ToomuchLes
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Everything posted by ToomuchLes
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NWU, UCLA, and Rice have already made decisions.
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Submitted all my applications during Thanksgiving Break, and now... I am waiting for a single letter of rec submission to complete my application
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Today I found out that I passed my French proficiency exam, thus satisfying my language requirement for graduation. I am taking Portuguese this semester (and in the Spring), but due to my full schedule I am thinking about dropping it. What is the general attitude towards a W on graduate transcripts? Should I mention it in my SOP? My MA GPA is 3.95, so Im concerned that because I don't practice my Portuguese often it will drastically hurt my GPA.
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Great advice from everyone =) Thanks! Welcome Bridget H!
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I emailed a POI a month ago and never received a reply. I briefly introduced myself, mentioned my plans to apply to the program, and then concluded by asking if the POI was accepting new graduate students. When should I send a second email? I would like to know, for sure, if each POI that I selected is accepting a new grad student, which is the purpose of my emails. EDIT: Just to be clear, there is no information on the website or their page.
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intextrovert gave some brilliant advice here ... I formatted my MA SOP in a similar structure - Focus, Fit, Future. Im doing the same now for my PhD SOP =) If anyone is interested in swapping SOP send me a PM!
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Question for everyone: Out of curiosity, what type of writing sample are you submitting - original research seminar paper, thesis, book review, historiography, etc?
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I appreciate the offer and will definitely message you in the coming weeks.
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Hello, hello! I am also looking at the US South of the 19th century, though I am focusing on the history of slave families and enslaved youth. Still in my early stages of putting together my apps, so I am still searching for programs/POIs. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to post/PM. As always the app season is both exciting and scary, but hopefully it goes well for all of us.
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Unfortunately, I do not know of any cheap, safe storage units in Bloomington. I suggest googling and reading reviews -
The city takes good care of the roads during the winter season. Snowplows clear the streets as early as 5:30am, however if you're coming from Cali make sure you trade in your low-profile tires for all-season. Even with clear roads, your car will encounter ice and when it does you need friction to stop safely. All you have to do is look at the writing on your tires to know what type they are. Also, you will need an ice scrapper, which you can buy for less than $10 in town. I have two suggestions regarding the winter. First, make sure you have warm clothing by early November because you will wake up one morning with two inches of snow and no warning. You can find places to buy clothes in town. I shopped at Kohls because I have a card+purchase points. Theres also Target, thrift stores, and little momma-papa shops all over the town. Second, buy a portable $15-30 room heater Finally, if you're near the beach make sure you enjoy while you can. I was a huge Venice beach bum, and oh, do I miss it.
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I was in your shoes ... err flipflops when I moved from LA to Btown. Make sure you have good shoes (Converse won't suffice, I tried), an exterior waterproof thin (or thick) jacket, and dress in layers. Also, buy 2-3 tights to wear under jeans or dress pants; scarf and a few stylish beanies. Be prepared for all kinds of weathers, from Wizard of Oz-like windstorms and thunderstorms to random humid heat spells.
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Sounds awesome! I am very jealous.
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Welcome! I too came from SoCAL and it definitely is a change of scenery.
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Schools for U.S.-Mexico Borderlands/Chican@ History
ToomuchLes replied to MikeTheFronterizo's topic in History
I second ... or third, .. working with Dr. Resendez and Dr. Oropeza. I knew them during my undergrad years at UCD, and they're fantastic people! I don't study Mexican/Chicano history, so unfortunately I cannot speak for their scholarship but it seems other people already have =) -
The bus system is free for all IU students, and somewhat reliable. I say, somewhat because in the winter time they have a tendency to be a few mins late/early at the stops, so you need to keep an eye on the app. If you search in the app store "Indiana University," download their main app. Using the app you can search/enroll-in classes, check emails, use OnCourse/Canvas, and yes, check the location of the bus. I heard they're redoing the app over the summer, so it'll be better by the new academic year. I would highly advise NOT purchasing an on campus parking pass. They do oversell more permits than actual spots, and unless you arrive early in the morning, you'll have a very hard time finding parking. They also cost a few hundred bucks, ouch. Don't risk parking on campus without a pass either cause campus police always patrol the parking areas. If you need to drop something off and only need to park for 10-20mins, on the east side (near the Law School) you can find free 30min parking by stores, restaurants, bars, etc. Theyre pretty empty during the daytime, but don't leave your car for longer than the available time. I take the #6 and have a majority of my classes in Ballantine Hall (biggest, ugliest building on campus =( ). I usually leave 30 mins before class starts, and always arrive on time. Thats my experience.
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Depends on the course and instructor. Typically for a colloquium, we're required to read one monograph, 1-2 articles each week, and then expected to write a 2-3 page response paper. On top of these weekly assignments, we have book reviews, and grant proposals/syllabus projects due throughout the semester, and a single 10-15 page historiography/big project due at the end; but it really varies on the instructor. In one class, we have to write a book review, grant proposal and historiography paper; while in another, we have 4 book reviews. Research seminars don't require readings (at least not the one that I'm taking). What is the workload at your department like?
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Its crazy how much we have to read in grad school. Im handling the reading load well, but looking back after a week... sometimes I surprise myself that I can keep up. I read South Side Girls: Growing Up in the Great Migration by Marcia Chatelain. Finally! An assigned book on the History of Childhood. Although I've already read it, I very much enjoyed reading it again. Also read From the Bullet to the Ballot: The Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party and Racial Coalition Politics in Chicago by Jakobi Williams; Left of Karl Marx: The Political Life of Black Communist Claudia Davis by Carole Davies; and, as a fun read, Havana Storm by Clive Cussler.
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I second this. If you're attending IU for a masters, theres no reason to switch state residencies unless you see yourself staying in Indy longer than a year or the university is funding you thus switching residencies is required. I started my MA in history, expecting to finish in 2 academic years, but it looks like I will finish everything by this fall (I started my program fall, 2015). If you're driving across country with your belongings (especially from CA) or have any general questions about Bloomington, I can answer any questions/concerns =) Bloomington is definitely a charming blue dot in a red sea. It has a lot of things to do, places to see, but be warned (if you're coming from a place that doesn't have a winter) you need to plan ahead, i.e buy layered clothing (which I didn't have coming from LA haha), car maintenance, proper footwear.
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Haha I hear you. I started reading Angela Davis's Women, Culture and Politics and finished this afternoon. This is my first time reading her material and wooow... I could feel the passion in her written words. Its one of those books that energizes me to share my findings with people and read more about the topic. Really good book. Tomorrow, Im starting The Cry Was Unity: Communists and African Americans 1917-1936 by Mark Solomon.
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This was a great thread back in the day that I'm hoping to revive. I just finished reading for the second time Talitha L. LeFlouria's Chained in Silence: Black Women and Convict Labor in the New South. I read and wrote a book review on it last semester. A very enjoyable read! It's so cool when you reread a book you notice small things you missed before. Today, I even spent some free time revising and adding a few points to my old paper haha. Also reading for fun Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas De Quincey cause ... why not Tomorrow, Im going to start reading Marcia Chatelain's South Side Girls.
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Hey Ahtlatl, I'll be finishing up my MA program at IU this upcoming fall, and applying for PhD programs at the same time. UCLA is my top 5 interested programs. Can I PM you a few questions about your applications?
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You should find a prof in the dept that best aligns with your research interests. Talk to him/her about the program, whether its advisable to attend the same school for grad school (some believe academic incest is a big nono), if theyre accepting grad students, and any additional questions you have about the program. Email them, dont show up at their office. I wouldn't stress too much about the GRE though. The essays and "fit" is much more important. And if you're worried about your GPA, dont be; its fine
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Going from Davis' quarter to IU's semester is an interesting experience. I must say, I prefer the semester system over quarter.
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Biggest, most obvious : MA programs are usually non-funded, while most PhDs are funded.
