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tryffelgris

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Posts posted by tryffelgris

  1. In a word: no.

    One of my undergrad profs basically told me he has absolutely no opinion on UCLA. Which somehow seems like a bad thing. I know there are definitely reasons UCLA is ranked well-- strong demography people, etc-- but it doesn't seem to have an easily palatable "reputation" like other top schools.

  2. are you really considering JHU, ejuliast? seems like the odd one out given your other choices.

    i'm on the waiting list...can you tell?

    other people who might not be interested in their spots at JHU...when do you think you might tell the department?

  3. ...and, more specifically, how old are people in most soc cohorts? Do you think age matters? Why/why not?

    Just thought I'd try a diversion, since it appears that the schools I'm still waiting to hear from are taking their sweet time.

  4. 31K? WOW. I guess that school has finances in order.

    Meanwhile, I was offered $15K fellowship and 2 years of TA/RAship at similar amount for Sociology at a public school with a very high COL and 23K for 5 years (2 TA) at a private school, also high COL (maybe even higher). I want to go to the public school, but the funding really seems inadequate for the city. What to do?

  5. I must say I'm torn about this. On the one had, if this was a regular employer (and considering the age of most graduate students and the duration of the programs, I largely see graduate school as employment) I would definitely say it would be foolish not to negotiate, even if you are the only one. Employers will give you as little as they think they can; it's up to you to ask for more in this system. On the other hand, graduate schools are also obviously providing us with a service-- education and credentials. I just don't know.

    Also, would you accept a funding offer that was only for 3 years?

  6. I'm a sociology applicant, but I can't help but notice poli sci results. I also can't help but gawk at your HUGE stipends. I'm new to this, but I figured that the two departments would be relatively similar. My UCLA funding package begs to differ.

    Are those 22-25k fellowships for 5 years? Pure fellowships-- you don't have TA or RA?

    Congrats to you all!

  7. Hmmm...I just saw that UC Berkeley is giving $25,000 stipends for Poli Sci. So much for the budget excuse?

    Not that I'm going into Sociology for the money (ha), but that's a huge difference. $15,000 in LA means you have to choose between rent (very high in fancy Westwood, where UCLA is) or food.

    Has any one else received a funding offer for UCLA?

  8. Speaking from personal (disappointing) experience, I have to say that the GRE matters a lot. Probably more than anything else.

    I applied last year with a very bad quant score (from what I hear, for top programs anything under a 600 is not going to cut it). My ego was inflated by my undergrad profs who told me not to worry, that my application other than that was solid. I didn't get funded anywhere. Nice and humbling.

    I spoke to a prof from Stanford at a conference and she basically said that everyone is initially ranked based on their GREs and if you don't make a certain cut-off, they just don't look at you period. Pretty shocking, considering how much our discipline rails against standardized testing...

    So that's the bad news. The good news is that it's a standardized test and you CAN study for it. My recommendation is just take as many practice tests using the actual computer software as possible. Make that your priority and raise your score.

    Sorry if that was harsh. I REALLY hope you get in and don't have to spend any more time on that god awful exam! But if you do, know that you're not alone!

  9. i got in?!?

    oh, wow, i'm so shocked and excited i can hardly breathe. or type. or think straight.

    congrats to everyone and good luck!

    if anyone hears about their funding, please let us know (i think i got the standard email...funding to be decided in feb).

  10. freaked me out. said that what they have is an "essay" not a writing sample. i'm pretty sure i sent them my undergraduate thesis, and if that's not a real writing sample in their eyes, i'm clearly screwed. the secretary told me that i needed to email it to them THAT day. i re-sent my thesis and was told that that was what they needed. which makes me think they didn't have the right paper to begin with, but for the life of my i can't figure out what they actually had.

    i guess this means that they're reviewing now, since the secretary said that what the "committee has in front of them is an essay." (whatever the hell that means???).

    guess i'll keep twiddling my thumbs and panicking whenever the phone rings. a truly sad state...

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