garibaldi

Recently (past month) got a tattoo on my forearm, after thinking about getting one for more than a year. Day 1 of getting it, I regretted it and kept staring at it. Day 2 onwards, it started growing on me. Now, I really like it! And sometimes I fret that it should have been more visible. I even forget its there and when ever I happen to glance at it, I break into a big smile. I don't think my tattoo is going to have any adverse effect on my profession/career. In fact, I think I will benefit because of it. Also, the thing is, if my work is good, people will not care two hoots that I have a small tattoo on my forearm. Just like no one has ever given a shit that I wear a diamond nose pin (for last 15 years), and I've worked in the corporate consulting sector where days reserved for client meetings had a very strict dress code. Its all about how you carry yourself. And actually if some of these things are 'you', I've noticed that they have a way of blending with your personality, that they almost become invisible. I've noticed that with myself and with quite a few others. And just in case some department somewhere does not hire me because I have a tattoo, and decides to overlook my research because of that, well then, they are sending me a huge signal - that I need to run away from them super fast! This is a good case where self-selection is beneficial to both parties. Ofcourse, now, if you go and get a skull or something tattooed on your entire arm.. now, thats a different matter. Subtlety and professionalism is most definitely possible in the tattoo world. I wish you good luck with your experience

Can anyone help with information for a blackberry user? I've had a blackberry for the last 2.5 yrs and mainly use it for email. But I'm not happy with it as a device as something always goes wrong with its tracker, so I have to repeatedly get it replaced which costs money. I'd like to dump it but then the cost of getting a new phone prevents me from doing that. I'm an international student who will be going to the US next month The way I see it, I have 4 options: Option A: Dump my blackberry, and get a new phone on contract in the US. I'm leaning towards getting a simple post paid phone, and not a smartphone. What Elgen said really resounded with me. I already have an ipod touch. Option B: Dump my blackberry, and get a new phone in the US. Buy it outright and use with a pre-paid sim card. Again, what Elgen said made sense. All I need is a phone that allows me to receive and make voice calls, and that too only when I'm on the move. For all other times, I can use skype. Option C: Dump my blackberry, and get a smartphone on contract in the US. Doing this will only make sense, if this is only 5-10usd more expensive than Option A. The GPS and internet services of a smartphone are attractive, so I'm willing to pay a little bit more. Option D: Unlock my blackberry so I can use it in the US. But my question is, Can I? Can I get a pre-paid sim (from whom? will any of the mobile service providers work?) and start using that? Do pre-paid sims allow you to use data services such as email? Roughly what charges will I be looking at on a per month basis? Really confused.. esp with regrads to Option D. I want to go with the option that'll provide me with the most value for money, but dont know how to figure that out. Any opinions?

Interesting use of words by everyone in this thread...they have a way of giving away our biases and values. For me personally, I dont quite get how you could ever "leave" your spouse behind. You could "leave" a pet behind, but a spouse?? To clarify what I mean: there are two sides to this coin. You cannot "leave' a spouse behind, unless she/he actively decides to not follow you to your new destination. Therefore, you could just as easily say "my spouse chose not to join me" I agree what some people have already mentioned here - living physically apart, does not mean separation. Esp not in this day and age with so many gadgets to help bridge the distance gap. I think it'll tough to sustain a newly formed relationship, but if you've built a solid foundation, then its definitely possible. Now ofcourse, if you want to have children in the next 2-3 years... thats a whole different issue... and thats where I see the real challenge.

Thank you, Tall Chai Latte and Elgen. This is helpful. I will check out that link right now

I'll be beginning a PhD Program this Fall. The last time I was in school was five years ago! Everyone's been telling me what a lot of hard work grad school is. Thats fine with me, but I'm hoping to strike a work life balance, and even go dating at some point. Which means I definitely want to be able to spend time outside of a classroom and library, even if its only a weekend thing. Any advice for first year Phd students on how to strike a work-life balance? How to get up to speed quickly? Who are the really important people in a grad students life (apart from our professors) that we must make an effort to reach out to? I guess the more important question here is, how do you establish a good relationship with your main professors quickly? What are some of the things that you did/wish you did that helped make your first year a rewarding experience? How do you stop that 'butterflies in your stomach' feeling and get the "in-control of things' feeling instead? any advice you can share will be much appreciated. Many thanks!

Thanks both! Can a few others weigh-in as well? Thanks for your info!

Hello! I had a question regarding tuition fee for PhD students. I now most of you are funded so you've probably never bothered with this detail, but anyhow here goes my query: I would imagine that the tuition fee during coursework ( i.e first 2-3 years if you are full time student) would be higher than when it is completed and you are solely working on your thesis? Isnt tuition fees made up of no. of credit hours you take? If so, how may credit hours does work on thesis typically utilize? Thanks for any info here!

Hey XOwlfan, So I heard from Hopkins last week and have got admission! yay! But funding only kicks in from year 3 onwards.... so thats a bummer. Anyhow, thought I'd let you know how things went! Where are you off to this Fall?

Hi everybody! For one school, the only communication I ever received was a rejection letter, and while they assured me in the letter that the faculty gave my application full consideration.. it doesnt really assure me! What I would love is some detai - such as how many applications did they receive, how many did they admit, and (though I dont doubt there were others who were a better fit), I would dearly love to know where I fell short. Has anybody ever emailed a school to find out the reason for rejection? Do you recommend it? And if you have, did you meet with success, i.e. did you get a satisfactory response? Many thanks!

Hey there - I'll be moving from DC. I think I will miss the urban cosmopolitan environment, but then I think studying will keep me busy enough!

Did your prof mention by when you'd hear back? If he didnt, then I wouldnt hesitate to send a quick polite email asking just that... but also reiterating your interest. This assumes you havent already been emailing though, and that it has been 14 days since your last conv with him/her. Good luck!

<br /> Nobody 'slides' in though I know what you mean. I'd say if you havent asked the ad com till date, and this would be your first query (roughly 1-2 months after you submitted your app) then its fine to contact them. I highly doubt they'll reject you just for asking. But you might get some color on where you stand (review still underway, POI away, etc)

Hi jcandy.. so I gave in and called Hopkins.. they said a decision had not yet been made.. they do admissions on a rolling basis. Hope you are having quicker luck than I am!

<br /><br /><br /> LOL!!!

I had once applied to LSE (London School of Economics). They sent me an email saying I am accepted, and then a couple of days later they informed me that I had received that email by mistake! I completely get that its a human error, but I cant fight what I feel, which is to say, I find it difficult to regain the respect I once had for LSE.

damn.. I havent heard anything... I guess it is what it is.. Still, I appreciate the heads up.

Kathiza, you are basically explaining why the social sciences are called social 'sciences'. I wasn't referring to them in my post. I was referring to humanities programs - history, etc. I really do think the bar has to be higher for these subjective disciplines. And just btw, not everyone possesses common sense or an appreciation for culture, liberal arts, language, history, etc! Again, I strongly feel that we need more emphasis on these disciplines right from primary school to undergrad, but not necessarily at the PhD level. To study these at that level, you really need to be the top brass, which I hope is the way things currently stand.

<br /><br /><br /> So, I am completely in agreement with this. I think exposure to the humanities is critical and in fact should begin very early in life. But here's a question: do you need a PhD to understand humanity/society/morality? If you are an engineer or a scientist, it doesn't mean you don't understand literature or have a very poor understanding of history or the way society works or dont know how to write powerful prose. Yes, you do need a PhD to understand the nuances, identify patterns, etc but then your focus is very sharp. You will be studying a particular dance form/dialect/community in great detail. To have such a sharp focus is indeed a great luxury, and as you mentioned of particular interest to only a few. Also, I think we need to make a distinction between students and artists. Artists, do not all have a PhD under their belt. They are masters of their art, which comes from practicing it, not just studying it. An argument that I find persuasive for having more doctoral students in the sciences is that these are a) technical fields, and that for society to function as we know it today, there is indeed a greater demand for them. Whether we like it or not, a small decline in the # of PhD students in the humanities field is not going to have a big impact ( a decline in the # of artists, writers, musicians, linguists, philosophers, yes.. but not PhD holders) I think the biggest value of a doctoral degree in humanties is that they make you better thinkers. But 'better' thinkers is highly subjective (as opposed to the technical training that people in the sciences receive). Therefore, the bar does need to be higher for humanities students, as in fact it is. So kudos to you all for making that bar!

Have you tried negotiating with them?

I would most definitely email. It shows that you are interested in the program... you are still interested, right? You have already waited a month.. time to put in a gentle query. Its natural to be inquisitive after you've had that level of interaction. Btw, did you respond to the article your POI sent you?

I will add - that this is their standard policy for this program and written on their website, so its not a sham or anything. Just want to be fair to them

Will it??? Que Sera, Sera....

Hi, its UNC - University of North Carolina. Couldnt agree more regarding the risks it represents for international students.

hey, I had applied but learned in early Feb that all the interview invites had been set out. Ergo, I'm out. Too bad, coz I found their ethics track very fascinating. If you have optimistic news (such as they are still sending out invites), then I'd be interested in knowing. Either way, good luck with our endeavors!