rejectedloser

If you haven't heard anything at all, then I think that means you're rejected; sorry to say. They have around 25 people waitlisted this year, and they've all been contacted. Who needs Chicago anyway?

How does job recruitment work exactly? Is it more important where you graduate from or who your faculty adviser is? For example, assuming someone is relatively successful in grad school (85th percentile), and if they get into a top 60 school but work with somebody extremely well known, who just happens to be there (e.g. for geographic reasons), how good are their chances of getting a job in the top 30? Any ideas... (assume no post-doc) Anyone know what an average starting salary at a top 30 is?

If I'm not mistaken, isn't the MA optional in lots of sociology PhD programs? I'm talking about PhD programs that you get into straight after undergrad. Of course, staying 6 or 7 years or doing a post-doc can be worthwhile if you beef up your publishing record. Personally, I'd rather get out as quickly as possible and THEN, if my publishing record is weak, do a post-doc; as opposed to staying 7 or 8 years to complete your dissertation and publish more. My two cents...

I disagree. I think six years is the most common. Five is also quite common in most top 20 schools. There are even cases of 4 years, though it's generally not advised. But five years is certainly do-able. Many grad students and profs have told me so.

Does anyone know how long wait-listed folks are going to have to wait? Are we going to have to wait until April 15 to get final decisions from some schools, or will some notify us in March?

I've heard mixed things about MAPSS. It's not only for people with unfocused interests, though. Anyway, I'd advise against it. UChicago's grad program also takes on average about 8 years to complete. I noticed you got into Berkeley. I didn't apply there, but wish I did. If you have the option of UChicago MAPSS and Berkeley, I'd go Berkeley any day (considering funding). You could always get your Masters at Berkeley and apply to Chicago in future years. Do you know when wait listed applicants, on average, receive a final decision. I'm wait listed everywhere; I can't stand it.

Wait lists probably range in size from 4-20 students, depending on how many students the department admits. Chicago probably accepted around 15 students. So I would guess they have about 6 or 7 people on their waitlists. They offered me that ridiculous MAPSS offer of 2/3 tuition coverage. I'm still on their soc phd waitlist. I understand the economy is in shambles, but do they really expect me to spend $17000 dollars on graduate education (a useless Masters degree) and spend around $20000 on living in Chicago (which is expensive) and offer no financial support. What a ridiculous offer. Would anyone who got accepted to their Soc PhD program care to share info on the funding?

The University of Phoenix has a very dynamic sociology PhD programs. They let you develop your own curriculum and you have over 100,000 student colleagues to interact with. I really hope I get in! UofP has been my number one choice all along!!

Man would I love to get in...(mostly interested in cultural sociology). The ranking's always surprised me though. Assuming your talking about Gorski and Adams, I wonder why rankings haven't improved since they were hired. Wasn't that five years ago?

Anyone know if Yale is done with acceptances or has a waitlist? Also, Yale's ranked 20th in sociology. Anyone know if they are improving? Have they been 20th for a long time now? I can't seem to find rankings from the 90s and early 00s. What about job placement?

You used too many big words in one sentence. Hmm that's why I keep getting rejected.

And how would you like to be addressed, misterpat?

"Professor" is the most formal; "Dr." second most". I usually go with the former. The tacit rule is NEVER address a professor by their first name, except if they tell you it's ok. I've had uncomfortable experiences when I didn't follow this "rule".

Congrats!!!! Michigan's probably the fastest-improving school. I'd love to go there!

I called today and they told me they've made decisions and are going to announce them by end of week or early next week. So this could be another fake post, possibly.