Jump to content

global_nomad

Members
  • Posts

    11
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by global_nomad

  1. Thanks for the advice and good to know it has been done successfully. To clarify, I'm on a "5-year" PhD program, but I entered without a masters and so I'm getting it 'on the way'. I guessed I'd have to do at least a year of courses if I switch, but I'd need to do that anyway between the Masters and Comp exams.
  2. Hi All, I'm looking for advice about switching grad schools. How feasible is it and how frowned upon? My situtation may be a bit different from the norm as I am an international student in a US PhD program. I would not reapply to programs in the US, but to either my country of citizenship or to my country of residence. Would this or my reasons below make the move less frowned upon? Reasons for leaving US/moving programs 1) My husband has a US work visa but cannot find a decent job. He has basically comitted career suicide as he had a really good career in our country of residence which he could easily re-establish if we were to return. 2) My adviser is very difficult to work with - aside from personality disorders, she is too paranoid to share data or give me a part of the project to work on, but is then unwilling for me to work on another project. She is near retirement and does not appear to care about her students anymore, she doesn't help any of us publish nor is she interested in helping us make connections in the field. 3) I am not enjoying life in the US. Despite many cool things about the country, there are just as many that being a foreigner don't sit well with me. We also really dislike the college town we live in. We're in the middle of nowhere - which has contributed to no 1.- but also seriously affects our quality of life. This might sound a stupid reason, but the thought of being stuck here for another 5-odd years is really depressing. 4) There are some family issues on my husband's side that are drawing us back to our country of citizenship. I am in my second year and due to take my Masters exams at Christmas. I enjoy grad school overall and want to continue in academia. Oh - I know I'd need recommendations from my current school. I'd hope to get something decent from my adviser, but if not, I know the rest of the faculty would support me. Thanks for any advice you may have.
  3. Thanks so much Seeking. Yes my supervisor at UConn is head of the department, seems very helpful, and is well connected with staff at a lot of top institutions in the US. Outside of the US, I am not so sure, but she would still be well known in her specialism. My funding for the Cambridge MPhil is based on it being prep for PhD, so I'd have a decent chance of staying on (as that is the expectation of the funding). However, in the current funding climate nothing is guarenteed. It's a very hard decision, so thanks for the helpful advice.
  4. Thanks for the advice, some good food for thought there. I've worked in publishing and done a lot of presentions professionally, so I hope that gives me a bit of an advantage!! I guess you're right tho, all other things being equal the institution is likely to give the edge. Hmm, I'm normally go with my gut. . . . but just maybe this time . . . .? I should probably add that the place at Cambridge is only an MPhil, so there is no guarantee that I'll get funding for ,or even a place on, the PhD there after my Masters. Secondly, I'm interested in your last point Seeking: What do you think qualifies a supervisor to be in a good position to help me get a job? Ta.
  5. Hi All, Hoping to draw on some advice from those of you out in the job market. I am right at the beginning of my PhD journey and weighing up two offers. Getting an academic job at the end is what it's all about and I'd like to consider this in making my decision. I will be studying Palaeolithic archaeology (Anthropology). an have offers from Cambridge and UConn. My gut says UConn (chance to experience the US, great location, new adventures, and an excellent research fit with a brilliant supervisor). But my head says Cambridge when I think of my academic job opportunities after. Does reputation of the inistitution really make that much of a difference? I know its meant to be about how much you publish and the connections you make on the way, but does snobbery still win out these days? Post PhD, I am unsure where I want to settle. I have lived overseas for the last 5 years and don't plan to return to my country of citizenship (UK) long term. I'd like to be able return to where I am now (NZ), but Palaeolithic archaeology is rather thin on the ground here (heavy regional focus) and I'd probably have to give them a strong reason to consider me as a left of field candidate or broaden my geographic interests. My supervisor at UConn is well known and highly regarded in her specialism, but probably not so well known out here. Given you guys are out there in the job market, what advice do you have for me? Cheers
  6. Hmm, thanks for the advice but I'm feeling a bit nervous about the financials now. Although it seems like it depends on what part of CT you are in. . . and yep, Xowlfan, I'll be at UConn so further north and away from the Coast. I might take up your offer and drop you a few Qs via PM too. I am good at budgeting and love second hand shops, but it is nice to be able to splash out once in a while. Oh well, I might have to save that till I'm a world famous professor (fortunes made in best selling books of course, not an academics salary!). Thanks all, and more advice welcomed. (PS. I'm English and 'Liveable' = UK spelling, so I guess 'Livable' is the US version! I'm going have to learn how to spell all over again at grad school, darnit )
  7. Hi All, I've been offered a PhD place (Yay!) with funding (double yay!) of $14,500. I'll be living in Eastern Connecticut. Does anyone have any advice or experience on how close to the poverty line that will make me? I live in New Zealand so have no idea about US cost of living. I assume they give you enough to survive, but will I be scratching by on a wing-and-a-prayer or will I get to enjoy a few dinners out and bottles of wine (even if its not NZ Sauvignon ) now and then? Will I have enough to visit family in the UK once a year? General 'quality of life' sort of things. I have a husband who hopes to be working (we have our fingers crossed for a J1/J2-visa), but we expect some time where he'll be out of work and have no idea as to what kind of salary he'll be on. So while I don't expect that sort of money to support two people, I'm interested in how much we'd need to top it up by and how sufficient it is to support one person. Thanks any forthcoming pearls of wisdom. . .
  8. Thanks everyone, some really sound and useful advice here. Much appreciated. Anthropologygeek - I'll PM you once I work out how!
  9. Hi All, I'm looking for some advice: I have three acceptances so far. Two are from the most prestigious schools in the UK on Masters courses (not news on funding from either). The third is for a PhD in the US with funding (tied to a TA of 15 hours a week). The US school is an excellent research match with me and I'd have a supervisor highly regarded in the field, with good feedback from her current grads and whose projects really inspire me, BUT the school does not have a prestigious reputation. I only have two weeks to make a decision!!! Things are more complicated because I am a Brit who has been living overseas for some years and I'm unlikely to be able to visit any of the schools to get a feel for the places (although I did my undergrad at one of the UK ones). I also have a husband to add into the mix (visa dramas) and neither of us are keen on staying in the UK long-term (eg to stay on for the PhD). I don't think I'll be able to get a decision on funding from the UK within the US timescale, so in trying to weigh up my options I'd love some thoughts on: Prestige vs fitIs 15hrs TA a bit heavy in grad school?combined vs separate MA and PhD coursesIn terms of getting an academic/research job after the PhD, would an employer pay any attention to the MA institution, if I had done the PhD elsewhere? My gut is saying the US option, but would I be mad to turn down the other schools with that kind of international reputation??? Thank you for any help you can give.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use