Welcome to the 2011-2012 Cycle

[RWBG]

Does you guys really think Next is better than Alinea? I mean, Next has a neat concept, but my impression is that Alinea remains the best food in North America, and is still Achatz's flagship. I guess I'll have to make due with only 20 courses at Alinea though

[Penelope Higgins]

Perhaps this is better placed in the other thread on packages, but I just want to urge folks to think twice or three times before making decisions based on relatively small differences in stipends for the next 3-5 years unless you are supporting a family with your stipend income. The choice you make of which program to attend will have long-term consequences for your career - you should be wary of trading off the subsequent 30+ years for a few hundred dollars a month in the next 3-5. Visit the programs that admit you if possible, make a choice based on which program will be best for you professionally, and prepare yourself no matter what to share an apartment, live on free sandwiches from talks rather than all the fine restaurants mentioned above, and have limited disposable income.

[RWBG]

So I just got off of the UCLA funding waitlist. The offer is tuition remission, fee waivers, and $24,000 first year. Years 2-5 I'm guaranteed a TAship, starting at ~$17k and rising to about $20k by the end of the program. Notably, there's no mention of health insurance, though apparently there is provision for housing assistance.

This is great news, but I don't think it'll budge me from Madison. As nice as $24k would be, it'll drop considerably second year, and living expenses in LA won't be very good. For anyone on the UCLA fellowship waitlist, I'll probably be declining the offer unless Madison's funding is atrocious.

Congrats nonetheless!

[RWBG]

Perhaps this is better placed in the other thread on packages, but I just want to urge folks to think twice or three times before making decisions based on relatively small differences in stipends for the next 3-5 years unless you are supporting a family with your stipend income. The choice you make of which program to attend will have long-term consequences for your career - you should be wary of trading off the subsequent 30+ years for a few hundred dollars a month in the next 3-5. Visit the programs that admit you if possible, make a choice based on which program will be best for you professionally, and prepare yourself no matter what to share an apartment, live on free sandwiches from talks rather than all the fine restaurants mentioned above, and have limited disposable income.

This is very closely related to my point on consumption smoothing. Even if you take out a higher loan than my earlier suggestion (let's say 5k per year now) to supplement your stipend, it seems unlikely that avoiding a 25k increase in debt over five years is going to justify the long-term career implications of choosing a less-preferred program. I know the academic job market is a risky one, but if your total added debt burden is <30k, you could probably manage to pay it off alright even without securing an academic job. Moreover, with a degree from Madison, I feel like you'll get some kind of academic position.

Edited February 15, 2012 by RWBG

[RWBG]

So I just got off of the UCLA funding waitlist. The offer is tuition remission, fee waivers, and $24,000 first year. Years 2-5 I'm guaranteed a TAship, starting at ~$17k and rising to about $20k by the end of the program. Notably, there's no mention of health insurance, though apparently there is provision for housing assistance.

This is great news, but I don't think it'll budge me from Madison. As nice as $24k would be, it'll drop considerably second year, and living expenses in LA won't be very good. For anyone on the UCLA fellowship waitlist, I'll probably be declining the offer unless Madison's funding is atrocious.

My package is a bit different than yours, but it makes specific mention of medical insurance, and I suspect yours will include it as well. Which as a Canadian, still strikes me a bizarre thing to have to include.

[balderdash]

Congrats nonetheless!

Cheers, bruv.

Perhaps this is better placed in the other thread on packages, but I just want to urge folks to think twice or three times before making decisions based on relatively small differences in stipends for the next 3-5 years unless you are supporting a family with your stipend income. The choice you make of which program to attend will have long-term consequences for your career - you should be wary of trading off the subsequent 30+ years for a few hundred dollars a month in the next 3-5. Visit the programs that admit you if possible, make a choice based on which program will be best for you professionally, and prepare yourself no matter what to share an apartment, live on free sandwiches from talks rather than all the fine restaurants mentioned above, and have limited disposable income.

On the other hand, if insolvency forces me to drop out after three years, then nobody wins. Also, I will have a family to support. But the point is well taken; a grand here or there isn't as important as setting oneself up for a long and successful career.

If you check the conversion table from ETS, you will see that certain GRE scores are not possible. When someone says that s/he has that score, it makes me very skeptical.

True that.

[balderdash]

My package is a bit different than yours, but it makes specific mention of medical insurance, and I suspect yours will include it as well.

Will have to follow up on this.

Which as a Canadian, still strikes me a bizarre thing to have to include.

British family can't wrap their heads around it either.

[RWBG]

On the other hand, if insolvency forces me to drop out after three years, then nobody wins. Also, I will have a family to support. But the point is well taken; a grand here or there isn't as important as setting oneself up for a long and successful career.

If you take on a suplementary loan, at the very least any negative consequences will be postponed until after your degree, if you don't end up with an income! Up until then, I suspect your stipend should be more than sufficient to pay interest payments, which should keep you from becoming cashflow insolvent.

[balderdash]

If you take on a suplementary loan, at the very least any negative consequences will be postponed until after your degree, if you don't end up with an income! Up until then, I suspect your stipend should be more than sufficient to pay interest payments, which should keep you from becoming cashflow insolvent.

It's true, and will be something to think about. I'm not freaking out about funding or anything; just trying to map the various decisions that have to be made.

What does everyone think of the results page conversation going on about Yale's interviews?

[kolja00]

Interviews started last week? Weird how we haven't heard anything until now. This cycle has been bizarre.

[RWBG]

I'm done with the prediction game this cycle. Clearly the issue is that my predictions did not include enough game theory.

[saltlakecity2012]

Will have to follow up on this.

British family can't wrap their heads around it either.

Yeah, my funding package letter (same as yours) specifically states that medical insurance will be provided, although it's a good idea, especially if you're supporting other family members, to get as much detail as possible about all the different elements of the funding package, i.e. what exactly medical insurance means.

[ginsburg]

Glad to see you back!

[saltlakecity2012]

Glad to see you back!

Thanks I'm also curious about the Yale situation - someone posted earlier that they don't believe Yale has to interview all acceptees. Is this a hunch, or is there some info to back this up? I would be surprised if only 2 Grad Cafe users were accepted to Yale this year, but so far that seems to be the only feedback we're getting from the department.

[CafeAuLait12]

Just thought that I would share this will you. Happy Valentine's Day GC!

[midwest513]

Lurker here: I'll be around...but you must be on HUGE grant! Regardless, I would be into meeting up and doing Giordanos or beers or something.

Speaking of food, anyone going to MPSA and planning on making it to any dinners while in Chicago? I'm bringing my girlfriend, and I'm planning on using my travel grant to fund Alinea. Anyone been there and have any thoughts?

Edited February 15, 2012 by jonrob

[Carousel]

Thanks I'm also curious about the Yale situation - someone posted earlier that they don't believe Yale has to interview all acceptees. Is this a hunch, or is there some info to back this up? I would be surprised if only 2 Grad Cafe users were accepted to Yale this year, but so far that seems to be the only feedback we're getting from the department.

That was me, I believe. It was just a hunch based on only having 2 interviews posted. It seems more odd to me that they're doing interviews in waves than it is sending acceptances in waves (like a lot of schools seem to be doing). It all just looks a little fishy.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Carousel

[RWBG]

Lurker here: I'll be around...but you must be on HUGE grant! Regardless, I would be into meeting up and doing Giordanos or beers or something.

Haha, not really. Basically means I'll be covering the cost of hotel and transport... in fact, in terms of the accounting, the grant will be going towards hotel and transport. However, I was going to go to MPSA anyways, but now that the grant money has come through, I've booked Alinea, so that's what the grant money is being spent on in practice.

Edit: We should do drinks with TheGradCafe users. You all seem like good people when protected by the anonymity of the internet, so it stands to reason you'd be even better in person.

Edit2: Assuming you're all of age, of course. It being the States, I'm sure many of you could probably only legally drink as of like, three weeks ago.

Edited February 15, 2012 by RWBG

[RWBG]

If you check the conversion table from ETS, you will see that certain GRE scores are not possible. When someone says that s/he has that score, it makes me very skeptical. Then again, maybe it's just a typo.

Wait, what? What scores are impossible? I mean, obviously there are some that are impossible if you didn't write the new test, but is that what you meant?

Edited February 15, 2012 by RWBG

[adaptations]

Perhaps this is better placed in the other thread on packages, but I just want to urge folks to think twice or three times before making decisions based on relatively small differences in stipends for the next 3-5 years unless you are supporting a family with your stipend income. The choice you make of which program to attend will have long-term consequences for your career - you should be wary of trading off the subsequent 30+ years for a few hundred dollars a month in the next 3-5. Visit the programs that admit you if possible, make a choice based on which program will be best for you professionally, and prepare yourself no matter what to share an apartment, live on free sandwiches from talks rather than all the fine restaurants mentioned above, and have limited disposable income.

I was inspired by Penelope Higgins' advice, and so I’ll share a few thoughts of my own to all of you who are fortunate enough to be selecting between different programs. First, I think P.H.’s advice should be heeded. I know it is easy to get hung up on the financial offers from schools, but remember that there are lots of graduate students at each program who are living on the stipend, so clearly it’s possible. Yes - everyone has their own financial situation and you don’t want finances to cause undue stress, but for most people (excluding special circumstances, such as families, credit card debt, etc) the stipends are sufficient.

Secondly, I would recommend that you keep an open mind to the schools that admit you. You might have your heart set on a specific program, but meeting faculty and students, exploring the town/city, and getting a feel for the program can sometimes spark a surprising change of heart. Personally, I wish I would have visited more of the schools when I was considering where to attend - not because it would have changed my decision, but because it is helpful to see the different departments and weigh as many options as you can. It is also a unique opportunity to start networking with faculty (future hiring committees), and get to know all the people in your field (at a time when they are actually willing/happy to talk to you).

Lastly, while I whole heartedly agree that the decision of where to attend should be primarily dependent on which program will provide you the best training, I would not completely omit personal factors. If there are two similar programs and you happen to significantly prefer one location over another, I don’t think it is unreasonable to consider such factors. (However, I suggest you read The Realist’s for a comprehensive analysis of the importance of selecting a top program.)

Again – congratulations to everyone who has been admitted. Best of luck to those still in waiting. And a happy Valentines day to all.

[grantman]

Haha, not really. Basically means I'll be covering the cost of hotel and transport... in fact, in terms of the accounting, the grant will be going towards hotel and transport. However, I was going to go to MPSA anyways, but now that the grant money has come through, I've booked Alinea, so that's what the grant money is being spent on in practice.

Edit: We should do drinks with TheGradCafe users. You all seem like good people when protected by the anonymity of the internet, so it stands to reason you'd be even better in person.

Edit2: Assuming you're all of age, of course. It being the States, I'm sure many of you could probably only legally drink as of like, three weeks ago.

I am interested in getting some drinks at MPSA, granted I am a teetotaler so I will be watching you all drink while I am sipping on water.

[ginsburg]

The impossible scores are 136 for verbal, 165 and 162 for quant, according to the GRE conversion table. Though I don't recall seeing any such GRE scores on the Yale reports.

[RWBG]

The impossible scores are 136 for verbal, 165 and 162 for quant, according to the GRE conversion table. Though I don't recall seeing any such GRE scores on the Yale reports.

I could not find that info on the table. Do you have a link?

[RWBG]

I am interested in getting some drinks at MPSA, granted I am a teetotaler so I will be watching you all drink while I am sipping on water.

I deem this acceptable.

[kolja00]

The impossible scores are 136 for verbal, 165 and 162 for quant, according to the GRE conversion table. Though I don't recall seeing any such GRE scores on the Yale reports.

No you can get any number from 130-170 on GRE. The conversion chart is just that, a conversion chart