Decision Thread 2014

[daykid]

I know that a lot of people are still waiting on news from schools. I myself am still waiting on the last school to be able to start making some decisions. However, I wanted to get the ball rolling on this thread so that we can all start to work out where we will be ending up next year. If you already know, share with us and let us help you revel in being done with this whole exhausting process. If you are still deciding, let us in on your decision making process! If you are regrouping for next year, let us know what you are thinking!

 

 

Decision time is nearing people!

[CulturalAnth]

I have been accepted into 2 programs, and waiting to hear from 2 more (WUSTL and Oregon State). I've been having a hard time with weighing my pros and cons between the 2 I've been accepted to: UNLV and WSU. I posted a thread in "Decisions, Decisions" ... but, right now I am leaning towards WSU because it's PhD, and UNLV is only for Masters. The thing is, I LOVE LOVE LOVE UNLV. I love Las Vegas. It's close to my family. I have friends who already live there. I love the weather and entertainment, the food (and the research of course).. etc. But, I don't think I can pass up a straight-to-PhD program. And it's more likely to be funded. I'm not happy about living in Pullman, though.

 

I'm losing hope on WUSTL, but if accepted there, I will pick that one. If I am accepted to Oregon, I am going to decline. 

[Canis]

Still waiting to hear from schools but should have all results in the next two weeks. I'm really excited about UMass because during my first year I would be able to spend 1 semester doing funded field work overseas to work out dissertation ideas. I'm hoping for a few more good offers before deciding though.

Regarding the above post, I would so much rather live in Corvallis than anywhere else, such a beautiful area and state! I wonder how much location is figuring into everyone's decisions?

PS and Washington also, so beautiful in the Pacific Northwest!

Edited March 3, 2014 by Canis

[CulturalAnth]

Still waiting to hear from schools but should have all results in the next two weeks. I'm really excited about UMass because during my first year I would be able to spend 1 semester doing funded field work overseas to work out dissertation ideas. I'm hoping for a few more good offers before deciding though.

Regarding the above post, I would so much rather live in Corvallis than anywhere else, such a beautiful area and state! I wonder how much location is figuring into everyone's decisions?

PS and Washington also, so beautiful in the Pacific Northwest!

 

Oh man, I LOVED Corvallis when I went to visit and meet with the POI there. It is really the ideal place for me and my family to live. It's just that the research and programs are better at UNLV and WSU.

 

This is what I would be doing at WSU, though, and I'm pretty excited about it. My field work would be in Ethiopia, and I can bring my family along! http://cas.wsu.edu/connect/archives/jan2014/breastmilk.html 

 

Canis, B.C. would be wonderful too! 

Edited March 3, 2014 by CulturalAnth

[Forsaken in LA]

Im trying to decide between the MA in Latin and Caribbean studies at Chicago, or Georgetown and waiting on Tulane for the same program.  Chicago offered half tuition, Georgetown hasn't sent the official acceptance packet with offer yet, and Tulane hasn't made a decision yet.  Chicago is a 9 month program with field study, then thesis write up. Georgetown and Tulane are both 2 year programs.  Chicago has the faculty I want to work with for my PhD.  I have a lot to mull over without the acceptance to Tulane. If that should come as well, it will make the decision harder. I suppose it will based on what I can afford, and if any TA or RA positions are available. Chicago does not have any available for my program and does not recommend working for the duration due to the intensive nature of the 9 month program. 

 

Thoughts?

 

Oh yeah, I lived in Corvallis for a while just out of sheer fate and I loved it. Great little town!

Edited March 3, 2014 by Forsaken in LA

[daykid]

Forsaken, it sounds to me like a 9 month program is probably better if the ultimate goal is a PhD. It gets you through quicker and working with the faculty you hoped to work with. Of course finances are a huge factor but I think Chicago sounds like the way to go!

 

Dig Deep - congrats on being done and good luck in Boston!

 

Cultural Anth - I get being torn about being in a place you love. However, if the ultimate goal is the PhD, I think doing a terminal masters is just going to slow you down.

 

Canis - It's great that you have such a wonderful option already!

Edited March 3, 2014 by daykid

[DigDeep(inactive)]

Forsaken, it sounds to me like a 9 month program is probably better if the ultimate goal is a PhD. It gets you through quicker and working with the faculty you hoped to work with. Of course finances are a huge factor but I think Chicago sounds like the way to go!

 

Where are you in your decision process Daykid? That looks to be a tough one!

[sarab]

I'm declining the wait list from CUNY, but I still haven't decided between USCD and Michigan.

 

I'm considering several things:

• Fit
• Funding offer and the support the university gives students to get outside funding/ how often students get outside funding.
• Cost of living
• Weather (I know it might seem silly, but if I'm going to commit to living in once place for 5-8 years then I need to know if I'll feel comfortable there).
• What the support of the faculty's like.
• How TAing/RAing works.
• Placement after graduation.
• Retention.
• Experiences of current grad students.

It's a lot but then again grad school is a big deal, our futures are a big deal.

[daykid]

Where are you in your decision process Daykid? That looks to be a tough one!

Gah! I don't even knoooooooooow. I've already declined the offer from Illinois. The funding just wasn't good enough to stand up to the other programs I've been accepted to.

 

I visited Texas two weeks ago and had a good time but didn't get that overwhelming "this is it" feeling I was hoping for. Combined with the fact that one of the profs I hoped to work with seems to be leaving and the fact that I'd get great funding the first year but not so great funding the following years, it's dropped a bit on my list. That said, I loved the people I'd be working with and the grad students were great to me. I could certainly see myself being happy there. It's also just really far.

 

I'm visiting Brown this week and Michigan in two weeks. I'm hoping to get this feeling of "YES! This is IT!" at one of those visits. But, I'm dying to hear from UPenn. Not only is it a great program with some amaaaazing faculty (Asif Agha is a Titan of ling anth) but it's close to home. After living abroad for 4 years, being near home is a huge plus.

 

So, I have no idea what I'm going to do.

[daykid]

I'm declining the wait list from CUNY, but I still haven't decided between USCD and Michigan.

 

I'm considering several things:

• Fit
• Funding offer and the support the university gives students to get outside funding/ how often students get outside funding.
• Cost of living
• Weather (I know it might seem silly, but if I'm going to commit to living in once place for 5-8 years then I need to know if I'll feel comfortable there).
• What the support of the faculty's like.
• How TAing/RAing works.
• Placement after graduation.
• Retention.
• Experiences of current grad students.

It's a lot but then again grad school is a big deal, our futures are a big deal.

This is a great list to use in decision making!

[Canis]

What I love about Oregon is that it's green all year, and you're an easy drive to the beautiful coast, or the sunny central high mountain desert.

I'm really uncertain about more time with these long, grey, dead tree northeastern winters!

Depends on how quickly I can get through the PhD if I'm in western mass.

Regarding where to do your MA, be careful because a lot of schools don't want their own MA students, so it's not usually a good idea to do a terminal MA at the school you intend to apply for PhD.

[anthropologygeek]

One thing to keep in mind, most universities won't let you be a tenure professor if you went there for your phd so if all things equal why not leave a school you would love to teach at open for potential jobs.

[CulturalAnth]

Forsaken- Chicago sounds like a great program! Do you know if they accept PhD students from their MA cohort? 

 

Corvallis: I am totally a sufferer of SAD, and I know that the rain would get to me. I visited on a beautiful, warm, sunny day. I would love the abundance of brew pubs and proximity to Portland! 

 

One more possible bonus for WSU: I asked, and was told, that when I start my PhD I could move to the Vancouver campus. I would love to live there, so much more than Pullman. If I put in 2 years in Pullman, if may be worth it to be 20 mins away from Portland (I LOVE Portland!). 

[FaultyPowers]

For everyone who has decided 100% that they will not be attending a certain program...if you haven't actually gotten a decision from that program yet, you may want to email the department, or the grad coordinator and just ask them to please remove your application from consideration. Obviously this is only if you are 100%, absolutely positive that you would not accept. The reason I would suggest this is that plenty of schools (I'm thinking Brown specifically, because they told me they did this, but I'm sure it applies to other places as well), when they make an offer, that's IT. So even if you decline the offer they can't open it back up to the next person on the list. 

[eriatarka]

Hi all... I've been following this forum and posting here & there, but not a reg. I applied to a mix of anthro & history programs, as I'm majoring in both as an undergrad and couldn't decide. I was hoping that this process would choose for me, and indeed it has.

I was admitted to 2 PhD programs: SUNY Albany (archaeology) & UC Riverside (Latin American history). I've decided to go with UCR because I'm fully funded for 5 years and I'll still be close to my family, with a minimal moving expense. I'm a parent so this is important for me.

I'm still waiting for my official rejections from Michigan & Chicago, and I've already turned down Albany because there was no funding. Sucks, cuz I was really excited about Albany's program. Oh well, here's to history :-)

[CulturalAnth]

Hi all... I've been following this forum and posting here & there, but not a reg. I applied to a mix of anthro & history programs, as I'm majoring in both as an undergrad and couldn't decide. I was hoping that this process would choose for me, and indeed it has.

I was admitted to 2 PhD programs: SUNY Albany (archaeology) & UC Riverside (Latin American history). I've decided to go with UCR because I'm fully funded for 5 years and I'll still be close to my family, with a minimal moving expense. I'm a parent so this is important for me.

I'm still waiting for my official rejections from Michigan & Chicago, and I've already turned down Albany because there was no funding. Sucks, cuz I was really excited about Albany's program. Oh well, here's to history :-)

 

Congrats! I wish there was a program near me that had what I wanted... the closest is UNLV. I love that about California... there are sooooo many colleges and universities there. 

[novacancy]

To the person waitlisted at San Diego State: I will most likely be turning down my offer by the end of this week. Same goes for my Portland State offer! Hopefully that helps you out!

[Canis]

I'm still waiting for the details on funding - but now I'm deciding between the freezing cold of Western Mass - and the ARCTIC cold of Newfoundland. It's my own fault for not applying for any programs south of New England.

[CulturalAnth]

It seems I am somewhere in the middle with WUSTL.. some have been interviewed and accepted, others have been rejected. So.. I didn't make the first cut, but I also didn't get rejected yet either. 

 

Also, I was told by WSU that they might not be able to send funding decisions until the summer (!!!) unless I was in their top picks for funding. Ack! What I do know, from my POI, that most people are funded.. it just takes a while to notify. 

[CulturalAnth]

I'm still waiting for the details on funding - but now I'm deciding between the freezing cold of Western Mass - and the ARCTIC cold of Newfoundland. It's my own fault for not applying for any programs south of New England.

 

I wish there were more programs for what I want to do, located in warmer climates! I'm totally jealous of those going to San Diego! 

[strudelle]

I still haven't heard anything at all from UCR.  I was really expecting to hear from them because I had been in contact with the POI.  I have seen a few UCR results on the board, so I'm assuming I didn't get in.  I would just like to at least get a rejection letter.

 

I also haven't heard anything at all about final funding or housing offers from UCSD - I've been nominated and am waiting to hear back.  Also haven't heard anything about campus visits - I would like to know if they are doing these (my POI said they were) because if they aren't, I would like to call the current grad students and chat with them about the program.   

 

I want to hear back about these things before I make a final, definite decision.   

Edited March 4, 2014 by strudelle

[magiaepasta]

Boy, am I happy to see this thread - it means major admissions decisions are FINALLY happening! I've been accepted to two programs, rejected from two, and haven't heard from the last three (though I imagine Chicago is a rejection, I just haven't received it yet). The wrench in my machinery is that I am trying to coordinate my decision making with that of my SO, who is still waiting on medical school decisions. I'm heading up to Brown this week to check out the campus and really, the only school I would have considered over it was Harvard but alas...

 

My SO is currently wait-listed at Brown, but I think he has a fairly high chance of getting in off of the wait-list given what we know about the process there. The only real downside is that we will continue to be across the country from all of our friends and family in the Pacific Northwest for the foreseeable future. A U. of Washington medical school acceptance could be a game changer for him (he has yet to hear back), but staying in the same place is a huge priority for us and I just don't see myself choosing an unfunded MA program over a fully funded PhD program from such an amazing school. 

[CulturalAnth]

Boy, am I happy to see this thread - it means major admissions decisions are FINALLY happening! I've been accepted to two programs, rejected from two, and haven't heard from the last three (though I imagine Chicago is a rejection, I just haven't received it yet). The wrench in my machinery is that I am trying to coordinate my decision making with that of my SO, who is still waiting on medical school decisions. I'm heading up to Brown this week to check out the campus and really, the only school I would have considered over it was Harvard but alas...

 

My SO is currently wait-listed at Brown, but I think he has a fairly high chance of getting in off of the wait-list given what we know about the process there. The only real downside is that we will continue to be across the country from all of our friends and family in the Pacific Northwest for the foreseeable future. A U. of Washington medical school acceptance could be a game changer for him (he has yet to hear back), but staying in the same place is a huge priority for us and I just don't see myself choosing an unfunded MA program over a fully funded PhD program from such an amazing school. 

 

Good Luck! That would be so hard to coordinate acceptances for both of you! I hope it works out for you BOTH and you can stay together!!

[KingScilla]

Boy, am I happy to see this thread - it means major admissions decisions are FINALLY happening! I've been accepted to two programs, rejected from two, and haven't heard from the last three (though I imagine Chicago is a rejection, I just haven't received it yet). The wrench in my machinery is that I am trying to coordinate my decision making with that of my SO, who is still waiting on medical school decisions. I'm heading up to Brown this week to check out the campus and really, the only school I would have considered over it was Harvard but alas...

 

My SO is currently wait-listed at Brown, but I think he has a fairly high chance of getting in off of the wait-list given what we know about the process there. The only real downside is that we will continue to be across the country from all of our friends and family in the Pacific Northwest for the foreseeable future. A U. of Washington medical school acceptance could be a game changer for him (he has yet to hear back), but staying in the same place is a huge priority for us and I just don't see myself choosing an unfunded MA program over a fully funded PhD program from such an amazing school. 

 

Really hope that works out for you! I'm coordinating with my SO as well but nothing near to the extent you guys are.

[magiaepasta]

Thanks, KingScilla & CulturalAnth - it really is a nerve-wracking process and I am soooo ready for it to be over! Will let you know how it turns and best of luck to you and your SO, KingScilla!