-hermes-

Be wary of a new doctoral program, especially in a state that will have budget issues with the oil boom turning into a bust. Also, the requirements for a teaching assistant seem a little steep, since you need letters attesting to your teaching skills and write a statement of your teaching philosophy. The program is putting the cart before the horse there.

I agree, but let me slip this meme in first:
 
 

I cannot fathom someone making this non-issue into such a big deal. Like everyone else in this thread I feel inclined to encourage OP to choose school B, but this has to be a troll.

I'd look up the profiles of current students in the program to get a sense of what the admissions committee looks for. However, know that SCPS is often considered kind of separate from NYU, in that it's viewed as being much easier to get into and not a discerning school.

A professional job does NOT entail you should give up on having any relationships, pets, children, friends, hobbies, or time off to just relax. You are thinking about this all wrong. Thinking about this as a professional job means you devote a certain part of the day (=the working hours) to your studies, and the rest of the time can be devoted to whatever else is happening in you life, including all those other things. It's really important to have something else in your life beside school, whatever that is. Otherwise, you'll burn out very quickly.  

I agree, but let me slip this meme in first:
 
 

I would cover all bases possible -- reach out to faculty in advance, apply to a wider range of schools, and get new recommenders. LORs are really important and I think not having professors as references could have been a major weakness in your application. 

I agree, but let me slip this meme in first:
 
 

I cannot fathom someone making this non-issue into such a big deal. Like everyone else in this thread I feel inclined to encourage OP to choose school B, but this has to be a troll.

I agree, but let me slip this meme in first:
 
 

I cannot fathom someone making this non-issue into such a big deal. Like everyone else in this thread I feel inclined to encourage OP to choose school B, but this has to be a troll.

Let's not bash non-STEM fields, please! *Someone* has gotta know about the Bobs! 

not expecting anyone to consider my opinion... just saying that there's a lot of selfabsorption in the room. how quickly we forget what it's like to be on the torturous waiting end! these are the kinds of attitudes that carry forward into academia and shows how profs can completely guiltlessly put applicants thru hell during app season.
 
apply your very powerful brain for a day or two, consult everyone you need to consult, and make a decision. because of this dawdling and "WEEEEE I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DOOOOO HEE HEE!" some people will have to make the tough choice of turning down offers to gamble for a wait list offer that may come after april 15. 
 
it's awful.

yaaa no.... people in this thread are saying that "they know they should pick their dream school" but insist on being neurotic and beating the question to death by asking everyone and anyone their opinion. even when all of those opinions align with "pick the dream school" these people STILL don't decline offers. you people are gross, selfish and awful.

It's a big decision, one that affects the rest of your life.  They have earned the right to not take their decision lightly and their deadline is April 15th.  

All three visits done. STILL don't know where I'm going. UGH.

I don't totally get this one, but the confusing language makes it even better:
 
After I have applied to this out of prescience, I found out that it was a better match than others. However, I am sequentially dominated by competitors who possessed better qualifications, and the stable strategy was to be rejected (though in a mixed mood).

I don't totally get this one, but the confusing language makes it even better:
 
After I have applied to this out of prescience, I found out that it was a better match than others. However, I am sequentially dominated by competitors who possessed better qualifications, and the stable strategy was to be rejected (though in a mixed mood).

Congrats Jujubea!!! Must be great to finally know where you're going! Any insight into how you made your decision?
 
I declined an offer today. Narrowing down the options! But I won't know until I visit my remaining schools... still some weeks to go. 

Anyone have any tips/thoughts on visitation day attire?

Talk to the graduate students. 
 
Ask about:
 
Faculty dynamics - who works well together, who doesn't
Interest areas - if you wanted would you be able to add intercultural and rhetorical and social influence scholars to same committee, that type of thing
Department culture
How interactive the faculty are with students - easy/hard to get appointments, opportunities to collaborate on research, what types of mentoring
Community - what students you would teach are like
Teaching opportunities - support/discussion sections, able to teach stand-alone courses, able to develop own curriculum
Graduate classes - when taught, what faculty are like, how often the classes you really want are truly offered
 
 
Another thing to consider asking the students is, if they were choosing which PhD program to attend now would it be the same.
 
And also find out about the community where the university is located. Are there times when you aren't able to go anywhere because of activities? Are members of the community open to students/faculty?
 
Good luck!

you guys, there's an amazing waiting-for-app-results themed GIF thread going on over on a humanities board:
 

UPenn acceptance!!
 
Pleased and surprised.

Some insight into UPenn... it seems they've divided the pile into outright rejects and applications worth further consideration, and might be meeting end of this week (so maybe today) to deliberate...

Some insight into UPenn... it seems they've divided the pile into outright rejects and applications worth further consideration, and might be meeting end of this week (so maybe today) to deliberate...