[Laziness and loss of drive]

I had an experience something like this when working on my thesis. The biggest piece of advice I can offer based on my experience is to make sure that you communicate with your thesis sponsor. By that, I don't mean tell him / her that you have no drive left - I mean that you should try to formulate the difficulties you are having into specific questions and bring them these issues. In my case, the lack of motivation became the greatest when I felt like I had lost track of the main question behind my research - sounds silly, but this is surprisingly easy to do, especially if you have had to modify your thesis question during the process of research. Having a poorly delineated question made the project feel like it would just continue to drag on and on, and made it really difficult to break down into manageable tasks that I could tackle one at a time - each task seemed to necessitate some other task, which necessitated some other task, ad infinitum. Once I had refocused, I was able to create a specific set of steps which I could jam through and finish the thing. I think that contacting my thesis sponsor with specific questions earlier would have eliminated a good portion of the slog of the process because she helped me refocus based on the questions I was asking.

I do that too! I'm working on a research project right now for someone else and I haven't done hardly any work on it when I'm not exhausted - too stressed to sleep, but too tempted by other daytime activities to work on the damn thing.

[University of Wisconsin-Madison]

This topic has already been discussed in another thread and the consensus was that the cuts by in large will not affect the grad students. Cost of health care may rise from (I may be misquoting) $12 / month to around $43/month. Too bad, but this is still quite affordable. As for the rest of the issue, I have read repeatedly that the state has invested too much money in their tier one research school (which brings in a lot of people and money to the state, has high standing in many fields) to take a course of action which would make it less competitive to prospective / current students. So I'm not too worried about this issue. Your friends have funded History MA degrees? That alone is pretty awesome. I don't think they would get funding pursuing an MA in most schools.

I'm not attending UW, but I do have two friends that are pursuing their MAs in History there. Both of them have been concerned about their funding streams, since they come from the state government. My one friend is a TA and gets her health insurance covered by the school, and the changes in the public employee system may force her to pay more into her health care. Just something you guys may want to consider if you haven't already. Our wonderful governor is pulling the same crap in Ohio, but fortunately I will be getting my degree in DC (oh, and I didn't get any funding to begin with).

[What were you doing when you received your acceptance?]

For three of four acceptances, I was sitting at my desk at the lab. For the last acceptance, I was in the library and walked into the hallway to take the phone call - it was my top choice school and I was jumping up and down like a nutter.

[University of Wisconsin-Madison]

I just accepted a spot in the Speech Pathology Grad Program. Very excited to start!

Would love to meet up with other students sometime once the fall arrives - I'm from New York and don't know a soul in Wisconsin.

Happy Official Decision Day! Hurray for already-made decisions for grad school - Wisconsin here we come!

Cupoftea, if you've any questions, let me know. I certainly don't claim to be an expert on Madison or UW - I've only been there twice! Perhaps because of that (and a combination of my curious and planning-ahead personality and a boring desk job), I've done a ton of research on the city and the school. I also have a few friends in Madison who are so, so helpful.

[[CS] Academics vs Social?]

If you are going to have a long distance relationship in both cases, go with A. In fact, go with A anyhow. You don't want to sacrifice your top choice school for a relationship that "has a pretty good chance of falling apart" - and then regret your choice of school when it does fall apart.

Good luck!

Your argument is convincing and probably right. I keep on coming back to "but what if my relationship doesn't fall apart? But the what if it does? But what if I really end up liking my advisor at school B? But I know I like school A!" Additionally, the Student Outcomes ranking on the NRC places school B in the top 10. So what if I don't publish as much or have as great of an advisor; students seemed happy at B and seem to go on to get jobs.

[[CS] Academics vs Social?]

If you are going to have a long distance relationship in both cases, go with A. In fact, go with A anyhow. You don't want to sacrifice your top choice school for a relationship that "has a pretty good chance of falling apart" - and then regret your choice of school when it does fall apart.

Good luck!

Your argument is convincing and probably right. I keep on coming back to "but what if my relationship doesn't fall apart? But the what if it does? But what if I really end up liking my advisor at school B? But I know I like school A!" Additionally, the Student Outcomes ranking on the NRC places school B in the top 10. So what if I don't publish as much or have as great of an advisor; students seemed happy at B and seem to go on to get jobs.

[Masters of Biomedical Engineering]

It sounds like you really want to go to Stony Brook. If the debt is not too much of a consideration, go where you will be happy.

[How do I get info from school...]

Be careful with this issue, I have read a post on this website somewhere from someone who had this situation and whose offer was later revoked by the school (the department he applied to could not get the waiver for the low GPA). I would definitely continue to try to get information, even make a trip there to resolve the question. I would not accept this offer and decline other offers until you figure this issue out. If you don't hear back by tomorrow, I would consider this school a dead option.

So, I would very much like to go to School A, because it is MUCH cheaper and close to home and for lots of other reasons. However, apparently they have only half accepted me. Because of a low GPA, my application was recommended for admission by my department, but has to be approved by the Dean of the Grad. Division. I assume this is just a formality and that at some point I will be fully accepted. However, I have tried every avenue I can think of to get some more information & have inexplicably gotten nowhere. I called the Grad. Division and the lady I talked to was rude and said she couldn't give me absolutely any info. Then I called my department and that lady said the same thing. I emailed someone else in my department and also my assigned advisor and neither of them has emailed me back even though it's been over a week! I even informed all parties mentioned that I had to know by the 15th. What I initially thought was nothing to worry about now has me worried to the core. A.) Something fishy seems to be going on & B.) I need an official answer by the 15th, as I have other offers to consider!

What should I do? Should I just keep calling & emailing? If they still haven't given me an answer by the 15th should I move onto School B? It seems like such a silly thing to get in the way of my dream school, but what can I do? Please please help.

[Masters of Biomedical Engineering]

Unless Stony Brook is significantly more prestigious than CCNY, I would go to CCNY because of the reduced tuition and living costs. Does the prestige really compensate for the cost? I am assuming that since you have no science background, you'd probably go to Stony Brook for 3 years as well.

I am freaking out...well I was before...but talking to people seemed to have balanced me out...

Here's my layout:

I'm an Industrial engineer with about 3 years coming up experience in government/public sector. I am fed up with it because of LSS is total bullshit and a waste of time.

My apps:

I applied to MS industrial engineering at Penn State just to see if I could get in and I did but I wont waste time on that anymore. I am switching to Biomedical Engineering (which i have my doubts because I worry a lot) but it feels right. I applied to PhD/MS combos for the following schools:

CCNY

Stony Brook

Rutgers

NYU Polytech

CCNY gave me an interview but ultimately rejected me for PhD but offered Masters. Stony brook did the same but gave me a deadline of this Friday April 15 to decide!!! Rutgers rejected me. NYU Polytech still haven't heard from. It's basically down to CCNY vs Stony Brook for masters of Biomedical Engineering. What do you guys thinks? Any feedback will help

Heres the situation:

CCNY - 8k vs SB 11k per year

I'm from NYC so I will commute to CCNY and live at home but will have to dorm at SBU

From what i've heard Stony is more prestigious and ranked higher than CCNY

CCNY will take 3 years to complete (i forgot to mention i have no bio or chem credits) and Stony is 2-3 years

I'm kind of torn because I dunno for sure which school. I am leaning towards Stony so I can get away from the city, focus on studying, more opportunity to score internships/jobs with company, and work with a better staff (although this is debatable because I do believe CCNY has a very good staff.

The thing is I will leave my current job which pays okay money. I have saved some but its risky business in a sense. Theres a chance I may stay on a little longer if I go to CCNY just to get a few more $.

What a dilemma!

Please help!

Thanks!

[CUNY PhD in English]

First of all, congratulations at getting in!

I understand your disappointment about the lack of funding, but given your belief that you may not have a better shot next year, you should consider the offer if this is what you really want to do (i.e., nothing else would make you happy). It may work out if you are willing to kiss some butt and really work hard to stand out in your internship placement. However, it does sound like the continuance of your teaching internship is almost completely dependent on your ability to impress the college you are placed with, which is dicey because there are so many variables involved, many of which you will have no control over - such as the personality of your boss, location of the school you will have to teach at (NYC is huge - this could really be an issue if your program is in midtown and you are placed in an outer borough, for example), NYC / NYS budget concerns, and the quality of the students. Also, I would ask about how the teaching placement works - i.e., very specific details as to what you need to do to satisfy the institutions. You also may consider how well you work with various populations of students, and how happy you would be if you got stuck at a college with difficult students.

Can you accept at this school and initiate a transfer application during your first year in case you do not get funding for the second year?

Finally, you should consider the costs of living in New York City - surf craigs list to get an approximation of rents, etc. It can be pretty expensive if they aren't offering you student housing.

Tough decision - good luck!

Hi, new to the forums, so thanks for any feedback you can provide. I was accepted off the wait list for CUNY's PhD in English for Fall 2011 yesterday. I have until Friday to make a decision, according to the email. However, I'm not getting full funding (ECF) and have only been offered "first-year teaching internship at a CUNY college for any student who does not receive an ECF. Students who teach at a CUNY college receive a salary as well as a fellowship that covers in-state tuition."

I wrote back questioning whether the adjunct job (and tuition waiver) was for the duration of my PhD. She said "We will arrange a first-year teaching internship for the first year--and then after that you're on your own. Some people keep teaching at the school they are initially placed at, and others go elsewhere. We do not guarantee ongoing adjunct employment after the first year--but we do place you for the first year, and that does carry an IN-STATE tuition waiver."

Always encouraging to hear someone asking you to pay for your PhD say 'you're on your own.'

I'm worried about the mercenary nature of this. CUNY accepts a large class and put them all to work in non-guranteed positions, making them dependent not on any kind of living wage but the in-state tuition waiver which makes their studies possible (mind you, if you are moving to NY to start the program, you have to pay the difference between in-state and out of state for the first year until your residency takes).

I know the CUNY English Phd is ranked very well so I imagine I'm misunderstanding the crux of this somehow. None of this seems to be the norm, however, at least compared to the seven other schools I applied to (seven rejections). As this is my only acceptance, and after a dispiriting few months of rejections (some from worse-ranked schools), it's hard to fathom that I'd turn down an offer an admission with no guarantee for better luck when re-applying next year. However, it's also hard to fathom scrambling during my second or third year for possibly non-existent or unattractive adjunct positions all over the bureaucracy of CUNY. My professors at both undergrad and grad (I'm finishing my MA at American U.) cautioned against paying for a PhD anywhere that would ask you to, particularly when earning a pittance.

And naturally I have two days to decide. I've perused the forums a bit and found some bits of info about CUNY's adjunct process but found nothing too helpful or encouraging. Any advice, ideas, thoughts, stories from CUNY, ANYTHING, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Speech Pathology]

- Both schools are top ranked;

- Both have great research opportunities and great faculty;

- Money is the same at both schools;

- Both programs prepare students for both medical and school based positions, but emphasize research;

- Visited one school and loved the program but not the city / cold weather;

- Have not been able to visit the other, but have visited area and liked it very much;

- Easier for my boyfriend / family to visit the cold weather city and the cold weather city school is (very) slightly more prestigious in field, but definitely more prestigious overall;

- Cold weather school is located in a "liberal" city (a plus);

- Other school is located in a "conservative" city (not sure if this would be a negative) but have long been interested in living in this area;

- Will possibly transition into PhD program wherever I go, and so am looking at potentially living in this area for 5 + years (and if I do this, likely that my boyfriend and I will break up b/c he is tied to our current location).

[When will I hear?]

Are you considering any other programs?

If you not considering other programs, then are you willing to spend the money (on a master's degree?) if you don't get into the PhD? If so, I would accept the offer and wait to see if you are then admitted into the PhD program. If you are not willing to pay for the masters, try to determine the likelihood of your acceptance into a PhD program if you were to apply again next year. If you feel that there is a high likelihood, either decline and try again next year OR accept, wait for the PhD result, and if you are not accepted into the PhD withdraw. You may wreck your chances at getting into that particular school for next year if you withdraw, however.

Another thought - does the program ever allow people to transfer into the PhD program in the second year? If so, this might also be a good option.

Good luck!

Ok, so here is the situation. I interviewed for a PhD position at my top choice school and received an acceptance for the Educational Specialist program, while being put on the wait list for the PhD program. I have contacted the Department chair twice and as of last week the committee was meeting on Tuesday (yesterday) to discuss all of the wait listed applicants and he would get back to us shortly. So right now, I'm sitting on my EdS offer and hoping for the PhD offer. When do you think I should hear back from them? And how? April 15th is FRIDAY and I don't want to miss out on anything. What would you all do?

[The Ultimate Extreme...]

That is a lot of debt for a writing degree, but I see the allure. How many years is the program, and would you have to pay for all of those years if you went to Columbia, or is there a chance of funding down the line? How great of a chance of funding? Do the jobs that graduates of the Columbia program get justify the debt - i.e., would you have a reasonable shot of making enough so you wouldn't be hurting terribly after graduation?

Also, it might be helpful to do an analysis of how feasible it would be to earn the amount of money you would need to pay off your Columbia loans in a number of different scenarios - best case scenario, normal scenario, ok scenario, and worst case scenario. Hard decision, good luck!

I was accepted into two schools--my top choice and my safety school. I applied to five programs and I am happy with the results, but here is my dilemma: these schools are about as opposite on the spectrum as you could imagine. One is Ivy League (Columbia) and is offering me no funding... zilch... nada!

UC Riverside, on the other hand, is offering me a full tuition waiver and a moderate stipend ($6000/year). The program is fine, but I don't know if I would thrive there.

My wise professor told me, "If you want to be a writer, you have to go hang out where writers hang out," and as much as a I value his opinion, the thought of going into 50k debt for the first year of a writing degree is absolutely freaking me out to no end.

To make things worse, Columbia is having their reception this Thursday the 14th and UCR's deadline to respond is the 15th. I have four hours from the time I get off the plane to decide. I live close to Riverside, so it would be somewhat convenient as I wouldn't have to move. New York would be a huge change... and I just don't know if the cost is worth it...

Any thoughts... anyone? -sincerely, east coast vs. west coast.

[CUDenver or NCSU? MANY THX!]

I think you may need to include more information in your post. From what you have stated, I am not sure why you are considering NCSU - it does not seem to be as related to the field you want to study. If you really are interested in NCSU for some reason you did not state, then I would suggest doing some follow up research re: how strong NCSU really is in your field. I would not go on the word of the director alone, especially if he did not give any specifics.

[Ahhh! Deadline dilemma]

Bump. I am under the impression that bowing out after placing a deposit was highly looked down upon / runs the risk of potentially important burning bridges, particularly if one was interested in becoming a professor. However, this is just hearsay from various sources... any wisdom from experience out there?

[Waitlisted at top choice]

I was waitlisted at my top choice school and will not find out if they will accept me until after April 15th. However, I was accepted at four other great schools. Do I just treat my top choice as a dead option?