidized student housing worth it? ( I see that there are graduate student housing options but does it still feel like a dorm?) Do you need to buy a car? ( I currently live in a city where the rent is more expensive but you can rely on public transportation) Do people hold part time positions in addition to TA requirements to make ends meet? Is it common for them to offer relocation funds?