modernity

Asian-Americans don't get the same benefit from affirmative action, because while they are generally viewed in the US as a different "race" or at the least a different ethnicity from whites, they are deemed to be a "successful" minority - in that they generally are within a few percentage points of whites in obtaining education positions, jobs, and wealth. Affirmative action was aimed at those with a vast disparity in percentages/statistics, and so Asian-Americans were left out in the cold. Even the stereotype that prevails in popular culture about Asian-Americans is that they are incredibly smart/successful and whites should fear/be more like them. I think you're right that there are major holes in that sort of thinking...but this is I believe the argument behind that standpoint.

I don't think the fact that "racially indifferent white people" fail to understand the very simple concepts that support affirmative action should have any effect on whether or not it is implemented. Many of these "RIWPs" have never researched affirmative action - they simply know what their parents/other influential life figures told them, which is usually something along the lines of "we were mean to black people a long time ago, and for some reason they think we still have to pay for it, so you may lose a chance at a job because you are white." Very few white people, understand that while they themselves may never participate in racism - they still benefit from the legacy that is white privilege(see White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh). Misconceptions about it and race in general are what often cause the tense feelings on both sides of the racial fence. That said, you are certainly entitled to your opinion but I think you need to come up with better support than what sounds to me like arguing that if people don't understand it, they'll become resentful, and therefore its bad. I might be oversimplifying what you're saying a bit, but that was the major impression I took away from reading your post. If you're really questioning why someone's SES/race/minority status should have influence in matters like these, there was a big thread in the GRE section about just that subject. I believe it was called "I think the GRE's are a deterrent" or something of that nature.

I think there is a misunderstanding as to what affirmative action constitutes. Affirmative action is not about hiring those that are unqualified for the position based on a token race/sex, but rather making sure the percentage of people in the position reflects the percentage of people in the world that are qualified (and may have otherwise been looked over because of race/ethnicity/sex).

I just came in to squeal about LotS/Goodkind a little. I too would love to have a Kindle, but don't have one currently. I get so jealous at the airport when everyone is reading from them. If Kindle has a good interaction with PDFs I think it might be worth purchasing, as I am also tired of printing oodles of pages.

There was a post awhile back about people with maiden/married name issues - and this seemed to be the root of a lot of the problems, as even though the application has you list them, admissions people weren't checking that closely. I'd give them a call to double check that that isn't the problem before you hand over more money to ETS.

I will have to try this!

I agree with the names listed here, and I would also add your name to the list jacib. I think this forum is insanely helpful, I don't know if I would have gotten through this process without it. I appreciate recognition, I don't know that I deserve it though - I just have studied the admissions process like crazy since I was rejected across the board last year, and try to offer any insight I've gained with others in hopes they don't have to be quite as obsessive about it as I was! I haven't been around much since as I mentioned in a post I am dealing with some major upheaval in my life right now - but this board, and many of the members on it, have kept me chugging along on my application process and I am incredibly thankful for it. They know who they are, I think! If I do manage to get in anywhere this year, I have this board and its members to thank for a significant part of it. After searching through numerous other grad app. forums and pages, I was glad to finally find a place where people were realistic but not caustic. I think we also have to thank all the moderators for keeping up a place like this for us! P.S. Your suspicions are correct jacib, I am a female.

All I know is, schools should not start mundane emails with "We are pleased to inform you that your application..." Made my heart skip a little, just for it to be a run of the mill update!

I feel like this is kind of a silly defense to why parents get to brag, and the rest of us don't. All babies had to come into existence somehow - but not everyone has a baby (it's usually a conscious decision to "apply" to have one, right?). Some of us don't and perhaps won't ever have them, so there are other things in our life that are important, and worthy of announcing. I'm only FB friends with friends and family that I'm close with - it's a great way for me to let people know. As it has been repeated here several times - IF I get in, they're going to know eventually when my city, network, etc. changes. I think you have a strange definition of what constitutes bragging, and what constitutes sharing one's life - which is sort of the purpose of FB. I'm not offended so much as I can't really sympathize with your line of thought.

Agreed!

We had this discussion in another thread awhile ago and I'll repeat the thoughts I placed there. I have to listen to everyone's announcements about babies, houses, marriages, etc. and I don't think they're conceited at all for announcing it - it's a life altering event, and they're excited and proud. They have every right to be, as annoying as "Jack Jr. drooled today!!" can be... I get it. So, if I do manage to get accepted I will definitely feel comfortable posting it if I feel so inclined. I will also add - no one I know is applying to grad school this year, so I don't have to worry about stepping on any of those toes.

I received a packet from a school last year with details like these included (financial aid, housing, etc.) and I was rejected. My rejection came late though, so maybe I was on a wait list or a short list and only those people got it after the immediate rejects... no idea. It could be a good sign (This was a different school and I don't want to say it's universal) - but from personal experience I would say don't get your hopes too high just yet - wait for more info, some of these universities just seem to like wasting paper!

Exactly, I was thinking ETS headquarters personally...

If you do choose to say anything, I would be subtle about it. Mention that your decision will be in part based on whether or not your SO gets in to the institution as well, but don't outright say "Can you talk to the other department for me?".. Some departments barely communicate and would have no influence on each other.

I agree that statistical averages - particularly in a subject like anthropology aren't that decisive. I was just saying that, if they're going to look at the GPA I hope they focus on my major GPA in anthro, rather than my lower overall GPA which is the result of less than stellar grades in unrelated subjects.

I don't know if seadub is entirely wrong in their thinking about the Q score - don't some of the elite engineering schools have very high Q cut offs - like 780/790? I thought I read something about that elsewhere on these boards, I could be wrong. Even if that was true, with those grades and as much as this person has been published - I think they might be willing to overlook it.

Hahaha. I didn't even think about that being taken the wrong way (minus a word).

You're lucky!! I still have awhile according to the boards. I wish I could at least be hoping for a response.

Yes, schools want your money. Yes, your chances at a masters are better than a PhD. However... there are many more people applying for masters right now too - they've been rejected from PhD programs, they're trying to improve their profile if they didn't do well in UG to stay in the game, the mythical person who can't find a real job and wants to hide out in academia (I assume they exist), etc. So they definitely are not a guarantee.

This is how I felt when I was working with the public teaching about anthropology... They would ask a question about race/gender/etc. and when I would explain what the current theories were... they would be like "No that's wrong...what I think is...so I'm pretty sure that's right" I had many many questions, where I knew they were simply asking so they could respond with "No, I don't think so..." This was particularly the case with questions surrounding evolution of course. The worst was, as I mentioned earlier, when I had an older gentleman come in and asked to speak to an anthropologist, and when I responded that I would be more than happy to help him, he stared at me blankly and said "No, I mean a real one. They told us upstairs there would be real ones on staff. Isn't there anyone (older/male - i forget his exact words but this was his implication) around?" While I was trying to stay calm, and politely explain that although my age and gender might make him question my intelligence I could certainly answer his questions, or direct him to material that would... my coworker was muttering under her breath about how people might take us more seriously if we had our whips and leather hats on.

I think some of these professors just need to be honest with themselves and their student(s). It's okay if you don't have time- just admit it and I'll adjust! It's okay if it's not something you're interested in doing - I'd rather know then get a lukewarm letter late. Some of the students on these boards have endured weeks of "promise to do it" conversations/emails over several months... if the situation were reversed, this would never be acceptable. While I agree these professors should have the option to say no, or to back out it really needs to be within a reasonable time frame for the student - their entire future rests on these letters, and in some cases so does the money they are wasting if all the LORs aren't in on time. They are our superiors, so it's understandable that they get to blow us off here and there without much backlash - but some of these cases I just find shocking. I say this as someone who had very prompt and helpful LORs myself, so I am not personally bitter I just feel horror for those that are going through this.

If you can afford to expend the resources/money, knowing there is the potential that it may not be looked at... I say go for it. Better to take the chance, than to not know and always wonder.

Agreed. GPA is a number - just because its high doesn't necessarily mean the person is "smart" (they could have purposely gone to a school where work was easy, taken easy classes, easy professors, had extensive help from parents/tutors/friends/etc.) and having a low GPA doesn't necessarily mean they aren't (arrogance early on, health, temporary laziness, extenuating work or family issues, starting with the wrong major, maturity, etc.) are all factors into someone's background... This is why schools do not simply have applicants submit their GPA for admission. I could go on here with cheesy anecdotes about Trump filing for bankruptcy on multiple occasion, presidential candidates with low GPAs, etc. but I think you get the point.

These are quite funny. I'm even surprised that some of these disciplines, which I always thought were pretty cut and dry also confuse people (although I really never thought anthropology was all that confusing and apparently it is for some!)... The "what are you going to do with that degree?" conversations could almost constitute an entirely new post.

Agreed, but also coming from personal experience/hopes. I was in a completely different major my first two years where I did quite poorly and struggled with languages. Once I changed my major, things looked much better. My in major GPA is close to a 3.8, and considering that's what I would be doing in grad school I really hope that this is something they pay attention to and place weight on.