fossati
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Posts posted by fossati
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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.
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2 hours ago, AP said:
In the humanities, where research plays the most important part of your degree, coursework is that moment to build your fields. This is the moment to read things you won't read in the years doing research and writing the dissertation because your focus will be very narrow. Coursework reminds you of the big picture as you dive into your research and as you come out of it. It reminds you of your interlocutors.
However, PhD programs vary from program to program and courses vary enormously even within the department. So your courses should be useful to you. How can you tell if they are useful? Well, you asked about employers. That's one way of thinking about it although I have never heard of anyone asking for courses taken in a PhD for employment purposes (it may vary in your field).
Courses at the graduate level can provide:
- Mentorship. Sometimes we take courses to work with a professor that we want to include in our committee and who might eventually write a LoR. I took courses with specialists outside my department to bolster potential letter writers for the job market.
- Diversity of assignments. In my program, several courses had non-traditional assignments which really helped me down the line. Eg, a course midterm was an annotated syllabus and in addition to the final project we had to write a grant application. It was the first draft I ever wrote and helped get started.
- Networking. Depending where you are taking courses, you can encounter students from fields that you wouldn't have found otherwise. Interdisciplinarity helped me better hone my project for audiences outside my discipline. I've also known people that because they took specific courses, they found out about internal grants that eventually funded their dissertation writing years.
- Methods. Some courses offer good exposure to methods that maybe you won't use in your project but it is worth knowing they exist. In my case, this is more methods in textual analysis.
YMMV
Thank you so much, this was really helpful!
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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?)
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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.
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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!)
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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.
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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.
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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?
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On 3/17/2021 at 8:32 AM, Kim2016 said:
Got the same template rejection letter from UW today. Very disappointing as this concludes my PhD admissions cycle 6/7 rejection and 1 suspended (NYU)
I hope the rest of the members in this forum will have at least one offer and will be able to start your academic journey.
It's been good sharing intel with all of you throughout this cycle.
*hugs*
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On 3/30/2021 at 7:11 AM, turanfly said:
The professor said that the job market is so bad for PhDs that the labor you put into that degree isn't worth the grim prospective of not having a job after you finish. My friends are not in film studies but they are pursuing humanities degrees - English, Music Composition, etc. I'm looking to corroborate this information with folx who are currently in film studies doctoral programs to gauge how happy they are in their programs and with their decision, but I haven't had any luck in finding someone.
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.
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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!
- baja-blast and Anoosh93
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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.- orangeslice and CrankyGinger
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I just got an e-mail from NYU that said they suspended PhD admissions for Cinema Studies.
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2 hours ago, jkv152 said:
I believe UW offers full funding for MA students.
I also heard USC does offer some funding for a few MA students.
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19 hours ago, Biupiupiu said:
Hey all the peers of cms! Just kind of going off a little bit, I am a junior undergrad double major in French and Film studies, and I want to kindly ask if it is possible in general for an undergrad to be accepted by a phd program? If yes, what are the essential/imperative factors that will lead to consideration of admission office?
Besides, any advice for the writing sample to be submitted for application? In particular, is it necessary/better to align my writing sample with my research interests reflected in the personal statement? I am planning to apply for master programs in the fall, but I would also like to give it a shot for phd programs.
I would appreciate it for any response and advice!
And of course, best of luck to ALL of you! What is yours will eventually come by your side.
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!
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I also just got rejected from Cornell. I am not surprised, as when I wrote the statement of purpose, I had a hard time figuring out why I wanted to go to that school specifically.
The only MFA programs I applied to are Cornell, Brown, and Iowa, so I would be pretty surprised if I got any acceptance, haha! Seems like getting a fully funded MFA is a distant fantasy.
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16 hours ago, Kim2016 said:
Awesome! My research interest is in global streaming giants disruption in national cinema (ie South Korea, Japan etc) and the use of data surveillance and its impact on mode of production & distribution of media contents.
Awesome! So cool. I hope you get funding for your research!
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41 minutes ago, andylee0427 said:
@Kim2016, @fossati Please don't give up hope just yet. There's always next year to try again. This year has been weird and tough due to COVID that forced some schools to cancel the admission process. What are both of your research interest, if you don't mind me asking? I'm focusing on postcolonial documentary films and nationalism in East Asia cinema.
I am actually counting my blessings bc I got an offer from USC. So that is definitely a really good choice. Even though I knew it was a longshot, I was just slightly heartbroken I did not get into Duke or Berkeley. My research interests are in Chinese cinema, and I am hoping to do more research related to technology and theory next year.
And yes, it seems like this year is extra competitive. Since many good schools have closed their application cycle, more people have either probably applied to the available options or opting to wait it out until next year (so I assume that next year will also be difficult). I am also just kind of making an assumption, but it seems like some schools might be taking in less students this year.
Anyway, good luck! I hope you get an offer.
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23 hours ago, Kim2016 said:
Ah.. So interviews are required for UW?
Oh no, I just meant in a general sense, not specific to UW.
However, I did apply to UW and I haven't heard from them at all.
I am just expecting many rejections all around.
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14 hours ago, ProAtOverthinking said:
I understand. I wish for you strength and hope to get through, everything's going to turn out in best possible way. ❤️❤️
Thank you for your kind and sweet message! I love your username btw haha.
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I'm still somewhat upset at the pandemic for kind of ruin the admissions process and funding for future students this year. I'm kind of sad I couldn't apply to some schools and that others might be taking in less students...The pandemic also kind of destroyed my mental health ? and maybe that's the thing that upsets me the most.
On the upside, I feel way more mentally balanced now that school is over. Things don't feel so overwhelming and I am giving myself spare time and room to breathe and think. I'm so thankful!
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transferring to a different program within the same university?
in Coursework, Advising, and Exams
Posted
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?