SocHope

As an undergrad I majored in History - a lot of people didn't think it was a great idea, but they sort of knew what I meant. I did a MA in comparative education and had a tough time explaining to people what that was all about. I'm not even going to try to explain to people what a doctoral program in Sociology is about! I currently work in the social sciences research field and my roommate of two years recently admitted she still has no idea what I do. I guess the point I am trying to convey is that things that seem hugely influential to me and others in my field might have little to no meaning to the wider populace. But that being said, I guess economists get a lot of attention because most people have a vague sense that what happens in the economy will affect their pocketbook. I think the public can also find anthropological and sociological research interesting (if written in a relatable and compelling fashion) because it helps them understand and explain the people and world around them. I don't think I'm really answering the question so I'll just shut up now...

I've certainly heard rumors that differential funding can affect the vibe of doctoral cohorts, but hadn't thought about it in a Masters situation. I actually did a one-year unfunded Masters. However, the program made some efforts to find funding for students, and from what I can gather, it had less to do with the perceived ability or talent of the student and more to do with the oddly specific requirements of the original source of the funds. I was one of the few in my cohort to get some funding, and it was because I fit the gender and geographical profile that the funder requested. A few international students were fairly generously funded because they met the citizenship requirements of another source of funding. There were very few of us who had these funds, and to be honest, it never seemed to factor into our relationships with faculty or the members of the cohort who were unfunded. But this is obviously from my n=1 perspective. I'm sure funding mechanisms do differ widely across programs.

I think you probably need to provide more details about your research interests and ultimate career goals for anyone to give decent advice. That being said, from the information you've provided, I would think BC is probably the cheaper option, if not in terms of tuition then probably in cost of living. Not sure that's at all helpful though!

I also think it's a great idea - even if they don't end up in your program, you might see them at conferences or on the research circus (I mean circuit!) so it's nice to build those connections now, especially if you've met folks who have similar research interests. Plus, if you're moving to a whole new city or area, it's nice to not be alone for the first couple of weeks!

The only thing I have to add is that whenever I talked with potential faculty, they would talk about my research interests and research background from my SoP but none have yet to mention my extracurriculars, even in casual conversation. But of course that's not going to be a universal experience.

Is anyone else still waiting for UPenn? Rejections went out last week, and one or two acceptances way back in Jan., but I haven't heard anything at all.

Well, there goes Berkeley (joint program)! A move to PA is in order!

Thanks for that info! Now, counting down the minutes and hours! =P At least I'm in the same timezone as Berkeley!

Listed as just demography though - maybe the joint program comes later? Ugh.

So..UPenn rejections (at least some) came out this week - before the 2-3 weeks we were expecting. I don't even know what to think if I didn't get a rejection, but certainly haven't gotten an acceptance either. Grr.

I'm glad someone revived this topic! Can anyone share their insight on quiet locations for grad students? I really want to avoid any neighborhood that has loud parties, sports crowds, or a lot of street traffic. Is there any neighborhood that isn't filled with high-rises and bland apartments? I'm not at all familiar with the area, and don't know if they have older buildings with some more character - like old homes converted to duplexes or apartment units etc. And is it a better idea to have heat included in the rent? How much would heat run in the dead of winter, for example? And what type of heating is cheapest in State College? These are really random and specific questions - but hope some of you can shed light on this!

Followed by awkward cough and clearing of throat.

Rejected from UCLA - as predicted! That leaves just two of the schools I'm more excited about - but I'm about ready to pull on a Nittany Lion sweatshirt. Oh jeez, I just saw a bunch of UPenn results on the survey, and haven't heard either way from UPenn. Back to tearing out my hair and making a Edvard Munch face.

I'm semi-waiting on UCLA - I'm assuming that it's a rejection though. The thing I really wonder about is why there was a dribble of acceptances, a short wait list and NOTHING else. It sounds like all the decisions have been made - at least they could send out firm rejections!

Mind my asking how you heard you're on a waitlist?