TMP

I really, really do love my new adviser. No question about it and we do have a great relationship. I'm super excited to be working with her. Let's call her X. Except I have a problem. It's kind of like "It's not you, it's me." I know she is much better than my previous adviser, whom we'll call Y. X knows that I had a falling out with Y (but Y and I do still have a strictly professional relationship) with her role as an adviser (the conversation just came up at one point). Basically Y was never available at critical times and didn't provide quality feedback on anything, whether it's about language training or papers or whatever. She was also one of those "very nice" people who just never said exactly what she thought, which created a lot of anxiety for me. The great problem? X does the exact opposite of everything- even connecting with me in middle of an intensive language program while on various trips. I've just grown so accustomed to not expecting to hear from an adviser during the summer or periods that I'm aware that she's super busy. I'm so used to literally demanding attention when necessary with a phone call or short and to-the-point e-mails. I'm not used to hearing "The program must be really exhausted! Is everything okay?" or "I'm so proud of you, you CAN do this." in some ways, these words just go from ear to another, but i'm trying to take them to heart that X does care about my well-being and success. X has told me at least two or three times already that she does take her job very seriously- if she can't provide quality feedback or being in touch, then she feels like she's not doing her job as an adviser. Sometimes I just feel like I've been permanently damaged as an advisee due my previous relationship, which was a bit traumatic. And I'm disappointing X in that sense of not understanding that she is the BEST that I can ever ask for and enjoy that opportunity as an advisee. Anyone have had this problem of switching from one (bad) adviser to a (great) adviser? How did you change your subconscious thinking and expectations? I mean I know what a good adviser does and should do but it's easier imagining than actually experiencing. (I know this is an unusual question because we complain and post questions about bad advisers, not great advisers! )

You deal with each person individually. If you actually met them in person, give them a personal call and explain that you have chosen X because X provides the kind of support you seek. Make sure it's strictly professional. Suggest that you're open to future collaborations and you look forward to being colleagues.

At the same time, you don't want to give POIs ANY reason to reject or doubt you. Keep your question very, very general and you can deal with the specifics ONCE you've been admitted (and hopefully have choices!).

What I'm just saying is that I had a POI (that Type A) who wanted me to go "beyond" the standard department requirements. And the way to prove it was to do some research for him as his RA (he's fluent but these are just rediousl tasks ). Back to my point- it varies so widely.

Talk to your adviser and the DGS. They'll tell you what they think is the best route at this point.

Be mindful that each professor handles this kind of issue in an individual basis. There are two types. Type A: They will feel very strongly that their graduate students must be able to master a certain level of the language regardless of the students' actual research language needs (just because it's part of their own academic identity and they want to mold their students after them). Type B: They will evaluate you as you are and tell you what is expected based on your own interests and goals in conjunction with job expectations (whether academia or not). For example, a French historian may say, yes, you need to be fluent in French if you want a TT job but if you're interested in the Armenian refugees in France, even if you desire to study the group as an isolated one and Armenian is more important than French, your prof is going ot say that French historians will want you to be fluent in French anyway because you are studying Armenians within the national French context. One of my POIs was Type A. He wanted fluency in Language X by my comps. I had it but not comfortable reading it w/o a dictionary. However, I really didn't need that language as badly as Languages Y and Z. Language X was his whole world. On the other hand, my current adviser is Type B. She said that Language Y is important to her and it would be better safe than sorry if I could converse in it on top of being able to read it in terms of nailing jobs. Not forcing me to do it but more of just thinking a bit sensibly. What you do want to do as you e-mail POIs (professors of interest) and DGS (Director of Grad Studies) is just get a general idea of what is expected for admissions. And try not to kick yourself at the end if you don't get in where you want to be- you can only do so much and you did your best at the time of application.

Just give them the text with footnotes. A very short abstract will do if it's part of a thesis. Otherwise, keep it simple. They don't have a lot of time to mull over your writing sample.

Don't worry about it. Changes of advisers happen on regular basis but needs to be done delicately as not to hurt their egos and personal investment in you. Definitely find out from other graduate students to get a sense of how reasonable these people are. If you are going to choose the other person, make sure your reasons that you will state are strictly academic. It'll be the most professional way to handle a change. You can also ask the departmental/graduate coordinator this as well, as well as the DGS. I agree with fuzzy. One thing i heard while trying to decide between programs (more like advisers) was to pick someone whom I trusted the most. The decision was so easy. You need to be able to work with someone whom you can feel comfortable disagreeing with and sharing your ideas and sources. Whom can you see yourself drinking a couple glasses of wine and expect that person to keep anything you've spilled in confidence after that?

Wisconsin does dole out TAships to students not on fellowships albeit they're paid at much lower stipends with lighter load of students. With that kind of stipend, I think it's pretty tough to life on in Madison. OSU also does have a MA/PhD for those coming in with BAs. Everyone is guaranteed at least 4 years of RA/TAships and there is a lot of emphasis on teaching (in addition to research but everyone talks about teaching). Honestly, you want to look at big public universities where TAs are essential. I think someone here got into University of Florida for PhD with 5 years of TAships. Top programs like Wisconsin, Michigan, OSU, Berkeley, UCLA, etc are very unlikely to admit students for terminal MAs as they aim to produce scholars. So, you'll have to go down the list a bit further and look into more regional schools. As for the SOP, don't discuss it especially for PhD programs. Period. Faculty members see their PhD students as their "legacies" and pass their craft down to them, expecting them to become scholars. Whether in a PhD or MA program, It can be difficult to work with a faculty member who doesn't or can't respect your wishes to be a teacher, not a scholar. Worst that can happen is that they will simply ignore you and let you pass the MA (with potentially questionable quality) and that is a disservice to you and your future students. The adviser fit is important- after all you will have taking a course or two with that person who will teach you all about that specific topic (and in general). MA theses aren't as demanding as PhD dissertations so whatever you decide to write about should at least be within the realm of your adviser's interests and abilities as well as at least one or two other members in the department to fill out your committee.

Every PhD student who I met, while writing their dissertation, told me that it wasn't until their dissertation that they realized how much they love teaching, much more than researching. If they had known, I think, they would've just left with the MA. The research is solitude (but it is what you make of it). If you're happy at the thought of just teaching at a prep or secondary level school, then leave with your MA. Remember, the PhD IS research oriented and designed to turn you into a scholar not a teacher. Remember, you also have to apply for fellowships to sustain your research and writing until you're finished. Do you like that thought of applying for a number of fellowships?

Important skill to know in academia, particularly with conferences. At conferences, you really only have less than 5-10 minutes to talk with someone next to you. You need to show that you're engaged and have much to contribute to the discussion of the topic at hand. At conferences, when there is so much going on, you need to say "I gotta go, I have a session to attend" and leave them hanging, perhaps ask you to keep in touch with them via e-mail before you actually walk away. It's also important to know how the professor *really* uses the office hours. Some can't stand them in a way that they actually do their work AT home so they may be happy to just have students come in just to chat (otherwise, they'll just surf the Internet or casually look over notes). Others (like my adviser) have to work in their offices and not elsewhere (especially if they hold a chair/director position). So, in a way, if you don't have anything super important to talk about, then don't stop by, or at least say what you need to say, settle the issue with the professor, and just go. Go to the office hours a few times, see what they're actually doing before you say hello, or just say "what are you up to?" if they greet you first- should give you an idea right there. They remember students who respect their time.

I sent you a PM about OSU.

I think part of the reason why dual-programs exist is because of funding. The "other" program can afford to split the cost of a graduate student since extra coursework is usually required in order to complete both PhDs (more tuition money). If you're that interested in foreign policy/international history, you may be better off choosing programs that have such strengths and perhaps in univeresities have strong policy programs for you to attend courses and talks in your particular interests.

If you showed serious intention, I would explain that this class just came up and you think it would fit better with your future plans for research and teaching, and you hope that Class A will be available again in the near future. However, if you can see it already on the master schedule that there aren't many students enrolled, it may be worth being upfront to add "and it also conflicts with Class B" because registrars will sometimes cancel classes due to low enrollment. So the prof may be more flexible.

Try to stick with Star Alliance airlines- there are a lot of them and they do go abroad. But I would take the cheaper airlines like Jetblue or Southwest over any Star Alliance. The price tag is noticeably different unless you wind up booking too late. But also consider this: how many 500-600 miles trips are you going to take? Your parents' country must be at least 6,000+ miles away, that's worth 10 of those trips to your sister's.

The written exam has to be written within 48 hours. And to prepare for these exams, I have to read 200 books. @Sigaba, well, not one but 3 written exams within 48 hours (1 major field and 2 minor fields).

(trying to decide which is the lesser of the two evils: the 4 hour long GRE or qualifying exams in my program that requires reading a total of 200 books for a 48 hour time limit for written exam and 2 hours for oral exam)

To illustrate Sigaba's point- just reminded me. I had a prof who was tough, I mean, in the sense she offered a lot of constructive criticism and questioned my thinking and actions. She was all okay about writing a LOR the first two times I applied to PhD programs (no program complained about my LORs). She had confidence in me but she wanted to see more. After my second cycle, I went back to her and said, "look, I don't know if i can do this again... I have accomplished X, Y, and Z. But I don't know if i can apply to PhD programs agian...." First time in our 3 year relationship she actually said "yes, you can! I think you're ready now." Now she is amazingly supportive of my endeavors. Sometimes, professors want to see students struggle because you will struggle a lot in graduate school and beyond. But I do stand with my previous post- question him on his evidence first. If he has offered evidence, then I'd consider working your ass off. Could be that kind of professor who sets a high bar.

I'd still be suspicious. I'd push them why that 3.5 is unacceptabe. If he doesn't have concrete evidence to back up his statement, I'd still run away. He has no idea what the heck he's doing. PhD admissions are so competitive that you cannot afford to have one less-than-stellar LOR.

Given your background, it may be worth giving PhD programs a shot but I would definitely include some MA programs. The GPA is only one factor- your LORs, SOP, and writing sample (showing evidence of quality original research and analysis, and writing) matter much more. If you haven't been able to write high quality papers, you need to make time to revise of them so it shines. Take your time with this- skip the upcoming cycle if you have to. It's difficult enough as it is to apply and you want to do what you can to reduce the number of times you apply if all possible.

Seriously, don't worry about the MA putting you at a disadvantage. Just don't expect the PhD program to take all of your credits or, even if the graduate school does, apply them towards the degree. I am seeing an increasing number of acceptances coming from people with MAs than those with BAs. One of my POIs told me that he really appreciates people with MAs because they perform better in a PhD program. The MA assures the faculty that you will not burn out. There is a lot to get used to and I can imagine it all being very overwhelming on someone who doesn't have a MA. The MA teaches you the foundations without putting tons of pressure on developing a long-term project (the dissertation) coming with goals of its own (fellowships, conferences, eventual book contract). Even my current program, a top 25, has an incoming cohort of where almost literally nobody would becoming straight from the BA. Here's the dirty secret: It's about money, too. A MA saves the department a year of funding because MAs usually have smaller funding packages. A department would rather have 5 MAs over 1 BA. That just increases its chances of a higher retention and graduation rates (which then makes it look really good for the Graduate School).