Andean Pat

OK, I will just drop in for one comment only since I have not started my PhD yet. It has been recently stated, mostly by philosophers of the alternative, that this social/natural science division is an inheritance from the 19th century and, according to these same people, sometimes collides with the "needs" of our time. I will elaborate in two points: 1) (Watch this video) As a teacher I have been increasingly concerned on the requirements of the 21st century and the division and subdivisions of subjects we have at secondary level. Students need to make connections among subjects but we teachers do not plan together or we don't share the same class. At higher level similar things happen. When I was an undergraduate, teacher demanded we applied theroy to practice, but out professors wouldn't even come on the same day, leave alone meet to coordinate the classes (it's not like in the US). You can enlighten me on this aspect, but don't we, as researchers, need others' collaboration? Don't we reach out to other disciplines? When writing my undergraduate thesis, I worked with architects, philosophers, geographers, engineers, and tourist guides, among others. So this thick line between "we" and "them" is somewhat unclear today. Moreover, in the "real world", as I've read many of you call whatever is outside academia, other skills are needed that stress collaboration, interpersonal skills, leadership, and efficient management. 2) One of the aspects I research are National Parks. National Parks were founded in the US, Canada and elsewhere afterwards as a immaculate untouchable land, separated from society. Hence the dichotomy society-nature: social sciences vs natural sciences. You can read more of this in Val Pluwood (1998). And this duality, according to this philosopher, is exclusive, since one 'field' excludes the other. The 21st century is more than that. Look at us! this forum is meant for collaboration, not division. The fact that our research aims at different things does not mean they do not aim at the truth. I only mean to humblely say that I don't think we can truly assess who works more than whom, whose work is more valuable or who is suffering the most. I think I did not choose physical sciences because I would not like to be in a lab all day! So, let's be friends again

Hi! I am learning a lot from this thread. I have a Dell 14'' five years old that I use as a desk computer and a Dell 11'' (much lighter) two years old that I carry around everywhere. Now, I'm moving to the US in August and will not carry both laptops. The thing is that I HATE the 11'' screen for working and the 14'' is too heavy and old to take. I have decided for the little one and get a MBP/MBA whenever I can (here they are IMPOSSIBLE to get). I have had excellent experience with Dell technology (I have dropped my laptops several times, I am THAT clumsy) and they are just fine. I only had a minor electric issue with the 14'' due to high discharge at home (it burned some circuits). I've even dropped some coffee on the keyboards and they went on working. Why not get a new Dell instead of MBP/MBA? Basically, Apple has more and better applications for students than Windows, I've found in my students that I could take better advantage of Apple computers than Dell. Since I don't have the money to buy one straight away, I'll observe how I organize myself the first year and how Apple users do and then make an informed decision.

err.... Two things: 1) My country is a world renowned wine producer, not only we are used to drinking wine, but high quality wine. 2) My second last name (my mother's) is Moscato.

Absolutely! Here we don't have "scores" but credit cards and other credit granting institutions keep track of "good" payers. I have been offered at least 5 credit cards in the last five years, I even have cards I don't use and banks keep calling me to sell me more products because I am "such a good client". Although they say it to flatter me, it is true that I pay back what I spend, especially in the last year or so when I have been paying lots of dollars (GRE, TOEFL, applications, visa fee, SEVIS fee, apartment fee, blah blah blah). So why cannot Visa in my country tell Visa in the US that I deserve a nice tiny plastic credit card?

mmmm I've started my applications this time last year. By that I mean I began to contact POIs in June/July while doing a prep course for GRE. I had some pre-application interviews around late July/August. I sat for GRE in Sept and then again in late Nov. In August I met with all my reccommenders to work on my LORs (here people are not used to writing LORs). In Sept/Oct I wrote my SOP and writing sample. And sat for TOEFL in early Dec (Beware: ETS rescheduled my original date with three days notice, I had to let all schools know about this). I submitted all applications by deadline (mid Dec/early Jan). All this in the midst of work and conference preparations. I do not know how I pulled it off.

Hi there! I think it's great that you want to give it another shot! As an international applicant, I was surprised that during interviews, professors did not ask about my marital status, whether I was pregnant, what sort of things I did for relaxing. No. they just wanted to know about my potential as a historian. Therefore, I'd say you focus on that. If the question arises, you explain, but from my tiny experience, advisors want to know about the person you are now and the person you want to be. It is clear that you have overcome your addiction, and it is not a "promise", it is real. Therefore, it is not a part of your life any more. go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW, if anything is worth mentioning, probably your LORs will.

Thanks for the advice everyone!!! So far, I like one credit card that adds flying mileage. Although it has an annual fee (fairly low), I can add one mile per dollar spent. That is A LOT. Anyway, I just "liked" it, I don't know if I can apply for one, I don't know if I have a score!!!! hahahaha so keep on talking, I am learning big time!!!!!! thanks!!!!!

Hi there! Let me tell you my experience (hope it helps! ) The morning after I had defended my thesis I was having a cup of coffee with my advisor and asked her: "Now what?". I have been working as a history teacher for 10 years so I had always thought that was what I wanted to do eventually. However, while working I had always been studying/researching/writing thesis so there was always a little bit of research in my life. I am the kind of person who loves many things at the same time, so I knew I enjoyed teaching and researching. Hence my question: "Now what?" She suggested I allowed things to settle down. "Give your ideas some time. Do not think about it, continue working, continue doing what you are doing. If what ever you are truly passionate about is missing in your life you will go for it. You are not 18 because you have a degree on your shoulders, you know yourself better today than before. Let time put your ideas in order, only then you can decide on what to do next." A month later I began to prepare my applications. This was June 2012, a year ago. Two more things. I have also worked as an English teacher for several years and let me tell you this: you will love it! But if history is your passion, you will miss it and thus you'll know that you want to do that for the rest of your life. Secondly, the postgraduate variety of courses allow you to include history in your life but not to be everything about history. Have you considered other options? (Museum studies, conservation, education, Local history, archives, etc) (Mind my typos, I wrote in a rush of enthusiasm!) Hope it helps!

OK, I dropped in late but wanted to give my two cents. There are two issues here. 1) Do you want to go to grad school? 2) Do you want to go to grad school? If the answer is yes to the first question, then you are thinking of applying again. If the answer is yes to the second question, you will apply again. I always say I am a "second-chancer". I do better in my second opportunity of everything. I've applied only once to grad schools in the US but it was not the first time I had applied... So, decide whether or not you want to go and go for it!!!

I agree with both responses. I have 10 year teaching experience and got offers from several programs. Now, clearly I was not accepted because of my teaching experience, but I suppose it showed I can 'manage' deadlines, corrections, planning, and assessment quite effectively (at least in theory, hahaha )

As fuzzy, I have read LOTS of sole-authored papers and I do not find it strange. I published two papers as an undergrad and gave three conferences, all of this was in my super senior year (here, after fulfilling the required coursework you begin to research for the thesis, which took me around three years so I was quite 'mature' about my ideas). Actually, my first publication was in a book compiled by my advisor so you want to talk this things with him/her, they are the best people to advise you in this matter (sorry for the repetition).

You're welcome! That's too bad your international office isn't as effective as one should expect. Maybe you can speak to your program associate who can clarify this inconvenience, I did everything through her. I only got e-mails from the IO when she did not knwo the answer and forwarded my queries to somebody there. Could it be that you are sending the e-mails to a 'general' account and you could get a straight answer from an officer's one? In my case, I looked in the webpage for the staff in the office and could identify who was suppose to follow my questions and paperwork. And, to satisfy your curiosity, yeah, stipends for 10 months

Ok, let's take this issue in small bites. 1) I am an international student and it's winter here. What I am doing is getting rid of my winter clothes and keep the fresh ones for warm weather that expects for me in August. 2) Although I graudated last year, first degrees take longer here because all of us work while studying. It took me three years to research and write my thesis so I am a little older than average. That said, I do not intend to do anything connected to grad school next July. I will finish working in a month or so, after that I will devote myself to friends and family, relaxing A LOT before the big leap to the north. 3) I am anxious too, and am a little intimidated by what I am going to find in my cohort/professors. My background seems fine (otherwise, I wouldn't have been admitted, right?) but I understand what you mean my "overprepare". I feel I can do something to be more like American grad students: reading some basic literature, listening/reading conferences. I don't known, something. and then I remember that I was admitted as an international student, that I will be overwhelmed by culture, classes and colleagues and that adding anxiety to this is not productive at all, right? 4) I still have many pegs to do here. Translating transcripts, unsuscribing from utilities, refurbishing notebooks... 5) As far as contacting my advisor, I have already. I asked him about the courses, he understood my hidden question and suggested I don't rush into reading but rather enjoy this time off left. He seems very approachable and he understands we international students are not used to many things of the American system. I am the kind of person who does not feel ashamed by asking. If I don't know, I'll ask. So, this 'summer', lots of free time to sleep, nap and jog.

Yes, in my I-20 appeared how much I would need and how much I was given. They checked this. Fortunately, it was just enough, otherwise I would have had to show a bank statement with my savings in US dollars, which banks here do not provide.

Mmmm for my i-20 I entered my current address and when asked about my address in the States, I put the apartment I leased. I only entered the address of the person that signed my I-20 when asked this specifically.

I asked the graduate secretary. Honestly, I don't mind asking. If I don't ask, I won't know. But I must say I quite cheeky in this sense... hehehe

Absolutely! I wouldn't watch American football, I'd watch rugby, and baseball does not appeal to me, but my city's team is apparently good. So I supposed I'll watch something for the sake of conversation. However, it seems there is an English guy in my program to whom I can lure into going to an Irish pub to watch Premier League or Rugby. yeah!!!

I agree! You are a very good writer! I hope in my response I can give you some hope and encourage you to fulfil your dreams! (I hope I come across as clear as I mean!) That said, I also agree with Eigen, there are many things that you have learned. 1) To cope with stress, identify it and seek help. 2) You know what you want. No one can take that from you. You know what to do and what not to do in your PhD. 3) Ambition is good so long you know your own boundaries. Clearly, the topic was too much for an MA thesis but maybe you can continue this path in your PhD? 4) You have dealt with very harsh comments on your work. There is no way you can't take that personal, and yet, in spite everything, you are still writing. You have used this in your favour. Now, here's my humble advice: * SEIZE THE DAY do not think in "I'd be in 2nd year in PhD by now". Well, you are not. And probably for the best. Embrace this unexpected change of plans. If you keep on thinking what you were supposed to be doing, you would probably get depressed. So, this is your reality today. You have done extensive work on your thesis, squeeze it and write papers!!! * Do not allow this to happen again. It is a bad experience but it does not mean it is going to happen again. You have gained this experience, do not forget that. * Take advantage of minor drawbacks. Now, easy said than done, I know. However, it seems to me that your advisor "forcing" you to finish before he leaves is actually a good thing, right? All the best, really!!!

OK, my visa came and you were right, it was issued for five years. I suppose that was so because funding is for that long (in theory, my program is longer). I understand that visas are entry status, like tourist visas. It reflect the purpose of one's stay in the US, dismissing any attempt to immigrate. Fuzzy I did not understand what meant by "new immigration crack-down" due to Boston marathon bombing. what did you mean? It's now harder to get in?

London is such a beautiful city. Have you ever been there? Do me a favour, will you? Go to Covent Garden and just around the corner of the Apple Store (going from the underground station towards Covent Garden), turn right (opposite the market) and you'll see a tiny little shop called "Muffinski's". Best muffins in the whole world. You can get three for 5 pounds or so. Have a bite for me! :)

I have at least four CVs: one work-oriented and one academia-oriented (this is the one I uploaded in my applications), and both in two languages. I think that one has to merge two elements you've mentioned: applying for something and accomplishments. For example, in the midst of the application process I put together an academic CV. I was about to present two lectures and when I finally did, I updated the CV. When I submitted the application I had two papers in review, both of which were published early this year, thus I update the CV although I was not applying for anything. My question is: when you begin a PhD program, how do you call that in first year? How do you put it in your CV? "PhD student"?

For those sports fan living in the US and those moving in the next months, how do you manage watching American sports or watching sports back home? My country is well known for its football (soccer) league but I do not follow it. However, the forthcoming World Cup got me thinking that I will need some access to qualifying matches, right? I also like watching tennis and rugby but I don't know if ESPN may show these. Maybe the tennis US Open. Are you fans of any American sport? Do you go to sports events? Do you watch any league back home? I think I may go to watch some baseball or basketball or even ice-hockey (I play field hockey). What about you?

Do enjoy your time in England! Especially in London! The good thing about Europe is that you can be anywhere in a couple of hours, literally. For example, you can hop on the Eurostar and be in Paris in two hours. Sorry, London is my place in the world! Where will you be living?