Fall 2016 - Phd Thread

[Cedodge]

3 minutes ago, liesandfish said:

Thanks! Last question, did they ask to call you as well? I thought that addition was different than my other acceptances. Again, congrats, I am sure it was well deserved and considered! 

Yes they did. They asked for the best number to reach me to "speak with (me) about USF’s Criminology Program." I agree, it was a different approach.

[KnowVac]

16 hours ago, Kylie_ said:

Is anyone attending Albany's PhD weekend in the beginning of March?

Have you heard from Albany? 

[1428 Elm St]

@nerdyjilly  Have you looked into John Jay's part-time POA Ph D program?  One of my close friends applied for the Fall 2015 class and got in.  He is very happy with the program. Just another option to consider.

[Kylie_]

1 hour ago, KnowVac said:

Have you heard from Albany? 

Yes about two weeks ago. Accepted with funding! 

[1428 Elm St]

Can anyone offer any tips/suggestions for the in-person interviews??  

Thanks in advance 

[ThesisTerror724]

1 hour ago, 1428 Elm St said:

Can anyone offer any tips/suggestions for the in-person interviews??  

Thanks in advance 

I've only done one thus far (I'll interview at Rutgers in march) but during my UCI visit, I really tried to focus on my research interests as well as experience thus far. I think it helped that I was able to relax during the interview and really get down to what I wanted to pursue. I would say be yourself and be prepared to discuss your research interests as well as what's led you to those interests. It would also help to ask thoughtful questions about the program that have yet to be answered. 

[liesandfish]

1 hour ago, 1428 Elm St said:

Can anyone offer any tips/suggestions for the in-person interviews??  

Thanks in advance 

I agree with @ThesisTerror724 I focused mainly on my research interests and the projects I am currently working on. It felt more like a placement interview than will I get into the program interview. I also spent time asking faculty what they were working on and where they wanted the program to be heading. Finally, I asked about their mentorship philosophies because this is important to me. I think the bulk of the time though was talking about myself and what I have done/am doing/want to do. 

 

Good luck! I am sure you will be great! 

[1428 Elm St]

@ThesisTerror724 & @liesandfish  Thank you so much for those responses!!  They really help me out a lot.

I am not too sure how this process goes on from here for John Jay... other than what I have heard from past applicants/students.  In sum.. From what I have gathered.. There are anywhere from 80-100 applicants that apply and that they try to select 24-27 for the in-person interviews.  Then they admit 8 or 9 students from that group.  

Honestly, I am not sure how accurate that is.. but that is why I am stressing even more about the in-person interview than I normally would.  So... thank you so much for those tips. 

[altikr25]

2 hours ago, 1428 Elm St said:

Can anyone offer any tips/suggestions for the in-person interviews??  

Thanks in advance 

Along the same lines as said before, but I would add familiarizing yourself with a particular piece of recent research from the faculty member you'd like to work with. That will give you something to extra to talk about/ask questions about.

[1428 Elm St]

@altikr25 oh yeah!!  That's a really good point too!!  Thanks a bunch!!  ?

[nerdyjilly]

21 hours ago, 1428 Elm St said:

@nerdyjilly  Have you looked into John Jay's part-time POA Ph D program?  One of my close friends applied for the Fall 2015 class and got in.  He is very happy with the program. Just another option to consider.

Hey Elm, I've been meaning to write back to you--I've been working on a trial and things are CRAZY. The summation was yesterday so I can breathe now. 

Your research interests sound so fun! You are going to be great.  I have considered POA, thank you for the suggestion. It isn't for me. The CJ program said I would be a better fit for the Psych & Law PhD, because I chose (and already worked with) a psych professor at John Jay. I cannot apply until the next cycle, but like I said I have some pretty cool opportunities coming up so its not SO bad. My ego is a little bruised but I'll get over it.  

[nerdyjilly]

On 2/4/2016 at 10:52 PM, 1428 Elm St said:

@nerdyjilly  Thanks so much.  I am really interested in learning more about GIS and environmental criminology.  If I had to be super specific, I would say that I would really like to focus on crime in PSAs (Public Service Areas [Housing Developments] in NYC).  It especially blows my mind that overall violent crime rates are down in NYC, except when you look at homicides, rapes, aggravated assaults (Assault 1 and Assault 2 [NYS PL]), robberies, and shooting incidents [in public housing developments; from 2006 all the way through 2013].  Additionally, out of ALL of the developments throughout the city, you only see this spike in 15 developments.  I would really like to focus my research on working on that problem.  Even though I am very interested in policing and evidence-based policy changes, I am also becoming very interested in corrections (specifically the rehabilitative ideal).  I really support the idea of evidence-based correctional practices as well.  I think in times like this we need to expand upon the 1974 Martinson Report and show that there are correctional practices that do work for some people... etc.  Although there has been an immense amount of research published which supports this... it simply seems as though policy makers/influencers have avoided acknowledging this.

 

Anyway, sorry for the long rant.  I have my fingers crossed for you with the new job!!  I wish you nothing but the best!

And PLEASE don't EVER apologize for long rants about interesting research topics. I do this all the time! It shows you love what you do and aren't just talking out of your ass.  

Edited February 5, 2016 by nerdyjilly

[liesandfish]

At what point would you all think it is appropriate to email the grad coordinator and ask about the timeline for hearing back? I have a school that emailed me in December saying I was in the first round of applicants for the committee to review in mid January and that I would hear shortly after that. It is now almost a week into Feb. Do you think I could email at this point just politely requesting an update? 

[1428 Elm St]

@liesandfish I absolutely think that it is more than OK to email about it, given the amount of time that has passed.  

[liesandfish]

5 minutes ago, 1428 Elm St said:

@liesandfish I absolutely think that it is more than OK to email about it, given the amount of time that has passed.  

Thanks! I just did and already heard back! The committee is not meeting until the 17th of Feb, due to a small amount of apps. Whew, glad it wasn't just that I screwed up! 

[nerdyjilly]

3 hours ago, liesandfish said:

At what point would you all think it is appropriate to email the grad coordinator and ask about the timeline for hearing back? I have a school that emailed me in December saying I was in the first round of applicants for the committee to review in mid January and that I would hear shortly after that. It is now almost a week into Feb. Do you think I could email at this point just politely requesting an update? 

Do it. 

Update: never mind, I didn't read everything here. I'm glad it worked out for you!

Edited February 5, 2016 by nerdyjilly

[phdincrim2016]

3 hours ago, liesandfish said:

Thanks! I just did and already heard back! The committee is not meeting until the 17th of Feb, due to a small amount of apps. Whew, glad it wasn't just that I screwed up! 

Do you mind sharing which school you are referring to? I have several applications still out without a peep about them on the boards, so I am interested to know if this is one of them. I understand if you'd rather not say.

[liesandfish]

@phdincrim2016 I don't mind sharing, it's UT Dallas. But I have a few other silent apps too, but they have not told me I would hear like UTD had. 

[phdincrim2016]

1 minute ago, liesandfish said:

@phdincrim2016 I don't mind sharing, it's UT Dallas. But I have a few other silent apps too, but they have not told me I would hear like UTD had. 

Darn - not one of my applications. :-) Good luck!!!

[Partinrn]

Hopefully this will help any newcomers to the thread- I have heard from all of the schools I applied to (Cincinnati, IUP, UMass Lowell, FSU, USF, and Sam Houston). If you have applied to any of these schools and not heard anything back, it wouldn't hurt to email or call the graduate director. 

Edited February 5, 2016 by Partinrn

[liesandfish]

3 minutes ago, Partinrn said:

Hopefully this will help any newcomers to the thread- I have heard from all of the schools I applied to (Cincinnati, IUP, UMass Lowell, FSU, USF, and Sam Houston). If you have applied to any of these schools and not heard anything back, it wouldn't hurt to email or call the graduate director. 

Congrats to you! I wish I had news from all of mine....but I applied to 9 which I am now realizing was probably way to many. I am confident in one rejection that should be coming my way but the other three no idea! 

Out of your choices, do you know what you think you are going to go with? (you don't have to answer if you are not ready!) 

Either way, congrats and perhaps we will end up at FSU together......if we choose to reveal ourselves.

[Partinrn]

1 hour ago, liesandfish said:

Congrats to you! I wish I had news from all of mine....but I applied to 9 which I am now realizing was probably way to many. I am confident in one rejection that should be coming my way but the other three no idea! 

Out of your choices, do you know what you think you are going to go with? (you don't have to answer if you are not ready!) 

Either way, congrats and perhaps we will end up at FSU together......if we choose to reveal ourselves.

Well if I get funded then I'm going to FSU hands down. It really depends on the funding package though. I like Sam Houston for my area of research, but Florida State is still better in my opinion. Fingers crossed for both of us getting funded for FSU!!

[Kylie_]

Accepted with funding to UNO. Anyone else?

[Kylie_]

On February 1, 2016 at 3:33 PM, Kylie_ said:

Mine did the same! And I have not heard anything from them with the exception of the original acceptance email. 

@liesandfishHave you heard any further info from GMU? I was accepted but no funding 

Edited February 6, 2016 by Kylie_

[liesandfish]

38 minutes ago, Kylie_ said:

@liesandfishHave you heard any further info from GMU? I was accepted but no funding 

Yes, I recieved the official acceptance letter and also had no funding. However, I emailed and asked they have not yet awarded research assistant funding-only scholarship funding (TA) so there is still a chance to get fully funded. He said we should know in the next few weeks!