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  1. Upvote
    especially reacted to koolherc in Are A Lot of Grad Students From Privileged Families?   
    Wow, I disagree with a lot that's been posted here. Flights to Europe ARE expensive. RV tents are expensive. Couchsurfing (the webpage), and knowing when the best time to buy flights is, knowing about rush tickets, knowing what the FAFSA is, and knowing how to apply to college all requires a type of access that goes beyond dollars and cents and incorporates a privilege that comes from being the dominant culture with access to and power over information. Yes, the grand majority of graduate students are privileged. If your parents were professors, that makes you privileged. Let's not let the shifty nature of the term "middle class" deceive us. Is middle class a family of four on 25k a year or is it a family of two on 100k? Both are considered middle class to many people.

    In NYC, the Metropolitan Museum of Art charges a suggested donation of $20+ per adult visitor---that is, technically, you only have to pay a quarter to get in. I know plenty of native, inner-city NYers (from the Bronx, Queens, etc.) who've never gone to the Met, even though they could do it for free, and would enjoy it. Even going into Manhattan only requires $2.50 on the train, but there's still a mental privilege and presumption that is required.



    SeriousSillyPutty also made some good points, though I disagree with some of the language (" "postive" role models").
  2. Upvote
    especially reacted to raise cain in Are A Lot of Grad Students From Privileged Families?   
    I don't think anyone is asking you to apologize, but be aware and self-reflexive of your privilege. My family are Holocaust survivors, and education was important to them, but education is secondary when you have to survive.
    I also think there is a bunch of conflation of what we are all referencing as "privilege" like you point out, but I think what koolherc states is the more salient conflation (imo) - privilege through economic status and privilege through cultural, societal status.
    I may not come from a wealthy family, heck, by Canadian standard my parents are below the poverty line, but I was lucky enough to live in a metropolitan city that gave me access to people and resources to have that cultural capital to assist me in working towards a PhD.
    By the by, how come for the life of me I can never spell privilege right?!
  3. Upvote
    especially reacted to fuzzylogician in how to deal with F$(&$ING stupid post doc in lab?   
    What you probably need to do is have a conversation with the PI. Say that you feel the atmosphere in the lab has soured since this person arrived because for some reason she believes that someone is sabotaging her work. If I were you I would not mention that I think she's blaming me unless I had first-hand knowledge of it, unless the PI brings the question up. Just ask for help dealing with the situation, that's what the PI is there for.
  4. Upvote
    especially reacted to psychgurl in Acceptance & Guilt: Should I decline my offer of admission?   
    Dropping out of 2 PhD programs is NOT the same thing as a lapse in employment. Each of the 10 applications I filled out required me to list EVERY institution I attended (including transcripts from each). You also are required to digitally sign at the end of every application, stating that all of the information provided is COMPLETE and ACCURATE. I would personally decline the offer...someone else could have the spot that you will probably lose once your program finds out your past academic record.
  5. Upvote
    especially reacted to wildviolet in Does anyone not feel 100% about their final decision?   
    Yes. You're not alone! I'm considering a program that wasn't even on my radar until one month before the application deadline.
  6. Upvote
    especially reacted to talific in Admission Offer Withdrawn   
    Well, the thing is, they didn't make an offer. The professor said that she had accepted his application, but the application still has to go through the DGS. I don't know what US schools are like, but Canadian schools generally make it very clear on their websites that although students may be contacted by the department/professor they are applying to, it is not a formal offer and it's not binding. The only offer that is official is the one from the DGS. I'm not saying this doesn't suck, but it's not the school's fault. The professor probably should have looked more closely at the requirements, etc before notifying anyone.
  7. Upvote
    especially reacted to koolherc in How to decide- money vs interests vs everythingelse   
    After a perusal of your situation described above, I suggest the following:

    Go where you think you'll have the most fun and feel most fulfilled.

    What if you do this program and then die right after you get your PhD? You wouldnt want your last years to have been wasted in a misguided attempt to 'reach happiness' later, am I right?

    Of course, if you are the type of person who will be miserable because of a gripping concern about your future, then pick the one that'll most likely relieve that concern.

    In other words, go where you think you'll have the most fun and feel most fulfilled.
  8. Upvote
    especially reacted to obrera in 2012 Applicants   
    Post these on the results page if you can, please, so that I can have a bit of hope for receiving something this week.
  9. Upvote
    especially reacted to hopeontelevision in 2012 Applicants   
    Congrats! I'm still waiting to hear from Toronto, UBC, and Queen's for Master's. I'm in at Western! Which ones have you heard back from, if you don't mind me asking? Maybe we'll be seeing each other in the fall at Western?
  10. Upvote
    especially reacted to tsm in 2012 Applicants   
    Well, there's rank #1, which is Toronto, and 3 places tied for second place... But anyways, if you get into Toronto and it's a course based MA, definitely take it over a thesis based MA somewhere else. An MA from Toronto will be very helpful in applications next year, the others maybe not as much.

    Then again, a 2 year MA (course based plus thesis) might also be a good idea, given that you can actually get new letters from people and do something before applying to PhD programs. For example, if you won't be in that great of a position to apply in your first semester at Toronto, and your interests are Foucault and french feminism (as on the profile), Alberta might not be bad (since Cressida Heyes and others are there). I guess it really depends, but if there's no super strong reason to pick another place Toronto seems like it would be by far the best idea.
  11. Upvote
    especially reacted to Rebecca8 in I applied with a 3.98 GPA, but graduated with a 4.0...   
    They're not gonna reject/accept you because of 0.02 GPA... Just don't bother.
  12. Upvote
    especially reacted to jordy in Posting your acceptance on facebook   
    To go back to the general topic, I believe there's a difference between bragging and merely celebrating your life, and I agree with those who referenced marriages, babies, etc. I don't feel the need to walk on eggshells, especially on MY facebook account. Don't want to see it? Have to make it about you instead of being happy for me? Then maybe we shouldn't be friends. I welcome your delete.
  13. Upvote
    especially reacted to captiv8ed in Posting your acceptance on facebook   
    But why does someone have to be clever about it?
    How is it any different:

    X just found out she is having a baby!
    X has met the love of her life
    X is getting married!
    Little baby Y is here!
    X has bought her dream house!
    X has landed the most awesome job.

    I am seriously still befuddled how getting into the school of your dreams doesn't rank up there with other absolutely want to share events.
    Now in every one of those cases, someone could feel bad. People struggling with infertility or going through a divorce or loss of a spouse might feel bad about some. Someone who is unemployed or poor might feel bad about others. But I don't think that people should just not share news because it might hurt someone. In fact, often the person who might be hurt ends up being hurt because you don't share that with them.
  14. Upvote
    especially reacted to bdon19 in Annoying writing habits...   
    I hate when people are grammar nazis in general. Yes, thank you, I know how to use grammar correctly, I'm a freaking English major. That doesn't mean I'm going to go out of my way to use it correctly when speaking in colloquial situations.

    For instance, I have a friend who will correct me if I use double negatives or say "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less." I suffer from a perpetual case of inarticulateness. I know how to use the grammar, it just never comes out right.

    Also, I hate when my mom texts. She doesn't use ANY punctuation. Usually texting etiquette doesn't bother me too much; I can handle a "youre" or even a "ur." But her texts usually read like: "Having chicken for dinner ok dad will pick u up at train at 5 call if hes late"

    That annoys me. Also, typos on the covers of textbooks. If they're inside, I'm fine with that. Copy editors are human, I forgive them. But not on the cover, please.
  15. Upvote
    especially reacted to Sparky in 500 words? Are they Serious?   
    Thousands and thousands and thousands of applicants before you have done it just fine.

    Are you really *that special*, that YOU are the ONE person who can't be compressed into 500 words? If you really do think you are that Special Snowflake, those 300 extra words better be damn good.

    (The upside is, those same thousands and thousands and thousands of applicants have complained about it bitterly, too. )
  16. Upvote
    especially reacted to BDav in Tips on Submitting an Application   
    Some things do depend on the school. I personally applied to five schools recently and each one required original transcripts with the application. When I talked about transcripts, I really meant any hard-copy item the school requires, which often includes transcripts. It is a good idea to double check requirements for each school though, because so many have minute differences.
  17. Upvote
    especially reacted to A Finicky Bean in why is nobody answering me??   
    Give people time to answer you. It is New Year's Eve/Day weekend, after all. Plus your tale is a bit confusing at times to follow (how many classes did you take that one semester?) and I'm sure people are trying to work through it. But changing the heading after only a day to something a bit aggressive isn't going to help you get more answers. Good luck.
  18. Upvote
    especially reacted to filmluv in PhD Humanities - Just Don't Do It!   
    That's true & I understand that but that is not the same argument. You are talking about pursuing athletics professionally which everyone knows -- has to be done from a very young age to be successful.
    That's like saying "I want t to become a ballerina or an astronaut at 34." Um, no you're not. But his argument in the article is not about being basically crazy -- it's about his condescending view towards undergrad students.
    How can a professor in good conscience try to quash a young person's love of learning and reading? It's despicable. He shouldn't have a column.

    This gets down to values. Being in the arts my entire life -- I've heard this argument lobbed at me repeatedly. It always irritated me. Do you think that college should be a time to explore yourself, your interests, your values? To learn to think critically and learn what it means to think, to become educated? Or do you think it's just about following a track to get a job?
    I think it's a big mistake -- I don't know how this guy has a column -- to try to tell students that they should all become doctors and lawyers. Or what? I really don't understand what he's advocating. And anyway, he's not even talking about the arts -- he's talking about academia. Which, to me, is even more bizarre.
    Has he looked around at the world?
    It's very difficult in the workforce. Corporate America isn't the answer to a fulfilling life, imho.
    Again: what's the alternative? We should all go get our MBAs? There is no guarantee in that either.
    We are moving as a society where it's the haves and have-nots.
    There are the elites and the non-elites. It used to be apparent in the arts -- now I guess it's apparent in academia.
    Now college is basically unaffordable.
    So many things I took for granted growing up are broken and need fixing.
    What's next?
    So this guy gets a column to shake his head, tsk tsk tsk and wave his finger at students he looks down upon for what?
    Wanting to go to college, loving learning, and wanting to read books?
    What's the world coming to?
  19. Upvote
    especially reacted to BDav in Tips on Submitting an Application   
    Hello,

    For two years I've worked as an admissions clerk at a respected East Coast university. Over that time I've seen people make a lot of mistakes, some of them obvious, and some harder to avoid. I've put together a list here of things you should do or not do in your applications.

    Hope it helps!




    1. Write your name on everything you submit.

    2. Spell your name correctly on everything you submit.

    3. If you have changed your name, and everything you submit is under your old name, mention that name, and if possible, put it in the "other name" blank of the application.

    4. Write your birthday on everything you submit.

    5. Write the correct birthday.

    6. If you are sending transcripts for three schools, list all three schools into the application. Not one school, not two schools, but all three.

    7. Keep in mind the following when writing a statement of purpose:
    a. Statements of Purpose are not poems. 99% of you are not poets. Stop trying to write poetic Statements of Purpose. They are generally bad and we laugh at them.

    b. Chances are you haven't wanted to be a PhD in Molecular Biology since you were seven. They know you're lying, or at least think you are.

    c. Desire, love, and passion are highly overused. I don't mean in general, but in the same letter. Try not to use them in every single sentence.

    8. Use spellcheck. When the header of your Writing Sample says Wring Sample, you better be a super genius to compensate.

    9. When mentioning why you want to go to a specific school, or work with a specific faculty member, use the correct name. Don't apply to school ZZZ and say how perfect you are for school CCC. Or how much you want to go to CCC to work with Prof. ZZZ. Each online-app system lets you preview your submitted files. Preview them. Then do it again.

    10. Write your name correctly on any tests you need to take (GRE, TOEFL etc.).

    11. Write the correct birthday on any tests you need to take.

    12. Don't ask people who hate you to write letters of recommendation. They might give you a bad recommendation.

    13. Don't risk asking someone you think hates you. They might give you a bad recommendation.

    14. Don't ask someone who you don't know, and doesn't want to do it. They might send a two-line letter that says, "I don't know this person well enough to offer any insight."

    15. Don't send pictures of yourself, especially not vacation pictures. They won't help you, and they won't even reach the admissions council.

    16. If the guidelines ask for 20-40 pages, don't send 200. It won't make you look brilliant. They receive hundreds of applicants. That's a lot of writing samples to read. Don't stand out because you're the jerk who sent them more work. They might not bother reading it at all.

    18. An original transcript has to come from the school you attended (unless you have special circumstances that you've discussed with the program you are applying to). This means that a photocopy isn't enough. You have to actually have your previous school send the transcript themselves. Most will do this for free, and have the option in the student login area.

    19. Try not to wait until the last minute, or at least try and send in your hard-copy requirements at the same time you apply or after. The longer the test scores and transcripts sit there, the more ratty they get. People have to recheck them every few days, and there are thousands of you.

    20. If you call the help-line, don't be an ass. These people are trying to help you. Also keep in mind that some problems are with the company that runs the online-application, such as Embark, which the school has absolutely no control over it. If you feel that you really have to be a jerk, try and picture what would happen if you want up to someone, punched them in the stomach, then asked if they'd do you a favor. Also, don't waste their time. Before calling to complain that they lost the test you submitted, check to make sure you actually submitted it.
  20. Upvote
    especially reacted to fuzzylogician in Soooo... cutting 2900 words to 500. WHAT?   
    Stick to what they ask for. Research interests, fit, relevant faculty.

    And while you're at it, rethink how you could possbily have 2900 *relevant* words to tell an adcom -- that sounds beyond eccessive. It must be 6-7 pages of text, three times what other applicants will write. No reasonable faculty serving on an adcom and reading hundreds of other documents will throughly read a text that long.
  21. Upvote
    especially got a reaction from stackoverflow in The psychological joys of applying to grad school   
    I've started having bad dreams (maybe nightmares?) where a school I'm not even applying to in real life is evaluating me, and I'm there for a visit and have to match little jars with test questions/answers on them, but the questions have nothing to do with my discipline.
  22. Upvote
    especially reacted to marlowe in It's the little things   
    I love reading books and talking about them; I anticipate that doing that for a living will be a blast.
  23. Downvote
    especially reacted to rawera in It's the little things   
    Interesting perspective. As a male, I anticipate hating a post-secondary teaching position.
  24. Upvote
    especially reacted to Sigaba in Should grad school applicants expect to be stalked on Google?   
    IK--

    Why do you start new threads to ask questions that have been addressed in previous threads that you also started?
  25. Upvote
    especially reacted to ZeeMore21 in PhD Humanities - Just Don't Do It!   
    I'd also argue that perhaps liberal arts schools' encouragement of the humanities is meant to counteract what I think is the devaluing of the humanities field in society. These types of schools are built on the notion that there are multiple intelligences, and unfortunately, this notion is not held in public schools....children are geared more toward the STEM courses, and those who may not be gifted in this arena are often penalized.

    Not everyone attends a liberal arts school...I think those that do attend these schools expect fields such as the Humanities to be celebrated and acknowledged. Looking at the state of public universities right now--where STEM fields and Humanities fields ought to be balanced--many humanities programs are being cut down significantly and are not receiving the funding they need, while others have simply disappeared. These program cuts are a reflection of what society believes is important--namely STEM related fields-- and funding is geared toward this field than toward humanities.

    This is all to say that though I do understand where you are coming from Eigen, and maybe liberal arts schools do need to include a bit more STEM fields as core courses (just not sure about this), I do respect the fact that liberal arts schools serve the role as supporters of the humanities, in a country where this field is being ridiculed as non-productive and inferior.
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