Loric

I cant help but giggle at seeing the Geography forum asking "Where?" rather than the typical "What schools?"

And so "reasons" it is. It says they invite me to apply again once I have some new projects for my portfolio.

Ugh.. Just stop talking until you take a theater history class or at least google it.

With pretty much everyone on this forum wanting to get into grad school.. it is inevitable that there's some misunderstanding as to why people quit graduate programs.
 
Well, I dragged this out of the Philosophy forum for your reading pleasure:
 
http://www.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/attached-files/APA%20Report%20document.pdf
 
Things got so bad that the department stopped admissions for this year while they try to hash things out. But what about the appearance on the outside and before the report was made public? People were fighting to get in. It was seen - and is still seen, per the report - as providing a great level of education. It's just, ya know, an environment that's hostile and harassment filled.
 
That's just one of the many reasons people quit.
 
I quit my first grad school because there was shouting and screaming and unprofessional behavior and expectations to attend events in my free non-business time and socialize with professors whether I wanted to or not.. alcohol.. throwing things.. shouting.. etc.. and I had no idea how RA/TA-ships were allocated and had no idea how teaching positions were distributed despite having one either.
 
I know a lot of people on this forum are going to look at what happened in Colorado at the Philosophy department and think "gee.. that's a bad situation, but a one off, and I'm sure my school will be fine... because of XYZ.. rationalize.. rationalize.." etc..
 
There's a lot of little Colorados out there that are ticking timebombs of ruined careers. Get to know the schools you're applying to and really do your best to feel them out. You can't avoid these things entirely, but you also need to remain empowered if they do occur. Speak up, report things that aren't right, and don't cater to a culture that is unprofessional in your workplace and place of education. 
 
There's a thread on the forum where a person asked if they should seek out a formal means to report a professor who dropped them mid-thesis with little excuse and little help to even find a new advisor. The reply from these forums? "oh, consider your future and career before you go and report anyone for any wrongdoing."
 
That's not the right approach. That's retaliation and should be completely unacceptable under any good University's policies. If the professor really did something wrong (which is up to the people assigned to making such decisions, not you) and there's a way and a venue to report a claim - it should be reported. Not swept under the rug.
 
In my case I had a "meeting" with the professor who was causing the problem, thinking I was being a mature adult and handling the issue - where my advisor was asking (demanding) me to do things that were blatantly against the University policies. I brought a copy of the handbook and cited how what was going on was wrong and needed to be corrected. I was told "It's grad school, suck it up, everyone has to do this sort of thing."
 
I quit within 48 hours of that failed meeting due to a series of stressful event (even a car accident for good measure!) and a complete lack of faith in the school and it's systems. I see people dreaming of getting in and posting rampantly on here about their hopes and aspirations and how it's their top pick. Yikes, if only they knew. I've done my best to PM a few people and gently/rationally voice my concerns, but I can't catch them all, you know? And not everyone will listen.
 
Often it's seen as the bitter rambling of a "failed student" - no, seriously, I quit. I was called by the department chair and dean and begged to come back. They didn't want to lose me.
 
And on top of all that, I've had it said to myself and seen it implied to others on this forum that people are somehow 'lesser' for quitting a program that is so screwed up. That's wrong too. Stop doing it, stop posting those things.  I know you want to get into graduate school and you've built it up as some grand dream.. but the reality is that some programs - even reportedly "good" ones (see: Colorado) - can be absolute awful situations for a graduate and should really be avoided until they correct their ways. 

Also.. this isn't meant to be mean spirited.. but just look at the "oops" moments that get posted nearly daily on this forum.
 
In the hundred or so apps, there's lots of "oops" moments. Things completely wrong, not able to be scored on the rubric due to incorrect submission, etc..
 
Much of your competition is going to self-eliminate. This doesn't mean your typo on page 15 of a 35 page writing sample will sink you.. but honestly look at the huge mistakes people are making and posting about. Then consider all the people who are oblivious to the fact that they made similar mistakes.

Well, I've said for months that Berkeley is vastly overrated.. and most applicants cant even tell you why they apply there other than "it's the thing to do."
 
But at the same time, they're inundated with international applicants, never mind the domestic ones, who likely didn't really consider te program, what they want to do, etc.. beyond "Go to Berkeley."
 
Trying to combat that there's going to be some collateral damage. Many people who would have been perfectly good or even exceptional students will get cut.. and some who will turn out to be terrible mindless morons will get accepted. Such is life.

What are you applying for...?
 
And honestly i'd priceline the whole thing at some absurdly low point for like 4 star and then crash on my own. Hit up betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com to see how to get the good hotels dirt cheap.

Anywhere that puts me up with someone else without telling me explicitly first gets me walking out the door, them paying for it, and me talking shit about them to every person I can find.

Well, I've said for months that Berkeley is vastly overrated.. and most applicants cant even tell you why they apply there other than "it's the thing to do."
 
But at the same time, they're inundated with international applicants, never mind the domestic ones, who likely didn't really consider te program, what they want to do, etc.. beyond "Go to Berkeley."
 
Trying to combat that there's going to be some collateral damage. Many people who would have been perfectly good or even exceptional students will get cut.. and some who will turn out to be terrible mindless morons will get accepted. Such is life.

Anywho.. this:
 

Anywhere that puts me up with someone else without telling me explicitly first gets me walking out the door, them paying for it, and me talking shit about them to every person I can find.

What are you applying for...?
 
And honestly i'd priceline the whole thing at some absurdly low point for like 4 star and then crash on my own. Hit up betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com to see how to get the good hotels dirt cheap.

I've gotten into graduate school, it's not all it's cracked up to be.. and there were definitely little hints of the BS during my interview that I glossed over in my excitement.
 
Nowadays, if presented the same scenario.. the answer would be "no thanks."

With pretty much everyone on this forum wanting to get into grad school.. it is inevitable that there's some misunderstanding as to why people quit graduate programs.
 
Well, I dragged this out of the Philosophy forum for your reading pleasure:
 
http://www.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/attached-files/APA%20Report%20document.pdf
 
Things got so bad that the department stopped admissions for this year while they try to hash things out. But what about the appearance on the outside and before the report was made public? People were fighting to get in. It was seen - and is still seen, per the report - as providing a great level of education. It's just, ya know, an environment that's hostile and harassment filled.
 
That's just one of the many reasons people quit.
 
I quit my first grad school because there was shouting and screaming and unprofessional behavior and expectations to attend events in my free non-business time and socialize with professors whether I wanted to or not.. alcohol.. throwing things.. shouting.. etc.. and I had no idea how RA/TA-ships were allocated and had no idea how teaching positions were distributed despite having one either.
 
I know a lot of people on this forum are going to look at what happened in Colorado at the Philosophy department and think "gee.. that's a bad situation, but a one off, and I'm sure my school will be fine... because of XYZ.. rationalize.. rationalize.." etc..
 
There's a lot of little Colorados out there that are ticking timebombs of ruined careers. Get to know the schools you're applying to and really do your best to feel them out. You can't avoid these things entirely, but you also need to remain empowered if they do occur. Speak up, report things that aren't right, and don't cater to a culture that is unprofessional in your workplace and place of education. 
 
There's a thread on the forum where a person asked if they should seek out a formal means to report a professor who dropped them mid-thesis with little excuse and little help to even find a new advisor. The reply from these forums? "oh, consider your future and career before you go and report anyone for any wrongdoing."
 
That's not the right approach. That's retaliation and should be completely unacceptable under any good University's policies. If the professor really did something wrong (which is up to the people assigned to making such decisions, not you) and there's a way and a venue to report a claim - it should be reported. Not swept under the rug.
 
In my case I had a "meeting" with the professor who was causing the problem, thinking I was being a mature adult and handling the issue - where my advisor was asking (demanding) me to do things that were blatantly against the University policies. I brought a copy of the handbook and cited how what was going on was wrong and needed to be corrected. I was told "It's grad school, suck it up, everyone has to do this sort of thing."
 
I quit within 48 hours of that failed meeting due to a series of stressful event (even a car accident for good measure!) and a complete lack of faith in the school and it's systems. I see people dreaming of getting in and posting rampantly on here about their hopes and aspirations and how it's their top pick. Yikes, if only they knew. I've done my best to PM a few people and gently/rationally voice my concerns, but I can't catch them all, you know? And not everyone will listen.
 
Often it's seen as the bitter rambling of a "failed student" - no, seriously, I quit. I was called by the department chair and dean and begged to come back. They didn't want to lose me.
 
And on top of all that, I've had it said to myself and seen it implied to others on this forum that people are somehow 'lesser' for quitting a program that is so screwed up. That's wrong too. Stop doing it, stop posting those things.  I know you want to get into graduate school and you've built it up as some grand dream.. but the reality is that some programs - even reportedly "good" ones (see: Colorado) - can be absolute awful situations for a graduate and should really be avoided until they correct their ways. 

So...
 
You're saying I was right...?

So...
 
You're saying I was right...?

Well the problem is the mentality among current students, who later become professors and people on the adcom, that anyone who quits is a "quitter" in the couldn't-cut-it sense. So if you leave, often there's no way to go back and try again.
 
That really shouldnt be the case, but sadly it is.

A quick reply to denote the information was received is always a good first move.
 
Then say you don't have any Q's at the moment, but you probably will later and you'll follow up then.

A quick reply to denote the information was received is always a good first move.
 
Then say you don't have any Q's at the moment, but you probably will later and you'll follow up then.

So...
 
You're saying I was right...?

Is there a difference between a graduate assistant and a TA? They seem like the same thing but my title was only ever "GA" and then outside of other class labs in the course I co-taught I was the "Co-Instructor."
 
Regardless, everyone knew my policy was "I'll get back to you if I have time, if I care, if it's important, when I feel like it." That wasn't on paper, it was just written in the look on my face.
 
And no one questioned it and I only occasionally got emails, mostly about "I wont be in class, can you tell me what the homework project assigned was."

So...
 
You're saying I was right...?

So...
 
You're saying I was right...?

Well, some encouragement today..
 
Someone on twitter asked a "friend" of mine in the field why they don't have any sort of stuff to encourage young people to be interested in the industry/art.. yadda yadda.. I retort that the industry is insular and closed to outsiders, but some like myself are persistent.
 
Like raptors throwing themselves at different parts of the fence looking for a weak spot.
 
And this industry pro, who knows I'm fighting my way in by force, PM's me "Life finds a way.."
 
I'm counting that as encouragement from someone I admire in the field.

So...
 
You're saying I was right...?