Set0514 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Common: Have received official admissions from both doctoral programs. Funding decisions unknown yet(many told me first year funding not guaranteed) Both in picturesque view and rural areas Both interests me for their international ed tracks Strong POIs Close ranking in Best Ed Schools(#33 vs #36) Similar costs but UNC more affordable Unique： PSU have a larger alumni network(enrollment 1061) much higher ranking in US news(#3 higher ed, #7 ed administration, #9 ed policy) POI haven't contact me ever UNC is a smaller program(enrollment 432) higher faculty student ratio FPG center all tracks rank out of top 10 POI informal phone interview before admission I have multiple experiences in early childhood education(ECE) while the two programs are both strong in ECE, but that is not my favorite. I would like to combine my former study in ECE with higher education track,where the PSU seems better in their higher ed. I was accepted in education policy in PSU(first priority) and in Teacher education and Curriculum(TEC)(second priority but no idea about it). However, poi in UNC seemed more welcome to me and advised to design a combined curriculum for me(TEC and ed pol). I prefer UNC but worried about its low rankings(yes I know there is much water here), is that to some extend implying PSU is a stronger program overall? If they offered with similar funding, it would be a really hard choice for me. Sincerely hope your advice on any aspect...program quality, "emotional ease", funding, CHOICE.... Also welcome future applicants to discuss about the application process if it helps. Thx in advance!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphi Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I went to the School of Ed admitted student's day last year at UNC and was not at all impressed. The funding situation is dire over there. I think there was one department that fully funded, but mine wasn't it. Anyway, it was kind of sketchy - they were telling me I would have to pay out of pocket the first year, and then MAYBE I would get funding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share Posted March 6, 2015 I went to the School of Ed admitted student's day last year at UNC and was not at all impressed. The funding situation is dire over there. I think there was one department that fully funded, but mine wasn't it. Anyway, it was kind of sketchy - they were telling me I would have to pay out of pocket the first year, and then MAYBE I would get funding. thanks! Yes this is not a pleasing answer. but I was wondering whether PSU are more generous though.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphi Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Sorry They were my #1 before I visited and that changed fast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share Posted March 6, 2015 Sorry They were my #1 before I visited and that changed fast! l meant the way unc answered about funding is disappointing，sorry about the confusion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherNC Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I am sure both programs are good, I would just say that in making your decision, I would rank the concerns/issues you described in this way: 1. Funding (both aren't guaranteed, don't know PSU situation but in my discussion with UNC PhD students all have indicated they have been able to work some kind of hustle and get some funding, though I know statistically all aren't funded.) 2. Where you want to live 3. How you feel about the program based on contact with POIs and others. ...... 99. USNews ranking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphi Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 l meant the way unc answered about funding is disappointingsorry about the confusion I knew what you meant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share Posted March 6, 2015 I am sure both programs are good, I would just say that in making your decision, I would rank the concerns/issues you described in this way: 1. Funding (both aren't guaranteed, don't know PSU situation but in my discussion with UNC PhD students all have indicated they have been able to work some kind of hustle and get some funding, though I know statistically all aren't funded.) 2. Where you want to live 3. How you feel about the program based on contact with POIs and others. ...... 99. USNews ranking. thanks for the insight! l am bothering enough with exploring funds resoures. Could you specify some examples of jobs the phds have in UNC? as an international student many job opportunitiess are actually limited to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherNC Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 thanks for the insight! l am bothering enough with exploring funds resoures. Could you specify some examples of jobs the phds have in UNC? as an international student many job opportunitiess are actually limited to me. Jobs out of UNC are similar to jobs elsewhere, as far as I know: university placement as a professor, work for an educational institution that is either private or affiliated with the government, or work directly with school districts or schools. As has been the case the past ten years, new jobs and fields are being created in education that couldn't necessarily have been predicted when entering a PhD program, so there is also the possibility that the specific job one ends up with has not yet been created. Of course, it's a PhD in the Social Sciences/Humanities field, so most likely you'll just end up working at a coffee shop or tucking your tail between your legs and asking for your old job back. Kidding, sort of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Thanks @TeacherNC, but I think things would be more difficult as a non-US citizen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synvilla Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Thanks @TeacherNC, but I think things would be more difficult as a non-US citizen... I worry about this too. I think with the student visa, we can only be working on campus/for the university. And obviously trickier to do things like teach at a middle school etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherNC Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I worry about this too. I think with the student visa, we can only be working on campus/for the university. And obviously trickier to do things like teach at a middle school etc. Sorry, I thought you all were talking about options after the program. While you are in the program, your funding opportunities would be university affiliated so I assume you would be good with any visa issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 Some friend attending student week last year said that the funding was tight for most departments except one in edu school of UNC. Has anyone visited UNC this year for the 2015 enrollment and would mind sharing your experience on the campus visit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thb08 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I was recently accepted to the UNC PHD program in Education. The very generic acceptance letter did not mention the program or who my assigned advisor is. Is this the case for other accepted students? Will we be receiving an additional letter with a greater level of specificity? Also have funding decisions been made yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 11, 2015 Author Share Posted March 11, 2015 I was recently accepted to the UNC PHD program in Education. The very generic acceptance letter did not mention the program or who my assigned advisor is. Is this the case for other accepted students? Will we be receiving an additional letter with a greater level of specificity? Also have funding decisions been made yet? I was admitted to TEC and my acceptance letter is also without mentioning the specific program. I knew this because My poi contacted me beforehand. I don't know whether we are in the same apartment but it happens that the letter comes with no assigned prof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smichelle Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I was recently accepted to the UNC PHD program in Education. The very generic acceptance letter did not mention the program or who my assigned advisor is. Is this the case for other accepted students? Will we be receiving an additional letter with a greater level of specificity? Also have funding decisions been made yet? Yes, mine did not have an assigned mentor either, but later during the open house, the director of my program told me who would be advising me. I received a non-working university fellowship for one year, but nothing else for other years. I think I have more stable offers at other institutions, but NC is not an expensive place to live (I've lived there all my life). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Yes, mine did not have an assigned mentor either, but later during the open house, the director of my program told me who would be advising me. I received a non-working university fellowship for one year, but nothing else for other years. I think I have more stable offers at other institutions, but NC is not an expensive place to live (I've lived there all my life). Hey would you mind telling the approximate amount of the non-working fellowship, can it cover the tuition and living expense in NC?Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smichelle Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Hey would you mind telling the approximate amount of the non-working fellowship, can it cover the tuition and living expense in NC?Thanks! It covers tuition, health insurance, and provides a stipend of approx. 18k, but it is just for one year. I think it could cover living expenses in areas adjacent to Chapel Hill proper like Carrboro or Durham. I went to college in Durham, and I find that neighborhood to be much less expensive and less crowded by annoying undergrads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 It covers tuition, health insurance, and provides a stipend of approx. 18k, but it is just for one year. I think it could cover living expenses in areas adjacent to Chapel Hill proper like Carrboro or Durham. I went to college in Durham, and I find that neighborhood to be much less expensive and less crowded by annoying undergrads. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Set0514 Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 (edited) Attention: Sharing about the PSU's Admission Weekend I was back from PSU's admitted day last week. They don't have travel reimbursement. Their current students are kind hearted but their funding is tooooooo tight. I have talked with several professor and emailed program coordinator for funding before my visit- I did this politely, patiently, and sincerely-but the response was cold and disappointed. I asked several other admitted students and they were treated the same way..and no funding for sure. There is 99.99% percent possibility that I will have to fund myself the first year. I totally understand this is common for PhD in Education. What makes me very uncomfortable that they even didn't act supportively to prospective students. I will definitely not go to PSU. Yes my personal preference is a supportive place. Edited March 23, 2015 by Set0514 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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