Being excited about your undergrad school

[RubyBright]

Well, when all was said and done, I found myself without funded PhD offers thanks to sequestration cuts. So I'll be starting a master's program at my undergrad school in the fall. It wasn't what I was expecting, and it wasn't what I was hoping for; after four years, I was pretty ready to move on. But this is my new grad school, so I want to make the best of it. The question is, how do you get excited about a school you've already been at for four years, and an area you've been living in for far longer? Anyone have experience, or in the same boat?

[SeriousSillyPutty]

Bummer!

I'm not in the same situation, but I know that my attitude about the town I moved after college was very different than my attitude of my college town, even though I only planned to live in the new place for a few years.  In college I was connected to campus, but not the broader community.  I don't know what your relation to your college town is, but maybe you can spend this summer getting connected to the community.  Doing things that non-students would do can help it to still feel like the next life step (which it is) rather than a repeat of the status quot.  

- Is there a non-profit you can volunteer with or a religious organization that will help you to build community with non-students?  Large non profit institutions that have memberships (like museums, library systems, and public radio stations) often also have "Young Friends" groups of young professionals you can get involved with.  These make for good practice networking/getting to know people outside your field, who are youngish and approachable but still a bit older with more work experience than you.  (When I joined a young friends group, I at first felt insecure because there were a lot of lawyers and managerial types -- and even a professor -- but then I began to appreciate that they liked me and valued my ideas, even if I was "the kid" of the group.  It's been a great experience.)

- Are there any restaurants far enough from campus that undergrads don't often venture there? Or cultural attractions? (Yeah, I know you'll still be on a student budget, but sometime it's nice to feel like a "real grown-up".)

 

Also, you'd probably be a great asset to your school's graduate student senate (or similar body) because you're already oriented to the school in general (and probably know a lot of its working better than advanced year grad students even) so you could hit the ground running.  Even if you don't do something specific, once the semester starts you should reach out to the new students and offer to show them around -- or just give them tips what restaurants deliver.  All those normal things that you learn over time from people who have been there longer, they can learn from you.

  And don't forget to work your connections!  Already having good rapport with some of the profs could be a great advantage.

[phdhope2013]

I am in a somewhat similar situation. If I do not get off the wait-list on Monday, then I will be heading back to the place where I did my MA. It sucks because I kind of didn't want to be going back to that location (though located in one of the biggest cities in the world) I hated living there. I actually considered turning down their offer and reapplying for 2014, but I would feel awkward asking my former and will be current advisor, if I attend this school, for a letter of rec. for other schools. I should have thought of this before applying there. I wish I could go back in time. 

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

Sorry to hear about the lack of funding. That is disheartening.

 

I have not been in the same position. However, I would expect being in the same location for the next one or two years could actually be advantage. You won't have to concern yourself much about situating in a new locale -- you know, finding housing, grocery shops, etc; you can put your energies fully into schoolwork.  

 

I understand, though, it is bummer to be somewhere not new. Do you plan to re-apply for PhD programs in upcoming cycles? Perhaps then you'll funded and you'll get to try somewhere new.

 

In the meantime, does your field support or encourage conference attendance? What about conducting your research elsewhere? Those are ways of getting out for awhile.

 

Also, sometimes getting out of your immediate location can make you appreciate it...

 

Finally, I support this suggestion:

 

- Are there any restaurants far enough from campus that undergrads don't often venture there? Or cultural attractions? (Yeah, I know you'll still be on a student budget, but sometime it's nice to feel like a "real grown-up".)

 

 

As I'm seeking to advance in my field, being in the same place for awhile now has me feeling similar to you: I'm ready to move on. In the meantime, I'm trying out non-American restaurants that I have never been, just to keep it more exciting. Today, I had takeaway Tibetan. Now if I were to move away, I have this expanded cultural palette to take with me.

 

In other words, think of it as milking it for everything that the place is worth.

 

Hopefully, an academic degree later, you'll get to move on somewhere else... 

 

Keep the faith! good luck!

[misskira]

I've been in this area for 11 years now... 4 years undergrad, 1 year masters (different university, same city), 4 years public school teaching, 2 years stay at home mom, and I've applied for phd at my undergrad school.  This city is only 90 miles from where I grew up as well.  Sigh.  Anyways, I've had to just turn it into "home."  I met my husband here and had kids here, so this is where I stay.  My husband recently started working at a dream job where he is very happy, so I won't ask him to move.  Additionally, my teaching license is for Oregon so there would be more hoops if we did move.

 

Even though I'm applying for the same school as my undergrad, I know it's a high quality program and I will be still studying what I love.  Someday, when my kids are older and I'm making some money, maybe I will be able to travel to see other places.  For now, I focus on the "what" instead of the "where."

[kaister]

I'm not in the same situation, but similar.  The PhD program I'm starting this fall is in a school in my hometown and I actually attended that school for 2 years in my undergrad before I transferred out.  So I get the feeling of never moving on and kind of backtracking in a way.  For me, I was never involved in the same department as I changed majors since my first years in undergrad to my focus in grad school.  Because of that, I feel like I'm still entering something new.  I don't know about your situation, but even if you're in the same major, undergrad and graduates can often have very different environments within the same school.  Also having connections already set makes it easier to get things done and find out about opportunities otherwise.  You will definitely find new people and things to get involved with, I have many friends who have done the same thing as you and they are all pretty happy and have new social groups and are doing much cooler things now that they are grad students.  So don't fret, there is much excitement to be had and you will be that much further to your goals, so it is a great thing!

[RubyBright]

I understand, though, it is bummer to be somewhere not new. Do you plan to re-apply for PhD programs in upcoming cycles? Perhaps then you'll funded and you'll get to try somewhere new.

 

 

I'm considering the possibility of applying to transfer to a combined MS/PhD (funded) program next application cycle (i.e. leaving halfway through the master's if I were accepted) if I find that I don't like it much. I know that transferring is a much bigger deal in grad school than in undergrad, but the big problem for me is that this master's is totally unfunded, so if I stay for the duration, I will likely have too many loans at the end to embark on a PhD. Maybe the transfer scheme will work out; maybe it won't. I think I will be okay in either case. I debated waiting a year and reapplying later, but I decided that getting started on graduate work is the best option for me right now. 

 

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions so far!

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

I'm considering the possibility of applying to transfer to a combined MS/PhD (funded) program next application cycle (i.e. leaving halfway through the master's if I were accepted) if I find that I don't like it much. I know that transferring is a much bigger deal in grad school than in undergrad, but the big problem for me is that this master's is totally unfunded, so if I stay for the duration, I will likely have too many loans at the end to embark on a PhD. Maybe the transfer scheme will work out; maybe it won't. I think I will be okay in either case. I debated waiting a year and reapplying later, but I decided that getting started on graduate work is the best option for me right now. 

 

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions so far!

 

Hey, I wish you all the best!

 

It is my gut sense that entering, and planning to transfer out, is not a great practice. I imagine you are making good connects and conducting research... and bam! you surprise the department by desiring out. However, having no funding sounds to me like a good reason to consider elsewhere (someone out there, please correct me if I am wrong). In a year's time, maybe you can talk with your advisors or the department about seeking internal and external funding. If they can't help you/this doesn't work, then you can bring up funding concerns/living expenses.

 

Also, if you don't get help finding grants/funding/help financially, if you do transfer, keep in mind that you'll want to transfer out before any major exams, thesis-ing, etc. 

 

Lastly, I totally TOTALLY get why you would not want to develop debt, as I wouldn't, but if you could somehow swing it, I'd really consider finishing the Master's if you start. I imagine that is a better seque into a PhD, anyway. You'll have a department cheering you on (hopefully!), as well as you'll have graduate LORs and no burned bridges...

 

While I don't have any relatable experience (where I can support these aforementioned concerns for sure), I thought I would mention them to you, as this is my hunch that transferring out is tricker in graduate school, and you should be aware of the consequences/planning requirements as you accept this unfunded degree program.

[RubyBright]

Hey, I wish you all the best!

 

It is my gut sense that entering, and planning to transfer out, is not a great practice. I imagine you are making good connects and conducting research... and bam! you surprise the department by desiring out. However, having no funding sounds to me like a good reason to consider elsewhere (someone out there, please correct me if I am wrong). In a year's time, maybe you can talk with your advisors or the department about seeking internal and external funding. If they can't help you/this doesn't work, then you can bring up funding concerns/living expenses.

 

Also, if you don't get help finding grants/funding/help financially, if you do transfer, keep in mind that you'll want to transfer out before any major exams, thesis-ing, etc. 

 

Lastly, I totally TOTALLY get why you would not want to develop debt, as I wouldn't, but if you could somehow swing it, I'd really consider finishing the Master's if you start. I imagine that is a better seque into a PhD, anyway. You'll have a department cheering you on (hopefully!), as well as you'll have graduate LORs and no burned bridges...

 

While I don't have any relatable experience (where I can support these aforementioned concerns for sure), I thought I would mention them to you, as this is my hunch that transferring out is tricker in graduate school, and you should be aware of the consequences/planning requirements as you accept this unfunded degree program.

 

Yes. Believe me, I am well aware of all of this, and I already feel guilty for even considering leaving halfway through. I'm not quite going in absolutely planning to transfer out, though - it's something that I'm considering, as probably my only chance to work towards a PhD. It's also something I really don't WANT to do. We'll see what happens over the next year, especially regarding funding. For now, my main concern is figuring out how to make this master's something that really works for me. 

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

Yes. Believe me, I am well aware of all of this, and I already feel guilty for even considering leaving halfway through. I'm not quite going in absolutely planning to transfer out, though - it's something that I'm considering, as probably my only chance to work towards a PhD. It's also something I really don't WANT to do. We'll see what happens over the next year, especially regarding funding. For now, my main concern is figuring out how to make this master's something that really works for me. 

 

Sounds like you've carefully thought this through, and you will do the best with what you have. Good for you :-) You never know, in the year ahead, you *might* find external and/or internal funding...

 

Anyway, good luck in the road ahead, and I sincerely wish you all the best! 

[OctaviaButlerfan]

Hi,

 

I am in a similar situation, too. I am attending the same institution where I did my undergrad and began my M.A. 2 + years ago, because I didn't receive a funded offer. I may get funding off the waitlist, but I highly doubt it.

 

It has taken me so long to get my M.A. because of lack of funding; most scholarship opportunities are only for students who have completed almost half of the credits required for the degree. I also have two young children.

 

Something I began doing was scouring my school for funding opportunities. In the fall, I will be doing a work study, and I will probably be an RA as well. One of the reasons it was difficult to get excited about my school was lack of resources, but I have learned I have to make resources myself. To that end, I am applying for research grants on a personal research project, and submitting proposals to conferences. Check to see if your school has research grants and conference scholarships, if you haven't already.

 

Finally, sometimes scholarships can be given to grad students as well as undergrads.. and sometimes there are special scholarships for people who have had a break in their education, or who have children, etc.

 

I will say it is has been hard to find these resources.. sometimes various departments in my school (even financial aid) were not forthcoming.

 

I hope it works out for you!

[Nanolol]

Well, when all was said and done, I found myself without funded PhD offers thanks to sequestration cuts. So I'll be starting a master's program at my undergrad school in the fall. It wasn't what I was expecting, and it wasn't what I was hoping for; after four years, I was pretty ready to move on. But this is my new grad school, so I want to make the best of it. The question is, how do you get excited about a school you've already been at for four years, and an area you've been living in for far longer? Anyone have experience, or in the same boat?

 

What about joining an extracurricular activity on campus - one that has absolutely nothing to do with what you're studying or anyone that you know? The new activity could reveal dimensions of yourself to you that you had never known about.