Minnesotan

Davis and Fort Collins are both conservative. That doesn't mean bad things will necessarily happen -- it just means you might get some funny looks if you're one of those sickening people of any sexual preference who insist on excessive public displays. =)

Davis and Fort Collins are both conservative. That doesn't mean bad things will necessarily happen -- it just means you might get some funny looks if you're one of those sickening people of any sexual preference who insist on excessive public displays. =)

What kind of grad course has lectures?

I tend to model my refusal letters on this paradigm:

http://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/humor/reject.html

American education has a different focus, though, at the undergrad level (and the high school level, really). Despite the constant push from industry to professionalize early, academia has stuck to its guns in attempting to offer a liberal education, rather than a four year version of the technical degree. The graduate degrees are where you specialize; the bachelor should receive a well-rounded education in as many disciplines as possible. Thus the extra post-baccalaureate coursework, I suppose. While UK students have received four years of training in their field (and little training in anything else) by the end of their BA/S, American students have received 2-3. However, they are more well-rounded.

It's all a matter of what's important to you, though. My time studying in England was a wonderful experience, and I love the college system there -- it's much more personal and you really feel like you're part of a community. However, I think my interdisciplinary graduate work would have failed without the varied background I received in the U.S.

I tend to model my refusal letters on this paradigm:

http://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/humor/reject.html

There's a big transition one needs to make between undergrad and grad school. Most successful students make it. I know I can't drink more than once a fortnight, unless it's going to meet with an adviser and having a maximum of two beers while discussing school-related matters. Keep in mind, I used to go out every night after getting my homework done as a bachelor's student, and managed a perfect GPA. In grad school this is not possible (nor is it desirable).

The first few days of orientation, and any visitation weekends you attended, might give you the false impression that your whole cohort goes out and gets sloppy after every meeting. You have to realize that beginning the term with such bonding rituals can serve an important purpose, but when the time for socializing is over, we all have to put our sober hats back on.

There's a big transition one needs to make between undergrad and grad school. Most successful students make it. I know I can't drink more than once a fortnight, unless it's going to meet with an adviser and having a maximum of two beers while discussing school-related matters. Keep in mind, I used to go out every night after getting my homework done as a bachelor's student, and managed a perfect GPA. In grad school this is not possible (nor is it desirable).

The first few days of orientation, and any visitation weekends you attended, might give you the false impression that your whole cohort goes out and gets sloppy after every meeting. You have to realize that beginning the term with such bonding rituals can serve an important purpose, but when the time for socializing is over, we all have to put our sober hats back on.

If you're having trouble motivating yourself, think of the poor folks who are sitting on waitlists, no offers in hand, who are not sure whether they will even be accepted anywhere.

Your decision seems pretty easy when you consider the situations of those who are less fortunate than yourself.

I tend to model my refusal letters on this paradigm:

http://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/humor/reject.html

Your score, coupled with your post, show me you have a very high opinion of yourself, and that you don't study for tests - likely because you think they're pointless, and you're too smart to be judged on objective (*sneer*) criteria, like the hoi polloi. So, no, I don't think you belong in grad school (but you'll likely get in at an Ivy), if these assumptions are true.

If you're just trying to make your case by handing me your resume, I think there's a more humble way to go about it. But heaven forbid someone tries to introduce a concept like humility into a grad school forum. =)

While I agree with the points being made about diversification of knowledge, I also find it troubling that so many people seem to take personal offense because someone does not want to study culture/race/gender. It is possible for people to disagree with the notion that context trumps text and still have a fine career in academia. Sure, that person will be castigated by the authoritarian radical left-wingers they will inevitably come up against, but that's a fight they might have to make. It would be nice to have the closed-minded 60s activists challenged a little more often in their good ole boysandgirls club at the top.

Mind you, I'm a liberal-leaning moderate sort of person, so me criticizing the dominant "left" in academia means a pretty special case of radical leftism that exists only in the Ivory Tower. And, while everyone is entitled to their own point of view, these folks (most of whom are big culture/race/gender studies advocates) disagree -- "you're either for us or against us, and since we have the power, all grad students had better publicly proclaim they are for us!"

I understand the op's frustrations. Some people like books without the politics. Cut him or her some slack.

Are you in lit? Most RhetComp programs don't make you take the English sub. Most international programs don't, either.

By the by, I've never heard of any committees that took the English subject test seriously, as compared to SoP, writing sample, recos, etc. Why not give it a shot?

Are you serious? I've never been anywhere that even approaches the friendliness of the upper Midwest, and I've lived all over the world. I find it troubling that it all comes down to race for you, too. Are you sure none of these racial tensions are projected? I know in my hometown class was a much bigger separating mechanism.

Either way, you're obviously from the East if you think people out East are friendly.

Are you serious? I've never been anywhere that even approaches the friendliness of the upper Midwest, and I've lived all over the world. I find it troubling that it all comes down to race for you, too. Are you sure none of these racial tensions are projected? I know in my hometown class was a much bigger separating mechanism.

Either way, you're obviously from the East if you think people out East are friendly.

As much as earning an MA has made me a stressed-out grumpy SOB, I look back at my writing and research from two years ago and am shocked to find out how much I've grown (i.e. "Who wrote *that* piece of @#$%?!"). Even if it were just a matter of getting used to the lifestyle of a grad student, an MA was a very good idea for me. As far as how it affects my writing and research skills (I thought I was a very good writer before - now I'm not so sure I was), there is a world of difference already.

I also think having an MA in-hand, or close to it, alters the way people see you. They know you're a dedicated academic, rather than someone with a bachelor's degree who isn't really sure what they want to be when they grow up yet. They know you've learned some of the research skills you will need to succeed, and they realize that any grade you've gotten in grad school required a constant struggle, whereas undergraduate grades are cheap.

Add to the research concerns your extra two years of teaching experience, conference presentations, and workshop/seminar participation, and earning a separate MA is something quite significant. Let alone having the ability to see a two-year thesis through to completion (for better or worse, ugh!).

There are other reasons for doing an MA first, too. I did mine to take a step up from my state university to a "Research I" before assaulting the very top programs in my field. They say prestige is overrated, but "they" are kidding themselves. Name recognition goes a long way.


Hopefully the course I chose will help me get into better PhD programs. I know it has helped me grow as an academic. My advice to you would be to think about what you want out of your grad program before jumping into anything. If you get a nice PhD offer, by all means go for it, but there is no reason to snub an MA (especially funded) program that could help get you on your way. The experience is invaluable!

What kind of grad course has lectures?

I think it's just like being in a big undergrad seminar - if the professor recognizes you, and maybe even remembers your name, you'll do better. I would suggest taking those classes and impressing the prof. That'll go a long way toward getting you in!

I tend to model my refusal letters on this paradigm:

http://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/humor/reject.html

The trouble with California is that it's inhabited by Californians!


You can call me Longshanks.

I'm willing to bet that at least half of the professors who evaluate your application will know which university currently employs them.

Sorry, but creating new threads just to harass me, and continuing to make this a personal dispute leaves me no option but to give you the time out I promised. I'm not sure what playing video games has to do with being a supportive teacher and colleague, but little you have said in this thread is backed by reason -- it's pure opinion.

I maintain that you have a right to that opinion, but you do not have a right to wage a personal war against me on this website. I cannot follow you around, locking or deleting threads that you create for no other purpose than to jerk me around. It's a waste of my time, and it harms this website.


*Edit: I'm locking this thread entirely, since it seems to be a nexus for racial animosity. Since reason seems to go out the window when discussing these topics, I don't think any good will come of keeping this thread alive.

I would have set aside more money for bribes.

I've lived in both cities, and as much fun as I had in NYC, I would strangle puppies to get back to Oxford for another year of study.

Lying is an excellent way to earn their respect. In fact, I would tell them that I'm not really a TA, I'm an undercover FBI operative sent to the school to weed out the nasty pre-marital sex problem on our college campuses.

That should impress them.