cooperphd

Another one attending American. I am in the Justice, Law & Society program. The visitation day was great. Can't wait to move back to DC. I am already starting to look for places to live, but it looks like most places aren't advertising for late summer yet.

Is anyone thinking about not going with a funded offer? I am into a program fully funded and wondering if my interests will actually fully line up. I went for the program not a specific professor when I applied. I figure they accepted me knowing my interests, so I must fit in somewhere.

I have a Master's in Theology from Harvard and I do not think it has prevented further study. Many PhD students go through a Master's program at a divinity school first or seminary first. Union is respected so I think it would be fine.

I have a great job I will be leaving for graduate school. I am going to try to stay as long as I can to help them make the transition. I will likely move around August 15th as school starts on the 16th.

Interesting, the night class schedule is what is slightly turning me off. I saw that two of the doctoral seminars are from 8-11pm and I am a morning person. I lived in DC before so I am actually excited at the prospect of returning. Both my master's and undergrad were in large cities, so I like city living. Congratulations on your decision making. I'll let you know if we'll be classmates when I decide, but honestly I think I am leading that way as well.

Did you decide you will definitely attend after your visit? The PhD program visit day isn't until April 6th so I won't make any final decisions until then. I have full funding there, but have been wait listed for funding for a few other programs. I will probably wait to hear from other schools, just so I know my full options.

I called the department because I have offers elsewhere and was interested to know their decisions. The graduate secretary said that no decisions had been sent yet. That everything was going to be mailed next week or possibly the beginning of the following week. Unfortunately, I think the poster on the wall was lying.

I also applied to American's program for a PhD and was accepted. I am going to be visiting in April. Do you know how they rank? I get the sense that it isn't a top program but not bad either.

My husband has been extremely supportive of me. He is planning to give up his job and move wherever I end up. Part of the deal though is that we try to get pregnant so he can be a stay at home dad. He has decided that he would love to raise a child. We've done some research on having children in this process and we think we can pull it off. Needless to say, we won't be buying luxury goods, but I think it is a good compromise.

I am on a short list at Irvine if more funding becomes available and I had a 1270 GRE. I am not sure what that means for their overall usage of GRE scores. Did you apply this cycle? I didn't apply to any of your other choices. I am in the Law & Society realm of Crim programs so it might vary a little for me.

I have been wait listed at my top choice. There are 12 people on the wait list, non-ranked. I interview really well, so should I visit while on the wait list? It would be a cross country flight.

So you will be attending NYU's program next year. It seems like their faculty is extensive but comes from a variety places in the school. Did you study law and society as an undergrad?

I've lived or spent significant time in almost every city you mentioned. Here is my run down. Chicago: great city, very affordable, great food. Hyde Park (U Chicago) is a little harder public transportation wise, but is really a cool neighborhood if you like a little grittiness. There are some great restaurants. Commuters to UChicago neighborhood find parking difficult, but you can have a car easily if you live in the neighborhood. Amazing festivals in the summer. The weather is its worst attribute, serious cold in the winter and serious heat in the summer.(Basis: attended UChicago undergrad and lived in Chicago for 6 years) Baltimore: Another great city, if you live in Fells Point area near all the shops and restaurants. Some of the other neighborhoods get a little sketchier. Another great food city. As for living in DC, it is more like 45min-1hr commute, not the 30 minutes another poster noted earlier. (Basis: visit best friend in Baltimore ~10 times per year and I lived in DC). Easy commute up the east coast corridor. Ann Arbor: Great smaller city. Not really located near much. Good food but heavy emphasis on the frat and football culture. If you like big games and streets sometimes littered with beer cans you'll be fine. Seattle: Mostly concur with the other posters. Asian grocery stores are great. Good food. Public transportation is great comparatively. They all complain but mostly because they need something to complain about. Nice easy drives to the country for outdoor activities as well as nice parks in the city. NYC: most overrated and extremely expensive. You can get all NY has to offer in some of the other locales for way less. Live on the outskirts currently San Diego is my only blank spot

I have been wait listed at my top choice. I interview well so I am thinking about taking a trip to see the school before they make a final decision on the wait listed candidates. The trip would be to the total opposite coast. Is it worth the trip? Would it possible play a role in my coming off the wait list first?

Abolitionista- I applied to NYU (Law & Society), UC Berkeley (Jurisprudence and Social Policy), UC Irvine (Criminology, Law & Society), UIC (Criminology, Law and Justice), ASU (Justice Studies), SUNY Binghamton (Social, Political, Economic and Legal Philosophy) and American University (Law and Justice). I heard last night that I am wait listed at UC Irvine and accepted to UIC, but only into the Master's program. I already have a masters from an ivy so I won't be accepting that offer. Did you do an interdisciplinary undergrad program? I studied Law & Society as an undergrad and it really was a place where I could put all my research interests into one place. However, that hasn't translated as easily to phd programs.