coyabean

It was a single digit, I remember that much. But, again, I know people in programs with similar quant scores. Granted they are in English and Anthro, respectively; both fields being light on quant. I was more concerned with an overall showing that met cutoff scores than about the percentile on the quant, however. But my verbal didn't have too much more room to improve so it had to come from that end. And the second one is a safety, captiv8ed. Thus, the reason I keep forgetting to add it to the sig: UNC-G. But they'd have a hard time beating Emory. With Duke and USC down there are really only two programs left that I think could make me reconsider. We'll see.

Yeah. Repeat after me: People is crazy. I had an unenthusiastic phone interview with this chick that was, obviously, speaking to me only because of my mentor and the fact that I'd fellow'd in a program that she use to participate in. The whole chat was full of "well, just so you know we won't be taking many people this year so it's unlikely we'd take a chance" and "for the record, you should have told me your pitch in the first 30 seconds of the call" and "that would be interesting to some departments (but presumably not theirs?)." This after taking a month and a half to return my phone call and email, calling me on speakerphone so she could do some real work while we talked and mispronouncing my name...twice. Which would be ok except we'd met two times before. And each time she'd refused to acknowledge my existence until, again, famous mentor person made her. /eyeroll Maybe this person was obligated to call you but they weren't in favor of the decision to recommend you. Maybe they wanted to see if you are easily cowed or prone to crying or swearing. Who knows? But I'd be glad I have another offer, too. I think it's a good reminder that being degreed doesn't make you particularly bright or well-behaved. Some folks just stick around until someone gives them a degree...and then a job...and then an administrative post. Promotion by convenience.

Awwwww, thanks! You shall have a cohort. I decree it! And I don't mind ski weather cold, but that stuff in MN is arctic cold. That's a whole 'nother level. I've heard that they issue cold warnings where you're not supposed to go outside?!! I cannot imagine. One winter in Chicago and I vowed to never hit the midwest from September to April again! I'm not a humid summer lover either, though. I really wish it could be Fall and Spring all year 'round.

LOL You're not exactly correct. It is not below acceptable for "ANY department". However, for posterity's sake I did retake and I am choosing between fully funded offers as we speak. I believe in the end I did a 680/540 or something like that. After the first offer you tend to forget, or, I did. It is no longer relevant and for that I am too grateful.

YES! And you know my last two by now, I'm sure: - do I have to exchange sexual favors to print - and is the library beautiful?

Writing them down is just fine especially if it keeps you on track. I jotted notes during mine. Do anything to not be the person who kept saying, during group interviews, "um, i'm sorry. i lost my train of thought...again." That was bad.

As I posted on the article itself days ago when I first encountered it, I think the real issue is that far too many people apply to graduate school without any "real world" experience. (although I take issue with the term "real world"; how is academia not the real world? don't you still have bills to pay and life to lead? better is the idea that one should have something to which they can compare graduate school.) The issue is not that there is some vast academia conspiracy leading poor grad students astray. It's that potential applicants do not have one or more of these: critical reasoning to accurately judge the suitability of graduate school; the self-awareness to determine their suitability for academia; any exposure or experiences with other career paths to accurately judge the benefits/drawbacks of academia. Those are micro, not meta, issues. They are easily rectified with personal initiative. However, I concede that diversifying the undergraduate education experience to increase the development of those skills and abilities could drastically reduce the number of over-educated, under-employed PhDs. So, too, could implementing a work experience requirement for PhD programs (although not Masters degrees). But, honestly, I read all these sad stories of earnest PhDs with no jobs, no prospects and founts of hope and debt and I feel little pity. Maybe I'm broken but I think that if you are that educated in a culture like ours and you cannot adapt any better then you aren't much good for any career path. I come from a culture that views all jobs as transient and all institutions judiciously if not suspiciously. A healthy dose of that should be administered to some of these folks. After 20+ years of formal schooling you should have some marketable skills. Discipline training does not have to happen in a vacuum. Pick up a language, a consulting job, a teaching certificate, something that provides you a path forward if the golden egg -- a TT -- does not materialize. We should all view ourselves as independent contractors. We are intelligent people. We can think critically and research and, presumably, concieve of what does not presently exist. We make connections and draw conclusions for a living! Apply those same skills to your life. Develop yourself as such and even if you cannot nab a TT you still have every tool necessary to build a career in another field.

I maintain that MN is not fit for habitation 6 months out of the year. And I agree. Also after reading "Stumbling on Happiness" I'm inclined to think that one should pay attention to the students in the program as we are woefully poor at judging what will make us happy. Are they having the experience you hope to have, however you define that? For me, I wanted to see engaged, scholar-activists that seem to be enjoying the ride.

I'm a planner. Plan A: Kick academic arse; take the world by storm; prestigious post-doc and a tenured position with a 2x2 load and conference cash. My first book gets picked up in the pop academic market and I start writing more. Take the occasional sabbatical to respond to the many requests of my time and brilliance. No? Plan B: Parlay my quantitative and qualitative research experience into a government or consulting position on issues of education reform and achievement; expense account, autonomy, still a few moderately successful books, some citations on google scholar and I build a tiny home on a cozy lot in a walking community. No? Plan C: Parlay my grant writing experience and PhD status into a non-profit consulting and grant writing. Work mostly from home and abroad. No? Plan D: Parlay above grant writing experience into a series of successful grants to fund my own non-profit for the study, inception and successful management of educational outreach initiatives. No? ... Yes, I could keep going. Plans help me sleep at night.

Yeah, I would ixnay the cocktail dress. Slacks or a skirt with the same business-y feel that you wear during the day is my suggestion. Maybe go with a brighter top or something as a nod to it being cocktail hour. But the entire event is an interview, even the social events. So, I would dress in a way that keeps you in that position. And jeans on the tour are fine, I think. Just not the super hip ones with holes and rips and sparkly things across the arse. LOL Classic, simple jeans and a top should be fine for that. I would not have worn sneakers. I got some of those aerosole walking type shoes that look like a shoe but feel like a sneaker. But that's just me. Our tour was in the middle of the main visiting day so there was no chance to go to the room and change. And right after the tour we were back in the department office meeting more people. So I didn't want to be in sneakers for that. If the tour is solely with grad students though I'd be more comfortable going straight casual. ETA: saw thison the Chronicle this morning. His bit on how to dress for an academic interview is a good primer.

BE COMFORTABLE!!! On my interview the folks pulling at ties and shifting in heels and hose were pretty easy to spot. It will be a long day or two. Dress for the long haul. Depending on weather I'd dress for outside temps and inside temps; basically do layers. A button-up shirt with a shell and a jacket or cardigan? Throw a pashmina in your bag. Comfortable shoes cannot be stressed enough. I ended going on The Longest Campus Tour In History. Perhaps a stacked heel mary jane or loafer that works well with both skirts and pants? Look around your current department -- or most recent one -- and wear a half step better than them. And while I may get into all kinds of trouble for saying this let me caution about the academic prejudice against overtly attractive. I've noticed it. I've discussed it with profs. I've heard it talked about in back hallways at conferences. Nothing flashy. It's ripe with contradictions and -isms but some folks, especially old school types, associate flashy with un-scholarly. Other than that some things I found useful: -- Again, long day. Pack aspirin and shout wipes. -- If you do wear hose, put a back up pair in your day bag -- band aids in case you do not heed my advice on the shoes; you can always use them for chafed heels -- a nice scarf, pashmina or shawl can add some interest and its practical -- no need to do skirts unless that's your thing Above all else, choose comfort and go to everything you're invited to. There were folks at my interview who skipped the social stuff with grad students and such and I do not think it was a wise decision. Be present, relax, enjoy it for what it is. If you're lucky you will never, ever, ever again be a courted applicant. Enjoy.

Paperchaser is not far off. Stay close to the University and downtown. But even downtown living will be far lower than what you are accustomed to. A renovated loft for $800 maybe? Cheaper closer to the Uni. It is a college town so it lives and dies by the semester schedule. Nightlife is difficult. There's cultural stuff but not any real party life. Honestly, the bulk of your life will probably be spent on campus as its the hub of the city. Yoga and beer within walking distance of campus. Public transportation is not ideal. I'd stay out of the surrounding 'burbs you'll see advertised -- High Point, Kernersville, Winston -- until you know the area better. It's a weird place in that a suspect neighborhood can be right next to a former plantation home. So until you know those ins and outs stay close to school. And Raleigh and Charlotte are within driving distance. That's your best bet if a more urbane social experience is your thing. There is a decent alt-hippie type of scene though. Farmers markets and the like can be found.

Actually I have heard of many people, including in this post, who did just that and got a response. My rejj (I like it, too!) from USC included an invitation from him to contact him AFTER April 1st if I'd like to talk about my app. I won't be but that seemed like a good rule of thumb. And I'm sorry but that Chronicle link, like a lot of them on the Chronicle, is full of the type of people in academia that chafe my nerves. I am sure there are a lot of annoying, ill-prepared, selfish people to deal with but this idea that a respectful request of their time is a sign of the end of all times is ridiculous. OMG, this person wants to actually TALK to me. Like some of them weren't applying themselves just five years ago. If you don't have time or inclination to respond to a request, don't. Fortunately there are people in academia who are willing to help and I think sending a message is the only way to find those people. God, the arrogance on there is beyond beyond.

That's how I feel. For the cost carve out $.44 for a postcard at the very least.

pretty much. lol i'm all about Emory these days.

You want to start and then you'll want to search for all of belowthree's posts.

The only problem with that is boomers have, supposedly, been on the verge of retirement for 10 years! But between increasing demands of weakened investment portfolios, declining home values, adult children that need support for longer and those damn Dennis Hopper investment ads telling them that they can live and skydive forever, the boomer retirement wave seems to be always coming but never arriving.

There's a USC ASE acceptance on the board?!!!

As I said before, I'll be 33. And I think, like you, this issue of a spouse and baby may be closed. I had a young marriage and a young divorce so I'm good on that front -- I got a dress and a tiara though I swear I paid dearly for it! LOL The baby thing I'm still debating with myself about but at some point nature takes care of that concern. I don't know. I don't feel overly sad about my choice. I could be broken but I'm ok with this route.

So interesting to hear these first hand accounts. It helps frame my approach to selecting the right program. I must say that while it may seem silly I absolutely ask schools about things like printing and data access. Like unclelurker said it seems small until you are down to your last $50 and you need to print a 60 page article and the school is now charging a nickel a page. So I say that to say, there are no small financial questions this year. No assumptions allowed and everything in writing. Ask, ask again and then get somebody to put it on paper or in an email.

First, you must be the hottest candidate EVER. Look at that list. Super impressive. And I like Fuzzy's wording.

Loving that change to your sig, captiv8ed.

I just wanted to cheer you on for the Anthro dept at UNC. I had some contact there last summer as I fellowed in an unrelated program. The dept grew very fast in the past five years or so and were kind of blind-sided. However, I met some incredible scholars there that are trying to do the best they can by the students. I'll keep hope alive for you guys. Worse case scenario you guys seem happy in the are -- Chapel Hill is the awesomeness -- and it sounds like your DH did all the right things.

Just curious about what you base that "fair" assumption on? Not that I made any claim about being representative of a population. However, just for an example, stats put SAD at half a million people in this country alone. And that was just a specific example of how location affects me. The specificity of its manifestation in my life does not negate the greater applicability of the overall claim that for many students location not only matters but should matter. To trivialize that concern as being petty or immature or ill informed is not always the case. Not that you did that but it the conversation includes some alluding to that belief. I make a case for the importance of the decision not for its universality or exact manifestation. And, again, what is the point of gaining admission to a great program if you stack the odds against graduating from there? There is strong case for choosing a program where you can successfully complete your degree over a highly ranked program where chances are high that you might fail.

This is just one of those very personal things. First, I think you may be overestimating library time. There is a great deal of reading and writing, sure. But there are also 24 hours in a day! At some point, if only to take care of your physical health, you will have to leave the library and the school. And this is about knowing thyself. I am miserable when my surroundings are depressing. Part of my methodology is having an organized desk and comfortable chair. It seems shallow until you realize (well, maybe it seems shallow anyway but I don't care) that for me to escape my physical form and to get really into writing -- yes, it's dramatic but it's as close as I can come to explaining what happens when i'm "there" -- I can't have a chair where my feet don't touch the floor. I'm short so that happens. And when it does my legs go numb after swinging so long so then I'm focusing on how my legs feel and I'm out of my head space. Then when I feel the urge to work and I reach for something I need and its not there then I get sidetracked looking for it. This is a small example of how location and environment play into my practice. I have been poor. Worrying about the lights staying on or a bill collector calling my home because I'm in an expensive city and the ends are barely waving to each other puts me out of my zone. Because first and foremost I am a survivor so if my well-being is threatened I put everything to the side to manage it. For me that would mean getting a job and keeping all the bills paid. So, being in an affordable city is directly related to my success in graduate school. I also tend to suffer from seasonal depression. So putting me in a location with relatively short days and dark weather is asking for me to jump from a first story window. Therefore, it is not petty for me to consider the weather of a location. This is not, as someone said above, about me wanting a nightlife or something. These issues that are trivial for some are vitally important to my success. I am mature enough to know that. I cannot live in a dark, dirty, high-rent area with five people. I simply cannot. I will not get out of bed one morning and the whole damn thing will fall apart. Getting into an enviable Ivy is not the goal. For me, the goal is completing my PhD. Therefore I will sacrifice for the latter, not the former. No point in getting admitted if you are setting yourself up to not finish. But, again, that is me being true to who and what I am. For that reason I consider these things. Some people may not have to. Kudos to you but it doesn't make me crazy for considering them.