sociocritic

This is that department’s way of telling you that you did not make the cut. From experience they will wait to see if someone they’ve already extended an offer with funding to declines the offer, if so then they *may* offer you their funding- depending on where you are in line. They will offer for you to talk to a current graduate student. Whomever you speak to will be a student that has stayed in line and followed all orders while being a part of the program. DO NOT ATTEND ANY PhD PROGRAM WITHOUT FULL FUNDING- as you have already indicated, it’s a bad idea and a red flag to be offered a position w/o funding. If you are used to doing radical or progressive work in your job my advice would be to stick with it and apply again next cycle if you still want to pursue grad school. Nothing progressive is happening in that departament in regards to immigration and migration. If you’re planning to do stats or demography you’d be alright, if you want to apply a critical lens I would keep looking. A thing I wish I had known when applying is how important it is to apply to schools based on multiple specific faulty you think you could work with (read their work ahead of time if you can) and/or the theoretical framework a certain department follows- look to see what a departments main specialities are by seeing what faculty have produced recently, look at CVs, try and figure out which faculty are newer (ppl tend to start out as assistant hen go to associate to full based on the school)- knowing who is newer will help you to see what direction a department might be moving in, see what relationships the department has built with other departments etc. This all can be so hard to find/figure out prior to attending and also time consuming, but it is worth at least trying imo. My experience would have been much different had I done this deeper digging. I wish you you and your partner the best, and go with your gut when in doubt.

I want to emphasize the sentiments of this post! DO NOT BE FOOLED BY ANY “DIVERSITY” and “INCLUSION” RHETORIC COMING FROM THIS DEPTARTMENT. The sociology department at Syracuse University is racist. It also *highly* discourages and minziminzes activist scholars. As a whole the department is afraid of being critiqued and is violently opposed to those seeking to create meaningful, tangible change- particularly in regards to race. While this program may admit POC, it does a HORRENDOUS job of supporting them. Retention rates for students of color in this program are ABYSMAL (particularly within the past few years). This department epitomizes the neoliberal white woman. It functions with her mind, basis decisions off her values, gives kindness to those who follow suit whilst strictly/passively punishing those who disrupt, and vehemently denies such thoughts and actions when confronted. To be clear and as stated above, there are a few faculty members and colleagues that are allies and give genuine support. However, the department as a whole is toxic. If you have plans to work with the Women and Gender Studies program at Syracuse University, know that such plans are greatly discouraged by the leadership within the sociology department. HOWEVER. Do NOT let this deter you from building relationships with WGS faulty and students. The WGS department can provide spaces that you will not find in the sociology program, spaces where students of color are centered. Not all WGS spaces will provide this, but the opportunity exists. If you are are person of color and you decide to attend the sociology program at Syracuse University, go in informed, know/own/live why you are there, and be mindful of what that place may take from you mentally/emotionally/physically. Center yourself. Build your own community. And more power to you.