LSU decisions and funding

[Cnova613]

Hi everyone! 

Over the past few months, I have read many of your posts expressing your concerns, your successes, your anxiety, and your celebration. While I most likely know none of you, I would like to give my greatest thanks to each and every one of you that posted to this forum. It was your honesty  in telling us of your experiences during this crazy process that have truly given me--and many others, I'm sure--emotional comfort in a time of need. Although there were times when we all wanted to give up hope, we persevered. Even if you did not receive any acceptances, you still made it through the process. And that in itself is a grand success. Never forget, there are those that never had the guts to try. 
While I was only accepted to one school, I am happy to say that that school is LSU, one of my best fits. My question to any of you that have been accepted to LSU for the Fall 2015 semester is this: has anyone heard about funding yet? The anticipation is killing me, but like I said above, your commentary does help!

[HNV721]

Religious studies/divinity/history applicant here ... I think I have just met my first fellow Knoxvillian! Are you a UTK undergrad? 

 

I hope the process is going well for you.

[NMD]

Congrats on the acceptance! I finally created an account so I could reply to this, because I do have the tiniest bit of information here.

 

I also got accepted to LSU, but before I applied I visited the department. I met with the DGS who didn't seem too optimistic about funding opportunities because of budget cuts that were being made. I got accepted without funding, which wasn't much of a surprise after that meeting (also being an MA applicant I knew funding was a little less likely). I also met with several current students, a good bit of whom weren't on departmental funding, but were being funded through other places in the university (like the library or the graduate school).

 

So I'm not sure when you'll get official word on funding, but I know that they don't have the money to fund as many students as they like, so you might want to look into other options just in case.

[Cnova613]

HNV721:

 

There doesn't seem to be too many of us on here!  I actually graduated with my M.A. in history from UTK in Spring of 2013. After being mentally exhausted from my work on the M.A. thesis, I decided to take a retail job to flex my social skills (which was really nice for a while). Then, I realized that I was truly missing academia and decided to apply for PhD programs this cycle. How is the process going for you??


NMD:

Thank you for your insights and your response! Your information confirms what I was already suspecting. I was born and raised in New Orleans (and most of my family still lives there), so I was aware of the state budget cuts that have taken place. It's very unfortunate that Louisiana doesn't have any legal protection for higher education and that its flagship university has taken so many cuts in past years. I was just in touch with the DGS yesterday, and she said that they have sent out their first round of funding offers and that it might be several weeks before I find anything else out since they are waiting on responses from those candidates. I'm trying to stay positive and believe that there is still hope (and, at least in my mind, I think there is). But I have also been thinking of backup plans just in case. By the way, Nashville is pretty awesome. I'm kind of jealous that you live there considering Knoxville isn't that special haha

[HNV721]

HNV721:

 

There doesn't seem to be too many of us on here!  I actually graduated with my M.A. in history from UTK in Spring of 2013. After being mentally exhausted from my work on the M.A. thesis, I decided to take a retail job to flex my social skills (which was really nice for a while). Then, I realized that I was truly missing academia and decided to apply for PhD programs this cycle. How is the process going for you??

NMD:

Thank you for your insights and your response! Your information confirms what I was already suspecting. I was born and raised in New Orleans (and most of my family still lives there), so I was aware of the state budget cuts that have taken place. It's very unfortunate that Louisiana doesn't have any legal protection for higher education and that its flagship university has taken so many cuts in past years. I was just in touch with the DGS yesterday, and she said that they have sent out their first round of funding offers and that it might be several weeks before I find anything else out since they are waiting on responses from those candidates. I'm trying to stay positive and believe that there is still hope (and, at least in my mind, I think there is). But I have also been thinking of backup plans just in case. By the way, Nashville is pretty awesome. I'm kind of jealous that you live there considering Knoxville isn't that special haha

 

Nice, well I hope you enjoyed your time in K-Town. I will always love home. 

 

As for me, the process has basically ended, but I could not be happier. Got into my top choice. What else could I ask for? I hope application season treats you well. Good luck.

[NMD]

Cnova613 - I hope your funding search has been going well. I know a lot of departments still don't know what their actual budget is yet (June seems to be a very important month for that). I officially accepted my offer (sans departmental funding) this morning. As great as Nashville is (though Knoxville isn't bad - my sister got three of her five degrees at UT so I spent a lot of time there haha) I'm super excited to be making the move!