CU Boulder - ATLAS PhD in Technology, Media, and Society

[Cactus Ed]

Anyone out there applying to this program?

I can't find much on it aside from a single rejection from the results board and some email swapping with POIs. The program looks VERY interesting, though it is very new. I applied just as a wild card outside of my English PhD aspirations. Thoughts?

[lindse]

I did! 

 

And yes, the program looks VERY interesting but it's also a bit hard to get a read on due to the newness.

 

I am dying waiting to hear back... Any word from them for you?

[Cactus Ed]

Finally, I found someone else who applied here! Ha, I was starting to think I was the only applicant (which led me to believe I might get in ).

 

I haven't heard anything yet, but I did email Vickie Stubbs (DGS) about a week and a half ago and she informed me that they were currently reviewing apps and they'd be notifying by the end of March. What's your background/area of interest, lindse? Have you applied anywhere else?

[lindse]

I heard the same thing from Vickie... Of course, that doesn't keep me from being on pins and needles in the meantime. 

 

My background is in design research & UX, which I think is a good fit with the HCI bent of some of the ATLAS fellows. Really, though, one of the appealing things is that the program attracts a range of backgrounds. I have a specific POI/lab I want to work with that lives in the CS department, but I don't have (or really want to have) a pure CS background... I think the more technology use becomes an important aspect of addressing problems in healthcare and education, the more we need interdisciplinary people working in technology. 

 

It is actually the only school I've applied to, for now, because it is such a unique program specific to my interests. So my fingers are tightly crossed!

[Cactus Ed]

Wow, sounds like we have very different backgrounds!

 

Mine is in English Lit, but with a special focus on globalization and new media. I also have some background in UX from a corporate, software development perspective (I work as a copywriter and social media manager for a corporation right now and have recently done a lot of work with UX). My specific interest in ATLAS is the prospect of studying social media's impact on social and political movements (protests, revolutions, etc) around the world. I'm interested in some of the crisis informatics work being done in the program, so that's why I applied.

 

That being said, I also applied to five English PhD programs (and ATLAS was my wild card) and have been accepted to ASU with five years full funding and waitlisted at Tufts, so if the ATLAS app comes through with some funding, it will be a helluva decision and a real fork-in-the-road situation!

 

I'm anxious to hear, though. Do you have any idea how many are accepted, etc? Also, best of luck to you seeing as it is the only program you applied to!

[lindse]

I heard that there are ~45-50 applicants each year and that there is not a set amount that they accept. That is, one year they may accept none, one year they may accept 5, and one year they may accept 2. Thus far, they have offered funding to all students they accept.

 

Despite our different backgrounds, it sounds like we're both a fit in different ways. I thought I was not as interested in the crisis informatics stuff, but once I dug in to some of the papers coming out of program I realized how interesting that type of research could be. My focus, hopefully, will be on how social support via technology can play a role in promoting health and wellness. 

 

Thanks for the luck! Still no word over here, which makes me a bit nervous... Fingers are still tightly crossed.

[Cactus Ed]

Gah, still waiting! It's the last program I need to hear from and I'm interested enough to wait it out. Hopefully results come soon. Interesting about the funding... I wonder if it is at any point contingent on grant fundage? I would imagine...

[Cactus Ed]

Still nothing on your end, lindse? 

 

This is driving me nuts. I have other offers but really want to know about this program. AGH. 

[Cactus Ed]

It is annoying. I don't want to email Vickie either, since I did 2 weeks ago. But yeesh, I have to make decisions by next week, pretty much, so I'm anxious to know! I might have to email her again at the risk of being the irritating applicant.

 

It seems this late response thing might be a systemic thing across CU Boulder. I know for a fact that PhD applicants to the English department also haven't heard anything yet for the most part...

[lindse]

I finally broke down and emailed Vickie since it's the last weekday in March and I still haven't heard anything. Cactus Ed, I know you've made your decision to go to ASU (congrats!), but I'm just wondering if you've heard anything?

[Cactus Ed]

Hi lindse - I haven't heard anything! CU is the last school for me to hear from, and I applied to the English PhD program in addition to ATLAS. I haven't heard a peep out of either program other than that the English department accepted a few folks and isn't rejecting or informing waitlists until after the April 15 cutoff (which I find crazy).

 

I guess I got tired waiting to hear from Colorado -- their programs are taking FOREVER to notify! I hope you hear something back from Vickie soon, and something useful at that. I'll be interested to know what you hear. I am still interested in the program, but I needed to make a decision and stick with it for a variety of logistical reasons, and CU just seemed to be too slow to wait for...

 

Good luck!

[Cactus Ed]

Still nothing from Vickie?

[lindse]

She did email back yesterday and say the committee is making decisions by the end of the week and that she'll send out notifications after that. Despite the fact that I still have no answers, I feel so much better having made the contact.

[Cactus Ed]

Sending good vibes your way!

[lindse]

Thank you thank you!!

[Cactus Ed]

Nothing on my end. Anything on your end?

[Cactus Ed]

Hey lindse - the application website for me now reads "A decision on your application has been made. You will be contacted with further details."

 

Not sure what this means, but likely a "no." Just thought I'd give you a heads up that something is happening...

[lindse]

Same!! Oh man, hurry up mail!

[Cactus Ed]

But maybe it means a yes? I have no idea. On my rejections from other schools, the website was where I was directed to see the "no" letter. So maybe "further contact" means that they're taking the time to call/email us acceptances?

 

Who knows...

[lindse]

I do know that they're sending out letters in the mail. I'm trying not to read too much into the wording on the site, but this is nerve wracking!

[Cactus Ed]

Seriously? Snail mail? Jeez, how archaic. I haven't heard anything from them either way other than the website update. How long ago did your status update? Mine was this morning for sure because I checked last night and there had been no change...

[lindse]

I'm not totally sure when my status changed because I didn't check at all yesterday. And yes, I can't believe that it's coming in the mail. It's weird because other departments at CU do email notifications... Well, those were also the departments that let people know a month ago!

 

Are you still waiting to make a final decision based on what ATLAS says, or are you pretty definitely going to the program at ASU?

[Cactus Ed]

I'm pretty definitely going to ASU (though I was shocked by a waitlist acceptance to Tufts on Monday) but, if for some reason ATLAS offered some once-in-a-lifetime, heavily-funded opportunity, I might think twice

 

I emailed Vickie Monday basically telling her I had two offers on the table and needed to know soon and haven't heard anything back from her. So I guess I'll wait on that letter. Now I'm tempted to rush home from work and check the mail! I wonder how long ago they sent letters... I'm in Maine, so it'll probably take longer to get here.

[lindse]

If I'm interpreting this right, I think the message means rejection. See page 20.

 

http://www.colorado.edu/GraduateSchool/facstaff/_docs/GradAdmissionsAppSystems.pdf

 

(I googled the message).

[Cactus Ed]

I'd have to say you're right, unfortunately. Vickie could've just said that, jeez.