beyondaboundary

Event horizon

love heart

JL The one thing I can't over emphasise is that mysterious thing called 'fit'. I really worked my way through departments until I found the professors with whom I thought I shared possible synergies and it was those whom I contacted. One respondent, a DGS no less, told me that it wasn't necessary to contact professors before application, another virtually introduced me to colleagues who share my interests. There is much more sage advice on this forum about this topic should you need more. Every school is different as is everyone's experience through this skeet shoot. Good luck!

what happened?

JL Below is the basic communication I used for my initial contact across three schools amended accordingly. It's worked for me: My name is .............................., a graduate of the University of **************** with an MA in New Media and Society. I have been researching Communications departments seeking a fit for my applications to Ph.D. programmes in Fall 2014. The research focus on the humanities based study of Media, Culture and Communications at (insert school) has led to this inquiry given my research interests in post colonialism, race and representation, the public sphere, nationalism, identity and autoethnography. My MA dissertation, "@@@@@@@@@@", an autoethnographic exploration of identity through the lens of sport, has kindled a desire in me to explore autoethnography both as practice and product in an attempt to answer questions of creole identity. In researching the Department, I have downloaded and am currently reading your article in "The Journal of Whatever". As such, I would be interested in knowing if you will be taking on graduate students in Fall 2014. I do hope to hear from you. Thank you for your time. Here is a typical response: Thank you for your email. Congratulations on the recent completion of your MA. Your thesis on identity formation through the play of sport sounds fascinating. Perhaps you are familiar with Lisa Tillman-Healey's book Between Gay and Straight, an ethnography of gay baseball players from Southern Florida (US) or Mark Orbe's article "Remember, It's Always White's Ball" which is a qualitative study of African American men's communication. You are strongly encouraged to apply to our program. I'm sure you realize this, but in order to apply you will need to follow the application procedures we have set up. For information about that, I am referring you to our web site: While all faculty are eligible to take on students, ours is a highly competitive program with a limited number of slots. As such, not every faculty member will be able to bring in a student each year. So, while I *can* work with students, the highly competitive nature of our program does not allow me to admit all the students that request to work with me. I hope this makes sense. In short, you absolutely should apply! Read more about our program. You might also want to contact Professor A and Professor B who may also be interested in your work . The more faculty who might advise you the better! All the best.

Argyle Scotland

katiegud I got my MA in the UK and I was seriously looking at doing my PhD there so here goes: In the UK, it is important that you have someone who is interested and equipped to supervise you. Given that a PhD there is almost totally independent research, you would need to find a department whose cumulative output meets your research needs and a supervisor in that department whose interests can tangibly support your work. That said, definitely and obviously apply to those who responded to your inquiry, look again at the departments like that at Cambridge and see if there is someone else who will be willing to take your project on and ignore any that you didn't get a reply from. The underlying thing is this...no willing supervisor...no admission. Hope that helps

heart light

I have begun my application process and came upon this instruction: "Please describe your previous academic work in your proposed field of study and include a personal statement regarding your goals for graduate study and a professional career. Please also describe any relevant research experience and what you have learned from it, and other educational and life experiences that you feel are important and relevant. If you have specific interests in your proposed field of study or are interested in working with any particular faculty members, please tell us about them. " It may be a stupid question but the topic sentence asks the question...what are they asking for?

broken windows

holly hobbie

bail jumper

assistance granted

wipe off

easy rider

Thanks lyrehc! It's been the bright spot so far...fingers crossed.

I applied late on rolling admissions in the last cycle. The result? Admission, no funding. So back on the wheel again. Be guided, but just my experience.

control freak

over under

disco ball

Claim your identity. I'm multi-racial, proudly so...I claim my status as other any chance I get. Do you want to be seen as white? If not there is no question here.

dinner date

recording conversations

art studio

key concept