RPCV Cameroon Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 I will be attending the day, I'm in Chicago already so it's pretty easy for me to make it work. I would think that a Skype interview shouldn't harm your chances, although it might be harder just because you get less face to face time? I'm also antsy to get the schedule/more info! What are you interests and who do you want to work with? My proposed project looks at social development projects that attempt to alter communicative norms. I would be straddling the language and thought & psych anth tracks. CHD has several people who would be great mentors: Cole, Kulick, Lucy, Shweder.. Raikhel could also be really helpful depending on how the project actually plays out. What about you?
DanJackson Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Few thoughts I can offer from the various threads and questions recently: Toronto and UBC are in line with the top US schools in terms of name recognition. Of course, they're known for the particular kinds of work they do, like all departments. UBC is highly regarded in Canada but Toronto is more highly regarded in the US right now. Any Canadian university will give you a quality education however, so don't fall for the idea that you can only do your PhD in the US. There simply are no jobs, even if you go to a top-tier US school and publish a lot. If your advisors in undergrad or your MA program didn't say: "Seriously, do not get a PhD, there are no jobs and there will be no jobs for you" then you shouldn't trust them - they're lying. The university system is changing - you can't expect to get a degree and be handed a job - so you've got to look at a bigger picture when you think about your PhD. Universities are being defunded at a massive scale in the US, they are being transformed into job training institutions - teaching "skills" and changing syllabi to fit desired "outcomes." This is why PhD programs are taking fewer and fewer students, some are moving to every-other-year admission, etc. 10 years ago some of these incoming PhD cohorts would be 27 students or more - now it's 4 or 8. Often, getting a PhD in the US means you are signing up to join the adjunct work force - lots of hours of work teaching and grading for very little pay, and even less respect - and this goes on for a long time and you're supposed to balance this while doing your coursework and research. This is because over 50% of courses in the US are now taught by adjuncts. This isn't true in Canada, there are still jobs and many PhD students are funded and teach a little but it's nothing like the US. So there are great benefits to Canada for a PhD if you get solid funding! The big problem with going to a school in Canada like Toronto is funding. This can be, but isn't always, a big issue for international students in Canada because they usually give you only 4 years of funding and that's it. And after that, there aren't many options for getting money. So, if the program requires a lot of coursework, a long comps process, etc. you could run out of funding before finishing - easily. If you're international, and considering Canadian PhD - makes sure you can finish in or close to the number of years that they will fund you - or that you have a plan of some kind. There's lots of money in Canada for students, but international students can't apply for all of it. Regarding the MA - it's true, they're very expensive in the US. But they're often fully funded in Canada. So, if you're thinking about an MA before considering a PhD - seriously consider a Canadian school. You'll probably end up in classes with PhD students, it will be a great experience and it will mean that when you do apply for a PhD you'll write a much better application. You will also be able to finish your PhD more quickly because you'll have a stronger research plan, direction, and fluency with the material you need to get through the requirements. But, and no offense intended to those who are doing this, I strongly reccomend you do not do your PhD at the same school you did your BA or MA. There are many funding opportunities that specifically say they do not want to fund students who pursue their PhD at the same school as their previous degrees. The academic world always values diversifying your education and influence. The sad truth is that the American BA is the new high school diploma. And grade inflation is so bad in the US most people have high GPAs (which is why they use GREs and such) and so everyone thinks they're brilliant when they graduate with a BA but really, they've pretty much barely learned to really read. An MA is a good idea unless you're going into a US PhD program that takes mostly undergraduate (which is most of them) in which case you're going to spend 8 years doing your PhD and doing all the work of an MA anyway so you might as well just go for the PhD. But most people aren't admitted - so have a back-up plan and don't be at all afraid (if you're not admitted) to go get an MA and apply again, and again. If you love research and want to spend all your time reading and writing and thinking and debating (guilty here) your persistance will pay off and you'll find a research home. MemoryQ, Kaitri, daykid and 3 others 6
brandnewshoes Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 I just got an acceptance from Toronto! But now, based on what a lot of you have said, am entirely confused considering lower chances of funding opportunities for international students. I have an offer in Sociology from another university too (Minnesota), so this brings up all sorts of issues considering which discipline to pick as well. I'm grateful to have choices of course, but would appreciate any advice from all you wonderful people on this forum!
smg Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 I just got my rejection letter from Davis. Not a surprise or a big deal. You can't win them all.
trogdorburninator Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 I just got my rejection letter from Davis. Not a surprise or a big deal. You can't win them all. Sorry dude! But, as you said, can't get it all. How'd you find out?
smg Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Sorry dude! But, as you said, can't get it all. How'd you find out? Email: A decision has been made regarding your application to the Anthropology graduate program at UC Davis. Please click on the link below to view the university decision letter.
Kaitri Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) I just got an acceptance from Toronto! But now, based on what a lot of you have said, am entirely confused considering lower chances of funding opportunities for international students. I have an offer in Sociology from another university too (Minnesota), so this brings up all sorts of issues considering which discipline to pick as well. I'm grateful to have choices of course, but would appreciate any advice from all you wonderful people on this forum! Congrats! Are you the most recent PhD admit on the forums, or have you not posted there yet? Where are you from? Re: your discussion of funding in Toronto Your assessment isn't really accurate. There are fewer independent funding opportunities for international students at U of T, but your offer will be fully funded for 4-5 years depending on whether you have a master's degree or not. This will include coverage for your international tuition (so international students actually get better funding packages than Canadian students, hence why it's harder to get in as an international student). What you may not have access too are the external funding opportunities that aren't tied to TAing that are very difficult to win, even for Canadians. Many Canadian students complete their PhDs without that finding, so you won't necessarily be behind. The last thing to consider (when assessing funding) is that the current level of funding for U of T students is not easy to live on. Rent in Toronto is expensive. So is a metropass (for the TTC, our transit system). Rent gets cheaper the further from the downtown core you are, but then you will need a metropass to get to school. I live close by, and I walk or bike year round. The graduate student union is currently trying to negotiate higher funding packages for students - they've been frozen since the recession in 2008 (shocking, I know). They may be successful in time for you to join the cohort at U of T. ALSO, FYI - I'm completing my master's in anthropology at U of T right now, and I love it. My cohort is amazing. The classes are a mix of master's and PhD students. If you PM me your POI's name, I might be able to tell you more. EDIT: I'm totally biased, but I would personally rather live in Toronto than Minnesota. Edited February 8, 2015 by Kaitri
brandnewshoes Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Kaitri, i PMed you about my POIs . Thanks for the detailed response about funding and living expenses - it's definitely a really important consideration. Is there a standard funding package or do they often vary? I haven't received any information about the package yet, so am waiting for that too. And I just received the email - haven't put it up on the results board yet. I was so sure I wouldn't get in too, with all the acceptances posted last week! Just goes to show that there is hope for us all yet!
Kaitri Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Did you just get the email yesterday, or on Friday? I received my email on Monday, so it's nice to know they're still sending out admissions offers. It's particularly good news for some of my friends (who are still hoping to get offers). To answer your question: there is a standard funding package, and I don't think it varies much. It's usually $15k + tuition/year.
brandnewshoes Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Yes, absolutely - I got the email about on hour ago (on a Sunday!) so tell your friends that there is clearly still hope. Maybe they do acceptances in waves?
Kaitri Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Yes, absolutely - I got the email about on hour ago (on a Sunday!) so tell your friends that there is clearly still hope. Maybe they do acceptances in waves? That's what the current MA cohort is starting to think. To the rest of you on these boards: do any other schools do acceptances in waves like this?
brandnewshoes Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 DanJackson, following from what you said about doing a PhD in Toronto, I have no doubt the quality of education is excellent. I do wonder, however, about the academic network. Some people in my country have, perhaps unfoundedly, warned me about this - would a PhD in Canada limit one from an academic network in the US in the form of collaborations, conferences, future jobs, etc? I know Toronto has really solid prestige, so would that (in keeping with the so called 'academic caste system') put it in the same league as top-tier colleges in the US and transcend the geographical boundary? Or would it mostly depend on the networks of advisors? I know fit is ultimately what matters, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on this aptitude 1
museum_geek Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 I just got accepted to University of Washington! Who knew they would send out an acceptance email on a Sunday morning? Offered a 50% tuition scholarship and invited to an accepted students weekend in March - I am kinda freaking out right now! Congrats to everyone else who got good news this week, I'm sure there's more to come!!! PS: Is it bad that I posted on gradcafe before I even called my parents? NOWAYNOHOW, daykid, smg and 1 other 4
Kaitri Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Congrats, museum_geek! I think I posted my acceptance here before I told my partner, my parents, or my friends. Members of this forum have a better understanding of how hard it is to put these applications together (and how much stress we feel while waiting!) than our friends and family do. have2thinkboutit 1
ArchaeoGeek Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 I just got accepted to University of Washington! Who knew they would send out an acceptance email on a Sunday morning? Offered a 50% tuition scholarship and invited to an accepted students weekend in March - I am kinda freaking out right now! Congrats to everyone else who got good news this week, I'm sure there's more to come!!! PS: Is it bad that I posted on gradcafe before I even called my parents? Hooray for Museum_Geek!!! museum_geek 1
bogna Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Hello everyone! I was just sent a link to GradCafe the other day and finally decided to check it out...You all have no idea what it's like waiting when you don't have anyone to commiserate with about grad school apps! I am surprised any of my friends are even speaking to me anymore, considering the amount of whining I've been doing over the past couple-three months! Sounds like Chicago has contacted everyone they want for interviews, so that's a rejection for me now (it was a bit of a pie-in-the-sky school anyway, so I am not terribly disappointed). I am quite worried about NYU though...I'd been chatting to a professor there before I submitted my application, and she mentioned the average intake was 8-10 new students...I see on the board that there have been 5 NYU acceptances so far (possibly 1 fake?) so I am becoming concerned at not having heard anything... But congrats to everyone getting their acceptances so early! It's really encouraging to see so many people getting into the schools and programs they've applied for! Hi, yesterday I got an email from a POI, telling me that I've been waitlisted at NYU (sociocultural anthr.) I'm kind of falling into a black hole, I thought my best chances were there
museum_geek Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) Congrats, museum_geek! I think I posted my acceptance here before I told my partner, my parents, or my friends. Members of this forum have a better understanding of how hard it is to put these applications together (and how much stress we feel while waiting!) than our friends and family do. Thanks! I think you hit the nail on the head - my friends and family's reactions have all been along the lines of "of course you got in, I don't know why you were even stressing about it!" I love them but no one understands the app season roller coaster ride quite like my GC buds! edit: I've reached my daily quota so I can't upvote you...I will never understand how this upvote system determines the quotas... Edited February 8, 2015 by museum_geek
bogna Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Hi to all of you! I'm applying for sociocultural anth. at NYU, Harvard, Duke, Michigan, Stanford and Columbia. All are long shots, so I don't really know what to think... Yesterday I got a mail from a POI from NYU telling me that I've been waitlisted, but I thought that was my best shot so I guess If I didn't make it there, the chances of getting anywhere else are dissapearing. I didn't hear back from any other school yet. Do you gays know anything? A fellow sister in pain.
Dirtstainedgirl36 Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 My POI at UC Berkeley phoned me earlier this afternoon and we had a nice informal chat about the school. He's excited at my possibility of attending, talked to me about the possible fellowships, plus other options if I don't receive that one, and he would like for me to come out and see the campus in March or April, meet faculty and students, and see the university. He was very personable and understanding. Feeling excited!
ArchaeoGeek Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Hi to all of you! I'm applying for sociocultural anth. at NYU, Harvard, Duke, Michigan, Stanford and Columbia. All are long shots, so I don't really know what to think... Yesterday I got a mail from a POI from NYU telling me that I've been waitlisted, but I thought that was my best shot so I guess If I didn't make it there, the chances of getting anywhere else are dissapearing. I didn't hear back from any other school yet. Do you gays know anything? A fellow sister in pain. Except waitlisting is still good. It's not an outright rejection, and there have got to be some folks who will get accepted and go somewhere else. I'm kind of brainstorming here, so don't take any of this as gospel, but they admit 8-10 students a year for the PhD, so maybe they waitlist 2 (?) for each subfield? That sounds like a pretty good chance of getting in even if you are waitlisted to me, since some people might have applied there because it's a good school but their actual "dream school" is somewhere else. I just wish I would hear back...NYU would be perfect for the stuff I want to do, and the POI I talked to sounds awesome...I am so jealous you have heard back! Congratulations!!
bogna Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Except waitlisting is still good. It's not an outright rejection, and there have got to be some folks who will get accepted and go somewhere else. I'm kind of brainstorming here, so don't take any of this as gospel, but they admit 8-10 students a year for the PhD, so maybe they waitlist 2 (?) for each subfield? That sounds like a pretty good chance of getting in even if you are waitlisted to me, since some people might have applied there because it's a good school but their actual "dream school" is somewhere else. I just wish I would hear back...NYU would be perfect for the stuff I want to do, and the POI I talked to sounds awesome...I am so jealous you have heard back! Congratulations!! Oh, thank you so much! I've been falling into despair, because really: who would reject an accept from NYU?? But I guess it's good I'm still "in" somewhere (in between at least). I see you're applying to the archeaology subfield, so who knows? Maybe they didn't send their accepts/rejections yet? Wish you the best!
ArchaeoGeek Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Oh, thank you so much! I've been falling into despair, because really: who would reject an accept from NYU?? But I guess it's good I'm still "in" somewhere (in between at least). I see you're applying to the archeaology subfield, so who knows? Maybe they didn't send their accepts/rejections yet? Wish you the best! "...because really: who would reject an accept from NYU??" I KNOW RIGHT?!??!?! And it's far too early to despair! (And I say this as I frantically refresh my email inbox because ZOMGS SOMEBODY GOT AN EMAIL FROM NYU WHERE IS MINE?!??!) bogna 1
beaniebaby Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 I just got accepted to University of Washington! Who knew they would send out an acceptance email on a Sunday morning? Offered a 50% tuition scholarship and invited to an accepted students weekend in March - I am kinda freaking out right now! Congrats to everyone else who got good news this week, I'm sure there's more to come!!! PS: Is it bad that I posted on gradcafe before I even called my parents? Did my undergrad there (absolutely loved it), and worked at the Burke for a year. Let me know if you have any questions. Congratulations!
Tachiyaku Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Does anyone know if all the Duke cultural anthro admits have been notified?
bogna Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Hello from a long-time lurker! The news from NYU makes me anxious about my status... I had an interview with POI at NYU and she said they were going to make their collective decisions around mid-February. Perhaps it took place earlier than they planned? Other things that I've received is a waitlisting at Toronto (I'm neither a Canadian nor a American and I didn't know that there's only few slot for internationals), and a presumed-rejection at Harvard (my POI emailed me on Feb 3 suggesting another MA program and said they were about to wrap up their decisions). It's really hard to endure this lull before a storm. Seems like we are almost about to face the culmination of anxiety, whatever it would turn out to be.... Anyway, it's still good that I can feel a certain kind of solidarity on this forum and assure myself that I'm not alone. Wish the best for all of us! In the meantime, do any of you guys have any news about U of Michigan? That's my top choice and I saw someone posted on the result page that s/he had an interview on Jan 27. Do you think it's genuine or a fake? I worry if no interview offer implies no hope for me... My POI at NYU told me that the 8 acceptances were already sent out, so it looks like indeed they made the decisions earlier than they planned. Can I ask who was your POI there? At Harvard were you applying for the PhD or the MA? I'm applying for the PhD and haven't heard anything yet, not an interview, nothiiiiing. I guess it means it's lost. I'm also applying for UMichigan and haven't heard back yet. I've been checking the results searches and looks like no one have gotten their answer (either rejecttion or acceot) yet. So there is still hope for us! Best luck to all of you!!
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