turned down offers thread

[bgguitarist]

That was very kind of you to do this early! I’m still hoping for an acceptance from U Washington, so I really appreciate it! 

I hope it helps you! Although I'm pretty sure they've given out all of the funding they're willing to this year. It sort of breaks my heart, because I would have dropped my other schools in a heartbeat if the offer was funded. Seattle sounds amazing. I'll just console myself with the thought that I might get the chance to teach there one day (however unlikely that is).

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

Anyone turning down offers from SUNY Buffalo? Please say yes! Also, if you are, are you a Victorianist?

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

Turned down funded MA offers from U of Louisville and U South Florida. Best of luck to any waitlisters!

Oh boy! I hope that turns into something nice for me!

[semicolon2013]

Anyone turning down offers from SUNY Buffalo? Please say yes! Also, if you are, are you a Victorianist?

 

I turned down an offer at Buffalo a few days ago, but alas, I am not a Victorianist (lit theory/contemporary american).

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I turned down an offer at Buffalo a few days ago, but alas, I am not a Victorianist (lit theory/contemporary american).

 

Dang, semicolon, looks like you're accepted to a lot of programs that I'm wait listed at! Go you! And too bad that you're not a Victorianist so that I could scoop up all your rejected schools. 

[angelperak]

I just turned down an offer at LSU. Think I'm going with Northwestern, so will most likely be turning down offers from U of Oregon, U of Iowa, and U of Hawaii at Manoa as well. Rejecting offers feels like breaking up with someone. My guilt is only alleviated by the hope that it helps someone else get off the waitlist.

[holdsteady]

I'm in Canada. Turned down offers from McGill, Toronto, and Victoria.

Edited March 23, 2014 by holdsteady

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

Well. Unless funding comes through from Louisville I'll be turning down their un-funded MA.

[YooperLucy]

Anyone turn down a PhD. offer from Washington State University?

[Serendipity14]

Anyone turning down offers from SUNY Buffalo? Please say yes! Also, if you are, are you a Victorianist?

 

Hi Bunny, 

 

I'm a Victorianist and I'm going to turn down SUNY Buffalo this week. Mine is an unfunded offer but hope it helps 

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

Hi Bunny, 

 

I'm a Victorianist and I'm going to turn down SUNY Buffalo this week. Mine is an unfunded offer but hope it helps  

 

Thanks for letting me know, Serendipity! I hope this works out in my favor, but I am worried about the unfunded part. Did they give you any sort of indication that funding could be a possibility? I know on their website they say that they determine funding by a certain combined GRE score--do you think that has something to do with it? If so, that's not good because I know I don't have the combined score that they want (I have a pretty good verbal score, but horrendous math one. damn it). 

[smurpy2]

Thanks for letting me know, Serendipity! I hope this works out in my favor, but I am worried about the unfunded part. Did they give you any sort of indication that funding could be a possibility? I know on their website they say that they determine funding by a certain combined GRE score--do you think that has something to do with it? If so, that's not good because I know I don't have the combined score that they want (I have a pretty good verbal score, but horrendous math one. damn it). 

 

Why in the world would a school dictate financial support for an advanced English degree on the basis of a math score from a standardized test?I'm not criticizing you, Bunny; nor am I suggesting that you've been misinformed--that may be the way they do things. But... why? #ifiwasgiftedinmathiwouldntbestudyingEnglish

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

Why in the world would a school dictate financial support for an advanced English degree on the basis of a math score from a standardized test?I'm not criticizing you, Bunny; nor am I suggesting that you've been misinformed--that may be the way they do things. But... why? #ifiwasgiftedinmathiwouldntbestudyingEnglish

 

Exactly. The thing that made me the most mad was that they have this whole spiel on their website about how they don't prioritize numbers and scores, etc, and then at the very bottom it says that funding will be based on the GRE. I even called them back during the application process and they told me that if you don't have the right combined score you can still get funding but that it would be much lower. They said that someone without the score would likely be awarded $13,000 a year versus someone with the score would be given $19,000 a year. A $6000 difference because of a test? Ridiculous. 

 

I just looked at their website to find quotes to share what I'm talking about, but I can't find it. It looks like they significantly changed their website (as in redesigned the whole thing). I don't actually see on their website where they talked about the minimum score anymore, so maybe that means the got rid of it? I know it was this school because I scoured their website in the past. That, or this whole process has made me crazy, which is highly likely. 

 

Either way, I know this isn't the only school that does this. Another school (which is ranked way lower, btw) said that they base funding on GRE scores as well. They said that it's an easy way to make decisions when you're choosing between great candidates and can't fund them all. : / 

Edited March 24, 2014 by BunnyWantsaPhD

[shortstack51]

Some schools get pressured to fund students that way because of the admin. A dean is more likely to want to fund someone who looks good briefly in numbers.

[Appletto]

Exactly. The thing that made me the most mad was that they have this whole spiel on their website about how they don't prioritize numbers and scores, etc, and then at the very bottom it says that funding will be based on the GRE. I even called them back during the application process and they told me that if you don't have the right combined score you can still get funding but that it would be much lower. They said that someone without the score would likely be awarded $13,000 a year versus someone with the score would be given $19,000 a year. A $6000 difference because of a test? Ridiculous. 

 

 

I am Victorian and I might also turn down the offer from Buffalo. I was told that down the road I could get funding, but I do not want to take the risk. I believe that their presidential and university fellowships are awared based on GRE score. However, their offer of Teaching assistantships has nothing to do with GRE. That is my take.

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I am Victorian and I might also turn down the offer from Buffalo. I was told that down the road I could get funding, but I do not want to take the risk. I believe that their presidential and university fellowships are awared based on GRE score. However, their offer of Teaching assistantships has nothing to do with GRE. That is my take.

 

So, your acceptance letter didn't come with any funding at all--no teaching assistantship or tuition wavers? Did they indicate that the "down the road funding" would occur before your first year or were they saying in subsequent years? When I talked to them on the phone in the fall they made it sound like they funding all their students, just in varying degrees. What's the deal with schools sending out acceptances when they can't fund their students? 

 

This is just super aggravating because I'm hoping to go there, but I definitely can't if they don't offer some sort of funding. sadface times a million. 

[Appletto]

So, your acceptance letter didn't come with any funding at all--no teaching assistantship or tuition wavers? Did they indicate that the "down the road funding" would occur before your first year or were they saying in subsequent years? When I talked to them on the phone in the fall they made it sound like they funding all their students, just in varying degrees. What's the deal with schools sending out acceptances when they can't fund their students? 

 

This is just super aggravating because I'm hoping to go there, but I definitely can't if they don't offer some sort of funding. sadface times a million. 

In my acceptance letter, it specifically says "self-funded." It's probably because I am an international student whose first language isn't English. I emailed the school, and was told that a TAship would be possible if I pass the SPEAK test. But it's unclear to me if funding would occur in the first year or afterwards. They did suggest me applying for Graduate Assistantships.

However, I am not sure if Buffalo funds all their incoming students.

 

Also, I have been waitlisted for funding in a few schools. It IS frustrating.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Appletto

[Katia_chan]

Just got in off the waitlist at Texas Tech.  Will be turning down the offer, as I already accepted somewhere else.

 

I'm a medievalist.  Hope this helps someone.

[Serendipity14]

Thanks for letting me know, Serendipity! I hope this works out in my favor, but I am worried about the unfunded part. Did they give you any sort of indication that funding could be a possibility? I know on their website they say that they determine funding by a certain combined GRE score--do you think that has something to do with it? If so, that's not good because I know I don't have the combined score that they want (I have a pretty good verbal score, but horrendous math one. damn it). 

 

The offer simply said self-funded. I had multiple funded offers when I got their letter so I didn't bother asking for clarification. I'm not sure about the GRE score issue either. My scores weren't low nor were they spectacularly high. Hope everything works out well for you!

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

In my acceptance letter, it specifically says "self-funded." It's probably because I am an international student whose first language isn't English. I emailed the school, and was told that a TAship would be possible if I pass the SPEAK test. But it's unclear to me if funding would occur in the first year or afterwards. They did suggest me applying for Graduate Assistantships.

However, I am not sure if Buffalo funds all their incoming students.

 

Also, I have been waitlisted for funding in a few schools. It IS frustrating.

 

 

The offer simply said self-funded. I had multiple funded offers when I got their letter so I didn't bother asking for clarification. I'm not sure about the GRE score issue either. My scores weren't low nor were they spectacularly high. Hope everything works out well for you!

 

Thanks for letting me know. This is such a frustrating process but hopefully something good comes out of it! Serendipity, I can't remember if I asked this already, but are you an international application too?

[readallthethings]

I just turned down an MA offer at Northeastern. I was being considered for a partial tuition scholarship (which is the most Northeastern offers MA students), but I turned down the offer before finding out if I received it or not because I wouldn't be able to fund myself for the rest. I applied as a Romanticist/Victorianist! 

[meeshy]

I just turned down a funded PhD offer at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Best wishes to everyone on the waitlist there!

[Kamisha]

Turning down a fully-funded PhD offer from Baylor. Hope that helps someone out!

Edited March 27, 2014 by Kamisha

[fortinzio13]

I turned down a PhD offer from Central Florida's T&T program

I also turned down a PhD offer from South Florida's R/W program

[mikers86]

Just turned down a PhD offer at UConn and took myself off Northeastern's wait list for the PhD. Incredible faculty at UConn, so I hope that helps someone on the wait list.