disposableheroes

For me, ultimately it boiled down to fit and prestige of the school. It really helps if you get a chance to visit the department/campus. Some miscellaneous aspects also affected my decision. School A was a perfect fit, intellectually speaking. My potential advisor is a top person in the field. The campus is beautiful (its right on the beach) and the city is even more so. The grad students are really cool and easygoing. However, despite the decent package they offered me, I was concerned with the high cost of living and relocating more than 3000 miles away from my home town/state ( what would I do with my stuff?). Also, funding opportunities for the summer are very competitive and perhaps unavailable to me the first two years. School B offered me a bit more financially, and the cost of living in the city was so much lower than in school A. Also, they told me that the department has money to go around, so if I applied to a summer grant I would probably get it. Plus, I would not be so far away from home. However, it was not a good fit. I did not connect with my potential advisor in any way, shape or form ( I felt like perhaps she did not even thoroughly review my file). I did not like the campus much, and I really hated the city. While my wife and I may be broke for the next 6 years, I chose school A and am really happy with my decision. Now I just have to finish my Masters ( I am running out of gas), pack all of my crap and drive across the country.

I am not a Germanist either, but The Peculiarities of German History is one of the most thought-provoking books I have ever read. I read it my first year of grad school. As a Latin Americanist trying to move away from Eurocentrism, this book makes a good argument against those that constantly use the democracy in Britain and France as yardsticks and compare it to EVERYTHING else.

After visiting UCSB, I have to say its pretty difficult to say no to such a beautiful city and campus. Another program offers me a better package and perhaps more funding opportunity in the summer, but it looks like I'll move to CA. I know there was a thread/post on how to politely decline offers, does anyone remember where?

I would also like to teach a class on Sports, but my focus would be Latin America. In a perfect world, I would like to teach: Music in Modern Latin America Monters and Myths in Latin America Peru after 1960: Shining Path and Fujimori World History I&II (one that includes the Americas, Africa, Asia and even Antarctica, so far my World Civ classes have been to Eurocentric) Public Health in Latin America Nazis in Latin America

This is also my second round. I went to a community college where I constantly changed majors. After that, I transferred to a State University where I took my studies a little more seriously. I thought I was ready for doctoral work so the first time around I only applied to three Graduate Programs, thinking my first choice would accept me. WRONG. I got accepted into an M.A. Program at another State University, partially funded. On my second year, I was able to secure a stipend and a tuition waiver (but those fees I had to pay kinda felt like tuition). Suffice to say, NOW I feel at least a little bit ready to engage into doctoral level work. At my current school, I greatly improved my reading, research and writing skills. I felt confident enough to apply to top-tier programs and although I was rejected by some, at least now I have a choice to make when it comes to my future. Before, I did not.

My professors always spoke highly of that whole area in North Carolina, possibly the most intellectually rich region in the South. Grats to those heading there.

Bump. I may be attending TCU so i had a few questions about Fort Worth. I am also married to a newly arrived hispanic (I am Latino too) who aspires to taking english classes and eventually obtain a technical nursing degree. She would also like to join the workforce (she currently has a job as a hostess at a local restaurant). I am wondering if this city can accomodate us.

I do Latin America, mostly late 19th and 20th century.

Thanks for the reply. So far I have heard from Florida State as well. Funding is still to come in the next few weeks. Also, last year I was invited by the University of Florida during their Campus Recruitment day so hopefully I will hear from them too. I have not heard anything from Emory (although last November I made a casual visit to the Dept. and spoke with a professor in my area, I am not holding my breath since it seems that interviews went out a few weeks ago). Moving to Florida would not present that many challenges logistically speaking, and I am sure my wife would prefer that. What area do you specialize?

Can someone elaborate a little more on UCSB? I am doing my own research but it would be helpful to hear other opinions. Is the stipend generally enough to get by? I had one of my current professors tell me that if I plan to move there, I might as well get ready to live in a tent. While this sounds tempting, I am married so it would be irresponsable and cruel to put my wife through that. If I was single I could even sleep in my car.

Thank you for the list of questions. I am planning to visit UCSB at the end of the month to assess whether or not I will be accepting their offer (which is still to come in the next few weeks). I am in the Southeast so relocating to CA will be like starting over. Intellectually speaking, it is a perfect fit, but I am not sure if I am willing to sell all of my things ( I have lived in this state my whole life so I have accumulated some crap) and have my recently arrived to the United States immigrant wife start over.

I applied to Yale as well. I am interested in Sports in Latin America. Originally I was more interested in doing indigenous rebellions (the base of my M.A. thesis) but that topic does not seem like a good fit at Yale.