ZeeMore21

Sure, I would recommend Barron's GRE workbook, it has a master vocab list that is pretty extensive. I'm not sure if it was the actual vocab that tripped you up during test time, but if so, you might want to look into this. The master list may be online, if you don't feel like forking over some more money...study aid material can be so expensive!

This is a sidenote dimanche, but my birthday is also 8/29!!! Just got excited for some reason lol. But please let me know if I can give you any information about studying material that might be helpful.

Hey Morgan 18, I actually am in Cultural Studies, but am grounded in History. Like borderlands said, I agree that you can't really make the argument that race, gender, and sexuality are somehow more popular than labor, religion, and political movements. You can't discount the fact that all of these subjects intersect to some extent, so it might not be helpful to create such hierarchies.For example, I specialize in African American cultural history as far as migration and labor are concerned...so there is definitely the overlapping of race and labor history. I definitely would also stay away from the argument of another poster here that somehow scholars' study of race, gender, and sexuality is shallow and not genuine...that's a generalization and it is offensive.I would refrain from having a mindset such as that one, as there will be professors in your department that do take up issues of race, gender, and sexuality and research them in depth. You should be proud and passionate about what you study, but also see the value and weight of other academics' scholarship. But again, given the overlapping of topics, you should be open to as many professors as possible.

I think you could have simply just asked me to elaborate here...obviously I wasn't speaking on the behalf of all of these posters on this thread. I'm speaking for myself here, and there are certain things I am not following. I am confused about whether you are just wondering if it is okay to avoid certain MAs that are giving you a hard time. If this is the case, then yes, in my opinion, you do have the right to avoid these individuals. However, I don't know why you seem to leap to the conclusion that you must disassociate yourself from MAs in general. One of your questions in the OP was, "Do you think PhD students should distance themselves from MA students, and act more formal with them?" I personally don't see why I would have to distance myself from MA students if I don't have any personal conflicts with them. I also would genuinely like to know what you mean by acting "more formal" with MA students.

Very helpful post. I actually scored a 490 the first time around. I made it a point to memorize a lot more vocab words during my preparation for the 2nd exam in addition to practicing strategies such as process of elimination and making an intelligent guess. I ended up getting a 620 verbal on the second exam after all this...a pretty significant increase. A 620 may have not been the perfect score, but it was more than enough for most of the schools I applied to.

Great post. It does seem that as soon as someone mentions their heritage/race people automatically get offensive, as though this is something that has to be hidden. Like it or not, we all come from different backgrounds. This is something that should be embraced, not ignored.

But also, TheSquirrel, I think I'm now just confused about what you are asking about now and what advice you need. It seems like you have already made up your mind, so this debate seems kind of pointless. Initially, like I said before, your issue was mainly about personality conflicts in the OP. Now, you are saying that as an aside, your reason for avoiding MA students is because you might be a TA. I'm assuming that you haven't received a TA yet, so I'm wondering why the rush in putting up boundaries. I see no reason why, in the beginning of this coming school year, you would not try to at least get to know who the incoming MAs are. Tell me if I am wrong (seriously) but it seems as if you are now using the TA as an excuse for your attitude toward MAs. Although nothing is wrong with separating yourself from MAs because you will be teaching them, you have to be able to respectful towards MAs nonetheless. I still sense a condescending attitude from you. I definitely would be careful not to put up too rigid a boundary between you and MAs, as some of these same MAs might even end up as your colleagues in your future. Better yet, the same MAs who do go out into the work force might be individuals you may rely on in the future for networking if you don't end up in academia. You really have to be careful how you do treat people, because it could end up costing you an opportunity.

I can't speak for all of Humanities, but in my experience as an English MA in one department and a Special student (non-degree seeking...so lower than an MA) in another, I honestly didn't feel inferior to those who were doctoral students...they never were condescending and took the time to get to know other students seeking lower degrees. I actually befriended many doctoral students as a special student...I was often invited to social activities outside of school. Any get-togethers I attended had a mix of MAs, Special students, and doctoral students. So perhaps, the divide between doctoral students and MA students is not that rigid in the Humanities, especially given that doctoral students usually are not teaching MAs but undergrads.

Hey dimanche0829! I'm in English...I would say that you definitely should retake the GREs if it is at all possible. GREs may not be as weighted compared to the other aspects of your application, (namely your personal statement and writing sample...these are very important in English) a GRE Verbal score in the 400s might raise some eyebrows in the admissions committee. I think that getting at least a 600 Verbal score would be great...a couple of my advisers gave me this advice in addition to faculty members I had spoken with at the schools I had planned on applying to. But I will say that even scoring in the high 500s might not be that bad. Not only would a higher GRE make you a more competitive applicant, but it might help you earn fellowships in your program on top of your stipend. So again, I would plan on retaking the GREs. I'm assuming that you have only taken the GRE once, so I'm thinking that your score will increase the second time around.

Hey flotsam, I will see if I can find that post again...I think it was a rant she did on Yahoo...she was surprised that the professor wouldn't take a $400 dollar watch.

Yes, I do understand now that the sciences are probably different when it comes to how rigid the divide is between doctoral students and MA students. Like I said in my last post, if the teaching-assistant goal is the reason why the OP would like to refrain from socializing with a group of MAs (the one's he would be teaching) than I do understand...I have been a TA before while a MA student and definitely made sure to keep my distance from my students. All I am saying is perhaps the OP could have brought this point up before using the personalities and behavior of a couple MA students as the main reason for the OP keeping distance from the majority of MAs in the program.

Sure I can elaborate on my first response. Usually, doctoral students do not TA or teach MA level courses, which means that there really isn't a professional divide separating doctoral students and MA students. I'm not sure about your department, but as a MA at my old school, I often shared courses with doctoral students and was given the same amount as work as they were by the professor. Although you are now bringing up the fact that you are interested in pursuing a teaching assistantship where you would be the head of a MA class, you never mentioned this fact in your initial post. You seemed to only have an issue with personality clashes between you and a couple MAs, and you were blaming the attitudes and behavior of these MA students as the reason why you are hesitant to socialize with MAs in general.

No need to feel discouraged, seems as though the professor believes in your work. You will have to learn to not be too sensitive to corrections...critiques are only meant to help strengthen your work.

Don't apologize for anything secondblackprez, most of us knew want your intentions were. Again, you have the right to identify yourself on this forum any way you want to.

Oh, my apologies then OP, I misread. I agree with wtncffts, probably would go with Wilson over WWS.

Apparently this woman even went so far as to buy the professor a $400 dollar watch in return for a recommendation letter. Bizarre if its true.

I don't know why anyone would assume the OP meant to use his race or gender as a qualification...I'm sure that wasn't the OP's intention. Perhaps anytime we do come across someone who mentions his/her race, we shouldn't automatically assume that the person is trying to use it in any other way than as a way to identify himself/herself. Even if Sigiba had a reason behind the comment, I do think, in my opinion, that he or she could have posed it in a much different way. The post comes off very accusatory and the tone is off-putting. But generally, I think the comment is uncalled for given the main reason why the OP opened this thread. I myself am black, and it is part of my identity...I actually did include this in my application because my research did revolve to a certain extend around my experiences as a woman of color. So again, I'm just pointing out that one shouldn't automatically assume that someone is trying to use their identity as an unfair advantage.

Don't worry TheSquirrel, I will be cool headed. My apologies for attacks. But still, I have problems with your argument. I think for professors, there are professional reasons why they don't socialize with their students...they want to keep their authority as the head of the classroom. And plus, professors may fear of breaking any school codes about spending time with students outside of the classroom. I don't see how you can compare the professor-student relationship with a doctoral student-MA student relationship. Regardless of the difference in degrees, doctoral students and MA students are both graduate students. There are no lines broken by doctoral students socializing with MA students, and I don't see how and why professors or the department in general would disapprove of who a doctoral student decides to spend time with outside of the department.

I forgot to say, to secondblackprez: if you need anyone to review your personal statement let me know! I would be happy to help. I specialize in African American cultural studies so your topic is very interesting to me. Also as an aside, nice to see another student of color deciding to enter academia!

Definitely, and I am not going to go there if that was the intention of the said post. The OP was simply asking for advice...I'm assuming he gave gender and race as just another piece of information on top of his qualifications. It was a simple introduction. Again, I don't really understand what the point of that post was. Sigaba, if you want to expand upon your statement you could, I am honestly just confused. If I did misinterpret what you message was, I do apologize. I suggested that you might want to take your post down because regardless of what you intended to say, you are hitting the wrong note. I'm assuming this given that multiple people are voting you down. I honestly don't understand what you meant by saying that there would be more traction if I had said "for my own sake." I think it is important to recognize that everyone identifies themselves differently. There really is no need, in my opinion, to question why someone identifies himself or herself the way they do. It really is their personal choice.

Love your topic by the way, sounds excellent. Wish you luck on your admissions process.

I would say that although your grades and GRE are definitely great, I wouldn't bank on them solely to get you into a doctoral program. I would concentrate on writing a very strong personal statement and writing sample. Sigaba, I see no reason for your comment, the OP can define himself in however way he wants to.

I definitely see what you are saying and will apply it to my future posts. When I do feel attacked, yes, I do rush my arguments. The OP had made the assumption that I must be a MA because of my disagreement with him, and that did set me off.He should take responsibility for his remarks as well.Though generalizations are common, I don't think it makes them right. I also don't think that using them as a way to navigate academia is beneficial.

I am a passionate person by nature, that is not something I am willing to change. I do regret letting this poster get the best of me, but I don't see how I am being immature. The way he is putting down MA students is just wrong, and having been one myself, I felt the need to say something.

And you haven't cast doubt on the ability of MA students in your program? The hypocrisy is killing me here. I will try to observe this post from the sidelines now, it really doesn't help arguing against someone who has already made up their mind. I just think it is really unfortunate that you know full well that there are MA students that use this forums, and didn't even think to word the title of your post differently. You have no respect.