eowyn10101

Hey! I was in a similar position to you a few years ago and I thought I'd weigh in. I applied to PhD programs and only got into one MA program unfunded. I was crushed. I contacted the program and they said that there was the potential to perform well and earn funding my second year. In the end I decided to go for it. I took out a year's worth of loans, worked really hard, and worked evenings at Borders to pay rent. The next year I got funded and the year after that I got into an amazing PhD program with great funding. I'm positive that I never would have been capable of my current PhD program with the training of my master's program. The admissions committee thought I wasn't ready for doctoral work and they were right. The training in my master's program is the only reason I got into (let alone funded) at a PhD program. My point is, not all of us are superstars coming into PhD programs, but it is possible to work the system and find alternative ways of funding. Ask about funding for the second year of the MA. Weigh the cost of loans and the odds that a masters could help you get into a funded PhD program. Ask around and see if there are a few assistantships outside of your department (my current school gives a few folks assistantships like activities organizer for student affairs, international studies office assistant and ESL tutors. They can be from any field but they got credits and a stipend like the rest of us.) Good luck!

Hey All! I would love some advice. I'm a first year PhD student. Eventually myself and my classmates will teach, but for our first year, we all have research assistantships. My assigned professor is the chair of the department and has no time for me. He will not even respond to my emails. I must make an appointment with his secretary a week in advance in order to speak to him. So far all of the work I have done is actually work that his secretary does not have time for, mostly formatting some articles for the department website and handouts. While I don't mind the work, I'm getting a little sad, hearing that all of my classmates are actually doing research for professors or helping with cool projects that are actually in their area of interest. At the very least, they are getting advise and ideas from the their research advisers. What should I do? Should I simply figure, "I'm a grad student... I'll do as I'm told and be happy that I'm getting funded"? I don't want to seem ungrateful. Or should I find a way to address this with the professor? Should I wait until later in the semester to see if he eventually has time for me? Sorry for the freak out I want to begin on the right foot, but I also feel like I am somehow missing out on a learning opportunity.