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Everything posted by Neist
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When and how often to follow up on LOR requests?
Neist replied to EmilySpinach's topic in Letters of Recommendation
I agree. I sent mine reminders every 2-3 weeks, maybe? Not terribly often, and not at all until it was a month and a half or so from deadlines (I had asked some writers nearly a year in advance). Was is it the book by Asher? He seemed pushy to me. I would never do some of the things he asked. Asher wrote that if a POI doesn't respond to emails then you should politely keep spamming them to a level that I consider borderline harassment. If you haven't attempted to contact your writers for a while, I'd politely send them a reminder, but I'd do it in a way where it doesn't seem to be the point of the email. Tell them you've polished up your statement and wanted to send them a copy in case they wanted to see it. Something like that. It's not uncommon for letter writers to wait until the last day or two to submit their letters. -
It's probably different admissions committees (or maybe not, who knows?), I was told I'd hear sometime in late February. Fingers crossed. I really liked the department when I visited.
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Any late Dec/early Jan applicants? Waiting is so difficult!
Neist replied to Foreveronward's topic in Waiting it Out
I think I'll do the same. It's probably too early to bug anyone at this point, but I'll definitely do it if I don't hear by the third week of February or so. I know the logistics of reviewing applicants is time consuming, too. One of my applied-to programs didn't even complete my application until this week. I applied to that program over two weeks ago, which means the department didn't receive my materials until now. Then the adcom has to meet at a convenient time, possibly several times, and come to decisions. I doubt I'll hear much for another month. -
I understand your frustration 100%. I worked as a graphic designer for a while. Backseat input is definitely annoying. I did get an email that had "wait list" in the title, but it was just to inform me that the class I was hoping to take this semester (which I was wait listed) wasn't going to happen. Slightly nerve wracking. Slightly comforting. You know, waiting for results is more boring than anything. I want to know where I stand so I can plan for the future.
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I wouldn't worry too much yet. If the results of previous years are to be trusted, January 26th is very, very early for HASTS. Most results are in late February through March. Maybe they just needed to clarify something about that applicant? Or maybe it was an interview a POI did personally? Who knows.
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I've thought about this, and, just for me, the best thing I could come out of a masters degree with is a theoretical framework that I could not gain from within a program I'd want to obtain a PhD within. I'm not sure if it would make me more attractive, but I do think it would make me a better scholar. For example, a library degree, cultural studies degree, or digital humanities degree could all greatly benefit my future studies. However, I couldn't necessarily study what I want how I want within programs like these. At least that's the sort of MA programs I've applied to. Good solid backups if I don't get into a PhD program, but said programs would readily compliment and enhance my understanding of my interests in ways not typical of an ultimate PhD.
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Same to both of you! Maybe we'll be the 3-4 people who get into Cornell STS.
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Well given the fairly widespread national trend of downsizing education budgets, I'm pretty leery of getting anything funded. I work full-time at university, and I applied to this university because the fit is exceptional, but we just an email about $20 million in budget cuts over the next few years. Something tells me funding here might be... problematic.
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I am not in contact. I could not think of anything meaningful to add that was not already available on their website. Cornell has quite an informative web space. Well, that and my POI is of a higher position in the department. I didn't want to bother him needlessly. However, my situation is probably slightly different than most. One of my letter writers is an acquaintance of my POI, and another letter writer graduated from the program in 2000. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if my references contacted him beforehand or addressed him directly in my letters. Like you say, I expect little. It's one of the top STS programs in the US. Their matriculation rate usually hovers around 7-8%, so even if I'm an outstanding candidate the odds are probably stacked against me. I'm also applying to RPI's STS program, and I've already been accepted into Drexel's (although funding there is sort of paltry).
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I do not believe so. I'm waiting with you. That program is one of my top picks, in fact. I'm not holding my breath, but time will tell. It's so nice to hear from another STS applicant. Isn't a lot of people this cycle floating on these boards, or at least if they are, they aren't posting.
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Minnesota has been the only history of science program or STS program that any results have been posted yet. Here I remain, twiddling my thumbs. I think the next two weeks might hold something. Time will tell.
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That's okay! I'm sure most of us who chime in here are probably on these forums far more than we should. I'm just a runner, so I can only speak from that perspective, but running shoes and technique is insanely important. However, what's a "correct" running shoe is sort of hard to define. A lot of shoes are perfect for a lot of people. In the case of running, if you slowly adapt your natural running style into another (which is certainly doable), your shoes will probably need to be changed as well. I've actually been pretty lucky on the shoe front. More minimal shoes have treated me better than supportive ones, even though I do pronate slightly. I had a pretty severe case of plantar faciitis that lasted years and only went away after I switched to more flexible (but still cushy) shoes. I won't wear anything but these type of shoes now, even during backpacking. In fact, I wore a pair of fairly minimal trail runners during my scrambling trip this Sunday. Shoes are kind of like booze. You have to try several types before you know what works for you.
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Wow, yeah, I bet you have all sorts of places like this in Colorado! I really wish I lived closer to the mountains. Maybe grad school can grant me that wish. Thanks! Not a lot of Oklahoma looks that way, but it's pretty fantastic, right? The one problem with that area is that it's in a wildlife refuge where bison roam. It's hardly ever an issue, but bison can be... moody. And their huge, which doesn't help.
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Accepted at Reach Schools, Rejected at Safety Schools
Neist replied to ApplicantOhio123's topic in Decisions, Decisions
This is sound advice. It unfortunately means scholars are closely-related echos of pre-existing scholarly research, but it's still sound advice. There's perhaps dozens of reasons why you you've yet to only get into your reach programs, and unfortunately you'll probably never know those reasons. Just be happy you got into a program you really wanted to get into. -
This is a great idea! I love being outdoors. Yesterday I went scrambling at Charon's Garden Wilderness here in Oklahoma. I'm terribly sore today, but it was fun! Here's what most of the area I was in looks like.
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Yup, I echo this comment, and the director of my university's McNair program told me the same. If you read some of the graduate applicant help books (I used mainly Graduate Admissions Essays by Asher), they tend to agree with this stance as well.
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I've been selling quite a few things on eBay. I make money off things I don't touch anymore, and it takes up quite a bit of time.
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You do have a good point! Then again, that's if we're assuming peers are those who are like-interested. My interests are so out there that I've never found a single person who shares the enthusiasm for the methodological approach I want to cultivate in grad school. Programs that fit my interests have been in short supply. If I don't get any decent offers this round I'll probably apply to more library programs next year. Or perhaps one of the few digital humanities programs. I'm not entirely sure. I'm quite jealous of people who've found relevant POI. The woes of being quirky.
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Geez. If I applied to a program that only accepted 1 person, I'd seriously be discouraged. It'd also make for an odd first year because you'd have very few peers.
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University of Oklahoma has a program like that too. I'm not sure how common these programs are, but they have to be in quite a few schools. I couldn't find a page for it, but here's the application packet for the MA (there's a PhD program as well). http://www.ou.edu/content/dam/gradweb/documents/Forms_and_packets/Masters/Interdisciplinary_Masters_Proposal.pdf I can't imagine these programs are rare, but, at least in the cause of OU, it doesn't seem to be well-advertised.
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Council of Graduate Schools Acceptance Resolution
Neist replied to MaytheSchwartzBeWithYou's topic in Decisions, Decisions
No problem at all! I've linked this site a few times over the last week or two, so this post is a great idea. Thanks for doing it! -
Council of Graduate Schools Acceptance Resolution
Neist replied to MaytheSchwartzBeWithYou's topic in Decisions, Decisions
Link's broken. Here's a link to their page. -
I refuse to re-read my application materials. Don't need that right now. Nope. That's asking for anxiety I can't fix. I'm sure I minimized at least the grammatical errors, though. The first drafts of my letters were produced in a course my university held to prep applicants to apply for grad school, and all revisions took place over the course of an entire semester. I've probably invested 100+ hours into them. Even so, I'm sure there are errors. I'd like to be the one shocking example of a SoP that a committee finds error-free, but I doubt that happened.
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This is pretty much what I'm doing. Well, sort of. Since I took on a TA/grader position this semester I'll probably be drowning in grading essays soon, but idle hands, and all that. As for interviews, I don't think history of science does interviews, or at least not generally. I also wouldn't be surprised if it's more uncommon in history compared to other disciplines. In the hard sciences, there's probably a little bit more money to bring in potentials. Maybe the applicant pools in other disciplines that programs require a secondary, culling phase?
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I bet it'll become a trend, but probably not for a while. The function of librarians in a lot of situations is shifting, and I imagine the shift will eventually fairly dramatic. However, it doesn't seem to be shifting that quickly. Will it happen during our lifetimes? I'm thinking so, but I doubt it'll happen in the next 5 years. At any rate, if I have a MLIS degree and have been fulfilling more of a MI sort of role in my place of employment, I doubt I'd have issue finding jobs.