Supernovasky

Good call. Actually looks like they place MANY into teaching positions, virtually 95% of them, but in universities of similar or lesser stature, and also in universities that are far more regional to this school than national.

Alright guys, I have been rejected across the board. Everyone turned me down... but my state school, it would appear, is going to offer me a huge funding package for my PhD. This school is NOT top 50 in Sociology. They're pretty average in terms of prestige, we're not talking about an R1 research university. However, my potential adviser is a publication BEAST. He's put out more papers in the past few years than most professors I have seen at the high ranked socio schools. The thing is, I would like to know what challenges I might face, and if this decision is worth it. I could out another year, but honestly, I don't see myself being any more competitive next year than I am this year. This may be my only shot. I want to become a professor, I really, really want to teach... I have undergraduate research experience in education and have taught classes before to freshman as an undergraduate senior! This is truly my dream. The thing is, I DONT want to stay in my home state after I am done. If I teach, I want to be able to move somewhere else. I just don't really like it much around here. Still, the prospect for a FULLY FUNDED PhD is HUGE for me. Like I said, what will my biggest challenges be? Any big rewards? What will be my major limitations going to a not-highly-ranked school? Will I be able to achieve my dream of becoming a professor? Please advise...

Trust me when I say, I feel you. Rejections across the board suck, especially when you think your stats are competitive and you feel like you wrote a PS good enough to get you into a PhD program.

Hasn't been much of a good application cycle in general for me. Pretty much rejected across the board, even LSU was tentative with my acceptance. Waiting to see if I get funding to even consider them.

Welp, I guess that means no Boulder for me.

I'm leaning more towards the beginning of your stuff than the end. I'll wait to see what happens though. Its a decision I'll have to think very carefully out.

I had no idea the LORs had this much weight. I thought they might help you get in if your stats were otherwise not so good, but I had no idea that if your stats were good, your SOP and Writing sample were decent, but your LORs werent from the right sources, that could stop you from getting in. I learned a WHOLE lot this application cycle. I feel like knowing what I do now, + a year in this new community organizing job, + studying for another round of the GRE and getting academic LOR writters, I could make it into a top 20. Its all about playing your cards right... and I played mine WRONG!

It'll probably be a in the moment decision. I really am 50-50 on it.

I've learned a lot, And I felt like I wanted to give a fuller picture of the person I was not just inside of academia but also outside. But apparently that's not in vogue, haha. I can get 3 letters from academia next time around if it doesnt work out this time. I MIGHT still go to LSU, depends on the funding package and stuff... although I want to see how I like this job here first.

So I got an email back from the grad coordinator at LSU. Apparently two of my LOR writers were not very good at all. They were not from academic sources (although they are people I respected very highly, one of them is a writer for a major magazine). He said that I should have an academic professor send them a rec ASAP, along with all the other schools I applied to. I am doing that right now, however, I feel I may be too late. I think LSU wants to accept me, in which case, I've got a great shot at funding. LSU was my absolute last resort safety school though, and now that I've got a job in environmental lobying and community organizing, I feel like I'd have a GREAT shot next year at getting into some upper tier schools, with the following tweaks: Better LOR writers. One of them was great, apparently two of them were terrible. Targeted applications... Do a LOT of research on the schools I apply to and target my applications a little better. Cleaning up my SOP and Writing sample. Raising my GRE score (its not bad, but I know if I studied all year, I could definitely improve it) And then a year and a half added of work experience in community organizing and lobying for environmental issues, considering I'm thinking of going into environmental sociology.... So if I get accepted into LSU with full funding... do I take it and quit the job I just got in 4 months, or do I stick with this job, focus on all of the above, and reapply to top 50 schools? And by the way, I certainly wouldn't MIND LSU, I just feel like I just discovered something that hurt my application and chances of getting into some of my dream schools.

Thats why I can only imagine invites are happening today or tomorrow.

Today, last year, Boulder sent out invites to the interview stage.

Damn, I didnt even realize there was a new UW acceptance.

I say go for it... but I am going to be WAY in the minority here. Sounds like a fun way to get through grad school.

DAMN lol