ZeeMore21

One thing that might help with the motivation problem is holding yourself accountable to someone else, which may mean informing professors, advisers, and mentors that you plan on applying to graduate programs this year and need them to help you revise documents such as your personal statement and writing sample. In this case, you are kind of forced to abide by some type of timetable. This definitely worked for me as someone who needs a bit of pushing now and then...my advisor was always checking in to make sure I was working on my documents so that he could revise them.

I agree with Two Espressos here...I haven't given a conference paper before, but I do assume you would want to get your paper done at least a couple days prior to the conference...especially if you are new to conference presentations. In this way, you can be confident that you are presenting a strong conference paper since you did have enough time to have it looked over by others and make your own revisions. Perhaps more experienced academics do have the ability to write conference papers the night before they have to present it.

Understood, definitely. I was one of the posters who did have a problem with Sigaba's post, given that it did nothing to help the OP in my opinion. I did see his/her post as going on an assumption that the OP was somehow trying to use his race/gender as an additional qualification rather than just assuming that the OP was just trying to give basic information. While I did initially come off strong, and perhaps did get a bit too passionate, I did ask in another post if Sigaba could clarify his/her initial statement and apologized if I did misinterpret it. However, instead of clarifying, he/she sought to argue that I didn't belong on this thread since I am not in a History program, as if none of my advice or expertise was valuable. That Sigaba couldn't simply just clarify and continued to have an accusatory tone ( and also even proceeded to argue that anyone who does have a problem with the tone of his/her posts wasn't cut out for academia) just confirmed for me that he/she intended to be inflammatory with the initial post. I do agree with you that one shouldn't assume things about a poster from his/her comments, but Sigaba's comment was way too brief and blunt...and it left people wondering what the poster was trying to get at with that kind of statement and tone...especially when someone seems to be asking for genuine advice. I am the last person who has a problem talking about issues of race/gender/identity...I go into these issues on a regular basis as a minority and one who does research in African American studies. However, I just don't think that the OP intended to have this discussion focused on him being a black male. He was asking about his qualifications and went on to talk about possible professors he could work with. I came upon this post because of the OP's research topic, and I was actually looking forward to reading the discussions about the field of African American history in this thread. But to end my rambling, talking about race and gender can be a touchy subject, and again, while we shouldn't quickly make assumptions based on someone's post, I do think posters do have the responsibility to be as clear as possible when commenting on such touchy subjects so such misinterpretations can be avoided. And I do apologize for initially getting on the defense with Sigaba's post. As other posters mentioned, there is a reason why minorities do have their identities at the forefront, I did understand what the poster was doing on a personal level. I do hope that there does come a time that mentioning one's race/gender/sexuality doesn't always have to be seen as controversial, provocative, or politically motivated. The OP simply was proud of his background and wasn't afraid to let that be known.

Forgot to say something about your post, secondblackprez, but I really liked it. I wish you all the best in the future application season, and let me know if I can help in any way. I am not in a History program, but I do deal heavily with African American history in my research.

Sigaba may not have said directly that race/gender should not be mentioned in the personal statement, but I think the OP is responding to other posters on the thread that actually have made this argument...there has been some suggestion that the inclusion of one's background doesn't belong in something so formal as the personal statement or the academic talk. Some have even pointed to the inclusion of one's identity as controversial and over the top. So, I disagree that the OP's argument was misplaced. I also don't think the OP was suggesting that someone like a white male couldn't study African American history....the OP was only stating that his research interest is strongly linked to his personal background, and that he has a personal stake in what he is studying. However, I do agree that anyone can study this field and anyone can have the passion for it.

Glad everything worked out regalrenade!!

Finishing up a MA and then leaving could be a possibility, though you would want to make sure that you would even be able to obtain an MA....there are some doctoral programs that don't grant one, and if that was the case, you would drop out with no degree.

Usually if you just keep on insisting that you did return the book, the library should just mark it as missing and you won't be charged. Good luck!

I agree with the last post...you definitely should have read the financial package closely before committing to your current program, there shouldn't have been any surprises. I do agree with the other posters here that transferring would be possible, but members of your department might look at your transfer negatively and you may be in danger of damaging your reputation. However, if you really can't afford to stick with your current program then I do understand the need to transfer. Just remember to pay attention to your financial package if you get into another program next year...you really don't want to be in this situation again. It is a waste of your time and the department's.

If I have misread your post, I do apologize. If you could clarify your statement, that would be helpful. I don't know how I am misreading your post intentionally, I genuinely was confused by it. Like I said it seemed as though you were trying to draw some connection between my rejections and the argument at hand and I was looking for some clarification. The reason why I brought up my admissions season in the first place was not to point out that my success proves that it is okay to include racial/gender identity in one's personal statement....I was only suggesting that I could be of help to the OP despite not being in a History doctoral program. With this in mind, I was really confused by what you were trying to suggest by bringing up my school rejections. If you look back at my post, I said that if I misinterpreted your text, than I do apologize. But again, it looked like you were trying to make a connection between my school rejections to the fact that an incorporation of my heritage may have alienated someone on the admissions committee.

Thanks for the defense Sparky, and no, I don't understand the English hatred...don't even know how that came up. But I do stick to my opinion, and will continue to advise others to take the personal statement, along with other qualitative aspects of the application, seriously. The main point of my initial post here was to encourage the OP not to depend on a GPA and GRE to get into a graduate program. I will leave it at that.

Great post Eigen, I found it very helpful.

Ran out of +1s today but great post!

re Not trying to come off rude, but because you weren't on any of the admissions committee that rejected me, I don't think you can assume that it must have been my inclusion of my heritage that was the root cause....i am hinting that you are trying to imply that. If so, I kind of take offense to you using my rejections as a way to prove that identity must be hidden in a application. If I am misinterpreting what you are trying to say, then I do apologize. This issue definitely makes me think of racial privilege in this country...anyone who doesn't fit the white/male mold always has to hide who they are just to make the privileged group feel "more comfortable." And again, I really don't understand why, because someone mentions their race/gender, they are trying to be controversial or trying to make a political statement. What about someone including their identity because they are proud of it? What about someone including their identity because they are trying to be truthful to themselves and those around them? I think it is those that automatically feel uncomfortable and accusatory when issues or gender or race arise that need to do some introspection. Like I said in my post, my background was definitely a foundation for my intellectual and academic development....my background as a child of West African immigrants did spur my decision to study black migration studies. That is definitely not anything that has to be hidden to make someone else feel better about themselves.

I know that I shouldn't even try to argue with you Just Me, but I know of two doctoral students who are in a band as a hobby. Being able to do your graduate work and balance a hobby is due to good time management skills. If you don't have time do do basic things like eat, sleep, and use the bathroom, then your priorities are clearly out of order...perhaps its all the time you take to dwell on how miserable your life is. if you actually took the time to seek help and get your life straightened out, I am sure you would have an easier time with balance.

Thanks a lot for the advice!! I definitely do think that now is the best time to take on conferences. Like you suggested, I think I will start small and see if I can handle a student conference....I'm actually looking on the Penn website right now to see if I can find any. Thanks again!

Well, I am in an English doctoral program, and will not pay for absolutely anything...my tuition is paid for and I receive a generous stipend. I'm not really sure where you are getting your information from, but for the most part, English doctoral programs come with free tuition and a stipend for the entirety of the program. In my case, I don't have to teach my first year, but I do have to teach year 2, 3, and 4, and my stipend for these years are dependent on me teaching. However, I also don't teach my last year to work on the dissertation. But anyway, to the OP, if you know you don't want to teach, then going into an English doctoral program may not be for you. People going into an English doctoral program usually do want to teach at the college level. You can't be a college professor only doing research...you most certainly will have to teach...and teach well if you want to have a tenure track position. Also to maintain your stipend as a doctoral student, you would have to receive good teaching reviews as an Instructor....you could potentially lose your funding with mediocre teaching ability.

Hi all, I will be starting a doctoral program this fall in English literature and was wondering if anyone could give me advice on when is the best point in the program to start presenting at conferences. I have never presented at a conference before, but have been to a couple. I read in one book on graduate study that you should start presenting at the end of your second year (or beginning of your 3rd year), as you will be more fluent in your field at this point in your graduate career. However, that sounds a bit late to me. I am asking this question because I did come across a conference that will be held next year, and abstracts are due this November. Because I will be new to a doctoral program, I am wondering if it is too early for me to think about conferences, and perhaps I should spend my time working hard to develop great seminar papers this school year that could possibly turn into strong conference papers. Also, as someone who needs to build confidence in public speaking and presenting, I also think I might just want to use this coming school year to work on those areas....I'm not quite sure if I am ready to answer questions that may be asked after I presented a paper. But to end my rambling, if anyone can give me advice/tips on how an incoming doctoral student could prepare for conferences, that would be very helpful. I also would like advice on how to go about writing a conference paper....do you come up with an idea, write an abstract, and if it gets accepted, you turn it into a paper? Or should you already have a paper that could be turned into a conference paper?

Very interesting topic guimauvaise, I have been wondering about this given that I will be starting a doctoral program in English this fall at Vanderbilt. I was a bit worried before accepting Vanderbilt's offer as most of the doctoral candidates did go on to teach in the South. I definitely wouldn't have a problem staying in the South to teach, but like you said, it is better to be able to be hired anywhere in the country. I am optimistic that since my program is one of the top for my field, that I won't have a problem being hired outside of the South. But to go back to your question, I do wonder why there is a lack of professors coming from southern institutions in the North....perhaps stereotypes may have something to do with it, but I am not exactly sure.

Definitely understand where you are coming from WornOutGrad. Like you said earlier, you know your limits...if you think you wouldn't be happy dividing your time between a doctoral program and your loved ones then perhaps a doctoral program is not for you. And again, this is definitely okay! You shouldn't be hard on yourself at all if you decide that you have had enough.

I definitely appreciate your steadfastness fuzzlogician, no doubt. I have been one of many posters on this forum who have given Just Me heartfelt advice, and I guess it is just sad to see someone continually refuse to take it. I do agree that whatever Just Me is going through must be terrible, but she is not really in the right state of mind to be giving others advice on this forum.

Definitely understand how you are feeling Worn Out Grad....I have had the feeling of being stuck in a specific situation and not knowing if you will be able to get out of it. From what you are saying, it seems as though going into a doctoral program would not be for you, especially since you are having such a difficult time getting through a M.A program. A doctoral program will be a lot more intense and being a doctoral student will require a lot more responsibilities. I'd say that if you truly don't see yourself going into a doctoral program, than don't do it. Despite your adviser pressuring you to go into another graduate program, you know yourself better than she does...you know what will make yourself happy, and like you said, you know your limits. So if you know for sure that you don't want to go into a doctoral program, set your foot down and don't let anyone try to dissuade you from your decision. I would then start talking to others in your field to figure out what jobs you could consider going into after you finish your M.A degree. I do take a little offense to your statement that those pursuing a doctoral program are somehow "forsaking" their loved ones...I don't think that is really fair to categorize a whole group in that way. For the most part, going into a PhD program opens up opportunities for people, and though I can't speak for anyone else, my family, friends, and church all support my desire to better myself and create more opportunities for myself. They don't see my choice to begin a graduate program out of state as a move on my part to "forsake" them. Life is all about changes, and in my opinion, you can't really live a fulfilling life if you are always hesitant to change....and change also includes moving away from loved ones and those you truly care about. Moving away from people you care about is always tough, but just because you move away doesn't mean you stop caring about these people...you just have to find new and different ways of maintaining these relationships. So if your fear of moving away from people is at the root of your unwillingness to take on a doctoral program, I would really sit down and think about what opportunities you might be giving up. However, if you really just don't want to be in an environment where you are "slaving" away hours and hours on end for 5-8 years and you think you need more free time in your life to do what you want to do, then I would say that yes, a doctoral program is not for you, and that is definitely okay. Academia is not the end all be all in this life...you can definitely be happy outside of it and have a fulfilling life.

Don't think Just me will take your advice, fuzzylogician. Unfortunately, she will use every thread as a soapbox for her self-perpetuated difficulties. I wonder what happens when graduate school can no longer be blamed for her problems.

I've been in 3 different English departments so far and haven't had encountered problems with the the politics, perhaps these programs are the exceptions I guess. But anyway, I still don't agree that the personal statement doesn't count...sorry for being repetitive but how else is the committee suppose to figure out what the applicant's research interests are and if they fit with the department? Wouldn't the committee want to know that a potential candidate for admissions has the ability to define his/her field of research and explain how his/her research will contribute to the field?

I will assume you are not being serious...but if you are, I agree with dimanche here, you should definitely talk to someone. But I do agree that graduate school can be stressful. What aspect of graduate school is bothering you right now?