University of Missouri (Saint Louis)

[Lost in transition]

OK. I'm dinged by all the programs I eagerly wanted to get in, and the last doctoral program left for me is UMSL. There is one prof who has research interest perfectly fits to mine and showed interest in my SOP...I know UMSL is not TT program, but there are several tenured profs who got their PhD from the institution in the academia of my own country. What do you Americans think about the school? Have any ideas on,say, the academic atmosphere or something like that?

[Penelope Higgins]

As I and others have suggested to other students in similar situations, you should strongly consider going to the best program that admits and funds you, doing an MA, and improving your file to re-apply to PhD programs in two years. A department like UMSL should know that students do this sort of thing; nobody will object to it.

[Lost in transition]

Thanks for your advice...for now, I just want to be accepted by any programs!

As I and others have suggested to other students in similar situations, you should strongly consider going to the best program that admits and funds you, doing an MA, and improving your file to re-apply to PhD programs in two years. A department like UMSL should know that students do this sort of thing; nobody will object to it.