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bhr

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Everything posted by bhr

  1. Again, it's incredibly field dependent. In my field, the MA is generally expected as a stepping stone to the PhD, and so we have a decent number of fully funded programs out there (not all, but a lot). The other thing, if you are set on coming to the US, is to look for assistantships outside of your potential departments, and what their hiring process is. I have a number of friends who funded MAs/MS/MFAs by working in admissions, or student housing and events, or with other campus departments. Yes, those programs take away from your departmental time and don't add to the resume like a GA/TA slot, but they often offer stipend+tuition (and even housing, for some gigs).
  2. I was sadly a bit lazier than intended this summer. Didn't finish a book review I planned to submit, so I'll go into PhD application season without a publication of any sort. I'm working on my thesis proposal now (just polishing for my IRB submissions), and hope to be able to have that mostly knocked out before I teach my first class of the semester next week.
  3. In my field it's almost universally first name only (including the big names). That said, I tend to default to Dr. X when meeting someone or especially emailing them for the first time, then seeing what they put as their signature. i also tend to default back to Dr./Professor when in mixed company with undergrads or outsiders, as I don't want to undercut the Prof's authority without permission (sometimes it helps, for example, to be able to "big time" someone in a meeting.
  4. I just straight bribe the department admins. Every month or so I bring in treats (fudge, brownies, ect). It's amazing how easily I get help when I need it.
  5. Having met ProfLorax, what, 2 years ago now, (Jeez, we are vets now), I have to agree
  6. My undergrad and grad thankfully send out transcripts for free. My MA school offers an official electronic as well. I'm not including transcripts from my first school, as it was 20+ years ago and I didn't keep/transfer any of the credits. I'm planning on 9 programs across two fields right now, BUT at least two of those programs have a history of responding by the end of December, so if I get into either one I'll probably drop 2-3 of the January deadline schools
  7. Casey's? Nice. Also, you are about 5 minutes from my favorite restaurant on the planet, Franklin's. If they have it, the Cajun Mac and Cheese is the best food on the planet. Otherwise, just get a bunch of the apps and share (I prefer the pork belly or grilled corn) with a flight of whatever they have on tap.
  8. How was Hamilton? He's my favorite figure in American history, and I'm hoping to make an NY trip for it next summer if it's still playing.
  9. I think you would be hard pressed to find an MA (or even MFA) that prepares you for HS teaching and offers funding. What is sounds like you are looking for is an MAT (Masters of Arts in Teaching) in English Education, which is usually a 12 month program that requires classroom work (and therefor can't offer assistantships). You may get lucky and find an external assistantship for a program like that, but you won't usually have a TA/RA with tuition/healthcare. These are still usually the cheapest way to get qualified to teach HS (depending on state/county), but ymmv.
  10. I want to point out a couple things: First, even if your funding comes at the university, rather than the department, level, your department is still likely the final say in whether it continues. Are you actually on pace to finish your coursework on time? If you are in the humanities now, 2 courses/semester seems like a light load at the phd level, doesn't it? I would make sure that you are actually making satisfactory progress toward completing coursework on time, and your first round of exams. Also, and someone else may be able to back me up here, but you could wind up with serious visa problems if you try to change programs like that. Your current visa is for your specific school and program, and you filed an intent to leave the country at the end of the program. If, when you decide it's time to move on, you apply for a new visa, there is a chance it could be denied (since you didn't live up to the terms of the last one).
  11. Read AND observe. If you are in a social science, I assume there is some sort of practicum or field experience component. Take the theories/ideas you have been learning, and look for a new way to apply them, or a group that hasn't been studied using the same procedure. Your methodology doesn't need to be novel, it just needs to work for your purposes. I'm a big believer in looking for an exigency and trying to find a way to address it. I have a friend who is working with medical anthropology. He's taking work done by another scholar, and applying it to a specific population that wasn't part of the original study. This gives him unique conclusions, without having to defend the theory or methodology as much. (plus, since it's a respected idea in his field, he found it easier to get his original case study published.)
  12. bhr

    Car Insurance

    If you can get USAA, do so. I switched to them a few years ago and have never been happier with a provider (both price and service). Plus, as long as I keep my license in my home state, they've allowed me to keep insurance there as a student.
  13. bhr

    Car Insurance

    For what it's worth, I have relatively low deductibles on my car. I do bundle with renters (which actually made my renters essentially free), but to me, the extra $10-20 month I pay for my insurance gives me some security against those big deductibles later. My budget can absorb $10/month a lot easier than $1000 if my main/only source of transportation is stolen or totaled.
  14. Spring admits for most programs are almost non-existent. There are usually course sequences you need to complete (especially in 2 year Masters) that make spring admits difficult for full time students. If you live close enough, there is nothing wrong with reaching out to the department about setting up a visit. I would suggest contacting the department admin, let them know you are a prospective student looking to visit, and that you would like to set up meetings with the DGS or professors. My department doesn't fly in MAs, but will usually let them come to a class/meet profs on request. One suggestion is to look to see if the department is hosting any talks/conferences/grad research fair type events. These things are often open to the general public, and will give you an excuse to visit. Your program looks like they have a number of open events in the coming weeks/months, so I would start there. http://www.ece.illinois.edu/calendar Once you decide to visit, then email professors and say something like "Hi, my name is XXXX and I'm planning to apply here next year. I will be on campus to attend YYYYY on ZZZZZ and was wondering if you would have some time to meet with me before/after it." This gives them a specific need to address, a timeline, and the purpose of you visit. As to your funding question, my friend at that program (a decade ago) told me students are usually admitted to the MS without funding, then are given resources/ideas/opportunities to find them on their own. My own program, in a different field, has a similar approach, even though most MAs wind up funded for both years through the department. You'll probably be looking at RA/TA slots, but keep an eye out for GAships throughout the department and university as well. Some (like Residence Life) will have deadlines that come earlier than acceptances, but you still will want to apply.
  15. You want letters specific to the school/department. A good LOR writer understands what is needed, but you can help by having an honest talk about why you are applying in each field and to each school (providing your CV helps as well). I would definitely suggest that you don't have them put both, as it shows that you are indecisive and not committed to a specific field. Can I ask why you are looking at two very different disciplines? I'm also going to be applying to phd programs in different departments, but that's because my work straddles the two and I'm hoping to do the same sort of work in both. I think you will be happier (and more successful as an applicant) if you can choose one type of program to apply for at this point, as I can't reconcile how those two departments overlap.
  16. FWIW (and for your own budgeting help), that's actually only ~$320/week over a normal semester, before taxes.
  17. Ah, the meme, the last resort of someone who can't defend their point.
  18. I don't think I'm "frothing" anywhere, and think the personal attack is uncalled for. I think that elite private universities have produced a lot of brilliant scholars and great innovations, but also think that they perpetuate inequalities and care more about increasing their endowments than anything. I also think that they get by, in some cases, with producing outdated scholarship because of their brand value.
  19. I challenge you to find proof that legacies are more likely to contribute. In fact, schools are essentially limiting their donor pools if they accept too many people from the same family (I'm taking the argument to the point of being ridiculous, I admit) Also, unless CSLA is an Ag or Culinary School, I wouldn't expect your stake to be a steak.
  20. And I'm saying that legacy status is a racist, classist and stupid criteria to use when selecting who to admit. Schools that consider it are putting their financial endowments (often times large pots of money that don't get used to benefit the students) above having the best and brightest students.
  21. I don't even do the follow up note thing much, and usually just go right to FB once I meet someone in person. Maybe I'm lucky, but I've managed to make good contacts that way. (Nothing thrills me quite like when one of them likes a post about something school/research related).
  22. Did I say that? I said that giving preference to legacies, over a more deserving student (and I dare you to tell me that doesn't happen) just perpetuates privilege. I'm saying that legacy status helps elevate students based on factors that have nothing to do with the student (which is true). If you can't get in on your own merits, and need legacy status to sneak in to a school, you are taking a spot from a student who deserves it more, and are, in fact, a bad person. (And that isn't even getting into the racial and economic disparities tied up in legacy issues).
  23. Mind you, 90% of schools, and almost all public schools, don't care about legacy status. It is only the money-obsessed schools like the Ivies, with an eye on their endowment, that give preference to legacy students over students who actually deserve enrollment, thus continuing to stratify economic privilege.
  24. I would say it depends on the program. I don't know Lit as well as R/C, but the online program at, for example, Texas Tech, is as likely to land someone a TechComm job than an PhD from a second or third tier program.
  25. I'm in a fully funded MA program (TAship that provides tuition and fees, an almost livable stipend and insurance, along with travel funds and a little extra money here and there). It varies by field, but there are plenty of funding options outside of departments as well at large universities (ResLife is always an option, along with GAships in labs, administration, ect.)
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