jellyfish1

Don't be shy about taking care of a guy's needs, if you get my drift.

How hot is the OP? She'd have to be pretty hot to overcome the crazy.

Since no one else has offered a similar perspective yet, I want any low-income readers to know that it's possible! My FAFSA EFC has been <$15 each year of college so I qualify for almost every need-based waiver/grant under the sun.

So far it has cost me about $225 from registering for the GRE and ordering one score report.
I was out of the state and couldn't get a GRE fee waiver in time to take the test but it took me only one short visit to my financial aid office to get the waiver and another short visit to get letters written for application fee waiver requests for different schools. You can get them for the subject tests too. I also only applied to 5 schools so I only had to order one report, if any...I can't remember if it was 4 or 5 free at the time you take the test. My school also doesn't charge to mail transcripts if you request them to be sent via snail mail and if you request under a certain amount per day.

Theoretically if I was more prepared I could be where I am without spending a single dollar. The only thing I'm concerned about now is not being reimbursed the full amount of travel expenses for interviews. (Super relieved to hear that I shouldn't buy a suit as I'd look overdressed anyways)

If costs are a huge issue and barrier for you, there may still be hope! Make sure you look into the different fee waiver request requirements for your programs and the GRE far in advance and hopefully you can take advantage of them!

From what I've heard (from friends who went to some as well as others), it is not very hard to get into a UK masters program if you are a non-UK resident because they tend to make more money from international students. It is apparently incredibly hard to get funding for a UK masters if you are not a UK resident. US masters programs also rarely come with any funding, and at many institutions, the masters is sometimes a cash cow to fund PhD students. That doesn't mean that these aren't exceptionally fine programs with amazing faculty - they absolutely are! And I know a PhD student at a very highly ranked anthro PhD program who got a masters at UCL first and very much recommends it. When I was weighing my options, I spoke with her about it and she said "Just be aware that you'll be one of a huge number of master's students at UCL and that your money will go to fund the department", but that she learned a lot from the experience and it probably helped her get into said top ranked US PhD program. From what I've heard, you should have no problem at all getting into any of these programs, but funding is very, very unlikely. This is all anecdotal though, so take this with a grain of salt!

From what I've heard (from friends who went to some as well as others), it is not very hard to get into a UK masters program if you are a non-UK resident because they tend to make more money from international students. It is apparently incredibly hard to get funding for a UK masters if you are not a UK resident. US masters programs also rarely come with any funding, and at many institutions, the masters is sometimes a cash cow to fund PhD students. That doesn't mean that these aren't exceptionally fine programs with amazing faculty - they absolutely are! And I know a PhD student at a very highly ranked anthro PhD program who got a masters at UCL first and very much recommends it. When I was weighing my options, I spoke with her about it and she said "Just be aware that you'll be one of a huge number of master's students at UCL and that your money will go to fund the department", but that she learned a lot from the experience and it probably helped her get into said top ranked US PhD program. From what I've heard, you should have no problem at all getting into any of these programs, but funding is very, very unlikely. This is all anecdotal though, so take this with a grain of salt!

I think both perspectives make sense, depending on the field. In my field, Anthropology - speaking honestly about class, the cost of education, and so forth doesn't present any issues (and I wouldn't want to study in a program where it did). In some 'hard' sciences, schools might respond with a paid visit (not in Anthro, unfortunately) - but in other disciplines, 'professionalization' might be threatened by the perception of poverty as a negative characteristic.
 
I really appreciate all the advice and think this will be a helpful thread for future applicants.

You're applying to MA programs only, no PhD? If so I think there's no doubt they'll admit you, but funding will be a different question. Are you self-financed?

I feel you. These schools with deadlines the day they re-open from winter breaks... what in the world is that about!? I've been seeing LOR writers complaining about it as well on twitter. Seems to annoy everyone. Can't imagine it's fun for the department to return from a break to a pile of frantic student emails either.
 
Also, feel you on the 'surprises' in online applications. Most of the schools I've applied to have a list on the department page, and then when you're in the online application suddenly they ask for a 300 word version of your statement, or a paragraph about X, Y, and Z. Incredibly annoying.
 
So, on the McGill site, about admissions they say: "PhD applicants should have a fairly well-delineated research problem. To judge this factor, we give serious attention to the Statement of Purpose, considering its degree of focus, intellectual sophistication, and creativity."
 
It seems that this means they would be quite happy with a research proposal style SOP that ties your research into a good fit with the department. Which it sounds like you've done.
 
The anthropology site does not list an additional document in their list on the web page. Is there a chance that the online form is providing that space for programs that want two separate documents? Does it seem to be optional, is it anthro specific or is it a generic part of the online app?
 
Based on the instructions on their departmental web site, I would feel comfortable submitting your SOP, skipping the research proposal. And then sending them an email asking about it. Obviously if you've submitted all the documents on the list, your application is on time. And if they say "you can give us a longer research proposal if you want" - then you can send them one after the deadline.

The key question is: What do you want to do in your PhD?
 
There are certainly great schools who admit students without a previous background in anthro - but without it you might find it very hard to even formulate your research interests in your statements for applications - simply because you're unfamiliar with the field. Every discipline has a way of approaching the world, and you will need to speak in the language of anthropology to 'sell' yourself to a PhD program.
 
I highly recommend finding a good MA program that is near where you want to live, and contacting them - let them know you would like to take a course or two as a non-matriculated student. Take the courses for credit and see what you think after one semester or two. If all goes well, and you're inspired - you'll have anthropology courses on a transcript and some recommendations from anthropology professors for your PhD app. This would be much more useful than taking a job in business or finance (unless you do both at once). Also, if you want to change fields and you want to make a compelling case that you want to, then you need to start now - not wait and work in your old field first.
 
Alternatively - if you double-majored, then just tell the story differently as you go forward. Many people integrate area studies or language study into anthropology courses of study. So you could put yourself forward as a Chinese major who also studied Finance - because you are interested in, for example, doing research on the way that capitalist ideologies take on local forms through language communities in Hong Kong. You could use your background to make a very compelling case for studying something like this - and if you got into a PhD program, you can always end up writing about something else in that area.

Okay, hang on. A BA research paper, and especially your first BA research paper, is a totally and completely different beast than graduate level work. Since this is a graduate school forum, I think everyone assumed (and rightly so) that you were a grad student in anthropology. While all the advice that's been given is true- all papers have a theoretical framework, and Canis gave you some interesting theoretical lenses through which to think about your topic - I highly doubt you need any of that in this type of paper. That type of framework is really only possible if you've had at least a basic anthropological theory class first. As this is your first research paper, EVER, you really don't need to discuss theory at such a serious level, I'd imagine. It sounds like you have a really great topic, a topic that could be at home in a graduate level program, so give yourself major props for that! You will be fine, so don't worry so much! Just try to tie your research paper to the other readings you've read for the course as much as you can, and that is probably all the theory you need. I'd imagine that the professor is only expecting you to pull in outside materials specific to your particular topic and not outside theory. I also know that in multi-year courses at my undergrad institution, professors knew when someone was a freshman vs. a senior anthro major and considered their work based on level as much as possible.

But, I found that, even though it can be intimidating, if you reach out to professors or TAs they will tend to be very enthusiastic to help. You sound like a smart and ambitious person, and I would urge you not to be afraid to send an e-mail asking a professor to clarify what's required in this assignment and even expressing that you're a little nervous because this is your first ever research paper. You can even reach out to an older student in the class. When I was a junior anthro major, a freshman in one of my classes had the exact same issue as you - it was her first research paper and she wanted advice on how to approach it. Since I spoke in class and obviously knew the subject well, she came and asked me for some advice. I was happy to guide her and she ended up getting an A.

So to summarize-
1. don't take any of the advice that's been offered so far. It's all superb advice but probably way too advanced for you and the goals of the paper right now.
2. You're already on the right track. Tie your ideas to course readings and you'll be fine.
3. Don't be afraid to ask a TA, professor, or fellow student for some advice!

And, if you have more questions, feel free to message me if you want. I'd be happy to read a draft of your paper and give you advice on it if you want and if that is allowed by your prof. (Sometimes undergrad papers are not supposed to have any outside editors or input).

Ah Pinkster Pinkster Pinkster, I'm finally compelled to reply to your posts. Let me say a few things about me first so hopefully what I'm gonna say will resonate with you better. I'm about the same age as you (about half a year older in fact); I'm an international student from Asia; I came to the U.S for college when I was 18 and I've been home twice ever since. I graduated about one and a half year ago; I worked for about 9 months before I decided to apply to grad schools. I'm an only child and my parents were super protective - I had never spent a night apart from my family before I left the country. I have cousins here whom I've been staying with; they helped me a lot to settle in when I first arrived but I got to figure a lot of things out on my own and now they're more like roomates for whom I pay super cheap rent.
 
Alright, so there are 2 things I want to tell you.
 
First, your actual question: How hard is it to move to a new place? Pretty hard, I'd say. I had an extreme case of homesickness and culture shock for the first 6 months, but then again I was only 18, away from home for the very first time in a very foreign culture. It did take a while but I made it through, and so you definitely can. People have been giving you a lot of great practical advice, and I still have a lot to learn from those suggestions, so I'm not gonna add anything. I just want to say that it's worth it, and hopefully I can encourage you a bit. Looking back, going abroad was the best thing that I've ever done. The experience was immense, and to go into details would take forever. There's the basic stuff (which I'm still very proud of) like learning how to do laundry, cook a full meal, keep and house, manage your own schedule and finance, etc. But more than that, I have changed dramatically, from the way I see myself to the way I see and treat other people, including (most importantly) realizing how stupid I was and still am at times and how diverse others' life experiences can be. I figure part of this was just me growing up, which can be done pretty much anywhere, but since I had been coddled (and it looks like you're in the same boat), getting away from home was much more effective in this regard. I remember the moment I realized how alike my high school friends and I were, like cookies cut from the same mold. Not that there was anything wrong with the mold, and it still shapes a big part of me right now, but it's like seeing the ocean for the first time and realizing how small your pond was.
 
Second, what I infer from your many posts is how you think there's a magic point somewhere in the future and when you get there, all your problems will melt away. There is no such magic point. Believe me, I used to be so sure that I would finish college here, go back home, get a good job, work for a few years, meet a guy and then get married and start a family. My magic timeline was set to be at 28. It is later than yours and may seem more reasonable, but in fact it is no less fictional. People have been telling you time and time again that you can't plan your life out on a calendar like that, so I won't waste time repeating the reasons why. What I want to emphasize is even when you do get there (and it will rarely be the way you want at the exact time you want), you will still have problems and worries and heartbreaks. Life doesn't just stop when you get married and have babies. What if your kids got sick? What if your husband got into an accident? What if your family lost your house like a lot of people did in 08? What if your husband cheats on you or your kids abuse drugs? There are all sorts of things that can happen, some less serious than others, but so is life. It took me the longest time to realize that (1) life is unpredictable and (2) there won't be ever a time in life when the struggle stops. It sounds silly to me now how I could possibly think that after finishing school and getting a job, things will just stabilize and I will coast on this defined, unchanging trajectory. How could I think that stresses during school will stop when I start working, or that just because I get to that point, be it a specific age or a life event like graduation or marriage, I will magically figure everything out? But I get it. We've been on the school route for at least 16 years straight; everything's been planned out and on schedule; we've done everything right, everything we were supposed to do, so our plan should just fall in to places right? Everything should just work out because we planned it to be so, and because we put work into it, we're guaranteed to get what we want and be all happy and fulfilled by the end of our plan, because that's what it has always been like at school, in class, in projects, literally our whole life! But life is more complicated than that. Just because you did A doesn't guarantee you B. You don't have as much control as you think. There's no hypothetical best time of your life. It's tough to accept - and I don't think anyone can help you realize it but yourself - but it can also be very liberating. The best time of your life can be right now, next month, or always. Life can happen in so many ways for which you can't possibly plan, but it also means that happiness and success and fulfillment have that many ways to come to you. You can't plan for them, but you can prepare yourself mentally for this unpredictability and trust yourself to handle them, or swing it as they say.
 
When I was 19, my friend's mother said that we don't have that much control in life, and I didn't believe her, even when she said she used to think like I did. So now you probably won't believe me either, but I hope you will.
 
For a point of reference, you can watch this mind-opening video by John Green about what to do with your life. It's intially more about how to pick what to study in college but then becomes life decisions and adulthood in general. It has stopped me from freaking out many times when I think my life is not how or where it's "supposed" to be or when I, like you, feel like nothing is happening to me:

I think there's some confusion about what a theoretical framework is. I'll give you my thoughts and hopefully others will add their voices as well.
 
Everything you write, say, do, or perceive has a theoretical framework.
 
So, you already have a theoretical framework for your paper - but you might not know what it is, or you might not see it because you assume that it's not there. The key is to start to think about what theory, what ideas, are influencing how you think about your topic. Those are your theoretical framework. Perhaps you want to add more ideas to that framework, to change the ones you are using, or to explain why you are using the ideas you have chosen. That's one way to make your theoretical framework more visible in your paper.
 
Or you could take some ideas that you have read about and apply them to your paper, and see what happens. What does it look like when you look at your paper topic through the ideas (the theoretical framework) of Marx, of Foucault, Bourdieu, Latour, Geertz, Boas, etc? That's another way to 'have' a theoretical framework in your paper.
 
Also, What program are you studying in? Do you have advisors you can talk to about this? Are you usually writing your papers in English or only this one time? Are you studying anthropology?

Them: "So which one is your safety school?"
Me: "None of them are safety schools. They are all top programs and anyway, there's no such thing as a "safety" when you're applying to PhD programs in this field."

Well, this is not the first time I've lived far from home. 
 
I live alone with no roommates. It is quite nice cause I work on coursework and papers at all hours, and I also watch movies at all hours ::shrugs::
 
Starting over is hard cause I don't know where to hang out, how to get there, and friends are made cause we're all in grad school - not because of family connections or similar friends (who normally have similar interests). 
 
I think it's getting around that I don't go anywhere, so the groups of friends that I came in with in the program have stopped inviting me to their outside of school activities. At first, that hurt my feelings but then again...that was my fault because I kept refusing to go LOL mainly because I don't drink and grad students for one reason or another love to peer pressure others. Also, I have to walk home alone late at night...since no one is offering to walk or take me home after inviting me out, I don't go cause I need to take care of myself.
 
Also, I been hit on the past couple of times I've been out and that bothers me since I'm not looking...so I don't go out. 
 
Next semester, I will start taking some outside of school courses to meet others...they are not that exciting LOL lol sewing, cooking, maybe...knitting LOL
 
You know, Pinkster, starting over in a new place may be just the thing some people need for greater clarity towards viewing priorities. 
 
EDIT: Oh, I wanted to mention that my experience might differ from yours cause I'm the type of person that doesn't mind eating alone and regularly catches movies by myself - happily. 

In the interest of helping you with multiple problems, I am streamlining your questions from several threads into one answer on this thread:  how to meet people, how to find a man, how to become more independent, and whether or not grad school is right for you.
 
It is not a bad thing to want to get married and start a family. The more you plan ahead, the more likely it is going to work out well for you.  Right now you are suffering from scarcity mentality, because you think it is never going to happen.
 
The best cure for this is to go on as many dates as you can, and meet new people as often as possible.
 
In my opinion, grad school is a good option for you -- *IF* you do it correctly.  By this, I mean that you will need to take it seriously and apply yourself.  It will make you more employable to have an MSW degree, and anybody who wants to be a parent needs to be prepared for the possibility that they may need to work in order to support their children.   Spouses can lose their jobs, become ill or injured, die, or may leave the marriage, and you do not want your children to suffer in the meanwhile.  So even if you do not plan to work, you should be able to work in case you have to pay some or all of the bills.
 
Another benefit of having a job, even if just for a while, is that it will make you more independent and more
understanding, and these are good traits for dating.  It also gives you pocket money for a social life.
 
So, Rx for your problems:
 
1.  Start working on yourself ASAP to make yourself look as reasonably attractive as possible to men.  Every man is different, but many men prefer women who are a healthy weight, fit and toned, have a flattering, feminine hairstyle, clean teeth and skin, tasteful makeup, and a flattering, feminine style of dress.  Dressing for men is not the same thing as dressing for women -- there are books and blogs that teach how to do this in a sexy yet classy way.  You do not need to spend a lot of money -- what you want are low-maintenance, cute outfits and a beauty regimen that you can do *quickly* each morning so when you meet new people each day on campus, you look pulled together and feel good about yourself.  If you do not know how to do any of these things, there are people that can teach you how (like hair and makeup at a salon, for example).
 
2.  Practice being relaxed, positive, and fun to be around.  Men will run if you complain or cry about your problems, especially marriage and children.  They will think you are crazy.  So don't do it.  In the early stages of dating, men care about:
 
-- If he is attracted to you
-- Do you make him feel good emotionally
-- Does he enjoy spending time with you
 
So make these your priorities too and you will be a better dater.
 
3.  Practice independent living skills ***immediately***, before you go to school.  If you don't know how to do laundry, learn.   Same for how  to cook a meal, how to shop for groceries, how to make a budget, how to clean a bathroom, etc.  Start now.   Get your mother or someone else to  show you how to do these things, one at a time.  If you want to be a stay at home mother you will need to learn how to run a household and take care of the family.
 
4.  Get some professional pictures made for new dating profiles.  There are photographers who specialize in casual portraits for social media and internet dating profiles.  This typically will be a 30 minute to an hour session in a local public place such as a park.  You'll get 8 to 12 photos, probably for around $150 - $200.  Google can help you find one who is legit and has a money-back guarantee.
 
5.  Close down your current dating profiles and start over -- with your new photos, and your new location, a few weeks before school starts.  After 6 months, any dating profile you have on the internet is old news, and you should close it down, get new pictures made, and write a new profile.  Follow the advice in step #2 -- write something that is relaxed, positive, and fun to be around.  Put in your preferences that you would like to have a family and then drop the subject for a while.
 
6.  Pick 2 dating websites that are targeted for serious lookers, and not for 'hookups'.  You will still get flakes,
married people, liars, and people that have some loose screws, but you will cut down on the number of time wasters if you choose quality sites, have a quality profile, and set up dates within 2 weeks of contact -- if he hasn't asked you out, say, "I think we should meet. Do you have plans for (day)?"  If a man won't meet up within 2 weeks of initial contact, then cut contact and move on.  Same thing if he breaks a date -- give him one chance to reschedule, and then move on.  You do not have time to waste on people who are not serious about meeting up in person.
 
You will need to put most of your time and energy into meeting people offline -- that's why you should only have 2 online dating profiles at a time.  Anything more is a time-sink and a money-sink.  You will need to be very efficient with your time and your money in grad school.
 
7.  By this time you should be scheduling 1 to 2 dates a week as school is underway.  First dates from dating websites need to be short and close to your campus -- about an hour in duration, 90 minutes if it is going well.  Drinks or an appetizer at some atmospheric place nearby.  Treat each date as an opportunity to get to know a new man better, not Prince Charming who has come to save you.  Most of these people you will not see past the first date.  That's fine.  Accept this and don't be surprised by it.  It takes a while to find someone right.
 
8.  You must make school your top priority, but in between time, join in social activities on campus as much as you can.   Go to the campus gym -- a great place to work out, stay in shape, and meet men and women.  Join any grad student organizations that are available.  Find places where older students tend to hang out -- you want to meet men in their mid 20s to early 30s that are single and ready to settle down.  Let your roommates and female friends know you are looking -- women have male family members and friends who may be right for you.  Interests and hobbies can also provide friends and dates.
 
How do you make new female friends and roommates?  You'll meet people in your classes.  Ask to be introduced to new people.  You can find roommates from ads -- online and from campus message boards.  Campus housing may have some resources to help, too.  It helps if you get started several months before school starts. 
 
9.  If you are religious, then religious organizations may be a good place to find people who are looking for marriage and children, such as a church or temple, particularly one that has a younger membership of 20 and 30 somethings.  Civic organizations and related campus groups may also attract mature men with family-oriented wishes.
 
10.  Avoid wasting time and money on bars, clubs, and other venues unless you just want a fun night out with the girls.  Yes, some people do meet the man of their dreams in a bar or club, but most people are there to drink, blow off steam, and possibly hook up.  It's not the environment to husband-hunt.  Be efficient with your time and money.  Also avoid wasting time online with Facebook and other time-sinks.
 
11.  Work on getting another intership or 2 while you are in school, so you can keep your debt down, get work experience, and gain confidence in yourself.  It will also make you more attractive to potential mates if you can take care of yourself.
 
If you treat this process seriously, then you will take your frustration and negative feelings and turn them into something positive.  You want to find the best quality man you can who will make a good husband and father, so take a while to get to know a man before you get serious with him.  You will also have a successful grad school experience, a job, and friends, if you put in the effort and treat all of these with respect.
 
Good luck.

A few things:

1. Some really horrible anti-trans and anti-sex worker things have been said here, and I just would ask that those of you making such comments be more considerate and thoughtful before you put hateful words into the world, whether on this forum or elsewhere. It's repugnant to talk, even hypothetically, about ways to confirm whether someone's perceived gender is their birth sex. Also, talking about all sex workers with generalizations and expressions of disgust is both hateful and ignorant. Besides the fact that your feelings about prostitutes have nothing AT ALL to do with grad school. It is off topic even for this thread.

2. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if admin committees search these forums. One of my POIs googled my name and found my linkedin before I even applied. He didn't have my grades or test scores or any information about me, just an introductory email I'd sent. If POIs will search for people at that point in time, before even reading applications, I imagine they'll continue to do it afterwards. This whole forum is searchable also, so if someone searches your program, it will likely come up. For instance, if you repeatedly discuss going into, say, Social Work, and list all the schools you are applying to, that is VERY easy to find and could be a top hit on google, given the right search commands. Additionally, while it may not be common, keep in mind that professors sometimes get bored and curious, and if I were a bored professor, I would totally lurk this site anonymously. Besides, this is all public. Even if you don't care if a professor sees it, do you really want to make a terrible first impression on your peers before you even begin grad school? It would be smart to realize the networking potential of this site. I've already made a number of helpful connections with friendly, intelligent people in my field.
 

Oh.. the funny part really is that you don't realize your statement about it being beyond your ability to count.. just assured me of your inability to count very high.

What about your situational awareness? Everything that you've put out on here is just.. tiring. It's long, it's drawn out, it's contrite, and it's got a stick so firmly wedged up it's butt that any sense of joy is long since drained away. Even your signature, it's like. "Ugh.. I can't.."
 
I may be cranky and tear into people, but I at least have moments of joy. Where is your joy? I'm starting to think you've none.

I know, right?
 
Why don't the "don't be hating on sex workers" and the "god forbid two consenting adults have sex" people duke it out and let the rest of us discuss the topic at hand.
 
They can have a hand-wring-off. First one to reach bone wins!

Oh.. the presumption.. the pretense.. it's stifling.
 
And the comment about "hateful things said about sex workers.." - wow, just wow...
 
I'm not going into any program that would touch these forums with a 10ft pole and nothing one would google about me would lead here. So your method of keeping me quiet is a failure.

A few things:

1. Some really horrible anti-trans and anti-sex worker things have been said here, and I just would ask that those of you making such comments be more considerate and thoughtful before you put hateful words into the world, whether on this forum or elsewhere. It's repugnant to talk, even hypothetically, about ways to confirm whether someone's perceived gender is their birth sex. Also, talking about all sex workers with generalizations and expressions of disgust is both hateful and ignorant. Besides the fact that your feelings about prostitutes have nothing AT ALL to do with grad school. It is off topic even for this thread.

2. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if admin committees search these forums. One of my POIs googled my name and found my linkedin before I even applied. He didn't have my grades or test scores or any information about me, just an introductory email I'd sent. If POIs will search for people at that point in time, before even reading applications, I imagine they'll continue to do it afterwards. This whole forum is searchable also, so if someone searches your program, it will likely come up. For instance, if you repeatedly discuss going into, say, Social Work, and list all the schools you are applying to, that is VERY easy to find and could be a top hit on google, given the right search commands. Additionally, while it may not be common, keep in mind that professors sometimes get bored and curious, and if I were a bored professor, I would totally lurk this site anonymously. Besides, this is all public. Even if you don't care if a professor sees it, do you really want to make a terrible first impression on your peers before you even begin grad school? It would be smart to realize the networking potential of this site. I've already made a number of helpful connections with friendly, intelligent people in my field.
 

A few things:

1. Some really horrible anti-trans and anti-sex worker things have been said here, and I just would ask that those of you making such comments be more considerate and thoughtful before you put hateful words into the world, whether on this forum or elsewhere. It's repugnant to talk, even hypothetically, about ways to confirm whether someone's perceived gender is their birth sex. Also, talking about all sex workers with generalizations and expressions of disgust is both hateful and ignorant. Besides the fact that your feelings about prostitutes have nothing AT ALL to do with grad school. It is off topic even for this thread.

2. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if admin committees search these forums. One of my POIs googled my name and found my linkedin before I even applied. He didn't have my grades or test scores or any information about me, just an introductory email I'd sent. If POIs will search for people at that point in time, before even reading applications, I imagine they'll continue to do it afterwards. This whole forum is searchable also, so if someone searches your program, it will likely come up. For instance, if you repeatedly discuss going into, say, Social Work, and list all the schools you are applying to, that is VERY easy to find and could be a top hit on google, given the right search commands. Additionally, while it may not be common, keep in mind that professors sometimes get bored and curious, and if I were a bored professor, I would totally lurk this site anonymously. Besides, this is all public. Even if you don't care if a professor sees it, do you really want to make a terrible first impression on your peers before you even begin grad school? It would be smart to realize the networking potential of this site. I've already made a number of helpful connections with friendly, intelligent people in my field.
 

A few things:

1. Some really horrible anti-trans and anti-sex worker things have been said here, and I just would ask that those of you making such comments be more considerate and thoughtful before you put hateful words into the world, whether on this forum or elsewhere. It's repugnant to talk, even hypothetically, about ways to confirm whether someone's perceived gender is their birth sex. Also, talking about all sex workers with generalizations and expressions of disgust is both hateful and ignorant. Besides the fact that your feelings about prostitutes have nothing AT ALL to do with grad school. It is off topic even for this thread.

2. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if admin committees search these forums. One of my POIs googled my name and found my linkedin before I even applied. He didn't have my grades or test scores or any information about me, just an introductory email I'd sent. If POIs will search for people at that point in time, before even reading applications, I imagine they'll continue to do it afterwards. This whole forum is searchable also, so if someone searches your program, it will likely come up. For instance, if you repeatedly discuss going into, say, Social Work, and list all the schools you are applying to, that is VERY easy to find and could be a top hit on google, given the right search commands. Additionally, while it may not be common, keep in mind that professors sometimes get bored and curious, and if I were a bored professor, I would totally lurk this site anonymously. Besides, this is all public. Even if you don't care if a professor sees it, do you really want to make a terrible first impression on your peers before you even begin grad school? It would be smart to realize the networking potential of this site. I've already made a number of helpful connections with friendly, intelligent people in my field.
 

We Can't Stop- Miley Cyrus!

SO much awesome stuff on this thread!  I went to music school for 2 years before I transferred and switched to archaeology, and I sometimes get caught up in a classical music bubble.

@Pol - It's so interesting to me that these types of soundscapes, which are somewhat reminiscent of John Cage and Phillip Glass (among others) are being pioneered with non-orchestral instruments to create a whole new thing. I love it! Thank you for introducing me. You might like this, though it's very dark. It's called Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima and it's by a Polish composer named Penderecki (pronounced pen-der-et-sky). It is performed entirely by string orchestra with no sound manipulation or other effects, which is really surprising! I would listen to it without watching the video, but up to you! Fair warning- it's disturbing and it's a love it or hate it piece, usually.


@rexzepplin- I've listened to "Paper Trails" twice now, too!  This thread, seriously, you all are making my waiting game way more bearable!

Here's another favorite song of mine- it's somewhat folksy and really catchy. A somewhat different direction from what I posted earlier :-) Also, the video is super weird and entertaining.