Andean Pat

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This must be sooooo interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't see this before! I love our threads! My field is Latin American history. I got there actually as an 'excuse' to study something broader: borderlands/frontier studies crossed with environmental history. I am interested in nation-building through nature and environment in these areas. Since I did my undergrad in Argentina and my thesis focused on Northern Patagonian Andes (hence Andean Pat), I want to continue this line of research: the clash, tension or synthesis of specific strategies, values and ideas about the landscape, nature, territory and nation in Latin American borderlands. I am very comfortable with my questions not binding me to a specific region, but rather me choosing the region. I like to read about other borderlands from different times. I just love this approach and it is an excellent fit with my future department. I am so happy!!!! REALLY!!!! :D

This has been hilarious!!!!

I am really sorry to read this!!! Is there any other offer on the table? I am sure you'll fine elsewhere... Now, you were not admitted for lack of funding? It surely sucks when our fate is decided by mere economics... I don't know what to say to be more supportive, really, but I do hope everything turns out fine.

hahaha I thought the same!!! Now, really, please DO NOT it. I know you feel tempted and you needed someone to tell you it's OK but the truth is such an universal value that it is very difficult to dodge. Honestly, I thought I had not completely grasped what you meant to do... Making a decision necessarily implies leaving something behind, that's life. So even if you skip through this one, you may have to choose at some point. Since you are applying for graduate school, you are mature enough to make an adult choice and bearing the consequences. Take your time to think about it, but clearly you will be happy in both places

Can a school give you an earlier deadline? I thought all of them had to respect the 04/15

UConn then?

I began to clean and box today. I know I am still like 4.5 months away from moving day, but since my work is very demanding at home (I teach ~9 courses at secondary schools), I have decided to start early with the cleaning, throwing away useless junk, and begin to locate some stuff (especially books hehehe). In the way, I ran into old memories and some photos (they are so old that were developed from a film, remember those?). I still don't have my air ticket. I know I am still 4.5 months away, but the government comes out with a different resolution every now and then (10 days ago it decreed that we had to pay a tax over 20% of any international ticket). Besides, the dollar is more and more expensive, so the sooner I buy it, the more chances I have to pay it! I re-started training in the rowing machine and hopefully I'll play a (field) hockey match next Sunday. On the one hand, I want it to be August already. On the other, I really want to enjoy these last months here. One thing is certain: I will no miss the city. By no means.

I wonder why people are giving -1 to my early post and this one. Is OK to post against one's religion but it is not OK to find it offensive? Furthermore, I did not -1 heartshapedcookie's post because she did not mean to offend anyone, she just shared one she particularly liked and I only said I did not like it. Period. That is a forum, saying what you think without offending other people. I did like the comic, but that does not mean I was offended my the post. @heartshapedcookie, I suppose you know this, right?

My advice is go for it!!!! (Since I am in neither of your fields I can't say anything else... sorry! but I agree with the passion thing)

I found the comic offensive, not the mentioning religion.

Hi Reixis, I'll answer your PM here, it may be useful for others All right, I hope you find my advice helpful! First of all, my field is history but I think what I have learned about applications is applicable (sic) to philosophy as well. Now, you've read what I told Surlefil. I posted something else Basically, take your time to prepare the app. Browse through schools and departments. If you want to compare them, you can use rankings. I do not trust them THAT much, but they are useful. The three best rankings are this one, this one, and this one. You Brazilians have a lot of connections in the US because your government is more PhD-abroad-friendly. I'd also scan the academia in Brazil and contact any professor that may give you advice on the application process, especially as where to apply. I was accepted at a university I'd have never applied because I did not know it. The fact that I hadn't heard of it means that I needed to do my homework. Even now I think I should have done more research on many others that several scholars mentioned to me. This is important: talk to people. Write to prospective POIs, to current students and Brazilians that are now in the US. By chance, I had interviews in Buenos Aires with current Argentineans studying in the universities I wanted to apply (who also suggested other places) and even with an Argentine who is currently teaching in the US. I also talked to professors here that graduated abroad. Finally, I contacted students in the programs I was applying to, all of them were very nice and helpful. The application process is long, and the most difficult part, as always, is the SOP and the writing sample. Take your time to prepare these. They will show who you are as a scholar to the ad comms so you want to reflect professionalism, maturity and a clearly defined interests. This is going to sound harsh but just wanting to go to the US does not mean that it will happen. Furthermore, the fact that you probably deserve it does not mean it is going to happen either. This is life and life is though. Work on your SOP and your writing sample. We are not used to write in English, read articles so as to familiarize yourself with format, style and length. In this part I was guided by several graduate students. Ask others to read your work, especially people that has already studied in the US. A student shared this SOP which came in handy. Prepare for GRE. You will spend a lot of time working on your apps: writing, editing, working with recommenders, reading, etc. You will also invest money on apps, TOEFL, sending supporting documents (not all of the universities require them), and sitting for GRE. So take it seriously. It is not an easy exam, but it is not impossible. Work on this as well. I practised at least on hour per day, more on weekends. Practise, practise, practise. TOEFL is simpler. mmm can't think of anything else. Keep in touch!

Congrats!!!! York is a lovely town!

In general OK, but that special one I find it offensive.

Agreed. Nonetheless, I am surprised of what a "luxury" dental health is to you North Americans. Here, the health insurance includes dental plan, it is not something separate. Of course, the benefits are according to your chosen plan. I currently have an excellent insurance, but not premium. I am worried about this now that I move to the US because, expensive as it is, I think I am going to enroll in a dental plan. I cannot afford disregarding my mouth... (any advice on this? PM me!!! )

I thought I was going to be given a J1 visa because the school pays the fellowship but the paperwork I got is for F1, no spouse so better!

Done!

Hi! I think it's great you've spotted what makes you nervous and in which context. You know that in more formal discussions of academic work you tend to freeze. The first thing that popped into my mind when I read this is: you need professional help that can guide you into feeling more confident in front of peers and professors. Psychologists and counsellors are trained to help you do this, maybe there is someone that you know that can work with you into solving these matters. At first glance, what I see, being a teacher myself, is that you paralyse in situations your skills/knowledge is tested: in front of your class, in front of your professors, etc. Unfortunately, academic work is always being tested by everyone: advisers, peers, journals, etc. So I'd say that if you want to continue on this path, which clearly do, you need to work on public speaking skills and for that, sorry to tell you, you need to... speak! Now, here is my modest piece of advice, while you seek for better, more professional assistance on the matter: Relax. To relax means to acknowledge you are in control but things may go wrong. and if they do, they do. It's not the end of the world. Relaxation will help your thoughts flow and your words come out of your mouth as if somebody else was speaking for you. Relaxation helps focus all your energy on one thing, otherwise all your muscles are stiff and your body is dealing with too many things at the same time. Use somebody else's shoes. As a teacher, you probably like it when your students own their words, when they sound confident, right? Imagine what impression you want to leave on your professors and peers. You also want to sound confident, right? Then, do!!! From what you have said, you do your homework and know how to make the connections and the analysis of things, then just verbalize it. Something can go wrong, so what? If you get stuck, it's not the end of the world. I mean, I'd rather get stuck in class and then give it another try than in the middle of a conference. So, if you get stuck, apologize and then go for it. I am a teacher as well and some of my students do not feel confident to speak in front of the class. When I ask direct questions to them, I clarify that they do not need to answer right away and I give them time to organize their thoughts. Maybe you can do this as well, instead of "escaping" with an "I don't know" you can ask for some time and then answer. However, I stick to what I said before: do seek for a tutor or someone that can accompany you during your MA so that you have this skill polished for your PhD. Public Speaking is not easy, I can only imagine how you feel, but fortunately there are people ready to help you!!! All the best!

Oh, you'll love living on your own. There are a lot of ups and downs, but you'll be surprise how well you can manage! My condo has a roomie-fitting-service or something of the sort. This is what I did: I was afraid of getting to town and not finding anything nice/close to school/within my budget and besides, how well can you get to know the city in a couple of days? So I decided to rent a room in the university's owned condo for graduate students. It is not THE best choice, but it fits my needs. The first year (especially the first semester) is going to be tough. away from home, speaking another language all the time, trying to fit in. Thus I need to worry about surviving coursework. I figured that a university-owned place is more suitable for now. The school's free shuttle stops at the gate and takes me to school. So I know that I will not be alone (don't know my roomies yet) in case I want to have a beer with someone and talk about what the heck we are doing.

Ass I said here or in another forum. I am quite cheeky. I would go hehehe

I agree with all said, and would add: talk to someone, work this through. It is a big step you've made --acknowledging this is not what you want-- now you need to find what truly drives you crazy. You need to devote time to this so it's a great idea to finish your masters, get a job and work on this with a counsellor or psychologist. You shouldn't be afraid of this, you are very brave in admitting all this to yourself. Now, go and do something about it :D

Yes, I know I also know about the PhD difference between England and the US (I applied for an MPhil at Cam but was unsuccessful due to funding issues ). What I mean is that having a PhD from Cambridge is somehow in your plans, although the topic is not the one you prefer. I feel (and this is an idea I have) that after Cambridge you will be able to have excellent post-doc/academic positions. Now, maybe you should speak to graduate students at cam right now, or recent PhDs to see if you can tailor the program to your needs. If you can, then welcome to the US! tell us what you decide