Rose White

http://db.tt/mok4Suk Please and thank you!

Yeah, I know most of us are going into graduate school and that, yes, there are far more important things to do like coursework and research and grading (if you're a TA) instead of watching TV. However, TV is one of my ways of relaxing and thanks to our fabulous DVR, I record shows and watch them when it is best available to me. So, basically, are there any TV shows you STILL follow, despite being a graduate student? If all goes well, I'll still be able to keep up with: Glee Big Bang Theory The Office Project Runway So, go on! What are your guilty pleasure TV shows?

Sadly, even though it does cost some money...I'm a new textbook snob. So, Amazon is my drug of choice. Also, my friend has me as an authorized user on her Prime account, so I take advantage of the wholeheartedly. It's a sickness...what can I say?

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to put this, with the new subforums. If not, please feel free to move where it may be the most appropriate! I'm getting ready to attend a MA program in History and I am very excited. I have decided to focus on European history, specifically in Britain and France, during the progressive era. Back in January 2009, I went on a short trip abroad to London for ten days and fell completely in love. While I don't plan on making London my permanent home, I'd love to live and do research there for a few months. The only problem is, my department has no funds or programs already in place to support research overseas. However, the graduate program director did tell me they would support me in research abroad and would allow me to even take classes for possible credits. My question is, does anyone know of any summer programs that would allow for a graduate student to study abroad? I don't even know where to start really, but I'd love to spend at least a few weeks of next summer in London for class/research purposes. Any help is greatly appreciated!

I'm coping in doing everything I can to prepare for both non-academia life and academia. My preferred end career goal is to be a professor, to be honest. But, I would suggest seeing if there is other professional training opportunities available in your program. For instance, the MA program I'm going into offers an opportunity for a public history certificate. I at first dismissed it, seeing as it's not really my career choice. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it can only help to make me a more well-rounded job candidate, in both outside and inside academia. Thus, I will be pursuing it to prepare for any other career possibilities. I think it really boils down to being open minded. Plus, the job market could change drastically in the next five years or so. You never really know.

Really appreciate having those extra subforums. I really look to TGC as a place not only for applicants but also as a gathering place for graduate students as well. Those new subforums definitely confirm this for sure!

I would also look into joining a credit union, as well. I currently belong to one and will be eligible to join another one once I begin my TAship at my graduate school. I'm very certain that your school probably has a credit union eligibility for students/staff/faculty, as it seems very common. Another thing to look into regarding ATM fees is to check to see if the credit union is a member of a network that will allow for free ATM withdrawals. For instance, my credit union belongs to a network of other credit unions that allow ATM withdrawals from these other ATMs--four free a month and after that, you are only charged the ATM rate for your specific credit union. Definitely explore all your options!

I am relatively certain I will be going into the same program you are, based solely on the state and your mention of being a TA in the MA program! Please PM if you'd like to keep it private--I'd love to make a friend there before arriving!

I'm not sure if there's a problem with the survey but it won't let me go past the second page onto the third...

This is something I'm especially interested in. If someone can recommend to me the best kinds of styluses to use. My friend has one that seems to work well but you do have to hold it a particular angle to get it to register...I'd also like a thicker/longer one because of the way I hold writing utensils.

Oh. God. Am I SERIOUSLY not the only person who is super weird about studying/having the most precise supplies? This makes me ridiculously happy. My friends thought I was crazy in undergrad. I can only used larger scale pens, as I hold a pen weirdly and small ones don't cut it. I used to adore the PhD pens, with the refills, until they all mysteriously disappeared. When in a pinch, I can use an RSVP pen, because I like the thicker quality, but I REALLY like the PhD pens. I also cannot STAND wide ruled paper and NEED college ruled because I tend to write widely and college ruled makes it look neater. I can only use Mead five subject spiral notebooks. My biggest thing, though, is highlighters. I'm a highlighting queen and still have YET to find the most perfect highlighter. I can't stand the highlighter brand, the Sharpies brand...they do NOT last long enough and don't have the array of colors I want. I'm hoping to get an iPad this summer for grad school in the fall and I'm slightly terrified as I will be leaving behind my sacred world of pens and Mead spiral notebooks. I'm really nervous about finding a stylus for the iPad that will thick enough for my writing style and that the note taking apps I find will have college ruled. Lord help me.

I truly thought it was the worst thing in the world last year when I applied to several PhD programs, only to be handed rejection letters at every turn. It was my senior year of college and looking back now, I was insane to be trying to apply to graduate school and work on my coursework at the same time. I was stressed to the max and had crappy GRE scores on top of everything, even after taking them twice. The rejections really shouldn't have come as much of a surprise. To be honest, though, after receiving all the rejections and realizing I was going to have to just work for a year and try again, I feel utterly relieved. I didn't realize how quickly I was approaching burn out and the idea of an entire YEAR without a paper or having to have a book read in a week seemed GLORIOUS. All in all, I'm really happy I've had this last year off. It's been great for recharging my batteries. Luckily, before graduating last year, I had a part-time job in a call center. Within a few WEEKS of graduating, my alma mater contacted me to be a grant administrator. Things have a really odd way of working out. So, I had two part-time jobs in the last year and have really cherished the time I've had to relax and think about what I really want to do. Go for the year off, just to make sure this is something you REALLY want. You'll be all the better for it.

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I especially like the advice on relaxing, but also reading books/journal articles related to my field and perhaps writing thesis statements/outlines or certain sentences. To be honest, I am going a little stir-crazy. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to leave my position as a grant administrator until sometime in July, as there is a conference I'm required to attend as part of the grant we received. If not, I would be definitely be leaving at the end of the semester and just work the eleven hours a week at my other job (that I will be keeping!). I'm also going to be clearing out my room here at home (I'll be living with my parents through the two years and have decided to embark on redesigning my room/getting new furniture that does not remind me of my childhood). Sounds like I'll definitely have a lot going on this summer! Thanks again and feel free to keep the advice coming.

Hello everyone! Unforunately, I did not make it into any PhD programs this go around, but I have chosen to accept an offer of admission for a MA in History with a GA offer, tuition remission and stipend which I could not be more excited about! My only concern, I graduated in May 2010 last year and have taken the last year off to work. In my meeting with the graduate program director yesterday, we were discussing what areas of history I wanted to focus on specifically and I was able to answer eloquently, but after being out of the discipline for a year, I've forgotten some terminology! I'm also worried because I've grown accustomed to having no homework/extra work outside of what I do at the office. My question is, what are the things I can do over the summer to get back into a "school" mindset? Should I be reading journal articles? Fake writing papers? Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!

Hey Eigen! Just one last question for you regarding the iPad. I'm considering getting one for when I enter my History MA program this fall. I already have a 64g iPod touch 4th Gen and was debating on what size to get the iPad in. I only plan on using it for research purposes. What size do you have and do you feel like the space is adequate enough?