grad_applicant

I couldn't agree more HelloFeminista. I only applied to schools that I knew I would WANT to attend, that had professors whose work I had taken the time to read and whom I e-mailed prior to applying. I also grouped my schools-- 2 safeties, 3 targets, and 3 reaches. Thus, when got accepted to one of my "target" schools, I withdrew from one of the safety schools and turned down the offer I received from the other (and 2 days later I noticed someone else on the forum was accepted!). As it now stands, I have not received any additional offers, but I am waitlisted at my top choice. I have been in communication with Top Choice and whether they can give me a decision by April 15 depends on whether an admitted declines their offer at least a couple of days BEFORE April 15. I also asked if I could come and visit the school in the meantime, and they said that I could come by the school at my own expense, but I would be unable have a 1:1 visit with any faculty (which is what I would want to confirm it is my top choice as I have never been to the school and only know the professors from their amazing work). However, if I move from wait-listed to accepted, Top Choice will pay for my visit and let me have a sit down with a faculty member of my choice. Of course, if this happens on April 14, I can't exactly hop on a red eye flight and get there, meet with faculty, and make by decision by noon on the 15th. Still, finding out on April 14 would give me the option of at least accepting an offer from Top Choice. Unfortunately, the more likely scenario (confirmed by last year's results on grad cafe), is that I won't have a decision by April 15 and I will have to decide whether to accept my offer from Target School or throw caution to the wind and hope that I get off the wait-list at Top Choice. I know that I MIGHT be able to get an extention from Target School, but even having to say "can I get an extention because you are my back-up if I don't get off the wait-list at Top Choice U" sounds bad, and probably makes them less enthusiastic about me as a candidate... especially since, if I do go there, I really need to get selected for an additional grant or summer RA/TA position which they have been kind enough to suggest I apply for. I also looked at that poll on the "Waiting It Out" forum, and noticed how many other students are in my position of being unable to make a choice until they hear back from at least one other school... and then how many other people are in the "I've decided but I haven't told them or declined other offers" category. Like everyone else has said, OF COURSE take the time you genuinely need to decide. No one is suggesting that students make a half-hearteded decision just to get it done quickly. But, like another forumite wisely suggested, take an active approach-- take schools up on their offers to visit (at your mutual earliest convenience), use that time to ask your questions, and let go of that 3rd or 4th offer you know you don't want. *In return, if I get an offer from Top Choice school, I will immediately turn down Target School, as I know from the results page that someone on the fora is on their waitlist!

How would you rank gender/media/cultural studies programs? Anyone want to take a stab? -UC Irvine- Culture & Theory PhD -University of Minnesota- Comparative Studies in Discourse & Society PhD -UC Santa Barbara- Feminist Studies PhD -UC Davis- Cultural Studies PhD -UCLA- Women's Studies PhD -Rutgers- Feminist Studies PhD -UC Santa Cruz- History of Consciousness PhD -Northwestern- Screen Cultures PhD -Brown- Modern Culture & Media PhD -University of Michigan- Screen Arts & Cultures PhD -USC Cinema Studies PhD -NYU Media, Culture & Communications PhD (Feel free to mention others I have not included)

How would you rank gender/media/cultural studies programs? Anyone want to take a stab? -UC Irvine- Culture & Theory PhD -University of Minnesota- Comparative Studies in Discourse & Society PhD -UC Santa Barbara- Feminist Studies PhD -UC Davis- Cultural Studies PhD -UCLA- Women's Studies PhD -Rutgers- Feminist Studies PhD -UC Santa Cruz- History of Consciousness PhD -Northwestern- Screen Cultures PhD -Brown- Modern Culture & Media PhD -University of Michigan- Screen Arts & Cultures PhD -USC Cinema Studies PhD -NYU Media, Culture & Communications PhD (Feel free to mention others I have not included)