Update
Colorado said yes. That's a good thing, since a) it was my first choice, and b) the other two schools I applied to both said no. Boulder would be the ideal place to do my proposed research (on the evolution of mountain towns from mining and industry to tourism, and the associated redefinition of landscape and history that entails), and the faculty there is pretty much a dream team. (Ken Foote, Bill Travis, Patty Limerick). Hurrah!
Unfortunately, there's no word yet on funding. Not up, not down---they don't even mention it in the letter. I don't know if that means that more info is pending, or if funds might be found in the summer, or if I'm being told to really show my mettle and figure out how to support myself on my own. Wish me luck as I call them today....
In other news, I'm up for a promotion in my census job---I'll be working out in the field, and making a bit more money, and it looks like I'll be assigned to manage the census operation in the Wasatch canyons. It's a temporary gig, but it dovetails rather nicely with what I'm planning to do long term. Plus, it means I'll be able to offer a refreshingly realistic perspective when the inevitable quantitative/qualitative geography debate comes up in seminars. (It's 6:30 PM. Do you know where YOUR data are coming from? Really?)
So, really, it all comes down to funding. I imagine I'll end up in Boulder either way, but it would make the difference between relative affluence (for a grad student at least) and debt/poverty. (I've actually managed to save up a decent chunk of my census wages, but had hoped to use it toward setting up a household, and possible summer travel, rather than next year's living expenses...)
But either way, life does seem to be coming together.
Unfortunately, there's no word yet on funding. Not up, not down---they don't even mention it in the letter. I don't know if that means that more info is pending, or if funds might be found in the summer, or if I'm being told to really show my mettle and figure out how to support myself on my own. Wish me luck as I call them today....
In other news, I'm up for a promotion in my census job---I'll be working out in the field, and making a bit more money, and it looks like I'll be assigned to manage the census operation in the Wasatch canyons. It's a temporary gig, but it dovetails rather nicely with what I'm planning to do long term. Plus, it means I'll be able to offer a refreshingly realistic perspective when the inevitable quantitative/qualitative geography debate comes up in seminars. (It's 6:30 PM. Do you know where YOUR data are coming from? Really?)
So, really, it all comes down to funding. I imagine I'll end up in Boulder either way, but it would make the difference between relative affluence (for a grad student at least) and debt/poverty. (I've actually managed to save up a decent chunk of my census wages, but had hoped to use it toward setting up a household, and possible summer travel, rather than next year's living expenses...)
But either way, life does seem to be coming together.