davidipse
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Posts posted by davidipse
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Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the helpful information on this thread so far. For me, application season is winding down and I'm very strongly considering a PhD offer from UC Berkeley. Unfortunately, I won't be able to visit (I'm living abroad and can't get the time off), so it's difficult for me to get a sense of Berkeley culture.
The thing that worries me the most about Berkeley is the high cost of living. I don't mind living with other people, but I strongly prefer having my own room and bathroom in a safe area that's relatively close to campus. Is this possible for less than $1,000 (including monthly rent and utilities)? Also, I won't be heading back to the States until the end of July. Do you think it would be possible to find an apartment during August?
Thanks in advance.
Hey. There's usually plenty of places open in August. I had to apartment hunt twice, both in August, and found reasonable places within a week of looking around on craigslist. I'd suggest you look on Craigslist to get a sense of the range of rent prices. $1000 would probably do fine for a studio and utilities, or a room of your own in a shared house and utilities. Check out North Oakland too; it's cheaper and a lot of grads or older undergrads seem to live there.
Also, there's always plenty of semester-long subletting going on as undergrads leave to study abroad for a semester. So, in the probably unlikely case you don't find somewhere suitable in August, you can manage for a semester by subletting a room, which would also have the probable advantage of being pre-furnished (since nobody's logging their futon to Rome or Paris).
Good luck!
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Dear ones: It seems, unlike the Westminster Kennel, academia doesn't like its dogs pure-bred, or so I hear. It seems, unlike the Westminster Kennel, academia wants you to get your (pe)degrees from different institutions, or so I'm told.
Dogs aside, I'd appreciate people's take on how big of a deal this "academic inbreeding" thing is. Does it negatively affect job prospects do your PhD at your (very very highly ranked in your field) undergrad school?
I'd especially appreciate if you could share anything on the matter you've heard from people that are actually likely to be on hiring committes, e.g. faculty.
My field is English lit, if that makes a difference for this question. Thanks!
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"To ask them to profess a desire" (whaa?). Edit: "To profess a desire"
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Maybe we could talk about tactful ways of gratefully turning down offers—methods (phone? email?), language, absolute no-no's, etc.
Do you tell them where you've decided to go? What if you haven't decided where to go but know you won't be going to this certain school? Do you give reasons for not going here, and for going elsewhere?
Is it okay or obnoxious to ask them to profess a desire (if it's genuine) to "stay in touch"? Any other suggestions as to how to keep the relationship open and ongoing, so as to not preclude future research opportunities, student exchange programs, post-docs, or a job at the school you're turning down?
Is it obnoxious, gratuitious, or kind to say (if that is the case) that the tipping factor was greater funding and a lighter teaching load (which would buy one more time, allow one to be more productive as a scholar, publish more, finisher faster, and have a better stab at the job market)?
What are more neutral verbs for "reject" or "refuse" or "turn down" (an offer)? Am I right in finding "to pass up" dismissive, "to let go" melodramatic? One could say "decided to accept an offer elsewhere," but what if (as I mentioned) one's not made that decision yet?
I think it would be helpful for everyone if veterans who've been lucky or illustrious enough in the past to get to turn down offers would weigh in. Danke danke danke.
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You can read M. H. Abrams' "The Deconstructive Angel" for free on Jstor. Abrams, basically, disagrees with deconstruction (esp. J. Hillis Miller's brand of it, though he addresses Derrida and even Bloom), but he's a very sympathetic summarizer. Famously pluralist, he really puts on the shoes of whatever critic he's agreeing or disagreeing with, always doing his best to summarize and present the best case for any theoretical standpoint before going on to critique or comment on it. The essay's a better and shorter introduction to several threads of theory than a lot of introductory books I've come across.
Jonathan Culler's Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction is also very concise and useful.
Culler also wrote On Deconstruction: Theory and Criticism after Structuralism, which I haven't read but is apparently *the* book to read on the subject. Another *the book* that I haven't read is Terry Eagelton's Literary Theory: an Introduction. Eagleton is, in the very least, a very funny writer, in a curmudgeony way.
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I also want to say that while the official information on eligibility for consortium classes specifies that something be "necessary," anything that is related to your field of study (or your methodology) fits that description. I have never known (nor have I heard) of anyone having an issue taking classes in the consortium. The only time I'd say that it becomes problematic is when there is a professor at your home school teaching a course in the same or a related topic. Even then, I've seen exceptions be made. For example, one of my friends wanted to take a class on contemporary photographic theory and we had a class offered here on 19th century American literature and visual culture that included a section on contemporary photography. She ended up taking a Princeton class that focused exclusively on photography and had no problem justifying it to her advisor. The Princeton student in my class right now is taking it because it's in his field (Literatures of the New World) and a class in that period wasn't offered at Princeton this semester. You may also state that you want to work with a particular scholar.
Thanks so much for sharing all this. I was a bit worried about the relatively small number of grad classes offered at Princeton (compared to larger departments) and what you've said all but takes care of this issue. Thanks again.
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Hey— this probably isn't the first question you were expected to get, but hope you won't mind. Do you know if it's common for Princeton students to take classes at Rutgers in the English department? (I know it's allowed, but only if it's demonstrably "necessary" etc.) The schools are like 30 min apart so I was wondering if there's any kind of meaningful collaboration between them.
Thanks!
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Hi, I see that this post hasn't been active in nearly a year, and I was wondering of any of you are still around to answer questions. I was notified of my admission to Berkeley for grad school about two weeks ago, and I'm going to the visit day in two weeks. I live overseas and this will be my only chance to see the city/university before I possibly move there, so does anybody have recommendations about what I should see/do/ask the current grad students about while I'm there? Most of my questions center around housing, shopping opportunities, and getting around without a car (I will be bringing a bike, but I don't have a car and don't intend on buying one before I move). Is it hard to live in Berkeley without a car? I've heard that the parking permits can be really expensive, and that there is a fairly good public transportation network, but is it cheaper not to have a car?
It's entirely possible to live at Berkeley without a car, and in fact it's my impression that that's what most people do, as I did myself during my two years as an undergrad. The city is extremely bike-able. If you live reasonably close to campus, your longest bike commute is unlikely to exceed 15 mins, as there are a number of grocery stores, cheap restaurants/eateries, and drugstores around. If you need to go a greater distance, you can always take the bus or the BART (underground metro) and take your bike with you. There is a Bicycle Co-op (more of a student club) at the school where they'll help you fix your bike for free (unless, of course, you need to replace parts). They were also installing these "self-service bike repair stations" on campus when I left last year (O alas the day!)—with pumps and wrenches and related paraphernalia.
All this said, there is a reasonably-priced car rental service (don't remember the name, but they always advertise near campus), and if you need to transport something large once in a while (furniture, for example) you can also rent a truck through UHaul.
(Also, I don't know about Germany, but I've been to Vienna, and I'd say Berkeley's public transportation is comparable, though not on par.)
I assume you'll also take a look at San Francisco while you're at Berkeley. I'd suggest you also explore North Oakland a bit to get a sense of the larger context of the city, in case you ever decide you're sick of Berkeley and want to live away a bit (I know a lot of students who live at Oakland, esp. if they're slightly older).
A trip to Cheese Board Pizzeria on Shattuck Ave., and the cheese-and-bakery shop next door, wouldn't be wasted either. You'll get to eat great pizza and also get a feel for the type of cooperative-run business that Berkeley seems to be famous for. If you have money and decide you won't be returning to Berkeley, it might be worth checking out Chez Panisse, also on Shattuck. I haven't been but it's the best known higher-endish restaurant in town. Incidentally, this part of Shattuck Ave. is referred to as the "Gourmet Ghetto" (self-explanatory name).
What else . . . Oh, most people would tell you about Trader Joe's, Berkeley Bowl, and Whole Foods, but you'll find yourself shopping at these three very rarely if you live close by Monterrey Market (15-20 min North West of campus), which is a kind of ongoing, 7-days-a-week farmer's market—fresher and cheaper fare than the triad I mentioned.
You might also want to check out the Bancroft Library, where they keep most of their rare manuscripts etc., if you're into that aspect of history.
Do get a late meal at the International House and watch the sunset across the bay.
Do the same (without the meal) from on top of the Campanile (aka Sather Tower aka campus penis; on a related note, google "The Balls of Texas").
Edit to add that you'll can ride the bus (AC transit) for free as a student.
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on the contrary, theory and journal articles are the easiest to read quickly. those pesky novelists tend to hide their greatest insights in the most innocuous scenes, whereas in your average journal article, you can get away with reading the introduction, conclusion, noting down who was namedropped, and improvising the rest. the other day, i gave an hour presentation on the multicultural politics of seyla benhabib while knowing nothing but what i read in a 2-page book review.
May I stamp this with an unsolicited seal of confirmation, agreement, and approval. I don't know how (I do actually know but am making a rhetorical point)— I don't know how so many people have somehow come to the conclusion that theory and criticism are somehow "harder" to get than literary prose (or verse).
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Hi ReadingLisa-- just curious, did Cornell offer to pay for your transportation? I wasn't really sure with them, and I don't know if I should ask or not.
They said they don't have a separate fund for transportation but after I asked them to use my lodging money to defray my airfare and they were fine with it. (I figure I can find cheap lodging via arbnb)
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Do you guys know if Harvard English has a wait-list and, if so, how the notifications are sent out—email or, like they rejections, postal?
I wish Helen Vendler thaught in a less selective school!
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Ok, what's UP with those housing prices. Have you guys decided if you'll be living on or off campus?
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From my research, I think I prefer Cornell over Berkeley. But I can't know for sure, and visiting both would be quite expensive (not to mention stressful, as I live in a small town in France and getting to California from where I am would take more than 24 hours). Any thoughts on Cornell vs. Berkeley from anyone?
Berkeley will cover $300 of travel expenses, Cornell will cover none (but will pay for 2 nights at a hotel). It would cost more than $700 out of pocket to visit just Cornell (train and bus to Paris, flight to US, bus to Ithaca, etc.), and more to visit both.
Are you sure it's 300? The email I got said Berkeley covers 500 if you're traveling from outside the US.
I did my undergrad there (English, where I worked with 3 profs on individual research projects and took a graduate class (so I feel I have a feel for how things are there at the grad level). I've also been accepted to Cornell and, though I haven't visited Ithaca, I've been doing a lot of pro/con comparisons lately, as Berkeley and Cornell are my top 2 choices too as of now. If you have questions that you feel I can answer or that I can ask (if you don't end up visiting) when I'm visiting the schools, feel free to PM me!
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Wait-listed at my top-choice—where
Do they sell Hope (begone, Despair)!
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You are correct--it's the 1-year M.Phil. He told me that, effectively, all he had to tell Yale was that he had an offer to do the M.Phil. here, and he was hoping to defer his acceptance for a year to complete the program. And Yale told him, "Go ahead, go to Cambridge, we'll have a place for you when you get back."
I can't speak to whether other departments are as forgiving, but he had a very good experience with Yale English.
Thanks for this. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask.
And congrats on Michigan! Maybe I'll see you during the visit weekend (though that's a long trip from England...)
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Pretty sure I've read in several places on this forum that essays are NOT sent with scores.
Interesting. I can't recall the source where I read they do send the scores was Manhattan Prep (which might, though it's unlikely, be faulty) or on the ETS website (which, if it's faulty, O all the world's a stage and life's but a walking shadow and a tale told by an idiot signifying nothing etc.). Anyway, I'll check and report back
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Hi, if you guys know something about this (especially the humanities people) I'd be grateful if you could share: Do external fellowships typically supplant internal fellowships/assistantships, or can you hold both concurrently?
I know TakeruK above said that an external fellowship can relieve you from TA requirements without adding to your stipend, and the offer letter from one of my admit schools says exactly that, but—O Mammon Mammon Mammon!—I'm wondering if this policy is specific to this one school or true across-the-board. None of my other offer letters mentioned the matter, and you can imagine it would be awkward to bring it up with the DGS etc.
Thanks!
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Even if they only have 5 spots open, they should still accept more than 5 students to fill those places. That said, one of my fellow master's students here at Cambridge was accepted to Yale last year and deferred his admission for a year so he could attend this program, so however many spots there were for admission may potentially be reduced by one. Or deferred admits may not count against this cycle--difficult to say.
To riff off (on?) that tangent, if you don't mind, do you know if your fellow student had/was able to come up with other reasons for deferring aside from wanting to study at Cambridge for a year (I assume it's the 1-year MPhil)?
I'm in a similar situation where I'd like to take a year to do an MPhil at Cambridge but am not sure if that constitutes a valid enough reason to ask one of my PhD admits for a deferral...
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Honestly (and I don't know how helpful this is, and I know it's unsolicited), I got 4.00 on the analytical writing portion (so take the above with big grains of salt) and have so far been accepted to 3 programs from the top 10 in my field (English literature).
Not to say that I wouldn't try to score better if I were taking the GRE again, and of course departments/fields have different approaches, but yeah.
Also, if you don't know this already, ETS sends your essays along with your scores to the schools, so maybe that plays a role.
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I applied to UVA and have not yet been rejected. I'm holding out hope that I made it to round 2 of the application cycle and that maybe an offer will be extended my way. Anyone else waiting and want to talk about the program, what made it appealing, potential faculty you want to work with? Or really just anything.
Pretty much every paper I've written on Modernism has something by Jahan Ramazani in the bibiliography. I like his work on elegy and T. S. Eliot.
I also really enjoy Rita Dove's poetry. I like how she can be "political" but still subtle.
(And in my romanticized ideas of the school, UVa still has some vague British and early American tinge to it, with all its weird nomenclature and secret societies etc.)
Can I ask what field(s) did you apply to study?
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Didn't apply to UT, but I did apply to UVA and also have not heard anything. Even if an acceptance isn't forthcoming (though, let's hope it is!), it's good to know we at least made it past that first round of cuts, right? Got to look for those silver linings....
"Congratulations, Davidipse! All required questions have been completed and your application has been successfully submitted."
That catches me off guard every SINGLE time I check the UVa online app. Can you sue schools for psychological abuse?
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Szesc and others are giving really good advice re the town (if not the school) there.
(Also, how I wish A. R. Ammons was still alive and M. H. Abrams was still teaching.)
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Ohgoodness and Czesc, thanks for the info. Really, this is very helpful as I'm trying to savvy up my life-skills, plan, prepare, etc. and not just get myself dumped upon a new town, off the proverbial stork.
And, my god, TJ's is considered cheap by the folk on the (apparently) wrong side of this country? California spoils one ... any ethnic Asian, Mexican, or Armenian store here trumps TJ's price-wise, and (excepting cheese) almost always quality-wise .
O let us sit upon the ground
and tell sad stories.
Czesc, thanks especially for the virtual cafe tour
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Has any of you guys lived in Berkeley (only college town I've been). If so, or even if not so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how Ithaca compare in terms of:
- bike-ability
- availability/price of groceries (I cook my own meals, mostly; don't eat out much)
- availability of "study cafes" (e.g. not the neigborhood Starbucks with the AC and music cranked up rendering you progressively deafer and dumber)
- natural scenery
Given the above factors as desirables, which neighborhoods/sides of campus (north, south, east, west) would you recommend? I enjoy biking so distance from campus is not a big deal as long as it's bikeable within 20 mins.
Thanks a lot (and if you have questions re Berkeley feel free to pm me!)
Your Scholar or Theorist Mt. Rushmore
in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
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Did you consider Steven Meyer at WashU?