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Quickmick

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  1. Upvote
    Quickmick reacted to Concordia in Declining After Acceptance?   
    Can you negotiate a deferral for maternity leave?  Postponing everything for a year may clear up what you really want to do.
  2. Upvote
    Quickmick reacted to rising_star in It it unwise to switch fields after my master's?   
    Okay, I'm only including this part because I think it shows that you really aren't in the right place to make a decision about this just yet. Why would you even consider doing an EdD program if you aren't sure if you want a career in education? Also, it's unusual to be considering an EdD alongside considering a MS/PhD in another field... Why? Because the EdD is a practitioner's degree and the PhD is a research degree. The skill sets you'd develop and the tasks you're asked to do are pretty different between the two. You may want to read more about the two different degrees and the career paths people take upon receiving them because you'll probably find it helpful.
    Consequently, as a first step, I'd advise thinking about what it is you actually want to be doing career-wise in 5-10 years. Then, once you do that, take the time to look up people currently in that career and see what credentials they have. Do they have a PhD, an EdD, or did they get there without the doctorate? If it's the latter, then you may realize that the doctorate isn't needed (at least at this time) and then you can do informational interviews to better understand how to get yourself to where those people currently are. More school isn't always the answer, especially when you aren't really sure what it is you want to do.
  3. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from ExponentialDecay in Font, margins, and spacing tricks to overcome page limits   
    Just a thought, but you might want to consider what a lengthy submission is telling your professor. It seems to suggest, "I know you said 10 pages, and there are 10 of us, but I've decided that of the many constraints placed on your time it is best spent reading 5 extra pages from me (or) this is absolutely the best thing you will read all term so I am worth it." Both of those cases seem like probable long shots. Last term I had a fellow who said 10ish--don't give me 5 unless you are incredible at being terse and don't give me 15 unless you are a savant with a break-though. My point is just that their time is important.
     This term I had a paper that I could tell was shaping up to run over, so I just sent an email over explaining that I know you wanted 10 but I am running long (to 18) and asking if is that OK or should I cut it. He said long is fine but try to get it to 14. So, I got to be long and practice separating the wheat from the chaff. Communicating seemed to be the most direct approach for me.
  4. Upvote
    Quickmick reacted to GradSchoolTruther in Grades versus Writing Samples/CV   
    The writing sample probably is one of the last things departments look at. Grades, GRE scores, LORs, and the statement of purpose have more weight.
  5. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from SunshineLolipops in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    You could (although you mentioned this is it for you) use that as a springboard for next year. I went to a conference at the beginning of the month ahead of the upcoming admission cycle. Don't know if it will help or not, but I am hopeful it will.
  6. Upvote
    Quickmick reacted to TMP in UCLA PhD or Harvard MA?   
    Take the UCLA offer.  Admissions to PhD programs are difficult and it varies from year to year (says someone who has gone through 3 cycles for transnational history).  If you turn down UCLA, Harvard, and Madison and then go to Yale, chances are going to be random 2 years from now whether or not you will get into those places again.
    The acceptable reason to back out on this PhD opportunity is to take a break from school or need to be more financially stable (i.e. pay down more of student loans or have some savings in the bank) or to take care of family.
  7. Upvote
    Quickmick reacted to stillalivetui in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    Don't let the rankings discourage you. If you determined this was your top choice then it seems that this program was a perfect fit with your interests, which will go a long ways. 
    Be excited. PhD programs, no matter the rankings, are incredibly difficult to be admitted to. 
  8. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from fencergirl in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    I don't know if they do it for the 'secret' aspect, they just might release admits from that list as they hear rejections (declines) back.  Before I started my MS I had also applied to law schools, and while I don't know if PhD wait lists work the same way--I would guess they don't--for law they often keep the wait list going through summer and right up until august. Law schools obviously operate on a different business model, though (attendees pay, so the school wants a full cohort).
    While its not possible for everyone to get the result they want, I hope everyone gets what they need from this cycle. This time I have been more of an observer, and it has reminded me how anxious I was heading into my MS so hopefully has helped as I prepare to go through it again this fall. I have appreciated the comments and the community here, so thanks and good luck!
  9. Upvote
    Quickmick reacted to ashiepoo72 in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    Do not do a PhD without funding unless you are independently and ridiculously wealthy. Most people will tell you not even to do an MA without funding, and I agree, but I'd take an unfunded MA over an unfunded PhD a million times over. Spend the year bolstering your application (languages? archival research? teaching abroad or domestically? publishing? presenting?) and apply again next go-round.
  10. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from Danger_Zone in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    You probably didn't. Hang in there and hope for the best, if you put your best effort into your application materials its really all you could do no matter how it works out. Good Luck!
    @archersline just thought I'd give you another chance to give me a a minus heart thingy
  11. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from johnnycomelately in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    Of course it does, I just wouldn't guess it to be statistically significant (unless it is one of ours! ), though I never learned how to count countless.
  12. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from johnnycomelately in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    I am just curious as to what the possible upside of emailing is? Everyone has the same deadline to accept admission (though when I was in the process of applying to law schools and my MS program I did say 'no thank you' as soon as I knew I wouldn't accept something). I did have the urge to reach out to people, but I ignored it. I guess I just don't see the upside. "Oh SMITH! Thank heavens you emailed! I would have never realized that I didn't send your response!" If anything, during this crazy busy time for them I would think that if it had any effect it would be detrimental. If there are 3 folks left for one spot and someone just can't stand to let the process happen without emailing, maybe it makes it easier to say there are 2 folks for one spot. I have no idea, but it does seem like a possibility or at least as possible as it having a positive effect.
    I know the waiting is no fun and I hope you get a positive result. Any suggestions on what the possible benefits of email are, other than making us feel like we are being proactive in some fashion when in reality the die has been cast?
  13. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from archersline in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    You probably didn't. Hang in there and hope for the best, if you put your best effort into your application materials its really all you could do no matter how it works out. Good Luck!
    @archersline just thought I'd give you another chance to give me a a minus heart thingy
  14. Downvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from archersline in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    Of course it does, I just wouldn't guess it to be statistically significant (unless it is one of ours! ), though I never learned how to count countless.
  15. Downvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from archersline in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    I am just curious as to what the possible upside of emailing is? Everyone has the same deadline to accept admission (though when I was in the process of applying to law schools and my MS program I did say 'no thank you' as soon as I knew I wouldn't accept something). I did have the urge to reach out to people, but I ignored it. I guess I just don't see the upside. "Oh SMITH! Thank heavens you emailed! I would have never realized that I didn't send your response!" If anything, during this crazy busy time for them I would think that if it had any effect it would be detrimental. If there are 3 folks left for one spot and someone just can't stand to let the process happen without emailing, maybe it makes it easier to say there are 2 folks for one spot. I have no idea, but it does seem like a possibility or at least as possible as it having a positive effect.
    I know the waiting is no fun and I hope you get a positive result. Any suggestions on what the possible benefits of email are, other than making us feel like we are being proactive in some fashion when in reality the die has been cast?
  16. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from TMP in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    Hours of fun at the GradCafe?
  17. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from ashiepoo72 in U.S. history job market   
    I was going to leave this one alone....but...
    I think maybe this would benefit from being re-framed, maybe the question should be why are you doing a PhD. If PhD=Job and Job=Happy/Secure/$ whatever there are a lot of easier ways to land a lucrative job (and if you are in sales, and good, you don't even need a BA!). If you feel somehow called or compelled to go then I suppose that is our lot, maybe we just have to make ourselves as desirable as we can, try have a couple or original thoughts along the way and hope for the best. Life is full of uncertainty, there is an entire field devoted to making decisions amid uncertainty, so you have two choices. If all actions cause some ripple of uncertain consequences in the world, then the safest bet is to do absolutely nothing, or you can roll the dice and do something. I am a nontraditional student having spent 10 years on a trading floor in Chicago and another decade as an advisor. I am no spring chicken, I have a lovely wife and a wonderful daughter who I have an obligation to provide for. My point here is I am pretty sure I could pick up the phone today and have a 'good' job tomorrow, but it takes more than money to make me happy. Am I going to lose any sleep over what might or might not happen in the future when I am doing what I feel is right? Heck no. Another point to consider is how much do you need (materially) to be happy? I have found that the spending of money can be fun, but it is just a vehicle, what is far more important to me in the long run is that my work is important--that I am striving to be in a position to help the world make sound decisions regarding the impacts to my daughter's future and her daughter's future.
    Anyway, if you want to be a quant in a HFT trading outfit then a PhD in applied stats will pay. So will engineering and working for Big Oil. I would wager that most people in this thing, while they know they need to work/earn/etc, aren't in it for the money. Besides that, the cream rises to the top.
  18. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from Riotbeard in U.S. history job market   
    I was going to leave this one alone....but...
    I think maybe this would benefit from being re-framed, maybe the question should be why are you doing a PhD. If PhD=Job and Job=Happy/Secure/$ whatever there are a lot of easier ways to land a lucrative job (and if you are in sales, and good, you don't even need a BA!). If you feel somehow called or compelled to go then I suppose that is our lot, maybe we just have to make ourselves as desirable as we can, try have a couple or original thoughts along the way and hope for the best. Life is full of uncertainty, there is an entire field devoted to making decisions amid uncertainty, so you have two choices. If all actions cause some ripple of uncertain consequences in the world, then the safest bet is to do absolutely nothing, or you can roll the dice and do something. I am a nontraditional student having spent 10 years on a trading floor in Chicago and another decade as an advisor. I am no spring chicken, I have a lovely wife and a wonderful daughter who I have an obligation to provide for. My point here is I am pretty sure I could pick up the phone today and have a 'good' job tomorrow, but it takes more than money to make me happy. Am I going to lose any sleep over what might or might not happen in the future when I am doing what I feel is right? Heck no. Another point to consider is how much do you need (materially) to be happy? I have found that the spending of money can be fun, but it is just a vehicle, what is far more important to me in the long run is that my work is important--that I am striving to be in a position to help the world make sound decisions regarding the impacts to my daughter's future and her daughter's future.
    Anyway, if you want to be a quant in a HFT trading outfit then a PhD in applied stats will pay. So will engineering and working for Big Oil. I would wager that most people in this thing, while they know they need to work/earn/etc, aren't in it for the money. Besides that, the cream rises to the top.
  19. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from Josh J. in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    @prculus
    Generally I seem to gravitate toward 20th cent US but do think there are interesting possibilities looking at views/land use in other areas and pre-industrial revolution on a comparative basis. Ive done some work on the history of US wildfire management, BLM (USBR) from Powell to present and of course I enjoy Muir/Leopold/etc. I also enjoy trying to incorporate a systems approach and like to think about the pedagogy involved.
    @nevermind
    I am gearing up to apply this fall so have been making lists and reaching out to POIs. I am happy to talk about the possibles/strong possibles but it is probably premature until I get the rest of the feedback from POIs. I will probably keep the apps in the 5-10 range.
  20. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from xolo in how does this teaching thing work long term?   
    @rising_star makes some great points. I used a rubric and liked to see an "a" paper first, then I kind of had a mental yardstick. Depending on what you are testing, for the quizzes I made them all multiple choice (and one super bonus fill in), that way I could really zip through them. I would try to meet folks that might be able to offer you funding too. I was lucky enough to pick up funding after a semester so your time TAing might not work out to be as long as you are thinking it will. good luck!
  21. Upvote
    Quickmick got a reaction from L13 in Fall 2016 Applicants   
    Hello all! this looks like a great place in general and a spot for my first post. I--like most of you--am beginning the cycle. I am looking at Environmental History programs and like looking at the interaction between man and the land and what land use decisions have meant for both. I am cut from a bit of a different cloth from a CV standpoint, and while some may see it as a weakness I am hoping that some see it as an asset. Undergrad I studied liberal arts with minors in History and Philosophy. I am currently in a MSc Environmental Science program (luckily with funding). My V is good (94%) and quant not no much (48%) ugrad 3.88 grad 4.0. I am hoping that someone at a top notch program will see the value the MS brings to historical analysis. I also have worked in the Environmental Science realm in a socio-economic context. I have TA'd and am a research assistant at a research institute.
    Professionally I might have a different experience as I was a floor trader in Chicago for a decade then an advisor before going back to school. For those considering Environmental History there are some good resources here: www.aseh.net That is were I started my list of possibles which include Brown, Yale, Harvard, Northwestern, Oregon, GTown, UC Boulder, UC davis/berk. Also on the list are U Chicago and Princeton for other reasons. This list will get cut down to probably 4-7 apps. I have a number one choice (for now) and have reached out to a few professors.
    I am in a position where I can probably continue on with my current institution in a favorable position, and I will be happy however this all shakes out as I would be happy to continue here if that is the upshot of all this. However that would keep me more in the sciences. That is part of the reason why I plan to limit my number of apps, as something is going to have to be pretty compelling for me to go. Also I am a little weary of the process having both gone though the MS admissions and Law School Apps (had some success and partial funding but I didn't want to borrow the diff)only a year and a half ago.
    In any case, I look forward to reading more from you all and thank you in advance for your help! Anyone who has suggestions regarding professors I might want to research at these (or other) institutions I would love to hear it. This thread has already given me ideas (i.e. Michael McCormick) so thank you.
    Regards,
    QM
     
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