2019 Applications Thread

[lissabennett1]

I just wanted it to come and say hi! I’ve been lurking on this thread for a while. I just got an acceptance from Temple today which I am incredibly excited about. It looks like one person has heard about funding and I was wondering if anyone else has as this is a make or break for me (like a lot of people I’m sure). Thanks!

[DannieGirl]

On 2/21/2019 at 2:59 PM, transrelativity said:

I'm definitely excited to visit Temple! I have a date set up to meet with my adviser, sit in on two classes, take a tour, and meet with the graduate director regarding work and funding. 

At this point the question I'm wrestling with is: if I visit Temple and like everything I see, should I still go to the Rutgers prospective students day on March 29, or should I matriculate right away at Temple and send Rutgers my regrets? On one hand, I feel like visiting Rutgers is part of due diligence; I should at least see both of my options before settling on one. On the other hand, Temple is a stronger offer, a better fit for my research, and more convenient to my home. As long as they'll let me keep teaching on the side in Year 1 (which is important because my wife is pregnant and won't be able to work during the first academic year), I can't see a reason why I would choose Rutgers at this point -- someone would have to make a very compelling case at prospectives' day. It seems unethical to delay my decision when someone else might be able to get the Rutgers fellowship if I decline.

What do you all think? If I like what I see at Temple, should I decide right away, or should I hold off until I see Rutgers too?

Definitely due diligence!  Even with that awesome offer, it would be good to measure the social climate and see how you jive with your POI's. Everyone I have met on my visits so far had a different personality than how I knew them from their research. My aims for mentorship were realigned. Besides, you have worked hard to earn those invitations, and owe yourself the honor of seeing with your own eyes the fruits of your labor! ❤️

[transrelativity]

@Psyhopeful, @IBrakeForVanJohnson, and @DannieGirl, thank you so much for your advice. You're right -- I shouldn't be hasty. One reason I hesitated is because my Temple adviser also invited me to a graduate research presentation day that is on the same day as the Rutgers event, but I think I'll be able to get what I need from the class visits. I have also been communicating with the graduate director by email with some of the specifics of my work and life situation, and she says she's working on it, so hopefully I'll hear good news about an exception. I'll update after my visit on March 15.

@lissabennett1, welcome and congrats on your acceptance to Temple!! I did get official notification from them about funding last week, but I don't think that necessarily means they've sent out all of the notifications. Folks in this thread noticed that their acceptance letters came at radically different times (weeks apart), so it seems like Temple has their own unique notification process. I hope you get a great offer very soon!

[lissabennett1]

5 hours ago, transrelativity said:

@Psyhopeful, @IBrakeForVanJohnson, and @DannieGirl, thank you so much for your advice. You're right -- I shouldn't be hasty. One reason I hesitated is because my Temple adviser also invited me to a graduate research presentation day that is on the same day as the Rutgers event, but I think I'll be able to get what I need from the class visits. I have also been communicating with the graduate director by email with some of the specifics of my work and life situation, and she says she's working on it, so hopefully I'll hear good news about an exception. I'll update after my visit on March 15.

@lissabennett1, welcome and congrats on your acceptance to Temple!! I did get official notification from them about funding last week, but I don't think that necessarily means they've sent out all of the notifications. Folks in this thread noticed that their acceptance letters came at radically different times (weeks apart), so it seems like Temple has their own unique notification process. I hope you get a great offer very soon!

 Hi. Thank you so much for the response. I am glad to hear that you got an offer letter last week. Congratulations! Yes, it seems like Temple staggers their correspondence quite a bit, so I guess I just need to be patient. No use standing outside my mailbox for hours on end. :-) Patience is key. I’d just love to be able to make plans as I’m excited for the next step. Anyway, thank you again. I really appreciate your reply.

[MadsGrad]

Did anyone apply to Fordham's Public Media MA program?  I've heard from all my other schools except them, and I'm getting anxious because it's my top choice.

[snehamenon]

On 2/22/2019 at 11:39 PM, soccomm said:

 

Hey, thanks so much! Whew, I'm applying for the Master's, I was panicking when I heard about the interview, but turns out it is only for PhD applicants. You are an angel! 

 

Hey guys!

Just came across this thread and thought I would post an update regarding NYU Steinhardt MCC PhD. I got an interview. I was told that 12 people are on the shortlist and 6 will be selected. All the interviewees have been notified. Acceptances will be sent out in the next week or so and rejects, waitlist etc soon after. I am updating here because I would really want to know if I hadn't heard yet - I'm living in a hotbox of uncertainty regarding other schools I've applied to myself. If this comes as bad news I am so very sorry - and good luck with all the other applications!

 

[Psyhopeful]

On my way to my interview weekend at UCSB! Waiting for the first of the three flights and 12 hours of travel they booked for me. Pray for me, lol. 

[jmc117]

Good luck @Psyhopeful! Hope all goes well.

 

As an update to anyone who also applied to Concordia: I got my rejection today so answers are rolling out!

[transrelativity]

Good luck, @Psyhopeful! Can't wait to hear about it when you get back.

I have an update about Temple and work requirements. If you recall, the issue was that my fellowship forbids outside employment, but my wife will be unable to work during my first year of school, so I was seeking permission to work half-time (just six credits) during Year 1. After about a week of email back and forth, my contact in the graduate department called me and said what amounted to 'yes, the contract says you can't work, but we have no way to check or enforce that, sooo...' It did put my mind at ease, but it was interesting that my contact was specifically unwilling to commit that to writing. She said that she had gotten the answer over the phone, and was passing it on to me in the same manner.

[AndrewJake]

Does anyone know anything about the process at the Newhouse School's Mass Communications PhD? 

I can't find any mention of it anywhere in the forums or the results page except for one person who says they were asked to interview on campus in February, and turned it down, and then proceeded to spell Newhouse wrong. 

I emailed my POI who was as kind and encouraging as ever, but was on sabbatical last semester and so wasn't on the committee this time around. She recommended I email the Director of the program (who I have spoken to on the phone and emailed with before) and he has not returned my email.

Guess I'm SOL?

[halcyonday]

Did anyone else here interview at one of Northwestern's comm departments in Feb? I thought decisions were gonna go out yesterday/today, I'm pretty jittery waiting....

[Psyhopeful]

UCSB is awesome! I loved the faculty, the program, and the grad students. They really put together a great, fully scheduled and informative weekend. Lots of really interesting research going on there too. If only the area wasn’t so expensive!

[CommQueen]

Anyone who was admitted to UC Davis - have you heard back about funding?

I reached out to to the graduate coordinator (cc'ed the faculty graduate advisor) and have had no response!

I got an e-mail that my application status was updated, went to go look, and it was just a formal acceptance letter with no mention of funding.

Does this mean they haven't sent out funding decisions or that I'm just not being offered any?

[CommQueen]

19 hours ago, Psyhopeful said:

UCSB is awesome! I loved the faculty, the program, and the grad students. They really put together a great, fully scheduled and informative weekend. Lots of really interesting research going on there too. If only the area wasn’t so expensive!

Totally agree! Was up there too and it was lovely meeting you!

[transrelativity]

19 hours ago, Psyhopeful said:

UCSB is awesome! I loved the faculty, the program, and the grad students. They really put together a great, fully scheduled and informative weekend. Lots of really interesting research going on there too. If only the area wasn’t so expensive!

What was the interview like? I'd love to hear if you're willing to share!

[sanchxuan]

2 hours ago, CommQueen said:

Anyone who was admitted to UC Davis - have you heard back about funding?

I reached out to to the graduate coordinator (cc'ed the faculty graduate advisor) and have had no response!

I got an e-mail that my application status was updated, went to go look, and it was just a formal acceptance letter with no mention of funding.

Does this mean they haven't sent out funding decisions or that I'm just not being offered any?

I also asked the graduate coordinator. She said that the committee is still working on the funding and the decisions will come in a few more weeks. I guess we could wait until the end of this month (who knows).

 

[Psyhopeful]

3 hours ago, transrelativity said:

What was the interview like? I'd love to hear if you're willing to share!

I can’t speak for everyone, but my actual scheduled interviews were more like chats. The department held a get together the night before where we were able to meet informally and talk research and things, so the interviews themselves were much more relaxed and less stressful, which I thought was a great way to do it. We also heard from a lot of grad students about the program and living there. All around it was really well done. I will definitely be comparing them to my other visits!

[CommQueen]

2 hours ago, Psyhopeful said:

I can’t speak for everyone, but my actual scheduled interviews were more like chats. The department held a get together the night before where we were able to meet informally and talk research and things, so the interviews themselves were much more relaxed and less stressful, which I thought was a great way to do it. We also heard from a lot of grad students about the program and living there. All around it was really well done. I will definitely be comparing them to my other visits!

I would have to agree. There was a fine line between casual and professional drawn but I think the overall event was extremely well done and I was definitely impressed.

[commcalm]

On 3/5/2019 at 11:49 AM, halcyonday said:

Did anyone else here interview at one of Northwestern's comm departments in Feb? I thought decisions were gonna go out yesterday/today, I'm pretty jittery waiting....

I did not interview at Northwestern, but I still have yet to hear anything. I emailed the department a couple weeks ago to (politely) ask when decisions went out, and the department said "we have until mid-March." So, in short, still waiting!

[halcyonday]

8 hours ago, commcalm said:

I did not interview at Northwestern, but I still have yet to hear anything. I emailed the department a couple weeks ago to (politely) ask when decisions went out, and the department said "we have until mid-March." So, in short, still waiting!

Do you mind sharing which department you spoke with? I know they all do things a little differently, but I think funding decisions have already come down from the school since apparently someone in performance studies was notified...

[AndrewJake]

I'm trying to get a handle on interviews.

If you spend any time on GC you get the impression every program does interviews, but I've had department heads and program directors (well one anyway) tell me that they only talk to people after they have more or less decided they want them.

[commcalm]

3 hours ago, halcyonday said:

Do you mind sharing which department you spoke with? I know they all do things a little differently, but I think funding decisions have already come down from the school since apparently someone in performance studies was notified...

I emailed the Department of Communication Studies email address

[transrelativity]

31 minutes ago, AndrewJake said:

I'm trying to get a handle on interviews.

If you spend any time on GC you get the impression every program does interviews, but I've had department heads and program directors (well one anyway) tell me that they only talk to people after they have more or less decided they want them.

A sample size of one isn't very helpful, I know, but here is my personal experience with interviews.

Out of four applications, I received one outright rejection, one interview followed by a rejection, and two funded offers with no formal interview. One of the schools where I got an offer never made contact with me outside of my application materials before rendering their decision. At the other one, I had visited my POI (who is also the graduate program director) the previous summer and talked with her about my research and my goals. She mentioned during that chat that they usually do interviews, but that they would not in my case, since she and I had already spoken.

I do think the two contacts I had (one formal interview and one informal chat that ended up serving as an interview) affected the outcome of those two applications. At the formal interview, the questions I asked about the program left me feeling like it wasn't the best choice for me, and I think the committee agreed -- in any case, they didn't accept me. At the informal chat, my POI and I really connected over our research interests, and I'm certain that she advocated for me during the application and funding process.

Edited March 7, 2019 by transrelativity

[AndrewJake]

6 minutes ago, transrelativity said:

A sample size of one isn't very helpful, I know, but here is my personal experience with interviews. Out of four applications, I received one outright rejection, one interview followed by a rejection, and two funded offers with no formal interview. One of the schools where I got an offer never made contact with me outside of my application materials before rendering their decision. At the other one, I had visited my POI (who is also the graduate program director) the previous summer and talked with her about my research and my goals. She mentioned during that chat that they usually do interviews, but that they would not in my case, since she and I had already spoken.

I do think the two contacts I had (one formal interview and one informal chat that ended up serving as an interview) affected the outcome of those two applications. At the formal interview, the questions I asked about the program left me feeling like it wasn't the best choice for me, and I think the committee agreed -- in any case, they didn't accept me. At the informal chat, my POI and I really connected over our research interests, and I'm certain that she advocated for me during the application and funding process.

Good feedback thanks. 

I had contact with a POI and the Director of the program prior to even submitting my application and to say they were positive about my prospects would be an understatement. I submitted my application aaaannnd crickets.  The POI returned an email saying she hadn't heard anything, but that she didn't think that meant much since she wasn't on this committee this semester, and the director of the program is not returning my emails at all, but maybe he has a policy against it once the application process begins? I really have no idea which is why I feel sick to my stomach most of the time.

Thanks for the response and good luck.    

[halcyonday]

47 minutes ago, commcalm said:

I emailed the Department of Communication Studies email address

Ugh, I really hope that doesn't mean they're gonna wait another whole week to release decisions..... what program did you apply in?