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Tritonetelephone

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  1. Upvote
    Tritonetelephone got a reaction from shoorveer123 in Coming Out Gay   
    One more thing: you asked if it was "necessary" to come out? We've established that your own comfort level is what's important, but I actually think it will be necessary further down the line to admit that you have a personal interest in your research. Some might disagree. But I think the best research lays out your personal interest on the table, then makes a really good argument (indirectly) for why you should still accept the results objectively. By the time you get to the stage in your research where you'd have to do this though, you'll have already figured out that NO one in your community is offended or maybe even surprised.
  2. Upvote
    Tritonetelephone got a reaction from VBD in Finding info on city tools & other things   
    Is anyone else using the power of colorful spreadsheets to weight their funding offer against area COL?

    I made a spreadsheet using the COL index from http://realestate.yahoo.com/neighborhoods.
    A value of 100 for the COL index is the national average, and 110 would be 10% more expensive, etc.
    I used the following formula: [stipend/Fellowships - Fees] * 100 / [COL index].

    That way, a large offer in the northeast often evens out against a lower offer in the midwest, etc.

    The problem with a COL index, though, is that its heavily influenced by mortgage rates and house prices and things that aren't going to affect a grad student. So, I also looked at the average apt and energy costs in the area from bankrate's COL calculator, as well as what I thought I might actually end up paying for housing based on what current grad students pay. I then divided the funding offer by 12 and subtracted those potential housing figures to understand how much I would make in-pocket each month.

    Has anyone found a better method?

    BTW: Also in my spreadsheet: area demographics, weather stats, department specs (cohort size, # of qualifying exams, etc.), walk score, and squirrel quality
  3. Downvote
    Tritonetelephone got a reaction from Ville in Los Angeles, CA   
    Does anyone know anything specific about the apartments USC's website suggests for graduate students, such as Seven Gables? My main concern is living somewhere close but QUIET.
  4. Upvote
    Tritonetelephone reacted to ah2191 in USC   
    This was the conversation about USC on the acceptances/rejections/decisions forum. I know that some unofficial acceptance emails have been sent, but I don't know if all have. There is also a tentative visitation day scheduled for March 26th.
  5. Upvote
    Tritonetelephone got a reaction from rogue in Coming Out Gay   
    One more thing: you asked if it was "necessary" to come out? We've established that your own comfort level is what's important, but I actually think it will be necessary further down the line to admit that you have a personal interest in your research. Some might disagree. But I think the best research lays out your personal interest on the table, then makes a really good argument (indirectly) for why you should still accept the results objectively. By the time you get to the stage in your research where you'd have to do this though, you'll have already figured out that NO one in your community is offended or maybe even surprised.
  6. Upvote
    Tritonetelephone got a reaction from rogue in Coming Out Gay   
    I agree that sociology has to be THE safest discipline for coming out. People who do sociology TEND TO (at the very least, SHOULD) understand social inequality and social constructionism, and I would not expect anything but acceptance from your fellow students - especially if you're heading to a place that specializes in LGBT stuff.

    I would also argue that if what you're studying has anything to do with LGBTQ populations, you really won't have to come out. This is coming from the perspective of a straight person who does queer studies and is comfortable with the fact that almost everyone who only knows me for my research thinks I'm gay. Whatever your comfort level is with talking to people about your sexual orientation is what you should follow. Do NOT avoid it out of fear of being judged tho (or even worse, accommodating those who might judge you). You really should be fine.

    Don't take the bad energy that's infiltrated this thread as a sign. The topic title might catch the eye of some troll(s), but they don't represent the soc community. I'm with hoobers on this one too - homophobia is SO rare in sociology (in my experience) that I thought the original "OMG" response meant "OMG it's so obvious that you shouldn't worry!" Which says something about my own reaction when I first read the question.
  7. Downvote
    Tritonetelephone reacted to Early in Coming Out Gay   
    For real. While sociology might be a safe spot to come out, sometimes it doesn't seem like a safe spot to joke around sometimes. The extreme liberal ideology makes it hard to make joke (although at times they will be tasteless), because all of the ''bleeding hearts" take everything you say so seriously. I didn't view the original comment as overly offensive, in fact--i thought it was a joke. Judging by the last reply, I guess it wasn't. However, I really feel like in sociology you're allowed to speak your mind, so long as your mind aligns with a liberal ideology. Makes it hard for people who like "shock value" comedy.

    To the OP--i can almost promise you that it will not be a problem to come out to your new department, and good luck.
  8. Upvote
    Tritonetelephone reacted to hip2btriangle in Coming Out Gay   
    yeah, um, i have played the queer activist role in a number of pretty hostile climates, so while i understand and appreciate your potential willingness to try and "get the concept," it doesn't really warrant you posting a reply to a question like this about safe spaces. grad school is often a time when major life issues pop up, and there's research somewhere that shows that mental health issues come about in grad school at an alarming rate, and when wrestling with coming out questions it's really important that queer people think this stuff through for their own well being.

    like what other people said, sociology as a discipline is definitely among the most queer friendly i've ever seen. i'm leaving a program in sociology at a school of education (where sexuality stuff SUCKS, by the way), and i'm starting a phd program where gender and sexuality are pretty commonly studied.

    a lot of questions about whether it's okay to come out or not really depend on your sense of the school climate. i agree that carrying the burden of the closet is one that can be incredibly stressful, so really do your homework about this one. look through the student list and see if there's anyone explicitly studying queer issues, and maybe email them. if you have a decent relationship with the grad director, maybe reach out to them. i did that when i was first admitted and they kindly connected me with queer resources on campus as well as a student or two that is actively involved in the community.

    if you're having trouble with finding all this info, you can PM me with info about the exact school you're going to and i might be able to see if i can look up school climate information or even local info about queer resources. it's a tough decision, but it sounds like you're working through it.
  9. Upvote
    Tritonetelephone reacted to hoobers in Coming Out Gay   
    Sociology programs are easily amongst the safest places to come out. In my experience, majority of soc grad students are warm, caring, and understanding. There might, as always, be some weirdness about it. My really rather uninformed advice is to play it by ear: start out on a need-to-know basis, and then tell people when you are comfortable with them.

    (P.S., I am sorta surprised everyone took 2bphd's bizarre remark as something hostile. My first thought was that he was just expressing surprise at the question, as opposed to being a boorish asshole. What the hell do I know. Anyway, I would *not* take his remark as evidence of rampant homophobia in soc/grad student circles--I don't think there's much of it!)
  10. Downvote
    Tritonetelephone reacted to 2bphd in Coming Out Gay   
    BJeeeeesus!!
    OMG
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