Roll Right

Awesome, sounds to me like things couldn't be better! I've been lucky enough to focus my coursework on my research. Taking courses on race, data analysis and so on has allowed me to create final projects that are all interrelated, focusing on religiosity (which is what my thesis is focused on). So as I do my final projects, I'm also preparing my thesis. I'm hoping this will lead to one huge piece of polished research at the end of my degree. I suggest this to anyone in sociology, as much of the topics we study are interrelated.

I agree, you should get the primary source if you're going to bother reading it. There is a lot lost in translation. Marx is a favorite of mine. Brilliant works, inspire much of my own research.

Ive been told they only made three offers for funding to individuals. They were impressed with the group, but its small apparently. I was just curious about who was coming,

So my program just admitted the new cohort, or some of them anyway. Anyone going to UNCW for public sociology or criminology next year?

I agree with most of these posts. It really comes down to whether the distance is a problem. Obviously it won't last forever, and the top program in your field is quite an accomplishment. However funding is important, and getting away without any debt from a PhD (which should be expected) is the best option in my opinion. If the program at his school is good, why not go? I think you need to consider happiness as well as professionalism. Perhaps you will accel at his school, as you have little worries about money and are closer to the person you love. Or it may be the case that you would accel anywhere, regardless of the social environment. Personally, if I had generous funding from a school my gf was already attending, which was also well known in my discipline, I'd choose that school over the number one program. I think I'd be happier. But thats just me, and a decision to the contrary is not selfish. Your bf probably won't be upset with you, as it sounds to be a healthy relationship.

Elementary reforms is important, but I feel that those who have BA degrees in sociology ought to have much of this theory under their belts already. Those who are going on to a PhD in soc from alternate majors ought to read this, or at least a text on theory. I recommend Wallace and Wolf. It's a great summary of these texts. I also feel that one should only read the primary txts if it's specific to their interests. It's good to have the background, but you don't need to hit every major sociological work just because it's famous. We're so specialized within sociology that it makes little sense to focus on the history of sex when one is interested in religiosity or the sociology of labor. Obviously these concepts may intersect at some point, but not enough to warrant an inundation of broad sociological theories. Having said that, if you're going into a PhD for soc of religion, read Weber's theoretical frame work for the understanding of religion, and durkhiems elementary forms, berger's sacred canopy, Lenski's the religious factor and so on. Theres just such a wealth of information within respective sub-disciplines that we can't be expected to be abreast of every instrumental work.

I'm taking a little time to reflect on the year. The second semester has become increasingly difficult and stressful, but I'm hanging in there. With some family issues and a job as well, graduate school has proven to require much more than a desire for a higher degree. It's taken passion and drive that I didn't realize I had. Is anyone else feeling this way? I think everyone ought to take a minute and post their accomplishments, things they're particularly proud of . It's a good way to keep up steam and motivation. I've recently secured funding for my entire second year here, so I'm extremely happy about that. It's looking as though I may be able to pull off a 4.0 for the year as well. While all of this research and classroom work is taxing, the rewards make it worth it. Who else is feeling good about the first year's outcomes?

I make so many typos in my posts. It drives me nuts.

I was granted an RA position this semester. Hopefully next year I'll teach. I'd like both opportunities.

I'm messing around with it right now...it's pretty much a Pearson's correlation with more than two variables. Its interesting stuff though. So does psych use ANOVA quite often? We really don't use it in sociology.

Steam- I second that, damn it's a great outlet after a long day. Beers and games. It's the best way for me to stay in touch with friends from back home too. Liszt, do you do any regression analysis in psychology?

MMM, definitely don't jump into a credit card unless you know how to handle them. I've had one for a while, but it's only for emergencies. I've never had to use it. Just have one for emergencies, and if you want to build credit go ahead and buy some things, then pay them off quickly (only do this if you have the cash on hand). Adult life? Coya's right....it just kind of happens. One day you wake up and realize you can't drink like a fish and feel fine the next day. That's the first sign of adulthood....ugh....and to think I'll be 23 in 3 days. How did this happen?

Ah, Endnote! I forgot! And I really ought to get matlab for modeling too. You use SAS Liszt85?? Why do that to yourself!

Yeah, I think it's even more nerve wracking when you get into a program and start doing the work too. You get the impostor complex, always wondering if your work is up to snuff, or if you're full of crap and the papers you've written are garbage. I get that feeling constantly. Also, I sometimes feel like I shouldn't do as well as I do, as so many other students always comment on it, calling me a brainiac or whatever. I guess it was endearing at first, but now it makes me feel like an ass. I'm not sure the intimidation ever goes away. Hell, the University is basically a gym for the mind. Everyones working out, feeling self conscious about the other person's work out routine. Everyone always thinks they should be reading more, or writing more, or reading a certain topic or whatever.

Masters Degree. I use: SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Very expensive. It can be up to 500 dollars. Microsoft Excel. Not too expensive, comes with microsoft office. Microsoft Word. Microsoft Access Nvivo (qualitative data analysis program). Not sure on the costs, my department bought it. Microsoft Powerpoint. Great for presentations.

Not attending a 'prestigious' sociology program at the PhD level can hurt you in the hiring process. My undergrad, which was not prestigious, only looked at professors who attended top 50 schools (according to US News and World Report). They wouldn't even talk people from other schools. Now, granted, this is just one school out of a lot. But I think you could get into a ranked school with those scores. Why aren't you using the standard 2 reach schools, 2 mid level, 2 safety?? 6 schools, and a good chance of getting into each one....

http://video.adultswim.com/tim-and-eric-awesome-show-great-job/prices.html I love this show, I crack up every time I see this video.

Lol, I had a feeling this would turn into an angry thread.

Yeah, gender isn't really tied up in gender. Gender is a performative behavior, something we're socialized to exhibit. People can display multiple genders at one time. Sex is obviously a biological trait, which can be changed as well thanks to modern science. Neither are completely dualist.

Yeah, a masters can be more debt and more time taken out of your life. There is no point in getting one unless its a stepping stone to a PhD (assuming you didn't get into a school the first time you applied). Traditionally, masters programs have been a way of 'prooving' yourself to PhD programs when you have mediocre credentials. But you won't make much money in the job market with just a masters in the liberal arts, as seadub said. I'm currently using my MA program as a stepping stone, catering my thesis to the interests of PhD programs I want to attend, and networking with the departments. Look at the statistics for enrollment in major research institutions such as Penn State. The new 2009 cohort (for sociology) was completely masters level students and those who had been working in the job market. None were bachelors. Many in academia are talking of a shift from PhD's recruiting bachelors students to recruiting MA students who demonstrate research ability and hard dedication or work experience in their field. After all, research makes money. Yes, you're definately not garaunteed a spot in a PhD after a masters either. But you're not garaunteed a spot in a PhD after a BA either. A BA in the liberal arts won't get you more than a managerial position in the periphery of the economy, and if you had to pay for the degree with loans, its not worth the investment to begin with. At least with an MA you can work for institutions like the Research Triangle Institute or other government agencies, which pay more than at a BA level. So its not a complete waste if you don't get into a PhD after a masters. Another point of advice: Dont enter into an MA program unless they give you partial funding. Its not worth it. If you know you can secure funding once youre there, go for it. Otherwise its not worth the debt.

I'll be at the annual meeting in Atlanta, and I'll be at the southerns in Atlanta presenting in a session on film. I think arm chair sociology is extremely important, just as other sections of the discipline are. All sociologists contribute somehow, and those who sit and theorize about social phenomena are needed, just as the data addicts are. I just see a lot of students who have a solid background in data, and not much in the way of theory. When I tell these students that my undergrad was all theory and hardly any data (at least quantitative data), they all get very surprised. Of course, I've come full circle, and now I'm about to master regression analysis. I won't stop day dreaming about sociology though!

Before I moved to the other end of the country for grad school, I used to jam out on my drums constantly. Metal, blues, punk, rock...whatever really. Then I realized the drums couldn't fit in my tiny car, so I sold them for about half their value to a 14 year old looking to start a rock band. I figured he'd get the same enjoyment out of them that I did at 14. Now I talk politics and social issues of beers at a local bar on wednesdays and watch kareoke. I play a lot of left 4 dead 2 with friends from home, it's the best way to keep up with them. I talk with my gf a lot (shes about 3 hours away) which is a huge stress relief, and I go for walks a lot after I finish my work at night. I haven't read a novel for please in months. But then again, the stuff I read for research gives me more pleasure than novels. In a sense, while my work is stressful, it provides stress relief. It's been the only thing that I can hold on to in terms of identity since I moved here, as I basically packed all my stuff into my car and drove down to live with people I've never met in a part of the country I know nothing about. I'm still adjusting.

I think a lot of that is explained by the emphasis on quantitative research. It's easy to look at data and find associations. We can compile stats all day, run regression analyses and then say 'hey, look what I found! Time to write a paper.'. Thats just bad science. I've been told by some researchers that starting at the data is the best way to go...I disagree. Shouldn't researchers spend a large amount of time thinking, completely separated from data? Think on whats been theorized, look at past research, then formulate a hypothesis and test it. Besides, theory is the most interesting part. What does it matter if poverty is related to higher crime rates if we can't explain it using some perspective??

Hell its just easy and includes everyone. Good enough for me. I can remember being corrected by teachers for using it so frequently when I was in high school. Now its used so frequently, I'd probably be corrected for not using it.

Religion, stratification, terrorism, inequality, and theory in general. I love sociological theory. I don't think thats necessarily an area of specialty, but I find that more and more sociology students are getting disconnected from theory in favor of research.