California Bubble

[Talmid]

Seeing that California is a bubble, is anybody else reluctant to apply for programs in this state? The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve come to fear starting a program, and then having it shut down due to budget cuts. Fact is the humanities are always the first to get axed.

Your thoughts? Does anybody have insight to share from talking with CA professors about the stability of their classics departments?

[rkg2012]

Hi, I was accepted to UCLA's Archaeology IDP with pretty good funding. I decided not to go, but it certainly wasn't fear of the program disappearing. I talked to both Classics and Archaeology Profs. Basically, it sounded like the UCs are in decent shape; it's the lower tiered schools that have taken the biggest hit. I was told that UCLA lost some state funding, but they've been able to make it up through fundraising. If you think a program is a good fit for you, I would go ahead and apply. If you're accepted, just make sure you visit (if possible) and be very direct about your concerns.

In cases where programs do stop accepting new students, I think they still honor your funding package and help you finish. Obviously, that's not a situation you want to be in, but I don't think you would be unable to finish a program because of changes in budgeting. Regardless, I don't think that the big programs are in danger of going anywhere in the very near future though. I have no idea about the smaller/less well known programs.