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hopefulPhD2017

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  1. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to Eigen in Compiled Advice from @Gradslack   
    Good compilation of advice from early career faculty to new grad students. @Gradslack compiled the questions and asked them to the @NewPi_Slack community via Twitter, then compiled the answers. 
    Nice range of topics from keeping up with literature, preparation for becoming a PI, and the perennial favorite of dealing with imposter syndrome  
    https://gradstudentslack.wordpress.com/blog/
  2. Like
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to Sigaba in Orginality of a research topic   
    Chances are that since your idea is "very much" in the public consciousness via the media that other academics have done some sort of research on it.  It is not likely that the two professors you've shared the idea with are up to date with all the latest research on your proposed topic. Use the skills you're developing to research the existing literature--you may be chasing information that's mention in passing or relegated to the references. Which will suck if your field uses short citations. (History is the greatest field of study there is in the humanities and the social sciences. Just reminding everyone. ) There's a big difference between creating new knowledge and being completely original.  If one interpretation of the alphabet is A-Z, and another is A-X, Z, and Y, both are contributions to a field. You will be better off if you can anchor your approach to the issue to an established scholarly debate. If you're too far afield, the cutting edge becomes the bleeding edge. (Or so I've heard.) If your topic is heavily reliant on data analysis, it might behoove you to start looking into the potential impact of AIs and ASIs on your field.  Are you learning skills that will be less relevant a few years from now? If you've not done so already, consider the benefits of keeping some sort of idea journal. Jot down your thoughts over and again--you may notice that you either phrase or conceptualize it differently every time.  Over time, as you think, read, think, and think about your idea, the concept may become ever clearer. Or foggier. Or both. Or so I've heard.  
     
  3. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to highered01 in 2018 Education Applicants   
    Spoke (posted?) too soon! Got a call from the Director of CSHPE at Michigan with an offer of admission to the PhD in Higher Education program this afternoon. So excited! 
  4. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to iwearflowers in "Let's just TALK about it..." Decision Edition   
    OMG, SAME. I applied to my dream program with no hope of getting in. I just knew I would regret not trying. Now I have an acceptance, and I'm freaking out about the cost of living in that city and feeling guilty about picking it over a more reasonably priced location.
  5. Like
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to Sandmaster in Ph.D. Advice   
    All 5 applications are officially complete! I am so relieved! Now comes the process of checking all of the applications 10 times a day to make sure they eventually get marked as complete. Waiting for GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and transcripts to arrive is nerve wrecking as they all need to be submitted by Dec 1 so I can be considered.
  6. Like
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to meep95 in Anyone else feeling overwhelmed?   
    my first year (quarter) has been rough (for me and my cohort as a whole). I had to move several states away, and on the 2nd day of class my grandmother died. One of the people in my cohort was very toxic and created a bad environment (she would tell professors they were wrong in class, be rude when people were sharing something emotionally vulnerable, etc.). she has since been kicked out, but it still started things off badly. Other cohort members have also had family members die or get diagnosed with terminal cancer this quarter, someone else dropped out, and the work load in general is just crazy. also i am being a terrible procrastinator and have huge amounts of projects piling up, and am struggling with doing long distance with my boyfriend of 3 years for the first time. i am counting the days until winter break for sure
  7. Like
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to Adelaide9216 in Anyone else feeling overwhelmed?   
    I got an A on that paper. Phew.
    One month left to this semester. Anyone wanting to chat about their experience as a first-year graduate student? 
  8. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to dr. t in Dropping out on first year?   
    Ah, not only are you way too smart for your school, the other programs just wouldn't recognize your genius. Of course. lol.
    I assume that, since you're just so smart, you actually had a purpose in attending your program despite the caveats given by @ExponentialDecay above. Obviously you're too intelligent to have gone in without having fully researched the consequences of taking an interdisciplinary degree. So clearly there's still some point in getting it, and that point hasn't changed. My advice thus remains the same: first semester tends to try to bring people up to speed, and may be easier since you have an MA. See if you still feel that way in the spring.
    Oh, and try not to cause yourself irreparable social harm by talking about how you're too smart for your program.
  9. Like
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to t_ruth in A cautionary tale   
    Hi all.
    As you all go about your applications, I thought I'd write with a recent cautionary tale from the other side of the table. This forum was a great help to me as I went through my grad school application process and hope that I can contribute to the knowledge here.
    As a relatively new faculty member I am still excited to get grad applications--I start looking at them right away. I recently looked at one that listed areas of research interest that align with what I do, but did not list faculty members of interest. I wrote the applicant to ask for elaboration. I did not sign the email other than with my signature line which specifies my full name and my degrees (including PhD).
    He wrote back promptly (which is good), but addressed me by my first name only (not Dr. Me) and said that he wanted to work with "Dr. Other Person" (male), because of his work (that is similar to mine).
    This signals to me a few things: 1.) there are possible sexism issues, 2.) the student did not really read my web page or work, 3.) there are likely respect issues.
    This was an otherwise fairly strong candidate that I was potentially interested in. No more. Perhaps he will still end up with Dr. Other Person, and it will be fine, but it is a small program, and it is always good to cultivate multiple mentoring relationships.
    Perhaps those of you who are in the stage of applying and communicating with potential mentors can learn from this.
  10. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 got a reaction from CookieCat in Fall 2017 Education Acceptances/Interviews/Rejections   
    I've gone back and re-read previous year's threads for my schools, and from what I can tell, if a school gives interviews, and you don't get one, you will most likely, eventually, and after a few months of waiting, be rejected.
    So, I made a T-chart: schools that give interviews, and schools that don't. I found that process helpful to at least have a sense of what I am waiting for. One school I wasn't sure of so I called them and they very nicely informed me that they don't do interviews and that they'll be sending out notices at the end of January.
  11. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to yahm in How are you going to afford moving?   
    I don't know what your plans are, but if you have a lot of stuff to move, my boyfriend and I are considering a U-box. For like $1500 someone will pickup all your stuff, drive it across country, and then deliver it to your new pad. ($1500 for a one-bedroom apartment.) Since we want to take the opportunity to drive across country and see some cities along the way (we're moving from LA to Alabama), we thought it'd be easier than lugging a huge trailer. 
    I will say, though, as someone who has moved across the world twice: only take the stuff you really need. You'd be surprised what you can live without and what things will be irrelevant in a new environment. 
    @Cra2y_G1raffe: We're moving with a red-tail boa snake. I feel you on the pet hassle
  12. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 got a reaction from AP in Advice on Assistantship Negotiation   
    Welp. It's April 14 today. 
    I wrote to the school asking if it'd be possible to put into writing multiple years of funding to match another offer. That was 4.5 days ago. I've gotten no response as of yet and since we're 10 business hours  (if you count Saturday as a business day) away from end of day on April 15, I guess that's that and that I'm turning down the offer entirely.
    I wish they'd respond, at least, but I feel confident that I will be better supported in the long term at another school. 
    Again, thanks to you all here, especially @TakeruK, @AP, and @rising_star; your thoughtful responses are what I needed to think this through in agonizing detail.
  13. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to TakeruK in Advice on Assistantship Negotiation   
    You're welcome. Sorry to hear about the frustration and agony of the non-response. But thanks for the update and I am glad that you feel good about the choice you end up making! Good luck next fall
  14. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 got a reaction from 1too3for5 in It is April 12, how you doing?   
    Oh no! That sucks. So sorry. 
    @light10491 I'm calling my POI later today and then accepting on the portal. Tomorrow is my day to celebrate!!
  15. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 got a reaction from mspeech in It is April 12, how you doing?   
    Glad to know we are all in good company! I had trouble sleeping last night. 
    Currently at a 9. Checking my email like mad hoping for a funding update!!
  16. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to ConfusedStudent in Is accepting an offer online enough?   
    Thank you for your replies. I'll definitely email my POIs to let them know I'll be coming. 
     
  17. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to hstrot in It is April 12, how you doing?   
    Quite nervous, probably a 6 or 7! Two rejections and my last (and top) choice has yet to send out decisions. Nerve wracking to say the least!
  18. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to jpain3 in It is April 12, how you doing?   
    My 8 is rapidly becoming a 9.... Applied to 13 programs and have been rejected from 11 (the most recently early last week). Most of the rejections came with something like "keep us in mind when you're doing research at whatever program you do get into" or "we only had two slots and you were number 3 or 4 on our list". The remaining two schools have been silent for the last month so my hope is quickly becoming delusion.
  19. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to Shengwei in It is April 12, how you doing?   
    The same! I have to choose between three similar programs. Only two days left!
  20. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to Marshall in It is April 12, how you doing?   
    Thank you much! From what I was told, it seems that I'm an alternate for a particular sub-field in the department, so I believe I'm waiting for one or two specific people to accept or decline. I'm trying to stay hopeful but also realistic.
     
    Good luck to everyone else who is waiting to hear! 
  21. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 got a reaction from DBear in It is April 12, how you doing?   
    How is everyone doing? Please weigh in:
    1 = super calm with your decision
    5 = torn, in the middle, undecided
    10 = FREAKING OUT
    I went to bed a 2 and woke up feeling about an 8!
    This may be the hardest decision I've ever made...
  22. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to StrengthandHonor in Welcome to the 2016-17 cycle!   
    I just accepted an offer and declined several others. I hope that helps some people who are waiting on waitlists!
  23. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to TakeruK in Is accepting an offer online enough?   
    It depends on the school. You might get sent a letter now that you need to sign and return. But many places now consider an online "accept" button clicked behind a secure login to be the digital equivalent of a signature.
    Now that you have officially accepted your offer (congrats!) it is also a good idea to email people you've been in contact with in the department to let them know. For example, write back to whomever communicated the offer to you originally. Also get in touch with your potential advisor (if you are entering a program with one) to let them know too!
  24. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to Lisha in Fall 2017 Education Acceptances/Interviews/Rejections   
    Hello everybody! I've started a Facebook group specifically for Penn GSE 2017-2018 students to connect. You can find it here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1346667225378828/
    Please feel free to share with others you know what have been accepted but may not be on this forum.
    Thank you! 
  25. Upvote
    hopefulPhD2017 reacted to avflinsch in RANT: Does anyone else think that grad school is a complete trap?   
    This was a major disagreement between my wife and I when we first got married. She liked crunchy, I hated crunchy. If it has the word 'butter' in the name, it should be smooth, like butter. Would you want to spread chunky butter on your morning toast?
    The only good use for chunky/crunchy peanut butter is for cookies.
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