grishko

He has, but I don't know that they can do much as his is sciences faculty and mine is literature. They know our situation so I think they would've offered some help if so... though they are very helpful with career resources for partners.

Thanks very much for these insights - that's what my intuition was telling me: that I'd just get the dreaded "why are you here" vibe! That's a good idea about perhaps reaching out to a grad student, but perhaps only if their work is very closely related to mine. In the meantime I'll try to network if the opportunity arises at all. I agree that UCSD is a very specific program and don't want to fall into the trap of applying just because of location, which wouldn't be to anyone's benefit. I'll be doing a lot of research Thanks for this reminder. I'm definitely aware of the bias against women having children in academia, and I think mentioning it at all before you have an offer somewhere is shooting yourself in the foot (sad as it may be). I'm a bit surprised that it would extend to married women as well... maybe just because of the association of marriage with reproduction. But yeah, something to keep in mind. This will be my next step. I think that there will be people who judge, but it's unrealistic to think we can make these decisions in a vacuum especially given their odds of success for a stable career. Thanks again for your responses, guys.

I'm late to this thread, but wondering if anyone is dealing with a situation at all like mine. My boyfriend is in the sciences whereas I'm currently doing an MA in English, but he's at a very different point in his career: he's on the job market for faculty positions and has been offered a position at UCSD (which is great!). So there's a 90ish% chance that's where we'll be moving (him this fall and me once I finish my MA), and if I want to do a PhD, it'll have to be within a 2 hour radius of there. I've already decided that I would choose living with or near him over the PhD if I had to, and we are planning to start a family soon so I couldn't do long distance while I'm in the PhD program. Knowing that I essentially have to get into one of 3-4 schools in order to stay in academia, I wonder if anyone has tips for how to maximize your chances? He thinks I should meet with POIs at UCSD and tell them that he will be joining the faculty and that I'm interested in their program, but this seems presumptuous to me... I don't know that they'd care at all what my situation is, particularly because he's in a completely different field. But I will be in SD a lot in the near future, including an upcoming visit for them to wine and dine us, so it seems a waste not to reach out to anyone. I know this is a very specific problem, but just thought I'd put it out there. I don't even know if I should ask profs in my own MA program for advice... I'm afraid people will take me less seriously if they know I'm prioritizing my commitment to the relationship over maximizing my options for the PhD :/

So, what's the standard protocol for waitlisters who haven't heard anything by the 15th? Should I send an email/call, or just wait and hope? I haven't contacted them since right after their recruitment weekend. Luckily I don't have to give anyone a decision today, at least.

Don't know if anyone's waiting on Canadian Master's programs, but if so: I turned down Toronto and McGill MA offers. Hope it helps someone.

Hmm, that's a good idea. I've already sent an email to the DGS asking when they might start to notify waitlisted candidates and telling them it's my top choice, but I didn't reiterate my fit with the program. Do you think it would be worthwhile to send a physical letter also, or would that be overkill at this point?

This thread is pretty inactive, but I was wondering whether you or anyone else going to the recruitment weekend would be up for sharing their impressions? I'm waitlisted and eager to hear about it.

I'm going to try to visit, though the graduate assistant hasn't been responsive. But it wouldn't be too bad of a drive for me. I get the feeling we won't hear more about additional funding for quite awhile. I also get the feeling this thread will just be the two of us!

Yep I'm American, also anxious to hear about the funding from this and another MA. It does seem to be the most affordable I've seen in terms of tuition, so that helps. I'm surprised they don't have a designated visit day.. would you visit the two programs?

Hi there! I'm also considering McGill for this fall, so I second this question. I'm trying to way the different Canadian programs. My general interests are 20/21C American lit and theory. I'm conflicted because I'm interested in the TA possibility in the second year, but also wondering whether it's possible to complete their program in one year...

holdsteady, thanks very much for this info! I was about to send UBC English the same email. I'm in the same boat; both McGill and U of T have April 1 deadlines for my decision... how can the Canadian schools be so uncoordinated? Did you tell UBC about your deadline? My problem is amplified by the fact that I'm on a wait list at UT Austin, so I likely wouldn't be able to make the decision deadline anyway...

Thanks Kermit, it's helpful to hear an insider's perspective. I would lean toward McGill just because that's the only (partially) funded MA offer I have right now, but there's also the consideration that Toronto is a shorter program. I keep hearing "funding begets funding", but I'm not sure whether it's less important with the Canadian schools.

Doesn't make me feel worse; I'm ecstatic just to be on their wait list! I'm really hoping it turns into an offer.

I'm also feeling the wait list pain, especially because two of the MAs I've been accepted into are Canadian and have April 1 deadlines! I've told them both I'll probably need an extension, but they seem to only think a few days is possible. Not sure what to do, and when to check in with the PhD program to say "I have a couple offers and you're my first choice but I need to know"...

So I haven't posted on here yet this application season, but I've been wait-listed at UT Austin and I'm pretty confused about the process. From others' posts I've read it seems like some schools invite wait-listed candidates to their visit weekend? In the email I got notifying me of my status, the graduate adviser had this to say about it: This year's recruitment visit for our prospects will take place March 20 – March 22, and it will be rather close to the official decision deadline that we hear of their decisions. I figured that meant I wouldn't be invited. But then if I am miraculously accepted off the wait list, I wouldn't have the chance to visit and meet with people in the program unless I scrambled to get there by my own volition, right? Do you guys think it would be appropriate to ask the graduate adviser whether I might visit the campus before I actually hear their decision on my application? One of my recommenders got his PhD from there, so I plan on asking his advice, but I don't know whether he'd know anything about the current protocol for admissions. This is my only hope so far after 4 rejections, so I don't want to make the wrong move!