lifetimestudent

For anyone who is interested, I am getting (somewhat) close to having something ready for beta testing - if you are interested in beta testing on your iPhone or iPod, just send me a PM and we can figure out the details.

The main way, I think, is simply that grad students (at least those in the humanities) have to learn a lot of languages, and hopefully a flashcard app specifically designed at language acquisition will be helpful to grad students and others who want to learn languages.

Thanks for all your comments. Here's my current thinking, I'd like to know what you think: The focus will be on passive vocabulary acquisition (i.e., learning words so you can read the language). One could also use the flash card app to learn grammar, just not taking advantage of the vocabulary-specific elements. It will implement a "spaced repetition" algorithm, like SuperMemo. The idea is to space out word studying so that you study "difficult" words more often, and easy ones less often. It'll calculate whether words are "difficult" or "easy" based on whether you answer them correctly or not. So if you get an answer right, the "interval" between now and when you see the word again will be longer, and if you get it wrong, the "interval" will be shorter. To better calculate whether words are "difficult" or "easy," one could organize words based on whether they are cognates of your native language (theoretically easier than non-cognates) or false cognates (theoretically more difficult). Similarly, one could argue that longer words are more difficult to remember. You could also enter for each word which part of speech it was, e.g. verb, substantive/noun, modifier/adjective/adverb, preposition, etc. That way you could focus on specific parts of speech that you want to learn. Additionally, you could put words in "groups" - e.g. words that have related roots so they help reinforce your memory of the word, or words that are very similar but have different meanings and so you need to differentiate them. So in German, for example, you could say that Kugelschreiber (pen) and schreiben (to write) are related. I am not sure how exactly that data could be best put to use, but I am open to suggestions. Two ideas I have are: The program could calculate aggregated "difficulty" data for word groups - i.e. if you get schreiben wrong, then the whole group of "schreiben" words will be marked as more difficult. Then the interval for all the schreiben words will be shorter. Also, it could somehow show you word groups in a coordinated way. So, if you see schreiben, you'd see Kugelschreiber sometime soon (though not right away) so that the memory of one can reinforce the other as you study. What do you think?

As my summer project/hobby before starting a phd in History, I am teaching myself how to make iPhone/iPad applications. Maybe it will supplement my stipend - maybe it won't - but it will be fun. I am currently designing an iPhone app specifically with grad students in mind - a flash card app to help learn languages. What would you like to see in an app like this, which is designed specifically for languages? How would it differ from a "regular" flash card app? I am open to all suggestions!

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't really want to purchase refurbished b/c I want it to last a long time - I look at it as an investment.

Right. Of course nothing is foolproof - e.g. only the files you put in your dropbox are backed up in the cloud - but generally i only use dropbox for my current projects. My external HD holds everything i.e. all my archived files.

You should check out http://www.phd-survey.org/.

I've started looking for a new printer for grad school. My criteria: Laser printer that does duplex. If I can get it for cheap that would be good as well but I am looking for it to last me 5+ years so I am not looking fr the cheapo $99 versions. So far the best deal I can find is the HP P2035 ($199), but that doesn't do duplex. The HP P2055dn ($359) has duplex and also a bunch of other features, but is way more expensive. Does anyone have any experience or advice on this issue?

First question: Do you have a mac or pc? Suggestion #1: Sign up for a Dropbox account. You can stop using flash drives to share files between your campus desktop & personal laptop. Plus, if you drop your computer or it is stolen, the files are backed up in the cloud. Sign up at https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTM3MDAwNjk. Suggestion #2: Buy an external HD. They are pretty cheap these days. Check out http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=414. You can get a "better value" if you build it yourself, but the pre-built options are still a steal. $99 for 500GB? That should cover all your needs and then some.

For all the Brandeis people, if you have any questions feel free to PM me. I went there as an undergrad (though in Jewish studies, not history).

For those with funded Phd offers, do schools often provide some form of reimbursement for the huge cost of, say, moving across the country? My current job gave me a stipend to move to the current city in which I live, but they have money, which a lot of universities don't. Will they be mad if I ask? Of course, if you don't ask, you never get...

A scanner is a great idea. I already have been scanning everything into my computer but I was lucky enough that my undergrad had great scanners readily available for student use. However now it might be time to invest in my own... unfortunately everything either seems to be too expensive for a graduate student budget, or not good enough to really get the job done. Any thoughts/advice?

I will!

What's the right term to describe myself? Admitted phd student? I feel like if I say I am a phd student it sounds like I've already accepted the offer.

I've been accepted to a great prestigious program, and plan to attend a visiting day in a couple of weeks. I want to contact some professors with whom I haven't been in touch previously so that I can make sure to meet them and get to know them while I am visiting. However, I haven't officially accepted the offer, and I don't want to make it seem like I am. What's the best way to go about doing this?

Discuss.

That's interesting, my letter talked about a visitation day in a few weeks... I figured they would have invited everyone to come.

Anybody else hear from UCLA?

Amen!

I see that 2 people have posted acceptances on the results board. Congratulations! But I spoke with the secretary last week and she said that they were meeting on the 25th - that's tomorrow. Who else has heard from them?

I just got mine too. Did they admit anyone??

I am very lucky to have received an offer for a full funding package for one of my top schools. It happens to be UCLA. I am very excited about this opportunity, but the biggest worry that I have is that the UC schools may get "gutted" over the next few years as the financial woes plaguing California generally continue to take their toll. Five years is a long time, and I worry that by the time I am ABD either my funding will have disappeared or some top professors may leave for greener pastures or generally the place will start to fall apart. I may be exaggerating here, but the institution's future financial foundations are very important. For those interested in schools in the UC system - in any program - what have you heard? What have professors told you about the financial situation in the UC's, and how it might play out over the next few years while we are slaving away on our doctorates?

I honestly have no idea.

For people interested in Stanford - letters should be coming over the next couple of days. I got a call from my potential advisor with the bad news. Good luck to everyone else!

So we are getting towards the end of February. I have heard back from one school (positive - with funding!) which is fantastic but no one else has said a peep. I am in touch with my potential advisor at the school that let me in, but I'd like to have more info as to whether I'll get in anywhere else and what the other options are. At this point, if I email my potential advisors at other schools to say hello and find out when I'll hear about results from their program, will I sound too eager? I have been in touch with them over the past few months and so it won't be completely out of the blue. It's just my experience that any contact at all may end up having them spill the beans - at least informally - to let you know what is going on. Any advice?