rachaelski

Any type of immigration in particular? New Mexico State University is starting a Master's in Latin American Studies with a special focus on border studies, which will be absolutely fascinating, since the school is right on the US/Mexico border. Plus, they have created a couple relationships with schools just over the border in Mexico. Note: this program was just approved by the state, so there might not be information about it at the NMSU website yet.

Clinical Psychology programs are very competitive, from what I recall. I don't know much about Hunter, but I think that having the Columbia name attached to your resume would be helpful when applying to PhD programs. I do have a question, what is the School of General Studies include? Will you later apply to another school within Columbia? Or are you relegated to a degree in "General Studies"? If it's the latter, I would change my position and suggest you go with Hunter, where you can take psych courses and major in psychology.

Haha! TA humor!

Have you checked Ohio University's TCOM program? There is s a strong international student presence at the University, and especially in the TCOM program.

Welcome! After undergrad and two graduate degrees, I have a handful of books that I have kept. Typically they are ones that are not traditional textbooks, which survey information. Do you really need an intro book when you have taken X upper-level courses? Probably not.

Teaching middle school again would not be my ideal position post-PhD, however, if I was unable to secure a professorship I would go back to teaching. And more importantly, I would enjoy it, much more so than a state-level education policy position or other office-type job. Public schools have PhD on their pay scales, and I had several teachers with PhDs in high school. Heck, at some of the private high schools here, your resume would not be considered unless you have a PhD. I went back to school because I love learning. In addition I believe I can best serve public education by improving teacher education at the college level. Second, I would have to disagree with you, somewhat, on your statement that a PhD does not help a teacher or professor better serve their students. In my experience, teaching is half pedagogy and half content knowledge--they are equally important. This is especially true in History and Science. In fact, I believe it is part of the problem with public education in America, our teacher education programs focus so much on pedagogy that teachers do not acquire enough background knowledge to teach properly. A middle school science teacher needs to have taken upper-level science classes--you would not believe how many questions students ask that are quite advanced. If I were to go back to the classroom, my PhD would certainly make me a better teacher. I would have a better understanding of the reading process. I would have more knowledge related to books and literacy materials. And I have more knowledge of new literacies, something that certainly wasn't taught in my teacher education courses.

Riotbeard, I did a "practice run" today, and it felt so good! I just need to remember that when it's cold or rainy!

I just sent you a PM!

I just sent you a PM!

@American in Beijing, becoming a card-carrying member of the academy is NOT the only reason to get a PhD. As a former teacher, I would gladly go back to the middle school classroom after getting my PhD, if that was my only option. I am getting the PhD because I want to learn, I want the experience of being a doctoral student, and I want to serve whoever I teach to the best of my ability.

My focus area is literacy, specifically I research visual literacies. I also dabble with Social Studies teaching methods and the relationship between industry & development and education in Southeast Asia.

Some schools, including my own, give A+ as the highest grade. A+ = 4.3

I just met with the Fulbright advisor at my school. He said besides some minor tweaks, that my essays are ready to go! Also, he says that advisors and committees can really tell when an applicant has put time and effort into their essays. So everyone, keep on working hard....it will be worth it when we are in Germany, Albania, Vietnam, and where-ever else!

Last night I also started looking up people in my field--checking out their CVs. I was mostly looking at research conferences where they presented, to get a feel where people present, but it would make sense to see what journals they publish in as well.

Thanks, this is all really helpful!

Also, there are more and more programs that no longer require GRE testing. My program, a PhD program in Education, does not call for GRE scores. Nor did my Master's in International Affairs. For the latter, funding applications called for the GRE, though.

I would just add that you should try to visit or contact professors in the programs for which you are planning to apply.

I really think this is a decision that only you can make. I am a firm believer that you can attend a less prestigious school and still be successful in academia, however, you have to work hard to become a total rock-star. In reality, going with a big-name school will give you the weight of that name....so really, it depends on what fits your life best.

Hi Education People, What are some of the research conferences you all attend and apply to present? I am presenting at the National Association of Multicultural Education, and I am waiting to hear about a couple more proposals I submitted. Obviously, there are the biggies like the AERA, but where else is good for a relative newby to attend and submit to present?

For sure!!! I will look at it tomorrow. I am actually working on my almost-final draft to share with my campus Fulbright person tomorrow!

Thanks! My field, education, I fear is even a bit more complete. Not only are there tons of academic journals, but there are also journals directed towards practicing teachers. Would submitting (and hopefully being published) in one type of journal result in judgements being made about me? Academics is hard.

Wow, that's pretty amazing! Congrats! Any study/preparation suggestions for other test-takers?

Send it to me! I will PM you my email. This week is good for me, since it's the week before school starts.

Hi everyone, I am wondering if anyone here has experience with submitting articles to journals for publication, and if they have any advice for "how-to"? I want to be a professor, and the way I see it, it will entail me being a complete rock-star in all arenas.

That sounds interesting. Please let me know if you would like someone to read your proposal over, I would be glad to offer some feedback. That goes for anyone on here...since there are so few of us dedicated Fulbright applicants on the boards this early into the game....