Mosabstrakt

Gotcha, I see it now. It's bee a few days since I've checked up on things. I wonder what the wait is (one would assume rejections would be the easiest to push through). Which area(s) did you all apply for? I applied to Learning Sciences and the Madeira Program.

Hey there, I've applied too but I haven't heard anything back either. It seems the posts about offers or rejections are for other cmu departments. I haven't seen any for hcii (the only post might just be a troll).

Having a chance to go to a school you never thought you would get into is definitely something to keep in mind (something I share with you). But as I'm sure you know, this economy isn't that great and probably won't be for a while to come. I have been thinking a lot about the fact that there just aren't that many jobs in the humanities anymore. I know a few people--well-published people--from top Ivies that have phds in the humanities that don't have tenure track positions and are having less than a good time on the job market and their family situations (due mainly to flying around the country for any and every kind of interview, dealing with debt from undergrad/masters, financial burdens being on one spouse, etc.). I'm not sure if the discipline of your second choice is in the humanities, but if it's not, that choice would look slightly more appealing to me at this point. I would hate to have (which it looks like it might be the case for me right now) 5+ years of a great education and not be so sure what would come of it at the other end--especially if I will be competing with the so many other humanities phds (perhaps from more established fields and programs or respected scholars). Another thing is age. I'm in my mid 20s and unmarried with no kids. I don't know what it's like to have an SO or [step]kids to think about with something so pressing as this. But I do feel if I had the chance to be with my wife and kids and be relatively more sure of what my life would be like 5 years down the road (especially if I would be close to the age you would be when the program is over when chancing things may be more taxing), I would go with the state school that does indeed have a good placement rate and is well-known. I know I would relish the time I could take to spend with my family when things get too hectic or even build more of a strong/healthy life with my partner. Money, of course should be thought about. You say the money isn't right at all for the state school. Is it supplementably comparable to what you are individually earning now to combine with your SO? Will your SO have to work more because funding is lacking? Do they mind since at the end of the day the family will be together in a familiar environment with few(er) life-changing disruptions? Is the stipend (at choice one) enough for the whole family (since they may or may not be with you) while your SO can find a job at the location of choice one if they haven't already acquired one? These are the things I would think about, and of course you are thinking about as well. Another thing, perhaps not as significant, it's probably not the case that you will end up teaching/researching at an Ivy when your are done. You may very well end up in a state school. What you would face at your option two school may be more similar to what your life will be after the phd. Preparing yourself mentally as well as your family might prove to be an extra benefit. On the brighter side, you will be getting a phd no matter what your decision, something not many people can say. Good luck!