ohhello

http://www.nsfgrfp.org/ (and the like.)

I know several people who were in your situation - poor fit, "top-notch" program - and they did well. More than half of my cohort came in with MAs (a few from PhD sociology programs). There is absolutely no point in returning to your old program if fit and finding intellectual support is an issue, and you should state this in your application when you explain why you're applying to X particular school. Unfortunately, I don't think faculty care will care much about your SES and minority background unless it somehow relates to your work and/or is a point of reflexivity for your diversity statement. You have a high GRE score, high MA GPA, strong written sample, graduate teaching experience and formal teaching experience, perhaps some conference presentation experience. In my opinion, academia tends to be a bit ageist (favoring older graduate students), but it's difficult to disentangle age from the relevant life experience that supposedly enriches our work.... I think you'll do well.

I may have some thoughts we can discuss via PM if you are interested - I was in your shoes last year in an identical situation in regard to USN ranking versus subdiscipline versus quality of life - but I would echo what has been mentioned so far.

If you somehow find yourself in the Chicago area, you're always more than welcome to set up a visit with the faculty and graduate students (this has happened in the past). Let me know if you have any questions - now is a good time to be asking.

Tuition is paid for by TGS. Your stipend is your source of income. 1st and 5th year of the financial package are fellowship years (no compulsory work), while you need to either RA or TA in your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years (unless you get an external fellowship).

I love the clusters. Benefits: research money, (support) group to talk about your research, ability to learn about research in other disciplines, getting to encounter people who are not sociologists, encountering professors who are not in sociology, being a part of an intellectual community. Costs: time spent attending cluster meetings, time spent attending cluster talks, time spent fulfilling cluster course requirements (this isn't really a cost if it adds to your research goals). However, the costs/benefits depend on the activity of your cluster. Some are very active (weekly meetings) while some are less developed (monthly meetings). Do you have a specific cluster in mind? If you are admitted as a cluster fellow in your letter, you're required to maintain cluster requirements. However, some clusters are limited to 2nd years and above, while some require previous coursework. You can always leave a cluster and join another (with some paperwork involved), and you do not need to be a cluster fellow in order to participate in cluster events (however, some events are limited to cluster fellows). Not surprisingly, senior graduate students participate less and less in cluster events as work piles on, but no one is hounding them with a stick.

No worries, don't stress out! People on this site make the whole process seem scary and terrifying and dramatic. It is not. Academics are too busy or tired to monitor everything that is posted on this board (today is my non-sociology work day). You've been accepted, so do not worry about managing your professional image. Unless you burn the department down, I don't see how NU could rescind an offer.

You're (purposefully) assigned a first year advisor whose research is peripherally related to your interests. In your second year, you have to seek out two readers for your second year paper (essentially, a publishable MA thesis). You do the same with your third year special fields paper. You don't need to work with your first year advisor - it's mainly for formal purposes. You shouldn't limit yourself to seeking advice/input from only your first year advisor. The department wants you to explore.

I'm an NU grad student. Ask away or PM your questions.

If your field is concentrated enough, it's nice when a professor who has read your application can comment on the merits of the other programs/professors in the other programs. Otherwise, I don't think it makes a difference, unless whoever is reading your application believes students should only apply to programs based on research interests (as opposed to personal reasons).

I would have to disagree with those who have said it's rude to ask a POI about their plans 3-4 years down the road - at least in the social sciences. What's rude about thinking about your dissertation committee? About planning your professional career? Faculty want students who have spent at least some time thinking about future academic plans. Moving/parting with faculty also depends on whether you're applying to a workshop or original research school. I'm not so familiar with the workshop model, but if you're doing your main advisor's work, then it's logical that you might move with your main advisor. Speaking for the original research model, I know of professors who still serve on the dissertation committees of the students they've left behind. But it's also likely that some students are forgotten. This is something you will have to negotiate with your colleagues.

If they request that your letter writer send in a LOR through their website (this is usually the case) then, no, these schools will not accept interfolio.

Friends, upon learning where you've been accepted: "Oooh, you should go to [program], [city of program] is so exciting!" Friends, upon learning where you'll go: "Congratulations! Now I have an excuse to visit [city of program]! I'm so excited!"

I have no clue, but certainly not my 1st choice.

Finally received my answer! Knowing is an amazing relief.