DontHate

Just for reference: bfat: "I was talking with some of my professors/letter-writers about the fact that some of the elite (top ranked) programs focus more on "generalist" education, which actually makes it harder to get a job. I'm pretty close with the assistant chair of the English department, who runs the search committee for new profs, and she said they're always turning people down from Harvard and Yale because their work just isn't as compelling. Those programs are more conservative and can therefore be a little outdated in terms of the job market. Of course, there are people in those places doing amazing work and moving on to do great, innovative things--I don't want to put them down--but the name itself won't necessarily get you a job. I was strongly advised against applying to HYP for these reasons (and also the exorbitant app fees, slim chances, and, in the case of Harvard, terrible comprehensive exam requirements--think Lit GRE times 500)." I didn't think "for the LOLs" was a real reason. There must be more to it than that.

That's something bfat specifically said in a different thread. I just don't understand why a person would list all the reasons why a program is generally terrible and specifically unsuitable for them, and then apply to it anyway.

Their deadline isn't until Feb 1, so if you want to apply you have almost 2 months to do it.

Well the professor would in this case perhaps be (removed at poster's request), so there's that.

1Q84, can I ask why you chose those particular programs (in your signature)? Also, I hated 1Q84, particularly Murakami's portrayal of women in the book, which was downright offensive, if i do say so. A truly awful example of his work. I prefer his short stories.

You guys can be really insufferable. Insufferable I say!

oh god, seriously, lighten up. it's a puppet kim jong il, not a real asian. for christ's sake

maybe, minus the attraction. When I say attraction I mean desire for sexytimes.

What if there is a mutual attraction, a mutual platonic admiration and also a mutual desire for respectability?

It's not salacious, just ambiguous. For example, a prof who tells a student (removed at poster's request). This becomes a bit confusing when the prof and the student are of opposite gender and heterosexual.

I don't think that a professor is necessarily predatory just because he or she may have a more-than-professional feeling for a student. There are things that exceed the boundaries of acceptable behavior without it being intentional or manipulative or anything like that. It's complicated. I was wondering if anyone else had a similar situation arise in their own life. Clearly your answer is no. There's no need for you to try and delve deeper or accuse me of anything. Obviously you don't understand what I'm talking about, and there's no real reason for me to try and explain this stuff to you.

Somewhat, but it's also just a chemical thing that happens between certain people when they spend enough time together.

I wasn't insulting anyone's hard work. I don't know anything about anyone's hard work (it's not exactly visible on here). I was just commenting on the impression certain people have been giving off, based on their responses. I don't think being on grad cafe affects anyone's chances at all, it's entirely unrelated to your chances. I just think that there's a certain prevalent attitude (which is what I was describing)... SOL (sigh out loud)

I guess it's only confusing when there's tension.

What did you decide on? English literature?

Do you feel like the foresight helped you out? Or just made you have the same kind of anxieties that everyone has, except for 2 years?

It seems like a long time to spend in this stewpot. Have you been preparing to apply to grad school for 2 years?

Wow that's better than Stanford

I think it's just cuz the GRE scores often go straight to the general graduate school rather than the department. The unofficial scores would be more readily accessible to the department, so it makes your file easier to review all together.

Thank you. I am not very popular among the English peeps on here. I'm glad a science person can come along and be objective

Why have you been on here for 2 years?

I just find that sometimes, as an attractive ____ , I get into situations where professors are very friendly and solicitous and the conversation often turns personal very quickly, and I've shared a lot of coffees and glasses of wine with profs, often on their tab at their insistance. And it seems like no one else has these weird confusing relationships, or has even heard of them happening. Yet again, in this I am ronery and sadry arone.

What's an FL13 student?

I'm pretty sure those people are the exceptions, not the rule. Just judging from the results pages.

You should like me. I'm actually a very likable person. I'm just frustrated with gradcafe. Here's the real issue I have with the whole application game: It makes you doubt your worth in a very specific way. Because it's your first giant hurdle in the race towards a very specific kind of job. So of course we measure ourselves against each other, as applicants, because it's a competitive profession. There isn't room for everyone. So at what point do you figure out that you're not one of the chosen few who will succeed, at what point do you cut your losses and move on? Because this really isn't the kind of job that just anyone can do if they try hard enough. Only a few people can do it, and even fewer of those capable of doing it will actually get the opportunity to do it. It is an elite profession, in that sense. I'm still not sure I can do it. And probably everyone else on here is in that wobbly boat with me. Otherwise, I don't think gradcafe would exist. We'd all just be getting on with our lives, blissfully playing tennis and yachting or whatever.