oseirus Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 I spent the longest week of my life in Columbus last spring. It's like the Cleveland tourism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY, but worse no one should be subjected to the state of Ohio ... it's akin to going on vacation and ending up in a restroom the entire time TBD 1
oswic Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 I'm speaking with my POI at the school that admitted me tomorrow and I am quite nervous! We had a lengthy email correspondence in the Fall discussing research but we never spoke on the phone. They are still putting together the fellowship packages but she told me in her email to me what they are offering me at minimum. Tomorrow is my opportunity to ask her my questions. I'd love some advice on what to ask her. I was thinking I should ask about Summer funding, teaching opportunities, and pre-dissertation grants. Is there anything else you suggest I ask (or not ask) about? I'd love to ask how students live in NYC on the stipends, but I don't think it's appropriate . I am deeply grateful and honored to be admitted with funding. Now that I'm starting to calm down, I'm worrying about moving, finding housing, paying rent/bills, etc. I've admired her work for so long and don't want to make a fool of myself during our first conversation. I'll try to suppress feelings of impostor syndrome and star-struckness (like that word?). Any insight/experiences are welcome!
TMP Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 Asking about additional support is expected so you certainly will want to feel comfortable knowing that the department will back your research and preparation for the dissertation. if you don't have another competitive offer, then there's really nothing that she can do to sweeten your package.
oseirus Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 I'm speaking with my POI at the school that admitted me tomorrow and I am quite nervous! We had a lengthy email correspondence in the Fall discussing research but we never spoke on the phone. They are still putting together the fellowship packages but she told me in her email to me what they are offering me at minimum. Tomorrow is my opportunity to ask her my questions. I'd love some advice on what to ask her. I was thinking I should ask about Summer funding, teaching opportunities, and pre-dissertation grants. Is there anything else you suggest I ask (or not ask) about? I'd love to ask how students live in NYC on the stipends, but I don't think it's appropriate . I am deeply grateful and honored to be admitted with funding. Now that I'm starting to calm down, I'm worrying about moving, finding housing, paying rent/bills, etc. I've admired her work for so long and don't want to make a fool of myself during our first conversation. I'll try to suppress feelings of impostor syndrome and star-struckness (like that word?). Any insight/experiences are welcome! sorry if I lost the narrative a bit but can you remind us again what school this is?
oswic Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 No problem. The CUNY Graduate Center. Thanks!
oseirus Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 No problem. The CUNY Graduate Center. Thanks! don't be bashful ... I would recommend you ask if they can recommend another PhD student you can talk to ... in regards to cost of living etc ... that way you aren't getting it from a professor's take ... but that's just me ... SL what's your take?
goldielocks Posted February 24, 2012 Author Posted February 24, 2012 don't be bashful ... I would recommend you ask if they can recommend another PhD student you can talk to ... in regards to cost of living etc ... that way you aren't getting it from a professor's take ... but that's just me ... SL what's your take? Yes, definitely speak with another grad student (or several, if you can!). I'm finding this very helpful in trying to make my decision. I also find that you really need to get them to admit to what they identify as weaknesses as well as strengths. There are tactful ways to ask this, without using the word "weakness." But definitely ask them what they'd change if they could, as well as what they really like about the program. And if people (including professors) will not speak to that question... turn slowly... and walk away. (Again, the key to this is tact, but every one of my mentors has insisted on this.) I've found all of the grad students (and professors, for that matter) with whom I've spoken have been very kind, outgoing, and willing to be honest with me.
oseirus Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 I've found all of the grad students (and professors, for that matter) with whom I've spoken have been very kind, outgoing, and willing to be honest with me. And if they aren't I would say ask New England Nat. Now granted she lives in Princeton but that is less than an hour and a half away via the train to NYC, so I'm sure s/he knows something about the area.
oswic Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 Thank you, TMP, oseirus, and goldie. All great advice. I also discovered that the AHA website has a list of recommended questions. I don't have any other offers at present and don't think it likely more will come. So as TMP said, they can't really sweeten the deal. But I want to be sure I'm clear on what I'm walking in to. I'm a little nervous about CUNY because of their funding situation, but my POI there is my top choice for an advisor of all the schools to which I applied. Also, I do appreciate the funding they are offering me and I don't want to sound ungrateful. I'm just not sure that I understand exactly how the funding works. But that should be clear after tonight. I will make sure to talk to other students as you suggested. Thanks so much!
oseirus Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 Thank you, TMP, oseirus, and goldie. All great advice. I also discovered that the AHA website has a list of recommended questions. I don't have any other offers at present and don't think it likely more will come. So as TMP said, they can't really sweeten the deal. But I want to be sure I'm clear on what I'm walking in to. I'm a little nervous about CUNY because of their funding situation, but my POI there is my top choice for an advisor of all the schools to which I applied. Also, I do appreciate the funding they are offering me and I don't want to sound ungrateful. I'm just not sure that I understand exactly how the funding works. But that should be clear after tonight. I will make sure to talk to other students as you suggested. Thanks so much! Good luck and let us know how it goes Os!
oswic Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 SHE IS AWESOME! Thanks for the advice and support! My best to all of you.
TMP Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 YAY!!! Wait, it just occurred to me that she wanted to talk to you on a FRIDAY NIGHT?!!?!!?!? That's SUPER awesome! Hopefully she'll really pull through for you!
Safferz Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 SHE IS AWESOME! Thanks for the advice and support! My best to all of you. So great to hear that! And definitely get in touch with grad students there, they can be really important for giving you a sense of what it's like to be a student in the program (as well as answer your questions about living on the stipend, moving to NYC, etc). In other news, I'm flying to 'merica on Sunday morning for two campus visits and I have a paper to write before I leave
oswic Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 So great to hear that! And definitely get in touch with grad students there, they can be really important for giving you a sense of what it's like to be a student in the program (as well as answer your questions about living on the stipend, moving to NYC, etc). In other news, I'm flying to 'merica on Sunday morning for two campus visits and I have a paper to write before I leave She's sending me a list of students to contact - I didn't even have to ask! Have fun stateside, Safferz! YAY!!! Wait, it just occurred to me that she wanted to talk to you on a FRIDAY NIGHT?!!?!!?!? That's SUPER awesome! Hopefully she'll really pull through for you! It sounds like she is truly an advocate for her students. I'm super excited!
oseirus Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 So great to hear that! And definitely get in touch with grad students there, they can be really important for giving you a sense of what it's like to be a student in the program (as well as answer your questions about living on the stipend, moving to NYC, etc). In other news, I'm flying to 'merica on Sunday morning for two campus visits and I have a paper to write before I leave I would people on the wait list and have them write that paper for you ... I know it's not even remotely ethical but then again you're a minor celebrity now and things like assignment and homework are for the little people darling Nordicllama 1
Safferz Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 I would people on the wait list and have them write that paper for you ... I know it's not even remotely ethical but then again you're a minor celebrity now and things like assignment and homework are for the little people darling Don't give me ideas! But it all seriousness, anyone else going through a bit of a slump right now? I thought it was hard enough to focus and get things done during the wait, but the post-acceptance period is worse! I don't regret applying when I did, but times like these I really wish I took a year off for applications instead of trying to do this all in the midst of a full course load.
goldielocks Posted February 25, 2012 Author Posted February 25, 2012 Don't give me ideas! But it all seriousness, anyone else going through a bit of a slump right now? I thought it was hard enough to focus and get things done during the wait, but the post-acceptance period is worse! I don't regret applying when I did, but times like these I really wish I took a year off for applications instead of trying to do this all in the midst of a full course load. Safferz, I'm also falling behind a bit. I am desperately trying to stay on track with my blasted thesis and I keep getting mixed up. I just keep telling myself that none of those offers will be any good if I don't graduate in May.
oseirus Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 Don't give me ideas! But it all seriousness, anyone else going through a bit of a slump right now? I thought it was hard enough to focus and get things done during the wait, but the post-acceptance period is worse! I don't regret applying when I did, but times like these I really wish I took a year off for applications instead of trying to do this all in the midst of a full course load. Safferz, I'm also falling behind a bit. I am desperately trying to stay on track with my blasted thesis and I keep getting mixed up. I just keep telling myself that none of those offers will be any good if I don't graduate in May. Well um I wish I could say I felt your pain but I don't ... I am in a "transition" period as I sort of quit my job because in order for me to be ready (if I got accepted into a program) I had to drop paperwork by the beginning of the calendar year for everything to line up so yeah not a whole lot going on in casa Oseirus right now
Simple Twist of Fate Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Now that I have multiple offers, I finally allowed myself to read this thread. I also wasn't really expecting profs to be so forthcoming about "selling" their program. I had read about that, but it's still a (very pleasant) surprise.
TMP Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 SoTF, they really do. And they damn care a lot about the funding packages that they're putting together. I've clued in my UW POI that his package may not be as competitive as he might think it is as I'm aware that OSU is already figuring out how to get around its particular structure. And OSU was quite adamant about that when we talked last week. I think once each school have made their final offer, then they will sell their programs. So, sit back and enjoy the ride!
crater21 Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Hi all! Hoping the decisions page can offer some advice for my situation... I have an offer from a Canadian school and an American school. Both programs are a very good fit, and POIs at both have been very kind. For all sorts of family and personal reasons, it would be easier to be in Canada. But, on the flip side, the funding package offered by the American school is quite significantly larger. The difference is too big to be ignored. Also, I'm wondering what the job prospects are like with a Canadian PhD? Any thoughts? Are Canadian PhDs limited to the Canadian market? Ugh. The thought of saying no to either of these places, when they have been so nice to me, is already making me sick....
oseirus Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 The question is ... are departments willing to enact this for me? That is how I know I am truly wanted Safferz and Nordicllama 2
Safferz Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 Hi all! Hoping the decisions page can offer some advice for my situation... I have an offer from a Canadian school and an American school. Both programs are a very good fit, and POIs at both have been very kind. For all sorts of family and personal reasons, it would be easier to be in Canada. But, on the flip side, the funding package offered by the American school is quite significantly larger. The difference is too big to be ignored. Also, I'm wondering what the job prospects are like with a Canadian PhD? Any thoughts? Are Canadian PhDs limited to the Canadian market? Ugh. The thought of saying no to either of these places, when they have been so nice to me, is already making me sick.... Can you be more specific about your offers? It's difficult to offer advice when it all depends on the schools you're comparing, and your subfield. I don't think Canadian vs. American PhD is what you should be thinking about, but the strengths of these particular programs for the work you'd like to do. Funding is an important consideration, too.
Nordicllama Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 Oseirus, you have made my application cycle exponentially better. Thank you for being you.
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