Gunner24

Hey, my pleasure.

The school offered me the funding about a week later. It was unsolicited. The department automatically considered all applicants (MA & PhD) for funding; there was no separate application. My acceptance email said that funding offers would follow shortly after offer of admission. Did your original email say when they would be sending out funding offers? Usually, if the funding offer doesn't come with the offer of admission, they will either say "no funding for you" or tell you when funding decisions would be made. If you haven't heard either way, I'd politely ask the grad coord./DGS/__________ when they expect to make funding decisions.

I respectfully disagree with your last point. Are you saying that one must decide which path to take after earning a Bachelor's, corporate or academia? And after choosing the path, there's no way one could ever decide halfway through their MA that they want to go into the private sector instead of continue on with the PhD to be a professor? Maybe my interpretation is wrong...but that seems like a very one-dimensional, black and white way to look at it. There aren't just two clear-cut paths...today's workplace is too complex to be reduced to that. Even if I had an entry-level job available right now, I'd still go get my Master's. While I may not get that upper-level, higher paying job right away after earning the advanced degree, it may be a qualification for promotions 3, 5, 10 years down the line. I'd rather have that qualification out of the way while I'm young and childless, rather than have to leave the workplace later, when I might have kids and mortgage. Just my two cents. Good luck to you either way.

There are those strong on the verbal side who "got an 800 and barely studied" and therefore think everyone can memorize some vocab the night before and ace it. There are those on the flipside who are great at math and got a top 3% score without studying, but struggled on the verbal. Some (seemingly many on the forums) magically get 800 on both. Chances are, each of those folks are applying to programs that favor their strengths. To say that one over the other is easier for everyone is silly. To say that one matters more across all, even most, disciplines is downright ig'nant. I personally would not ever use these forums as a reliable indicator of how much GRE matters. One person's anecdote is hardly "proof".

Thanks for your feedback, XOwl. Definitely helps make more sense...I think I've been seeing things pretty one-dimensionally.

popular science

health nut

Michael, I can't speak specifically to your field, but in general it is very possible to get solid financial packages and TA/RA jobs as a Master's student. Most universities I looked at in my application process had funding available for MAs, not just PhDs. For example I am an MA applicant, and to one of the schools at which I was accepted (a related field) I was offered a TAship w/ stipend and tuition waiver (including OOS). To another school from which I haven't heard back, I know they offer full funding to all of their accepted MA students. As a Master's student, you don't necessarily have to "prove" that you are worth funding...you may have excellent credentials and aligned research interests right out of undergrad that show your promise as a graduate student...you aren't somehow useless until the day you become a PhD student Good luck, man.

Yes, you will be able to find an apartment for just you within the budget of your stipend. However, I would itemize all of the expenses you will have each month and see if dropping 5-600/mo out of 1200 is going to be feasible...that's a big chunk. After adding in transportation costs, cell phone, food, etc. on top of that rent and you may be cutting in close...I'm assuming you also want to save a little each month for trips home? Or at least a couple fun days in Austin? Also...is the 1230/mo for 12 months? I'm assuming it is, but many stipends are only for 9. Just checking. Best of luck to you!!

I would respond by saying that you are strongly considering their offer and are honored to receive it. I would also politely ask what their deadline is for accepting an offer (if it's funded, chances are it's April 15). I would conclude by saying that you will be getting to them as soon as you are able with a decision regarding their offer. That way you're showing keen interest in the program/school still, but also maintaining professionalism in telling them that basically you want to wait for other potential offers. They know that you applied to more than just one program and will likely have multiple acceptances. Best of luck!

love lockdown

You bet. No, April is definitely not too late to use a locator service like this- they operate year round...Late spring semester you're going to have an outflux of students, which naturally makes it an easier time to find favorable housing than August, so I'd suggest as soon as you have the green light (pun intended) get started on locking down a place to live. Best of luck to you!

bunny ears

Quick question for everyone...not quite sure how to title it or word it but here goes. To set the stage: I applied for and was accepted to an MA program in communication studies. It is a well-known, very well-respected school that also has a PhD program. I was offered full funding + stipend (TA). I researched their faculty and found I had very similar research interests to what one of the professors had been working on. I emailed him and he sent me a paper to read, which I did...outside of that brief email exchange we did not establish any sort of rapport. I constantly read on here about people hinging their entire application on one particular "POI" or basing their entire decision around a professor...I suppose I'm a little worried. I'm going to the "recruitment party" (their words) and am not even sure he/she will be there. It seems that the prevailing view on here is a student is accepted/funded primarily to work with a specific professor to do specific research...but I'm not getting that impression from my own experience thus far. I would love to work with this professor, but I'm very flexible on that and have several, rather than just one specific, research interest/subfield. I am not sure if I will be continuing on to PhD or getting a relevant job after I earn the MA. << confused! Anyone had this or a similar experience? I want to be prepared for the recruitment weekend and be on the same page as the graduate coordinator, who has been my only point of contact throughout my admissions process. Thanks!

Gunner = dog's name 24 = age Texas flag = my homeland

It totally varies. Some may offer it within a few days, some take several weeks, etc. It just depends on the financial situation of the department or university to which you're applying. Yes, PhD students often get preference but that doesn't mean that they don't want Master's students....some students that are applying for an MA/MS/_______ have better credentials, LORs, SOPs, or research fits than PhD applicants, and therefore be more qualified for funding. To let you know my experience, I was accepted to a Master's program and a week letter I received a great funding offer. This is a top-tier public university that also has a PhD program. I do not think that you are necessarily operating at a disadvantage by being a Master's applicant rather than PhD, but that's my opinion. I know many see it differently and will probably beg to differ. There can be value to a Master's degree outside of simply being a stepping stone towards a PhD. Hope that helps and best of luck!

Congrats on the fellowship! Yes, cost of living is reasonable in Austin so you should be fine with that amount, but you will need to watch the finances if you're going to be dropping 4 grand on trips home each year. You're going to have a hell of a time if you're looking for housing at the same time as the other ~49,999 students @ UT. If you won't be coming until mid-late August, I'd start looking in the summer and figure out a way to lock something down, especially if you want to be close to campus. There are tons of free locator services in Austin (they get commission from the apartment they rent you) who can be super helpful, if you use the right service. They'll help make sure you don't end up somewhere you hate..."scouting the internet" in August is going to leave you frustrated. I'd recommend talking to Green Light Locator Services...they're very helpful and have an awesome reputation on Yelp. Also a sidenote: I notice on your list of schools to which you applied to put "UTA"...in Texas vernacular UTA refers to UT-Arlington....the one in Austin is just UT Best of luck!

Best way to learn a new language = marry someone who speaks it. Worked for me!

A part-time TA contract will usually be set around 20 hours/week, but the actual hours will vary...and probably usually on the <20 side. I know for mine it's set at 20 hours/week for insurance/tuition assistance reasons....as an employee of the University, I have to be a "PT employee", which is described as someone who works 20 hours/week, to be eligible for the full medical and to be eligible to receive the amount of tuition assistance they offered me. There are TAs whose contract says 10-19 hours per week, but they get less benefits.

Wow, that's much cheaper than I would have guessed. It must vary greatly as you said...perhaps when you get closer to NYC it gets more expensive? That's about what it costs where I live in Colorado. I guess I always assumed that the entire NE was like NYC

Like you, I heavily weighed location in my choice for this fall- I'll be going to school in a bustling city as well. I like the idea of spending time networking while in school and reducing the chances of having to relocate when finished. And, as whit mentioned, your program will be more recognizable if you stay local. If you went to a "top-tier" school in a small town that might be great, but you would be much more likely to have to uproot and leave town to find work after you finish.

No, you meant livable I've never lived on the East Coast but I live in the "Mountain West" (not coast) and $14,500 would be very, very tight. I imagine on the East Coast it will be even tighter, especially when it comes to rent/real estate. If that's your only income, I doubt you will be able to have any creature comforts...let alone be able to take an international trip. What kind of industry is your husband in? Depending on his area his salary could vary greatly...let's say he makes what you do for a year, so your income is doubled....that's still going to be tight will Northeast COL. I'm sure someone who has actually lived on the EC or even CT can confirm this or give you some empirical evidence either way

Ooo.....FIGHT! *secretly hoping this post is hijacked by a heated debate between Californians*

Mind if I ask when you heard about the waitlist? I applied for MA, and haven't heard any official word...Thanks, and good luck! Hope you get in!

rocky road