IvyHope

Generally speaking, in our field, it's not likely to get employment at an institution that's ranked higher than the one you did your PhD. However, much of this depends on the amount of work you complete while a graduate student- one of the most important things to keep in mind is the number of publications you have on your vita will likely determine your employability after grad school. Publish or perish!

Oh, I see what you mean. No, I don't think 5-6 or so rankings will make a huge difference. If it comes down to that, then definitely think about the other factors. If you're talking about the difference between a #5 and a #25, it seems worthwhile to me to take on a little more debt, if that's what it takes. But if you're talking about all top 20 or 25s, then it's not a huge deal. I'd probably consider next the financial package. But then again, I'm not married, etc.

Hang on, t_ruth. You DO have rankings in Ed Psych specifically. They were last ranked in 2008 and there are several different subdivisions of education studies on the USNews rankings...if I were you, I'd pay the $15 or whatever and check it out. Because, like it or not, they matter. IF you are interested in a faculty position someday, then you should try to go to the highest ranked school you are accepted to. It'll make your job search someday much more simple. I know several people on here don't think the US News rankings are legit, but believe me, they do matter because departments that are ranked more highly are more likely to receive monies that otherwise they would not, are more likely to recruit stellar students, which in the end reflects upon their reputation favorably, and as a result will recruit stellar faculty...I could go on. Other factors to consider are your living expenses, previous school debt, climate (if you are homosexual please don't try to spend the next 4-5 years in Oklahoma, as an example), fit with faculty and research interests, and when it all comes down to it, the best financial package. When you go on the job market, no one will care what the undergrad reputation was. They WILL notice what grad program you came from, however, and who you studied with.

Or you could just keep the form they mail you in the first place, like in a file cabinet ;-)

Yes, I haven't received either of my W2s yet. I just submitted my FAFSA anyway. I'll just have to correct it later.

Ugh. Please note- I received an email from my first choice school yesterday, reminding me that I need to fill out their financial aid information. They require their own financial aid application plus the FAFSA be completed before Feb 1., regardless of the status of my application. That doesn't leave much time, but I thought I'd note this here so that others can become aware that they should check out the status of their financial aid prospects at their various schools.

You just thank them for the opportunity but explain that another opportunity has opened up for you, that you feel is a better fit for ABC reasons. They won't be angry. If anything, they'll be glad they don't have to take 30-60 min of their day to talk to a student who may or may not end up coming to their school. ;-)

Yes. If you haven't heard back, it's because they haven't decided. Also, they do keep track of emails from prospective students, and these things are considered in decisions (ie, was the student irritating/rude/unprofessional?). I was witness to a discussion about a student between two faculty just last week, and they made their decision (after formally discussing the student in an earlier meeting). The faculty member literally hopped out of our office to email the student. They like notifying students, so unless you've heard, they likely haven't decided yet.

If there are schools that you already know you're not interested in attending, the polite thing to do is inform them as soon as possible. Just as prospective graduate students (myself included) get frustrated when our schools hold out, faculty get frustrated when students hold out. They have several other people they'd like to recruit to your position if you don't want it, and waiting just means that they are less likely to recruit their next choice students, who may be taking offers elsewhere. Additionally, there are probably 5 people who would love for someone like you to release your less-desired slots so they can be considered. If you already know X or Y is your first choice, and you've been accepted at X, I would go ahead and pass that info to the remaining schools asap.

No...notification is notification. I don't think it would help- it might only make some people think they were looking at two acceptances. You know?

UGA?

I agree with adaptations. I'd keep calling them Dr. so and so until you get a clear a-ok from them to call them by their first name. I also had a prof who reamed me once for lacking "professionalism" in my emails. This was after knowing/working with her for over a year!

I wouldn't read too much into that. It sounds like an email that they send to the masses. Your school may have upgraded their admissions system since the last time you applied.

Is it possible that's because the IRS considers your tuition reimbursement part of your income? That's something several of my peers and I have debated for the last couple of years...

It hasn't gone unnoticed that the majority of the people who post their stats are the ones with 1600 GRE and 4.0 GPA. Just take it with a grain of salt. The huge majority of the people on here don't bother boasting that stuff.

You can't get federal grants for grad school, but schools have pots of money for this purpose that they hand out. You should always fill out the FAFSA, even if you're funded or can afford grad school. You never know what scholarships or grants might be options for you until you do.

Sniff sniff sniff...do I smell something in here?? ;-)

You're always eligible for loans in graduate school. It might be that you're not eligible for scholarships or fellowships until your second year. That's one of the unfortunate consequences of going back to school after working a higher-paying (or just paying) job.

There's really no room for someone like you (or her) in academia. First of all, if you can't even muster the courage to ask for a letter of recommendation, what makes you think you are going to survive in academia? Surviving this "rat race" is about far more than being smart. If someone can't even face a professor to ask for a letter of recommendation (usually a positive experience for most), how can they begin to think they can survive in a competitive world that includes teaching (in person), grant proposals, advising graduate students, serving on committees, going up for tenure (a process unbelievably nerve-wracking and public) presenting at conferences... Would you argue the same for someone who steals your work and puts their name on it? Do they have some justification because of their own shortcomings, in this case, shyness? Is that what you would call "hustling?" What is the point of entering a field in which you can justify such behavior? Why not just steal others work now and take credit for it? For that matter, why not just forge a diploma from the institution of your choice? What is the point of ethics? Or hard work? She doesn't behave in that manner because of honest people. She behaves in that manner because she has a flawed personality and no conscience. You are incorrect to assume that we all cheat on tests and hide in the shadows from our advisors when things are due- the majority of us on this site (and in academia) own up to our responsibilities and do the work that is required of us. It's because we do the work that we don't have to slime around forging letters of recommendation. For someone who claims to be so shy, you certainly have no problem hiding behind the anonymity of the net and calling people horrific names, people that could someday be your colleagues. I can say with certainty that I hope I never have the ill fortune of becoming your colleague, or the girl who is in question. I'm better than that. The OP did nothing remotely resembling "backstabbing." She did what she should have done, acted responsibly and with integrity. You might try some of that. If you have trouble with these things that you mention (initiating relationships with profs, getting work in on time, whether it's right or wrong to forge a letter) I strongly urge you to reconsider entering academia. It just doesn't sound like an appropriate place for you.

I applied to the Education Policy program at Penn.

t_ruth, where is this flow chart?

Inspekt and magiclogic- which program at Penn did you apply to? TeeDub- My advisor is a HGSE grad, and he said it is not likely to get admitted there for a doctorate if you've done your MA there...does this concern you? What is your first choice?

out of curiosity, which areas of manhattan would you recommend avoiding?

Not to be a bubble-buster, but you can't join your facebook network until the new school gives you an email address ;-)

In most fields I'm familiar with, if you don't make some contact ahead of time you're seen as not that interested in the program. It shows some confidence and lets them know you're for real. And it certainly helps during admissions decisions if they can put a name with a face/correspondence. Most self-help books on this subject will tell you that is going to boost your chances of getting your app moved to the top of the pile.