CNDSoc

Thanks! Haven't decided what I'll do with the offer though

In case anyone comes across this post in the future: I visited Cleveland over the weekend and it was much better than I expected! I heard a lot of terrible things about Cleveland before visiting ("It's a sh** hole, it's just like Hamilton", etc.), but it's actually quite nice! The downtown area is exceptionally clean and feels safe (cleaner than Toronto, though I'd say it's probably just as safe). Case Western campus was nice. There are good theaters, a great symphony, and a lot of other cultural activities to enjoy. The surrounding suburbs were great, and some were stunning! I visited the East suburb (i.e. the rough area of the city), just to see what all the fuss is about, and I really have seen worse (i.e. more ghetto) areas in the UK. Overall, a decent city!

Thanks! I'm heading there this Sunday so we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for your responses! I grew up in Ontario, so I'm not worried about the winter. I have a parka and snow boots I am a bit worried about the city. Is it grimy? My housemate said "Cleveland is similar to Hamilton" and that worried me quite a bit! Is there a nice area surrounding the campus? Is it safe to walk around at night?

Well, I received my first acceptance with a great financial package. Does anyone have any experience/know of someone who has experience with Case Western? What about the city of Cleveland? Much appreciated! Edit: I did a quick search on this forum and found a former Case Western student who complained about how awful Cleveland is. Is it true? I can handle the winter ..

Ah well! Too bad.. I'm anticipating a rejection from Harvard too (this was my obvious long shot from the start), so Vandy, Case Western, & UBC are left! UBC said they weren't sending out acceptance letters until March or April, just in case anyone else is waiting to hear from them.

I wonder if, like Texas-Austin, no news = bad news. sigh

Yes, her response to my application was similar. It was nice to hear that in terms of stats I'm okay, but I was so hopeful that they'd admit me. Oh well. Here's hoping for another acceptance, though I've already started looking into plans B & C. It looks like you have some offers! I hope Princeton works out!

I hope I'm wrong and you get in! You can always call her to double check! She's super friendly.

I did my MPhil with Cambridge and my fit with the department wasn't perfect, though my supervisor was and continues to be exceptionally supportive of my career. That's good news! I'd actually prefer becoming a TA; I expect it to be a rewarding experience and it adds to the CV. Thanks again

Excellent, thanks! What about funding? As far as I'm aware I'll need to apply to the department and submit separate applications for funding. Also, what is your perception of Goldsmiths? Best of luck with your applications (especially the Canadian universities! I attended U of Toronto for my BA hons, so let me know if you have any questions).

I did my MPhil at a UK university, but decided to return to NA for my PhD. Unfortunately my PhD applications to American depts were unsuccessful (I'm assuming that UPenn's & Harvard's silence = bad news), so I'm reconsidering the UK. At the moment I'm considering Edinburgh, Warwick, York, Goldsmiths, and maybe Oxford (though from what I understand Edinburgh, Warwick, and York all have stronger depts than Oxford). Any suggestions regarding departments or persons known for their research in the Sociology of Health & Mental Illness would be appreciated (I focused on the Sociology of Employment for my MPhil, so health is a new area for me)

When I spoke to Evelyn on Friday regarding the status of my application she said "well, the acceptance letters and the wait-list notifications have already been sent out, but would you like me to check your application?" I think if you haven't received a notification for an acceptance or a position on the waitlist then it may be bad news.

I think this is good advice, as long as you push yourself while in the program (i.e. seek opportunities to present at conferences etc.). I met a professor recently who graduated from a low-ranked Sociology Dept, but found a place in a top department because he had plenty of publications in good journals. He actually advised me to apply to some lower-ranked programs; I now regret not taking his advice. Oh well, live and learn. Does anyone know of some good faculty at low-ranked departments that focus on the Sociology of Health & Mental Health? I'm still waiting to hear from Case Western. Any thoughts on this department?

You are wait listed at Indiana though! There is hope

Ah, I asked a similar question to this one on the Sociology board. I also applied to some super competitive programs, so at the moment I'm left with a "low-ranked" university versus keeping my current job and working my way up the private sector. I do love Sociology & academia, but I'm worried about the 'risk' of going to a low-ranked school, possibly accumulating debt, and not finding a job after graduating. My time in the private sector has definitely shown me that employers (at least in market research) seem to prefer work experience over the PhD. I wish I could give you some advice but all I can think of is "confusion loves company".

You have great options! Well done

After spending a few hours at my office desk zoning out, I decided to ask for some advice: This is my background. Sorry it's so long! I recently finished my MPhil at a good UK university but decided to take a year or so off from academic to refine my research interests. This worked out exceptionally well, because I gained some good research experience (I work with SPSS all day) and was able to read journal articles without the pressure of impending deadlines. I applied to 8 depts this year, 6 of which are top-20 US sociology depts. The other two are Case Western and UBC. All but one application was sent to the US because my undergrad Canadian dept prefers to hire graduates from top American schools. I was rejected today from my top choice (UT-Austin), was rejected from Indiana & Wisconsin (okay, Madison was a long shot), and expect to be rejected from the other top soc programs (also long shots). This was my second time applying. The first time I believe I was unsuccessful because I attempted to rush into graduate studies without a clear focus (I’m sure I came across as immature in my SOP). This time my stats were good, my SOP was “strong” (according to my mentor who is a prof at my undergraduate institution), but I still haven’t made it. According to Evelyn, my application was well received, but they didn't have room for another Sociology of Health student. This is where I need your advice: At what point do I give up on top-20 depts? In the past I’ve had good luck with Canadian and UK applications, but I’m much less likely to be given a job in a Canadian academic institution with these degrees -- you might disagree with me on this, but this is what profs at my undergraduate dept say. Also, if my application to Case Western is successful, should I go (i.e. am I likely to find an academic position after graduating from Case)? Although my fit with Case is great, I'm not sure what the dept is like, or their reputation. Would it make more sense to go back to the UK or to a Canadian dept (or even to Asia with NUS, as my dad would prefer). I suppose what I’m basically asking is... at what point do I stop? I appreciate any advice or ideas. Thanks

Yes, it really does feel like a crapshoot.

Rejected at UT-Austin. Evelyn said, "Your application was well-received but unfortunately there was no one to supervise your research. This was my top choice, so this is a sad sad day.

Ugh.. I'm dying. Someone was notified by my top choice in mid-Feb, and since then I have been waiting for a response from UT-Austin. I finally gave in today and called the dept, but no one answered. I feel like I'm going to lose it. Plus I'm super super unproductive and distracted at work. I'm actually considering taking a few of my vacation days over these next two weeks. Please punch me in the head.