soc13
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I would add Rutgers. Hirschfield and some other folks are doing a lot of great work there in soc/crim.
On 11/1/2016 at 11:44 AM, warwick said:Hi everyone!
I'm applying to PhD programs for Fall 2017 in Sociology, with a focus on Criminal Justice/Criminology. Particularly, I am interested in researching drug policy, deviance, marijuana legalization, and policing culture/attitudes.
I have looked into some Sociology and Criminology programs. My list Iooks something like this, which is in no particular order of preference.
Sociology:
Arizona State University
Boston University
Brown University
Northeastern University
Penn State
SUNY Albany
University of California at Irvine
University of California at Riverside
University of Colorado at Boulder
Washington State University
Criminology:
SUNY Albany
Northeastern University
Arizona State University
Have I left out any universities, or do any of my choices not fit due to my research interests? Any recommendations from top 10 Ivy schools to top 50 safety schools is fine. I don't think I have the profile for Ivy league schools, but I'm sure I can get into some middle programs. Please and thanks everyone!
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On 7/18/2016 at 9:55 PM, ChickenVoicesInMyHead said:
Sorry this is really late, but I will be starting my PhD in the fall at UMD College Park.
I've been having a lot of trouble finding a place to my liking. Unfortunately, I will not have a car, so my options are quite limited. People have suggested Silver Spring and Takoma Park, but would these areas be feasible without a car? The metro ride seems like a trek (50+ minutes?) and expensive ($3.45 during peak hours?). Are there any other good accessible areas for a grad student? I'm aiming for a budget of about $1200 for room and board.
Advice would be greatly appreciated.
At that price point and the desire to be close to/transit accessible to campus, you're really going to want to look into a shared apartment. I know you said "room and board," but I'm hoping you don't expect 1200 to include some sort of meal plan (pretty rare unless you're an undergrad living on campus anyway). I'd look on craigslist and whatever board Maryland has for shared apartments with other graduate students close to campus.
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On 5/15/2016 at 8:50 PM, jdg said:
I looked at an apartment in Dorchester: super cheap rent, with reasonable-seeming graduate student roommates. The place is near Ashmont station, on Talbot Avenue. I was a little sketched out by the area, although to be fair this is probably because I had to drive through bad parts of Roxbury to get there. Is anyone familiar with this part of Dorchester? I would like to save money, but I do think I have to put safety first, and I am just not sure how much of an issue safety would be in that area. I know it's all relative, and it is the city, so nothing is going to be as safe as I'm used to being/feeling in a small town, but does anyone have thoughts on this?
If you're the type of person who worries a lot about safety, don't live in Dorchester, just because other people will scare you with their tales of it, even though they've probably never stepped foot in any of the neighborhoods.
Ashmont is gentrifying. It's more than fine. Especially right by the T station.
Boston is as other east coast cities are: most of the language and fear-driven hype around certain neighborhoods is racially coded language about Black folks or immigrants. Most victims of violence/crime are the people born and raised in these neighborhoods, not a random person walking down the street.
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On 4/4/2016 at 3:01 PM, Happy89 said:
Yes, your post MPH experiences and impact definitely matter. However, I have noticed that many of the best opportunities in public health go to those who went to the best schools. I may be wrong, but I have noticed that more than once. That is primary concern about UCD vs Tulane. Tulane is my dream program and has great connections, but its debt load is terrifying.
As someone who took on similar debt for an MPH... DON'T TAKE ON THE DEBT.
If you're looking to get a DrPH, just get strong research experience while you're in the program, and realize you'll be a better candidate if you take a couple years between to take on a relevant job. I don't know where you want to do your DrPH, but I highly doubt most schools will ding you for the difference in UC-D v. Tulane if you have highly relevant experience. I believe Davis' program is CEPH accredited, so you're fine.
Also, are you sure you want to get a DrPH, or are you thinking you may want to get a PhD? If you're highly practice-oriented, look for a program that provides those opportunities (i.e. the DrPH track). If you're research focused, see if either of those places support student research in a significant way.
PS. I went to a lower-ranked MPH program than Tulane and got incredible research experience and now will be going to a top school for my Ph.D. (in sociology, not public health, because forget that with all the unfunded programs out there).
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19 hours ago, Allons-yDarling said:
Hello! I'm going to be attending Temple in the fall in their MFA Theatre Design program. I just got back from a visit to Philadelphia, which was lovely, I really like the city. However, I'm struggling to find an apartment. I stopped in to a realtor's office right off campus on Friday to see if they had any nearby properties that fit my "cats allowed and 1 bedroom not basement or ground floor" requirements, and they only had one property that fit the description... Which I had a tentative appointment to tour until I walked past the building, saw the building next door was burnt out and boarded out, and decided I'd rather not live in that neighborhood.
So I'm currently trying to do remote apartment housing. I did want to live close to campus, because with the theatre program, I'll probably have numerous late nights, but I'm not very fond of the area west of Temple. What neighborhoods have convenient public transit to Temple and are safer/nicer? And are their any recommendations for what websites are good for apartment hunting? I've been using Zillow, but a lot of the properties I've tried to contact about turn out to be already rented.
I found that when I was moving to Philly, it was really hard to rent from afar. I ended up just booking a flight and packing in a ton of showings in a day or two. I know that takes financial resources, but I was able to get a MUCH better deal on a great apartment a block from the subway from going in person. I also found that some I thought I would definitely want to live in, ended up being terrible in person. This is especially true if you're a person who is concerned about the neighborhood... you'll want to go in person as Philly can vary block to block. I just used craigslist/padmapper. There are larger buildings that you could lease online, but they're likely to cost you a pretty penny.
That said, I loved living there more than anywhere else I've lived (including Boston and DC) and would move back in a heartbeat!
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On 4/2/2016 at 8:40 PM, unhappy phd said:
Hi guys-will be a phd at Penn starting this summer
I am wondering if living in the suburbs is common for students (I am considering regions like Media, Swarthmore)? Everyone I know is either living in center city or west philly (university city) so I am a little bit unsure. Don't want to be isolated
If suburbs are good choices-can I commute via train, as suggested by @pawnee68502 above?
Thank you everyone. Appreciate your help!
Is there a reason you want to live in the suburbs, @unhappy phd? (i.e. kids or something similar)?
If you want to commute, you can. But Philly is fairly affordable to live in the downtown proper areas, at least compared to all the other major cities on the east coast. There are also plenty of very different neighborhoods within the city that would still be a very easy commute to Penn using the sub, if you're looking for something specific in your housing or a different vibe than university city.
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On 4/6/2016 at 5:42 PM, puyple said:
I've been accepted into an MA program at Georgetown and I'm trying to figure out housing, public trans, etc. Most of these posts are from 2006 so I'm going to assume that at least some of that info isn't accurate anymore?
Do you have specific questions? A lot certainly has changed, but the cost of living is still absurdly high
On 3/14/2016 at 9:15 AM, tedwards09 said:Hey guys! Anyone else planning on moving to DC for the Fall 2016 school year? I've been accepted to a doctoral program at GW and am starting to look at places to move, which neighborhoods are good, ect. Love to hear from anyone else who is as well!
Where you live is going to depend almost entirely on your budget. Anything relatively close to GW is going to be a 'good' neighborhood. The places folks are scared of living/consider dangerous are outside of 'downtown' and likely not a place you'd be looking. However, if you have specific questions, feel free to ask.
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On 3/1/2016 at 11:24 AM, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:
I'm moving to Ithaca and would like to commute (I already signed a lease about 5 miles off-campus and the route isn't bike-friendly at all... no bike lane or anything). The TCAT runs to my apartment complex about 4 times a day but I don't want to be stuck on campus after 5:00, and that $750 commuter permit makes my wallet scream in fear. What do?
@pinkfuzzybunny ah, I hear you! I am trying to figure this out myself although I haven't signed a lease yet. It's cheaper to live further out, but that's a hefty price (is it $750 a semester?).
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6 minutes ago, Katastrophe said:
I am in the same situation!
Waitlisted at NYU and waiting to see how that plays out and waiting for that Penn rejection.
Hopefully it's quick!
You have so many to choose from (amazing!) - is NYU a top choice?
Penn and Cornell were two of my top choices, so I'm happy regardless of what happens with Penn, but I'd love to have the closure lol. Will you be at Cornell's visit day?
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Hey! I'll be at the Cornell visit day on 3/14.
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Waitlisted at Indiana. Throws an interesting variable in the mix.
Really only waiting on Penn to send that rejection email so I can make my decision!
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21 hours ago, rising_star said:
I know plenty of people who have done it @mm3733 and I did it as a MA student. As long as you can handle all of your commitments AND there are no repercussions (like losing your university funding package) for doing it, I think it's no problem.
Thanks, @rising_star. That was my inclination as well. I worked all throughout my master's in research positions outside the university although I was a FT student without any problem. I was just hoping there wouldn't be any issue with it impacting funding of this type but it doesn't sound like it. Thanks again!
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Here's a question for the group, and I may cross-post this in the general forum as well. Anyone have experience working a little bit (not through the university) while receiving full funding/stipend? I know a lot of places state that you should hold no other job, but I was curious as to how firm this really was (and if they check, the only way possible is through taxes, I suppose, if it's non-university).
Yes, I know, I won't have time, etc. (please withhold those cautions and arguments, lol) but the company I'm leaving would likely love to keep me on for a few months for a few hours a week as we wrap up one of the larger research projects I work on, as I have the most in-depth knowledge and relationships with our clients.
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Go to the MPH program that gives you the most funding. Go into as little debt as possible. Spoken as an MPH... who went into debt (and on behalf of most of my friends from the program as well)
[I'm serious. There's very few types of positions that will care whether you went to X school over Y school. You'll find once you graduate and are looking for jobs that they all value experience much more than where your degree is from.]
If your plan is to go on to get a Ph.D. in anything other than public health... don't bother getting an MPH at this point unless it's absolutely debt-free (it won't increase your admissions chances; you'll end up getting another master's in passing, etc.). Use the time to gain research experience, raise your GRE scores, refine your writing sample, etc.
If you are dead-set on going into an MPH program, focus on the opportunities available to you there - not just the name. Do you have good chances of getting a research assistantship and close mentorship from a professor? Will you gain meaningful experiences that will lead to strong references/networking within the field so that you'll obtain a job quickly? Again, it depends on if you want to go into research or community-based or govt work, but you need to make sure the program has enough built in for you to really make those connections and do the work so you have something tangible to show employers.
Just wanted to throw in a perspective from someone who's gone through it already!
- Demeter and easybreezy
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Anyone on this board accepted to GWU social psych? PM me if so
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Is this something that happened, or that you're worried *might* happen?
It's an interesting issue. If this is something you anticipate occurring, it's worth considering if a focus group is really the best methodological choice. Why not use individual interviews if there's a high chance that participants will become so distressed they'll need to withdraw? That way, there's less chance of embarrassment/damage, and it's more possible to 'take a break' and start again than with a focus group.
I've never had a participant withdraw when I've moderated a group, so I can't speak from firsthand experience. However, I can say that it's pretty common for folks to leave the group for a few minutes to use the restroom, etc., and some are gone longer than others (using their phones, etc.), and other participants tend to charge forward without worrying about where said person is. I think that's why it's especially helpful to have a moderator as well as someone else around, outside of the group, who can help out with any issues that arise or just be taking care of things like checking folks in, getting consent forms, etc., so that people know when a person steps out there's someone "official" there.
As a moderator, you can always just remind the group (when you're sensing a participant is struggling or getting distressed) that their participation is totally voluntary and if it is getting challenging for them or they are not feeling like being part of it any more, they are free to 'take a break' or leave.
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54 minutes ago, blanciblau said:
I was admitted to Penn -- received an email from their grad chair a few days ago.
Congratulations, @blanciblau!
Has anyone gotten a rejection from Penn yet? I'm assuming one at this point, but would love (in that not-actually-love way) actual confirmation, but the portal still has no decision letter.
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6 minutes ago, pi515 said:
Congratulations @Port Lake! And thank you for the info. When you say that some programs like Stanford advised against contacting individual professors, did you learn that through your informal contacts or were you able to find that information somewhere on their website or application materials? Congrats again!
Another quick question: has anyone successfully gotten into a phd sociology program without having any LORs from sociology professors? (my recommenders were anthro and poli sci professors so I'm wondering if that has contributed to the deafening silence on the application front)
None of my reccs were sociology professors. Two work at schools of public health; one is a trained social psychologist, the other has a ScD. This year, I also decided to use my boss, a VP at my research firm (I think her Ph.D. is in psych). I hesitated to use a non-academic, but I was advised to in my case by a few folks.
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10 hours ago, theophany said:
I would say that everything both you and @EdYouKateOr mentioned are the major perks to Harvard Housing. The downside would be that it's dorm-ish living again, and that Harvard Housing is not exactly competitive price-wise. You can find apartments in Cambridge and Somerville for substantially less than Harvard Housing. It's convenient on the front-end, but you end up paying for it in the long run.
Maybe @theophany is referring to the GSAS graduate housing. That's dorm-like... singles with shared bathrooms and kitchens and such. I had a friend live there. Some of the other grad housing listed on HUH is like that too (Chronkhite for example) but a lot are also regular apartments.
Probably depends on if you're willing to visit to find a place, or just want to do it from afar. Also, roommates or no roommates.
Also, never lived there, so I can't really comment.. just lived in Boston myself and had a few friends live on and off campus
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Yes. Thanks @Shay825 and apologies to all for taking us off topic. Also apologies to anyone offended by my use of that term.
Now, let's hope Penn and Duke email a bunch of us who are still hoping!
- krispykreme and ConsciousKid
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Just now, KLPLANTER said:1 minute ago, KLPLANTER said:
I don't speak on behalf of all women, but I will always speak up in these types of situations. Dude uses slur, I'm saying something.
I don't speak on behalf of all women, but I will always speak up in these types of situations. Dude uses slur, I'm saying something.
lolol um, assumption much? Not a dude.
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21 minutes ago, KLPLANTER said:
WOW exile "douche" from your vocabulary before you start in your program. Super offensive
@KLPLANTER with all respect, not exactly the way to start a dialogue. But maybe you just wanted to express that you take extreme offense at the term. My impression is it's not really considered offensive with consensus, and as a woman, I find actual, real-life douching and what it represents a lot more offensive than the slang. Like I said, would've been happy to have a dialogue, but do you. At any rate, happy for the opportunity to think about the word.
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3 minutes ago, Shay825 said:
Whoops, my mistake - I searched "Penn Sociology" and a couple of Penn States popped up in the middle. Looks like there are 3 admits.
Let's just go with that's a good sign for us, okay? They're just slowly going down the list...
PS. Didn't mean to sound like a douche in the last post, was just *hoping* I was right and it wasn't me searching the wrong term lol!
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5 minutes ago, Shay825 said:
Looks like Penn admits will be finished after today. I'm counting 5 on the board. :*(
How do you figure 5? Unless you're counting the HSS interviews... or my browser is crazy.
Best way to prepare for Sociology graduate program? Opinions please!
in Sociology Forum
Posted
I would not stress about this.... at all. Most programs have at least some students who didn't do their undergrad in sociology. That's why most have some sort of introductory theory class. If you have time and want to read your textbook, go for it. At least you will get the names, the basics of some theories, etc.
Again, don't stress.