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yoshiko

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  1. Cool research areas!!! It's actually good to have something on your statement of purpose/interest that you would like to pursue new areas of study, as long as you think the program you are applying to has professors that can support you in that area. Plus, its not like this two areas are completely different, you are clearly interested in media and so you can tie your past research experience with what you would like to continue to do. Plus as a PhD student, you don't want to just study one thing and so you can propose having these two areas of media research. As for your other question about changing diss topics after acceptance...again will depend on the program. In my program for instance, I am not even allowed to choose my adviser (even though I know who I would like to work with) until the 2nd semester of my first year because they want me to explore new areas and get to know myself as a scholar. A lot of students change their minds when getting in a program and so this is normal. As long as you don't change your complete area (although this is also not a bad thing either!) you will be fine. Students that come into programs only wanting to study one thing and come out with that same thing are actually disadvantaged in my opinion =). good luck!
  2. you are right about PhDs in the UK being vastly different than ones in the US. You cannot compare them. I understand you might not read this but maybe people that are interested in a UK PhD can benefit. UK PhD programs expect that you know how to be an independent researcher, thus guidance from a supervisor is very minimal. Of course, each advisor/supervisor will communicate differently but the consensus is that UK PhD programs focus solely on research. Students need to work on their own, develop something, and then go to their advisor AFTER they have already produced something. Funding is not a problem for UK residents or EU citizens. They barely pay anything at all (depends on the department). This impacts how the research is done and when it is done. Students create their own timeline for their program of study. But again, if we compare UK PhDs to US PhDs, there will be bitchfest because the programs are laid out so differently. Ultimately, both programs will do a dissertation but the journey in completing it, is very very different. Also, the prestige of the PhD in the UK is different than that in the US. I'll stop here.
  3. Yep just adding to the same testimonies above - went to a state school and got into some of best PhD programs for my field. Experience and letters of rec matter a lot.
  4. This depends on program of study as well as public vs. private funding. For a MA/MS program, the April 15th deadline usually does not exist for a CSU/UC. Sometimes its later because the deadline to apply is usually later. Also, I think future grads (and current ones) should take into account the financial crisis that California is in. Being a graduate of a CSU (both undergrad and grad) as well as a lecturer at a CSU, I can speak confidently about how grim the future looks for CSUs and UCs. The more prominent UCs (such as Berkeley, Davis, ect.) receive a lot of outside funding but are still getting significant tuition hikes where students are outraged, ect. I think the CSU's really have it the hardest and so if anyone is applying to CSU's, keep in mind that some deadlines might be "off" because they are waiting for funding. In my grad program, they were almost forced to cut grad classes (which is insane) when we were already enrolled in the class. One semester, they hid copy paper from us and we couldn't even find a stapler in the copy room. No joke. CSU's are fumbling and so deadlines will also fumble. That is my take on it.
  5. yoshiko

    Lincoln, NE

    ILuvPsych2013- Hey I just sent you a PM, not sure if it worked but had some questions for you =). I will be looking for apartments in Lincoln soon! =)
  6. Every department is different, every degree and program is also different in regards to timelines. I received my PhD notification from UT in January but that was for a PhD in Comm. I have heard others waiting until March for a PhD in another program. the only thing you can do is call up and ask. It is a normal question. I suggest asking the graduate coordinator and not just any professor because the grad coordinator's job (part of the job) is to answer questions regarding apps/decisions/logistics. Good luck.
  7. yoshiko

    Lincoln, NE

    Wow thanks ILuvPysch2013!! I just visted Lincoln the past weekend for the first time and really enjoyed my time there until the tornado sirens went off...is that normal? I was hearing a lot of mixed responses to this. people were saying it is normal and it can happen (tornado wiping out Lincoln) but other people were laughing at it and making jokes saying "Lincoln can never get hit, why are sirens going off?!?" Anyways, being from the coasts makes me very uneducated in tornadoes, although I have been researching on my own in the matter. Thanks!
  8. I assume that you applied for funding and that these schools clearly said that no funding is being offered. If this is for a PhD program, I recommend not going without funding unless you are okay with taking out several thousands of dollars worth of loans. Since you are international, then you will pay out of state tuition. First, you should try to get a clear answer from the grad coordinators about the funding situation. How can you get tuition waived, ect. Second, you can try to exhaust other options for funding. For example, you might be able to get a job on campus and that might give you in-state tuition (not perfect but better than out of state tuition). Lastly, I don't recommend going without funding when you might not be able to be a part of projects and teaching. These experiences are invaluable to your experience in the program and help you form networks, relationships, and ultimately those will get you a job. Funding is crucial as it also tells you that the program wants you to be a part of their university. Good luck.
  9. Not sure if you read my somewhat recent post about LD and my decision for a PhD program. Actually, my decision is still in waiting BUT I am pretty sure I am going to attend a PhD program 1800 miles away from my SO. I've actually been in one LDR and it didn't turn out great, but I am older now and my relationship is a lot different now. We have the finances (lucky i know) to visit each other often, he has a job that he can telecommute from and I have 4 months off per year to live with him at home. So I guess all in all, it might be the best situation for a LDR. BUT ultimately, it is the approach and perspective you have going into this - how would you feel doing a LDR? How would your SO feel? Positive perception is crucial in making it work. If you both think it wont work because of $$$, time, distance, ect., then you need to reevaluate how happy you would be going to a program that is closer. You also need to make a plan on when the LD would end. PhD programs can be a bit mysterious in that the length of the program can take numerous years (more than 5). So be realistic. How many students have graduated the program in 4 years? You might even ask what the work-life balance is like. Another reason I am pretty sure I am going into this PhD program is because the faculty and students are very supportive of work-life balance. They understand I have a relationship and although I don't expect them to accomodate my relationship in any way, it is really great knowing that they are understanding and supportive of my life outside of academics. The program is also well known for students getting done in less than 4 years ( in some cases 3). Again, for me, this is the most ideal situation for a PhD program for my relationship, despite it being 1800 miles away. PM if you want to talk more.
  10. If you can reasonably see your research being applicable to the POI at the other school, then I recommend keeping in touch or at least sending them a message saying how you hope to meet and work together one day. During this application season, I found that academia is a small world (smaller than I originally thought). A lot of the POIs from various programs had worked together in the past and since (at the PhD level) research is rather specialized, it is likely that I will meet with these professors at conferences (at the very least). These POIs could also be potential employers in the future. All in all, I don't think it would become problematic if you said something like "Even though I have decided to attend another program, I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your willingness to talk with me about X University. I found our conversation very useful and helpful. I hope that one day we can meet each other at X conference and perhaps someday we will be able to work together." Good luck!
  11. From the information you provided, it seems that Yale is the better program. But you didn't really talk about anything else other than money....sorry not sure what else to input here. I will say that SF is very very very expensive to live in - I live there now. I can't imagine even a 30K stipend to cover living expenses there...however, you don't need a car BUT I would recommend one so that you can explore the Bay Area.
  12. yoshiko

    Lincoln, NE

    Thanks ILuvPsych! I can already tell that the people in the Midwest are very nice and welcoming from just your posts alone!! I will most likely come back to Lincoln in Julyish so that i can get a place by August. I have been looking at a lot of complexes online....there are a lot of choices actually! Oh and I am from Los Angeles, and currently live in San Francisco...so I know there are going to be a lot less things to do in Lincoln as opposed to these areas. I am also an outdoors person...love mountains...so again this will be difficult for me BUT I am trading this for a PhD in a program that I am very enthusiastic about. Also, some comforting advice professors have told me is "do your PhD in an 'uncool' place so that you can finish faster" - I do not wish to label Lincoln as "uncool" since I haven't lived there yet but the general gist is that getting the PhD done in an appropriate time frame will mean moving to more places. I consider this move to Lincoln as one that can also help me grow as a person because I have always lived in hustling and bustling places.....this may be good for me!
  13. This PhD application season has been one of the most emotional processes I've ever been through - when I applied to these programs, I thought I had them all ranked out and was sure I knew where I wanted to go if I received a good offer. Wow was I wrong. This is one of the biggest decisions of our lives and there is no right or wrong way to make it at this point (unless you say yes to all your offers!). All we can do is trust ourselves in the end...and that scares the shit out of me and so I am taking my time.
  14. You are actually one of the few students doing the right thing by declining offers that you KNOW are not going to work for you. So why sit on them? If you are most likely not going to take an offer then why do people keep them, which then does not give other students that same opportunity. Academia is a small small world. I think this department just wants to know where you will be...you will most likely meet each other someday at conferences or maybe even work together in some capacity. I wont be surprised if I get to work with multiple POIs from different programs because that is how a lot of publications (in my discipline) get out - two or more profs from different unis work together and then ask grad students to come on the project.
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