Andean Pat

Great tip. My first conference was at an international congress that my advisor was organizing. I knew most of the committee and the chairperson of my symposium was someone that had helped me with my thesis. However, because of the prestige of the conference and my own lack of experience, my advisor monitored my submission and proofread my paper. My second conference was at a PhD students meeting, everyone presented the state of their research while I introduced a methodological question usually overlooked by students in this city. It was nice because most people were young and eager to learn from each other. My third conference was the real trial. It was at THE best university in the country, organized by one of the best history departments in Latin America, and with lecturers you only read in books. I felt this one was THE conference. Fortunately, I did great and got excellent feed back. I simply loved to share my research and to be so welcome by the academia. It strengthened my academic self-esteem and reinforced this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. You may probably want to look into local conferences and then expand towards bigger ones.

Hello! It seems you have closed the topic, but I wanted to add something. I agree with Arcanen. Let me add what future advisors suggested when I contacted them last July. In you SOP and CV show who you are. It is not completely pointless to try to compensate for your low GPA but try not to force it. I can see that you want to show that you like doing research. A blog is fine for writing but the fact that it is "out there" does not mean people are reading it. What I suggest is to present papers in real conferences and real journals. First of all, it adds to your resume more than your blog (you can still blog, but do not count on this as "research"). Secondly, it helps you reflect on you own questions and thus your SOP will be more clear as far as interests. Last year I presented two lectures at two conferences and got published another paper. Now, as an educator myself, I understand your concerns of the role of the humanities in education. There are plenty of conferences and chapters that discuss this, you should at the very least read them! In my country, every major history conference has a round table on education and many scholars present papers there as well as there main field. If this is a topic that intrigues you, go ahead and plunge into it! All the best of luck to you!

Not such a long trip but quite expensive. I thought of coming once a year but it seems improbable; once every two is a better option. However, my research is focused around my home area soooooo MAY BE I get to come more often heheh

hi Tup! I emailed them telling about my interests and how they would fit would theirs. I had three pre-application interviews: one skype, one phone, and one live over a cup of coffee (this POI happened to be in Argentina when I contacted him, of course, I knew that ). Another one responded such a detailed e-mail that we didn't need the interview (although he offered to have one). Of course, these were four out of ammm... probably ten POIs I contacted. See you in Vegas! jajajaja

I asked the Office of International Students at my school. They told me the immigration officer has no reason to ask for a return ticket. Check with your office and with your local US embassy.

I think the OP means the following: 1) there are grants that require us international students to go back to our home country once the grant ends (like Fullbright), 2) S/He asks if there are grants he can apply for. As Arnds, I can't figure out if s/he is looking for scholarships to go back home, to continue in the US, or to apply as an international student, regardless the requirement of going back. What I do know, OP, is that fullbright is not available for you if you are already enrolled in a graduate course. Can you clarify this point? Are you already in the US as an undergrad? On holidays? As a grad student? Working? In any case, I would suggest researching your country's education website.

Do you think that doing something to rub it on other people's faces is the best reason for doing that? I've found that when you do things for your own reasons, regardless other people's reaction, you are more confident in that decision and you are more successful. Are you in grad school now? If you are, and you are doing well, you probably have other reasons for being there, like passion for your field or something of the sort .

I believe that growing up is like finding out Santa does not exist: You leave a state of innocence and become hold of a piece of truth which makes you 'more grown-up'. You sometimes wish you could be as innocent as you were when you believe in Santa, but you know that your present view of the world is better because it is more realistic. When I realised I wanted to be a historian, there was no coming back. It is IT. I agree with you in that mediocre/ambition dichotomy and also surprises me the amount of people that are OK with not being the best they can be. My soul digging started when I left High School. Until then I wanted to be everything: doctor, hotel manager, teacher, writer... I applied to several programs abroad but got no funding (no wonder, if I barely knew what I wanted to do!). The following year I switched major four times looking for my prince-charming of courses, and I've founded it! I did my whole undergrad working full time as a teacher in primary and secondary schools, and I thought that my calling was there. The morning after defending my thesis, I was drinking some coffee with my advisor and asked her "now what?". And she said: "now you decide what you want to do, you need to find your passion". I thought she was kidding, I mean, my career was already boosting at work (I work in excellent schools). After a month or so, I was writing papers to submit to journals and conferences. I realised I love teaching, but I cannot live without doing research. And then I understood it: I got into history not because I like dead people or because I like books. It's because I am very, very curious. So, here I am, because I want to continue learning! I can't help it! Lovely story, and truly a disastrous teacher that one! I've taught in Year 2 (boys only schools) for several years and I loved it when they came with out-of-the-box occurrences. In fact, we did a unit on "Under the sea" around "finding Nemo": everyone ended up wanting to be a Marine Biologist, a submarine builder or a diver. No one wanted to be a dentist

Emory!

So atlanta???? Me too!

I was surprised that three POIs interviewed me via skype/phone before the application process. Ath the beginning I thought it was the norm, then I found out it was not that usual.

The fact that you think you are a great applicant does not mean the AdComm is going to agree with you. I wish it was that simple! Otherwise, I would have been accepted everywhere I applied to! Unfortunately, the decision on funding is not yours to make and, whether you like it or not, you need to trust the committee. Do you know how they appoint funding to make such judgements? I understand, from what you said, that your initial offer did not include funding, right? You accepted their offer so I don't understand your point. It was not the only offer that you had. Are you asking anything in particular? Are you just venting? Do you need advice on how to get some funding? I agree with you in the active approach to this. I mean, it is OK to 'fight' for what you want. However, there is a point where you have to let go because things do not depend on you. As graduate students we are going to encounter such moments several times and we need to accept that we may be, as you put it, excellent candidates, but that does not mean we are going to get what we want. Think of grants for example. Or think of the application process. You were fortunate enough not to have a rejection so I'd take this lack of funding as a means to learn that sometimes you just do not control the situation. Nevertheless, you chose this situation, nobody forced you to apply to graduate school or to accept this offer. Mmmm, I hope I am making myself clear enough. I am really sorry you did not get funding, but, as Kira said, you are making too many assumptions and judging without a clear picture. I do wish you get one of those 15% , but if you don't take advantage of this adverse situation, that's the key to success!

Great advice!

Honestly, I laughed! the situation you describe is almost ridiculous and I understand your anger! You've got to admit it is a bit hilarious... My acceptance letters were posted on line, you did not notice any new "button" or "section" in your on line application? It seems to me, however, you were admitted, but I would also want to have the letter ASAP. That's basically the only proof, right? In my case it also appear in my student log in. You could also ask the program associate to e-mail you the letter. BTW, congratulations!!!!

In two weeks I am giving THE party with my closest friends. After that I need to pack/sell/store lots of things and work usually piles up in May. In July I am visiting my parents before leaving for the States. So far, today I will have a drink with two graduate students of my program

Hi Billie! I completely understand your concerns! I don't know anything yet, but I think that if you live within Emory area you will be able to walk/ride to school. As far as the driving license, in my case I only need to get the international one, which is simple to get here. It only lasts for 1yr or so, and then I have to get Georgia's one. I really don't know about that since I don't suppose I'll have car... See you around campus!

Yeahhhh!!!! CONGRATSSSSSSSSS U

I have already rented a room for the fall. My case is special because I live abroad and won't be going to the US until mid-August. I decided to go for University housing before I get to know the area and then decide where to live.

although it is meant for college shopping, this list may come in handy.... http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/bts01_checklist.asp?

I intend to continue studying piano as well!!!!!

thank you kira!

Can't edit, so PLEASE mind my typos. Serious spelling mistakes! Sorry!!!!!!

I have a laptop, a netbook and a HP inkjet printer. I work as a teacher so having the printer at home has been really convenient. Now that the cartridges are our of ink I find it awkward to wait until I go to work to print. However, it's not the end of the world and thus I agree with Fuzzy: when moving in the fall I will wait until buying a printer. I cannot believe how cheap they are!!! Are laser printer+scanners fairly cheap to maintain? As far as my computers, I have a dilemma. First of all, both of them are DELL, which has worked fine for me. I realise I may not be able to take both to the US. The thing is that I use the laptop to work and the netbook to carry around and work at cafés or at meetings. Since this one is newer (2 yrs) I'll probably take this one but I don't like working on such a small screen.The laptop is an excellent machine but it's quite heavy (I am one of those people that goes everywhere with her computer) an quite old. So I would like to take both, but can't. It's ridiculous since in the US I can get really good laptops for less money than here. actually, I have thinking of buying myself a macbook as a present.... what do you think?