(no subject)
Florida State, South Carolina, IU...Florida State, South Carolina, IU...(No answer from Mizzou or Penn yet - when I get answers, they may or may not be in this conversation.
At IU it's all about funding. I had five assistantship interviews. I would only accept two of the positions if offered, which doesn't leave much wiggle room. It's one of the nation's elite programs in Higher Ed., but I got a weird feeling when meeting with faculty and learning more about the program. It seemed to have a focus that differed largely from my pursuits. They downplayed publishing, teaching and research opportunities at the master's level. I loved IU as an undergrad, but maybe it's just not where I need to be for graduate school. Maybe, though, I'll get an offer I can't refuse - maybe.
I LOVE South Carolina. The people seem wonderful, they've set me up with some amazing people and opportunities already. I feel like they want me to and believe I can succeed. They're all about working with my research interests and giving me every opportunity possible to prepare for doctoral work and not just prepare me for a post-master's level job market. The big "BUT" is that South Carolina doesn't cover the full amount of tuition. I would receive the in-state rate as a grad student in SC, but it would still leave a few thousand up in the air. One thing that may help to remedy this problem, though, are possible assistantships with the National Research Center for First Year Experiences and Transitioning Students. They pay quite a bit more than the other assistantships. In theory, if I were given the opportunity to have one of those assistantships, I could take the extra money from the NRC assistantships and apply it to the bit of tuition that wouldn't be covered. This might even out the financial playing field between South Carolina and other schools. Big Plus - it's a change, a fresh start and some diversity in my education.
Florida State - A ball that just got rolling. I haven't been in contact with the good people at FSU that much; I guess I will learn more as I look at and hopefully interview for assistantships. Cost of living in Florida and at the University are exorbitantly lower than at IU,IUPUI, and South Carolina. I have been warned, though, that because of the great minds in the Florida Legislature, that the universities in Florida are suffering greatly in the financial department right now. I've been warned by current students to not go unless I can get a guaranteed two years of funding.
Mizzou - Well, let's hope I get in and then go from there.
UPenn - Ditto
Vanderbilt - Thus far, the lone school I didn't get into. I was surprisingly ok with not getting in. Guess it just wasn't where I belonged.
At IU it's all about funding. I had five assistantship interviews. I would only accept two of the positions if offered, which doesn't leave much wiggle room. It's one of the nation's elite programs in Higher Ed., but I got a weird feeling when meeting with faculty and learning more about the program. It seemed to have a focus that differed largely from my pursuits. They downplayed publishing, teaching and research opportunities at the master's level. I loved IU as an undergrad, but maybe it's just not where I need to be for graduate school. Maybe, though, I'll get an offer I can't refuse - maybe.
I LOVE South Carolina. The people seem wonderful, they've set me up with some amazing people and opportunities already. I feel like they want me to and believe I can succeed. They're all about working with my research interests and giving me every opportunity possible to prepare for doctoral work and not just prepare me for a post-master's level job market. The big "BUT" is that South Carolina doesn't cover the full amount of tuition. I would receive the in-state rate as a grad student in SC, but it would still leave a few thousand up in the air. One thing that may help to remedy this problem, though, are possible assistantships with the National Research Center for First Year Experiences and Transitioning Students. They pay quite a bit more than the other assistantships. In theory, if I were given the opportunity to have one of those assistantships, I could take the extra money from the NRC assistantships and apply it to the bit of tuition that wouldn't be covered. This might even out the financial playing field between South Carolina and other schools. Big Plus - it's a change, a fresh start and some diversity in my education.
Florida State - A ball that just got rolling. I haven't been in contact with the good people at FSU that much; I guess I will learn more as I look at and hopefully interview for assistantships. Cost of living in Florida and at the University are exorbitantly lower than at IU,IUPUI, and South Carolina. I have been warned, though, that because of the great minds in the Florida Legislature, that the universities in Florida are suffering greatly in the financial department right now. I've been warned by current students to not go unless I can get a guaranteed two years of funding.
Mizzou - Well, let's hope I get in and then go from there.
UPenn - Ditto
Vanderbilt - Thus far, the lone school I didn't get into. I was surprisingly ok with not getting in. Guess it just wasn't where I belonged.