Gooner

You certainly know best, but I would advise you to think really hard about this. I think it's okay to take out some loans for programs that offer less-than-ideal funding, but unless you're going to a top-5 program, I would advise against going the loan route. There's a great deal of uncertainty in terms of academic jobs right now, and the loans would add a ton of pressure when you graduate. Plus, even if you fund your program, it doesn't guarantee you'd be able to get any teaching experience, which will be important when you job hunt (you can certainly perform outstanding research on your own, though -- however, travel to conferences may need to be paid out-of-pocket). On a brighter note, there's certainly the possibility that you could get funding in subsequent years, but there is some risk to this. I guess, at the end of the day, if no offers come along, I'd suggest you try to find some work for the next year and re-apply come winter (and yes, go through this arduous process again, but hopefully having learned a couple of things) -- it is unfortunate, but not uncommon. I'll also disagree with the majority of this statement. Applying to places just because they're good schools is certainly inadvisable; you should only apply to places that have programs/faculty that offer a good fit for your research interests. However, if the place fits your interest, but appears to be a "reach" -- still apply! I know plenty of folks (myself included) who got into programs they never thought they had a chance at. It's honestly a huge crap-shoot, especially when you consider that the admissions committees often rotate members every year and are looking for students with certain research interests. I imagine this is a really difficult time for you, with the April 15th deadlines nearing and still so much uncertainty plaguing your outlook. But I really hope you're still able to think about this with a level head and make the best decision.

Oldwolf heard correctly that PDF files (especially multi-column, non-traditional ones) perform woefully on the current crop of e-readers (The DX might be the exception as the bigger screen will probably allow you to view PDFs at full-size, removing the need to reflow or zoom). Also keep in mind that refresh rates have come a long way, but they're still quite slow compared to LCDs. As for the iPad glare, I didn't find it to be a particularly big issue. In fact, as far as I am aware, the iPad is generally noted for having one of the better screens (none of which are anywhere near as good as e-ink), which might spell doom for tablets as far as you're concerned.

I have a Nook, and in my experience, if the bulk of your reading involves books, then it is perfectly fine (as long as you don't annotate since the highlighting procedure takes too long to be useful). If you're working with PDFs (journal articles, scanned documents, etc.), life becomes a nightmare as the Nook can display them in full-page mode, but the resulting text is usually too small (full-size sheet of paper on a 7" screen); when you try to zoom in, it had to "re-flow" the text, which often results in odd-looking script. I believe this applies to the Kindle as well (although less so for the DX). I hate the iPad because it's incredibly locked down, but it is the most mature tablet out there right now. The Android tablets offer much more upside, but the current third-party software support leaves much to be desired. Having said that, a suitable alternative is to get a Nook Color and root the device (pretty simple instructions out there). That way you get a great screen (as far as LCDs go) and you can read books from Amazon, B&N, Border's, etc. with their respective apps, and I believe an app called Repligo Reader supports PDF annotations, zooming in, etc. (Also, rooting is perfectly legal, though it will probably void your warranty.)

Or, you could take the Charlie Sheen route. After all, you're already in, right?

I certainly disagree that 5/45 and 5/100 doesn't make a difference, but I think Kathiza's larger point is that the relationship between number of applicants and likelihood of getting in is not linear (since at this level, most applicants are likely to have similar, stellar stats). Having said that, I think an under-appreciated point is the importance of your stated research interests; it seems to me that programs generally don't just pick the most qualified candidates, but rather try to put together a diverse cohort. Having twice as many applicants is likely to substantially (though not linearly) increase research interest diversity, which makes vying for those limited spots significantly more competitive.

I can confirm that they have begun making decisions, but they seem to do it on a rolling basis. Hopefully two weeks means that that is when they'll be done with all of them.

Thanks! When I sent out the apps, I was hoping to get into one or two programs, so the responses have been a huge surprise. I've narrowed it down to three options (and I'm waiting on the funding decision from one of those schools), so I hope to have my mind made up by the end of next week. I'll be thrilled to be rid of this stress (and naturally begin worrying about prelims)...

Miami just sent me their decision by e-mail, so if you applied, check your inbox. I understand they're making decisions in a rolling manner, so if you don't see anything, don't despair! (Also, it's 5 p.m. EST, so they're probably closing up shop for the week.)

If you applied to Bowling Green's School of Media & Communication, you might want to check your e-mail. Best of luck!

Wisconsin-Madison's School of Journalism and Mass Comm. is getting the ball rolling. I know a few people here applied, so best of luck!

The Madison application status page says to expect a decision by the end of February. Given the recent happenings, though, I wouldn't be surprised if it does extend into March...

Cheers, mate!

Likewise, I usually see it defined as a social science. Considering how little respect the humanities receive in the U.S., we're probably better off promoting that perspective...

Cheers, mate! Hope you get all four years with a sweet stipend to boot.

Cheers, mate! If you hear anything about funding, visitation weekends, etc., let me know. I'll be sure to do the same.