rems

I actually have to agree with this. I don't know what anything about "animal studies" or "post-human" studies, but I can't help but think that we, as humans, cannot think and/or perceive outside of ourselves, so, good point. with Problem #1 above. Perhaps this is stemming from environmental theory and ecocrit, and that we, as humans, should stop being douche thinking that we're right all the time. Someone, please correct me on this.

AWESOME. I'm so happy for you! You're one of my favorite people on here, and I think you def deserve to carry on with your studies.

Does no one else find it offensive to discuss our diets on a thread that is discussing obesity? I have little to say about the field of "Fat Studies" as an academic field, and I'm pretty sure that OP just posted this to be offensive and cause 7 pages worth of worthless argument knowing that we would take the idea, get offended by it, get offended by others offensive, there'd be a snarky comment here or there (thanks thestage for playing your part, as always (I'm not even sure if that's a compliment or a dig -- I'll let you be the judge of that)), and it would get way off topic into realms that have little to nothing to do with obesity, the obesity epidemic, the politics of the aforementioned, etc. etc. etc. ETC. Let me repeat: This thread is stupid. And I will willingly admit that I have nothing better to do right now because a student is late for her conference, and I'm just waiting for her to show up. So, yes, I could just not read this. But I did. And it was stupid.

If I can jump in here, this is probably the stupidest thread I've read in a while. That is all. OH, and here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/what-housework-has-to-do-with-waistlines/?ref=health Chew on that for a while. (get it? "chew"?)

I see what you're saying, and I agree. I also get annoyed when people say that being an academic isn't being in "real life." Because whatever you choose to do with your life, that's your "life." And so I totally understand defending the lifestyle and stuff. I think I was being defensive. Very well put!

Right, but you don't get to choose if you go if you keep getting rejected from schools. I don't think anyone on here is saying getting a PhD is a bad idea. At least what I was saying, is that I've never, ever, even considered the alternative, but I'm being forced to because I might not get accepted anywhere. I could apply again next year, or the year after, or the year after, but that doesn't guarantee a spot. So what happens then? Also, having to consider the alternative has required just that: considering the alternative. And when it's something you've never considered before, it can be eye opening. The grass is always greener on the other side.

This, and yes. I have been considering this for a while now. I only applied to six schools, have been rejected from 4, awaiting assumed rejections from 2 schools. That being said, I think it's best if I start thinking about other career paths. I've even started the application process for a few jobs I think might be a good fit for me just in case the other two schools turn out to be a rejection. I think what happened to me (I stress to me -- I by no means, by what I'm about to say, want to influence anyone else or say that you're making the wrong decisions, etc.) is these rejections have almost opened my eyes a little. Because I had to start thinking about Plan B, it almost has started to overshadow Plan A, a little. I say this begrudgingly because I really enjoy being in school, I love reading, writing, all the stuff. What I started to notice was how small my bank account is. What I started to notice was how much I hate writing seminar papers. What I started to notice was that even with a full tuition waiver and 19K stipend, I might have to take out more loans. What I started to notice is that even the best from the best schools end up as an adjunct. What I started to notice was 80 hrs. weeks. What I started to notice was not being to chose anything about my life because I have to go where the jobs are. What I've started to notice is that I want my day to end at 5 pm, not carry into the night trying to finish those annotations, or the proposal, or that seminar paper. All of that, is what I've started notice. And, honestly, I'm not it's really the life for me. I've actually never, NEVER, considered doing anything besides being an academic, but now here I am writing this response saying that I'm applying for other jobs and that I'm not even going to reapply next year. Honestly, I'm very tired of this lifestyle. I have been in "school" for 8 years now, and I'm not totally positive that I want to keep going. This is a totally personal decision, and I by no means am trying to say that someone should not pursue their degree if that's what they want. BUT, I think some of us, having gone through this process now, are starting to think it's best to move on and find another career. I hate to sound blunt, but at what point does one have to admit that they might not get what they want, get up, brush their pants off, and just move on? I'm not 100% sure about anything in my life, but I totally get that this whole thing is starting to make re-think my life.

You can have a separate section for "Accepted Papers" in addition to a "Presentations" section on your CV which lets them know the paper was accepted, but you didn't actually present it. I would assume, however, that more than one or two "Accepted Papers" with little to no actual "Presentations" would look bad.

So, my Minnesota page has now changed to "Final Review." Ek.

I never knew how to use commas.

Just wanted to say a big CONGRATs to everyone who has been accepted so far!!! I haven't been keeping up with those -- sorry about that!! I'm very excited for everyone!!! Hopefully this week will just continue to be filled with good news!! @Two Expressos, I would be seriously surprised it you didn't get in anywhere -- keep your hopes up until you know it's over!

YAH! CONGRATS!

ALSO, anyone else on the East Coast, and irritated everyday that it's 9:00 am here BUT the sun's not even up where most of your applications are waiting to judged? SUNYUNOCONSISTENT? EARTHYUSHAPEDLIKECIRCLE?

HOLY SHIT. 4 SPOTS????? That can't be right... Can it? PHDWHYUSOHARD?????

OMG I can't believe I missed this. This is awesome, and being around people like you is why I like being an English scholar.

I just showed Blade Runner in my class. Synchronicity.

I'm out of upvotes, or else I would upvote this. And I usually don't use them.

Well, I think you're edging into dangerous territory with that one.

I'm fairly positive that no one on this thread so far has even said that ivies are full of snobs and that rich people are awful. I'm pretty sure that only people so far who have even mentioned anything to the contrary is me just pointing out that class differences in the ivies might be an issue for some students, and plainsandtrains stating that class differences do exist in our culture. I'm a little confused why everyone is being so defensive..?

I agree that it's just as ignorant to assume ivy leagues are "snobby" as much as it's ignorant to believe those from the South are "stupid." And I definitely see what you're saying. Let me rephrase what I meant originally: I don't think that just because you come from an ivy league school or from a middle or upper class family, you are snobby. What I meant was, each social class has its own culture, so if you're from the lower classes, and suddenly you're thrown in with people from the upper-middle and upper classes, it can be isolating even when those people are super nice to you. I would even equate it with being an international student -- that's how different those societies are. So, I'm not trying to suggest that one should avoid these schools for these reasons, but that this is simply something that one might encounter when in graduate school and it's most certainly worth a discussion -- the discussion prob won't lead to any sort of conclusion, but it's worth discussing. And I think expressing a fear of not fitting in in the ivies is definitely legitimate and I don't think it has anything to do with that student's ability to handle academic rigor -- it can be isolating outside the classroom when socially interacting with students, profs, the campus, etc. etc. I feel that most on this thread so far as jumped onto the assumption that we're attacking ivies, when I feel as though the OP was merely asking what we thought about them, if his/her concerns were legitimate, and how others have handled similar situations.

I'm fairly positive I specifically stated that this shouldn't keep one from trying, but that it's more an issue that one may face when going to an ivy league school. I also find it dismissive that you would conclude how everyone feels about class based upon your own experience. I'm very glad that you haven't experienced anything of the like, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen to other people. You make a good point about hard work and being pushed, and I think everyone should try their hardest when it comes to school, but that doesn't mean it's always a cake walk and everyone is super happy about every single aspect of the school they attend. I think class differences do exist in the academia and especially when we venture into the ivy leagues. It's very dismissive to state that people shouldn't feel the way they do when it comes to these types of topics.

As someone who has no actually experience with ivy league students, I can't really answer this question. BUT, I am going to point out that even though there may not be "snobs" in the ivies as much as we think, there is definitely a class difference. I heard a great interview with John Oliver, and he discussed how he was accepted to Oxford but it was miserable for him because of the class differences. No one was mean to him, there was no bullying, or the like, but he did speak to feeling left out. Also, he said it's hard to be around kids from upper-crust families when your family is not, no matter how nice they are to you. So long story short, I agree with donthate that it's not really important, but just for the sake of conversation and because I find class differences an interesting field of study, I think that the ivies tend to admit students who come from these backgrounds. Not totally, but, yes, majority-wise that's who is in the ivies. And I do think that this is something to consider when deciding which schools to attend. I don't think it should even come close to making you not want to go to an ivy, but because the world is not black and white, a or b, or the like, it is worth talking about that this is something to consider.

Is that not how one writes an abstract? YOU EITHER GO ABSTRACT OR YOU GO THE FUCK HOME.

What do you want to know? I stress abstracts in my comp classes because no one even mentioned them to me once I got to grad school, so I was really clueless. But, I've written a lot of them, and, for all intensive purposes, I'm pretty good at it.