luvalicious

I'm probably not going to Michigan, but I did move to the state from another one a couple years back, and I didn't view the premises before I signed my lease. I wish I had, frankly.

You shouldn't assume that just because I didn't explicitly name the colleagues I asked, that they were solely in my field or that I, or anyone else know anything of yours. I try very hard not to make blanket statements without getting a wide-range of response, but it just so happened that they all agreed with me. (Again, maybe it's just the people I know.) One of them has piercings and tattoos that she covers up for work, even though she works in a rather relaxed environment, because she was taught and continues to believe that her professionalism and skill would get her the jobs, not her "cool quotient." And she's not some low-level intern or anything like that, but her experience has taught her that until she reaches hot-sh*t status, landing jobs means keeping it clean until the client gives you the cue -- just like in any other field, I think. I'm not debating that such a thing exists, but from my experience and from what I've been told,it's hardly uniform. And as much as I agree that what one does outside of academia should not be seen as the most accurate reflection of what you do within it, the fact is that it does... and some people would consider a forum for grad students to be part of academia. And even if it's not part of academia, I don't switch my distaste for chatspeak off in any venue other than, as I said, actually chatting or texting, and just as you should feel free to use it, I feel free to not take it seriously. I do hope that you won't take your toys and go home, because I think it's a relevant issue and I hate to see only one side so... overly-represented. I hope you don't think I was attacking you, because I truly wasn't trying to, but I tend to feel that on any issue one feels strongly about, defensiveness abounds as a result of having your beliefs questioned... and that can extend to both sides of the debate. Best of luck with your visits.

Obviously the thread title, and what at least I am debating/discussing here, don't match. I didn't think it was that big of a deal, but maybe it is, since even though I, and others, have repeatedly said that we don't consider the use of chatspeak to mean that the user is illiterate, that seems to be one of your sticking points of late, pointed ears. So maybe this should be re-titled. Or closed, if people feel that it was started in bad faith.

Interesting, coming from someone who characterized those on the other side as superficial and snobby. I'll simplify my position as such: I have no problem with people using chatspeak or textspeak, but if we are not chatting or texting I'd prefer standard English. If it's a situation where I'm expected to take what you say seriously, my ability to do so depends on how you present yourself and your information. Textspeak is a trendy thing, for me, one that I associate with people much younger than myself. But let me be clear, I don't think it automatically means you're illiterate or even lazy. But without context that suggests that what you have to say will have any value to me (i.e, that you are a person of knowledge, or that you're even being serious), I have no reason to assume that you are - or that you aren't. So I just ignore what you've said or write it off. I've actually asked other people about this in the past couple days - academics and professionals, and a few students - just to see if it was just me... and all of them agreed that there was something about textspeak in even an informal arena like a forum that suggests immaturity. Of course, maybe it's just the people I know, but somehow I doubt that viewpoint is the minority, which doesn't make it the authority but neither, makes it less valid. True, its a knee-jerk reaction, but it's more than a 'general feeling' - more like a convention of language. But at the end of the day... I don't think there's some rule that people have to follow. You do what you want. You think what you want of it. I'll do the same.

No, this is how my last institution did it. You should get the specifics on it, but everything that you wrote makes me feel that not only do you want to do the assistantship, you believe that it's the better choice - and I'm inclined to agree.

I sure hope that, almost a full year later, he's over it But yeah, I don't really take that literally, when they say they fund "everybody" or "nearly everybody" or whatever. There's always a chance, I think.

That takes alot of initiative, and I admire that. Welcome.

I have absolutely no idea what you mean, but that's been the trend, it seems. You certainly seem to have a different idea of debating than I do.

The context of the use of "u" is not the point of the thread, nor is it the point of my post. I don't understand why every time this thread starts going in the direction of an actual debate/intelligent exchange of viewpoints, you keep dragging it back to you and your presumably hurt feelings in the face of your altruism, or passively-aggressively insulting someone. This thread is not about what I think about the exchange between you and other members in the other thread. In fact, this thread is really not about you at all. It's about words, not manners.

What does this question have to do with this thread? Or with what I asked?

I do. In the original post, he was asking you a question. He might even have been insulting you. He was not demanding that you write a certain way. Fine, take out unprofessional and replace it with "impolite," and let me ask it again. An even better replacement might be "passive aggressive." That's your opinion, and you are entitled to it. I continue to disagree. Why would you write on a public forum if you do not care to be read? It sounds like a waste of time. I didn't know if this was addressed just to HistoryGirl, or all of us, but I don't think this is a useful analogy, and I think it truly does come down to forum (online or otherwise). Online, I don't know who you are, what your credential are, your age, any of that. I only have your words to go by, and if you write in a tone that is associated with those of a much younger age, I have no reason to think that you are otherwise, and no reason to take you seriously. I don't understand why anyone would deliberately write in a manner that one has to know will be disregarded by at least some people. It, however, does remain your right to do so.

How many years is the MA program? And what was the reason you didn't get funding - no funding offered for the program, or they couldn't afford to help you? Usually, as others have said, MAs aren't funded anyway... for my MA, I took out loans the first year - I was offered an assistantship after the fact but couldn't take it - and the second year I got a fellowship with tuition remission and stipend. It is possible, but really difficult to find funding. If you feel up to taking the risk, then I say go for it. The MA might make you a stronger candidate if you'd like to go for a PhD, it might not. If you're stopping with your MA though, I think you should consider just going with this one, if it's a good program you feel strongly about. Next year you might find yourself in the same position.

Not to mention, why would they waste their own time? If you really don't believe the student should go, why not just tell the student? It seems... cruel.

What schools? Maybe they reply later than the others.

excel, if Minnesotan had asked you "nicely," would you have taken less offense? Was the part that bothered you that he seemed to be dismissing what you said, or that he was insulting how you wrote it? Just curious. Irregardless of how he phrased it, you are under no obligation to follow his "advice," as the comment was his opinion, not some sort of official censure. And while you might not care for his tone or his responses - I certainly don't, always - but he has just as much right to them as you do to your "u's." Frankly, if you find his tone so unprofessional, why do you respond to it in kind with statements such as it being "time to rip Minnesotan apart?" I don't find this to be a "professional" or even mock-professional place at all, but it seems that you would want to avoid sinking to that level, if for no other reason than to avoid looking like a hypocrite. Further, you said which to me, and apparently I'm not the only one, reads as "if you don't agree with me (that I can write like this and have something of value to say), then I don't respect you." Which is fine, because I'm certain that it could go both ways. I believe that you can write like that if you so choose, and I believe that I won't take it seriously because the already shaky presumption that you're my peer becomes further deteriorated when you write like one of my students. If you are willing to accept that when you write in that manner, some people will not take it seriously, then good for you. You said that you didn't care if they even read it or not. What's the argument then?

No problem, just glad that I could help. And trust me, I'm with you on the "angsting right now out of pure inertia!"

I don't use text speak, myself, but then again I don't "text." Truthfully, whenever I see that type of writing, my brain just shuts off. I'm not presuming that the writer is stupid; I just have a hard time taking it seriously.

This was my first year applying for PhD programs, and I went 3/3. I actually wasn't feeling confident that I would get in anywhere at all, and had already begun preparing for round II when I started getting good news. I suppose that I got lucky; looking around these forums, I seem to have done very little similarly to other posters.

I agree with that. In my case, there was no particular anecdote, but I did say that my particular research interests are formed by my family background and have, in turn, influenced all of my academic choices along the way. I think it's clear that there is no "right" way of doing it. I tried it both ways, actually, and then I stuck with the statement that flowed the best.

All of my schools are in the Midwest/Great Lakes area, which is where I was born and raised, so no big changes there. I complain about the snow but I guess I'm not ready for the land of perpetual tan yet. Luckily weather wasn't important for me - it was whether it was urban, which actually doesn't help me that much. But when I read about weather, I have to laugh because my boyfriend's sister was visiting us from South America and there, it's summer sun and here it's snowy and grey. She came off the plane in a little jacket... She went back with two ski jackets.

It was Nellie Mae who I got the loan from, but it's serviced by Sallie Mae. Kind of strange, I know, but the loans they offer are a little different than Sallie Mae's. So I'm not familiar with Sallie Mae's, but the "Signature Student" looks closest to mine and there is no prepayment penalty and I believe a co-signer is recommended but not required. One thing to be aware of is that the money goes to the school and they disburse it to you. Your individual needs will determine what loan is best for you; I believe there is a handy calculator on the Sallie Mae site, and of course you can talk to your school's financial aid office as well. It is probably more economical to take out federal loans to the hilt (the Stafford loans) and then maybe take out the Signature Student loan or similar to cover a gap. Anything over your COA requires a different kind of private loan and you'll want to avoid that as there will be prepayment penalties, higher interest rates, and usually you can't do them online. When I applied online, I used the same documents as I did for my FAFSA. It was, or at least it seemed, less complicate than the FAFSA and I got the decision online as well, within 2-3 days. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

I believe it's possible but probably not feasible on a six-week timeline because of the backlogs/processing times. What I have read, (and you would of course want to verify this with an immigration lawyer, international student's office, or consulate) is that you can enter the U.S. on a B2 and tell the port of entry official that you are a prospective student, and present your I-20. You want to get an I-94 which is marked "prospective student," otherwise you might be unable to change your status from B2 to F1unless you leave the U.S. In general, this is a lengthy and often-times difficult process and it would be alot easier from that perspective if you came in on the F1 because there is no guarantee that once you are here, your change of status would be granted - and you cannot begin school until that status is approved. Although I understand that the 30 day entry would not be ideal for you, the alternative may not be a risk you are willing to take. The other questions, I don't know; although his passport has expired my boyfriend has never left the U.S. since he's been here. Hope that helped.

And you should also be aware that the federal loans hit a limit, which may not actually meet your COA (cost of attendence) or needs, and that's where the private loan can come in, if you need to fill a gap. For the private loans, a co-signer may help keep your interest rate lower. I went through Nellie Mae for mine. We did the entire process online, which might be helpful for you since you will not be in the U.S.

Congrats, and most schools say it doesn't significantly help or hurt your chances, but mileages vary. I think in my case it helped me, because I was able to show I was already doing that kind of work anyway, so maybe it depends on what you do.

I did. I'm also using Interfolio, but I've asked my recommenders if they wouldn't mind updating/tweaking it accordingly, if necessary.