fossati

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any experience transferring between different disciplines within the same university? Someone from my department recommended I would be a better fit for a different discipline within my University, and I agree. How difficult do you think it would be to make this transfer and reapply? How do I start having conversations and bring up the issue of transferring?

Hi, I'm looking for a reliable word processing software to write in. I know about Scrivener, and I really like the binder, but the UI design is uncomfortable for me to use and I find the interface / actual word processing part clunky. I know it's kind of obnoxious, but I need a word processing software I feel comfortable using. However, I do really like the Scrivener binder for organizing notes and the multiple parts that go into a project. But for academia, and especially writing in the humanities, are there any alternatives to Scrivener. MS Word unfortunately doesn't have a binder.

Thank you so much, this was really helpful!

Hi guys, I am really sorry if my title sounds a bit entitled, but I am at a point where I am not sure what the purpose of my coursework is anymore? As a humanities phd in film and media studies, it seems like my coursework is really loose in what I can take, not only that, but classes fill up really easily so it doesn't seem like a big deal if I cannot get into a particular class. I've also done a Master's degree and a year of coursework (right now I am finishing my first year). I have a strong idea about the fields I want to enter into and have taken coursework related to them. I feel like I am at a point where first, my classes are inhibiting my research and writing and second, I have a strong overview of my fields and interests that I can start doing the research on my own to get a deeper dive. I also feel as if my classes are kind of a surface impression of a field or a discipline, but are not giving my a deep dive into the topics (which would be kind of impossible over the course of the semester). Does anyone have advice or impressions on taking and signing up for courses? What type of classes should I be signing up for? Not sure if anyone else has been at this point. (For example, do job applications look at your coursework?)

Hey! I hope this helps. I ended up doing some research and got an E-Reader called the Onyx Boox Note Air, which runs on a limited version of Android 10. However, it's great for reading PDF's and taking notes on the actual device and the transferring process is relatively easy. I am also in the humanities and it's been wonderful thus far. I cannot speak about the longevity of it, but I enjoy using it.

Hey! I am not an expert in this, but I do know a lot of schools have Women's & Gender Studies certificates. At my school, the Women's and Gender studies program is facilitated by the English department. So I am wondering if a lot of Women's & Gender studies are funneled into different programs. For one of my prof's, he has a Women's and Gender's studies discipline, but his PhD is in Rhetoric. I would also just maybe look at a scholar who you want to work with to advise you and see which department they're in. But with your research interests, it sound a bit like Media and Communications! I would maybe ask a professor at a university for their advice as well. You also might want to do a Master's, or apply to a few, in case you don't get into a PhD (that's assuming you don't already have a Master's!)

Hi everyone. I notice a lot of PhD students in my field start publishing film reviews or longer form of film analysis/criticism in non-academic journals. I was wondering -- how necessary is that kind of work, if at all, for someone's academic and publishing career? Does it reflect well in job applications? I personally realize that I do not like writing brief film reviews, but I do like long-form criticism, and want to start publishing more of that, while balancing my academic work. But since I see quite a few people writing these shorter reviews, are these types of publications valuable? They don't seem as if they are worth the time and effort to me, other than for getting your name in a publication and making some money? I was just wondering what your thoughts and perspectives are.

Hi everyone, I am currently in a PhD program and have recently switched to Apple's Mac OS. I am also facing the conundrum regarding my reading materials. Context: I currently have a Kindle, which I got because it was easier on my eyes to read instead of on a computer screen. The Problem: All of my professors now send me PDF's. For the past week I have been converting these PDF's to Kindle format, which results in abrupt changes in text size, sometimes the images do not transfer or the text cannot convert to PDF, etc. Moreover, all of the notes are on Kindle, so I cannot color code the highlights, and the interface is so slow that it's hard to type notes. Overall, I think the Kindle is very good to read the text on, but ultimately, really awful for taking notes and converting PDF's. I currently have a Macbook, but reading PDF's on a macbook/ computer screen is painstakingly slow for me, and I really need to start getting faster. However, I do like taking notes on the computer and color coding the highlights. I am also a high-functioning autistic and get sensory overload, so I am very affected by the screen's brightness when reading and it gives me massive eye strain to the point where I cannot function or do work. *** TL;DR: What device should I use to read PDF's on? Should I get an iPad, and if so, is there a way to make the screen's brightness easier on my eyes?

*hugs*

I concur with pretty much everyone's responses that have commented on this. Deciding to pursue a PhD is not a light issue. And if you intend to get a job in academia, you should know that may not be necessarily possible. On that note, some people pursue PhD's in Film and Media studies and may have other career options in mind. A person from my Master's program is doing their PhD at a "top program," which also gives them the resources to work on their own films and publish their own film criticism. They are not necessarily in interested in becoming a tenured professor, but instead want to get paid to do research so they can also publish in non-academic journals. I also know people who have opted out of academia after getting tenure-track faculty jobs and decided to become an editor at a journal. All in all, I would really consider what you're doing. For me, I have also been in the working world and have worked a day job, and nothing has been as fulfilling for me as academic writing and research, so I enter my PhD program knowing full well about the difficult employment options. This has been a tough year for admissions, and we are also uncertain of academia's future. So this climate is particularly difficult. I know people who have found jobs during the pandemic, and I know others who are struggling. It is my hope that this pandemic situation is temporary and things will go back to normal, but of course, we don't know for sure how things will change since academic institutions have taken a hard hit. Anyway, those are just some thoughts that I have. I have a ton more! But I do agree with other people, it's not a light decision.

Honestly, good job everyone waitlisted and accepted. This year was exceedingly tough for our field. UChicago, UCLA, NYU, Brown MCM, Harvard FVS, some of Yale, plus other related humanities programs closed their doors this year. I am positive I am forgetting some schools. This year was not an easy application cycle, at all!

Hey ya'll I just got my rejection from Brown (Not surprised!) Does anyone know when Iowa will send their rejection letters? I want to make sure I am deprived of any glimmer of hope so I can confirm my enrollment for another graduate program. Lol.

I just got an e-mail from NYU that said they suspended PhD admissions for Cinema Studies.

I also heard USC does offer some funding for a few MA students.

I would recommend you apply for both PhD and MA programs. It is indeed possible for an undergrad to be accepted by a PhD program. I just talked with a friend and they said that in their program, a highly competitive one, she was one of the few people with a Master's degree. Most of the other students came straight from undergrad. That being said, my other friends pursuing film studies were rejected from every PhD program without a Master's. You can't go wrong with a Master's degree. It will make you more competitive and show your commitment to pursuing scholarship, strengthen your academic interests, etc. I think most people who apply to a PhD from undergrad are generally have very competitive or recognized achievements in their respective fields. So you should work on publishing a book review, applying to conferences, etc to compensate for a lack of a Master's degree. But by all means, apply for both!