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diasporabound

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Everything posted by diasporabound

  1. Hi Panera, I have some suggestions that might help. I currently live in the closest "East Rock" section that's still within a long walk downtown. Most of my neighbors are divinity students or science hill students. While the housing here is cheaper, you get more space for your buck, and it's great for cars... it does feel really isolated from downtown, and it almost feels like you're in another town. The downtown area is very urban and gives you nice cityscapes, however you pretty much only get those views from the high rise apartments downtown. I'm in my first year of a PhD program, and was in your very same position last year. I was on some wait lists for apartments downtown (I also like the liveliness and access to things that you get from a city environment), but ultimately I couldn't get off the wait list and now I'm near the Div School. Although the distance from here to downtown isn't far, it's about 2 miles and it makes a HUGE difference if you don't have a car or a bike. It's maybe a 30 minute walk, and in the winter it's too cold and it gets dark fast, so that means you will LIVE on the shuttle if you need to get back and forth during the day or you'll be that person that takes the shuttle downtown in the mornings and carries your stuff all day. It's not awful, but it's not convenient. That has just been my experience. I think I notice it more because I'm not in the div school, so I don't really have a real reason to live here other than to save money and have more space. After one year though, it has been great to save -literally- hundreds of dollars a month by living in East Rock, but it has made me want to live downtown even more. If I get off of a wait list for one of the downtown high rises I might be looking for a roommate (since downtown is more expensive). Let me know if I can help you in any other way. Most of my Div School friends are East Rock neighbors, but I can ask some if they know anyone who lives downtown. My my experience it's easier to go from downtown to other places but not necessarily vice versa.
  2. Hi Laniel, Congrats! I'll respond to your questions to my ability, in order. 1. You don't need to look for housing too far in advance unless you want to live downtown. I'm guessing that since you have two dogs and perhaps a car, finding an appropriate place downtown would be difficult, very expensive, and you would definitely have to start early. You probably also wouldn't find much outdoor space. I would recommend looking for things around April May (as soon as you know you're moving here), and perhaps try to get on a wait list if you do find a building that works for you. There are always exceptions to that suggestion, but if you're open to looking beyond downtown, I would try to find an apartment about 2-3 months before you intend to move in. You don't want to cut it too close, but any earlier, and a lot of landlords won't know if their renters will renew. 2. I find New Haven housing (outside of some of the high rise buildings downtown) to be very pet friendly. Almost everyone I know has a pet, although most of these are cats. I think you'll find most success with two large dogs in East Rock- which is nearby, family friendly, "feels like a neighborhood" -as some people say, and you probably know a lot about it based on this thread. Although I don't know anything about the prospects for out of state teachers, I would recommend trying to see the neighborhoods while you're here. New Haven is a small city, so this is definitely doable in about 15-20 minutes in a car and would help you figure out what's best for you. Good luck!
  3. I hope someone has more info than I do, considering that you probably need to make your decision very soon... However, housing in NY is extremely expensive in general, it might be hard to find an affordable, safe, convenient, etc. place if you're in another country and also unfamiliar with the area. In my experience, Boston is expensive for rent, but not as expensive as NY, and the cost of living is in a similar range. I know nothing about Miami. Good luck!
  4. I'm still deciding between Yale and Harvard, but leaning strongly toward Yale. I'll be visiting both schools this week/end for diversity recruitment days....and I'd definitely want to live right next to campus! If you're looking for a roommate, and/or will be at Yale the 6th and 7th we should meet
  5. Is there a way to start a sub-forum for those looking for roommates in New Haven? This would be helpful since incoming students can't see all of the listings. If this already exists- sorry! Please point me in the right direction. Thanks.
  6. diasporabound

    Harvard

    Anyone decided/committed? Or still on the fence? It'd be nice to get an idea of who might be in the cohort, and if some of us are still on the fence, maybe we can help each other navigate the information we've gathered.
  7. diasporabound

    Harvard

    What a wonderful journey! I think people believe academia is much more straight-forward than it really is. Having applied more than once to both Anthro and History programs, most people I know have "other" experiences that lead them to kick butt once they find their groove in a PhD program that's a really great fit. I'm at the Yale visit now, and the people are really incredible. I would definitely reach out directly to the people you might want to work with (and maybe over time, like every few months)- to gauge who's interested in your project, and who approaches the subject in a way you appreciate (i.e. methodologically, interpretatively, etc.) The bibliography you've added is great- I was being slightly lazy but you've reminded me of some of my old favorites. I think for Colombia it's also worthwhile to add articles, because much of the most interesting, cutting edge research for Colombian history (that reflects where scholars are now) is not reflected in English-language monographs. It might also be useful to put this convo in the Latin American History thread. This list is not just helpful for Colombianists (or even just specialists of slavery or nationalisms) but also for people working on broad themes in this period. Let's keep the convo going!
  8. diasporabound

    Harvard

    Hey Jdealla, I think a bibliography on Colombia is a marvelous idea. I also think it's wise to think about what kind of scholar you want to be as you match yourself to departments (and not just an advisor). Since there aren't a huge number of specialists on Colombia in general, I think you can go for the people whose work you admire (Colombianists), or otherwise look for two things: someone whose a specialist in the region/archives/types of documents you'll be using AND another person that's a specialist in the particular themes. For example, for me at Harvard, that meant combining a historian of slavery and legal processes in Latin America, as well as a scholar that works on death (including among slaves) in the Caribbean, and another who's well versed in Iberian-Americas imperial history. None of these people study Colombia, but they're familiar with the contexts, types of documents, and subfield in which I want to assert myself as a scholar. Hence, they can provide the training for me to do my own work in Colombian archives. What got you interested in Colombia by the way? I always like to know A few texts to get us started (looking for others to chime in, especially looking for interdisciplinary works): Aline Helg, Liberty and Equality in Caribbean Colombia Ann Twinam, Public Lives, Private Secrets Ann Twinam, Miners, Merchants and Farmers in Colonial Colombia David Bushnell, The Making of Modern Colombia Nancy Appelbaum, Muddied Waters: Race, Region, and Local History in Colombia, 1846-1948 Anthony McFarlane, Colombia before Independence Marixa Lasso, Myths of Harmony (many great articles out there...also works by Michael Taussig, Mary Roldan, Joanne Rappaport, Peter Wade, etc.) Hope that helps!
  9. It helped me to read the city guides on this site as well as city guides on websites for apartment hunters. They give you overall insight on the area and might give a few things (good and bad) to look out for that you might not notice otherwise. Also, I know you said it's a cross country flight, but if you think you might definitely go there AND you're less adaptable/ must LOVE the area in order to survive there, it might be worthwhile to set up flight alerts and make a second trip and stay with your friend. I know this is expensive, but what I "wish" I could have had was a second chance to visit the places I considered strongly. Almost every place felt different the second time around, especially if I went back to apartment hunt (but by that point I was committed). Given that you aren't a local prospective student, some programs will split the second trip with you (which is great if you don't mind taking things like red eyes because they're cheaper anyway). Finally, if you're a person that will want to visit your friends/family/etc. on the East Coast or if the majority of the conferences in your field are on the East Coast, consider how you feel during the trip. Does it bother you that it takes so long to go cross country and is so expensive or are you happy to rack up miles?
  10. diasporabound

    Results

    No idea- I never actually heard back from them either, but assumed it was a rejection because others were notified a while ago, and the campus visit is coming up. I understand this happens sometimes, but everyone deserves the respect of at least being notified (I mean, we did pay for an application). Fortunately I have three Ivies to choose from Good luck!
  11. Figured I'd post here rather than start another discussion: exactly HOW do you go about asking for more funding/ asking a university to match another institution's package? For example, I'm comparing offers between two Ivy-League programs, and one comes with an additional five years of summer funding AND a sizable miscellaneous budget (i.e. for technology, conference travel, research). How do I initiate the conversation to see if there's room for additional funding at the school that I prefer (with the standard package)? I want to be tactful. Also, is this a conversation I have with my potential advisor, the DGS, or someone else? Thanks!
  12. diasporabound

    Harvard

    Oh wow, I also work on Colombia (and comparatively Brazil), 18th and early 19th century. Looking forward to meeting you.
  13. diasporabound

    Harvard

    We might! I haven't received mine yet either.
  14. diasporabound

    Harvard

    Awesome, that sounds great. I'm working at the intersections of slavery, death, discourses of mental health and law in colonial Latin America. Looking forward to meeting you.
  15. diasporabound

    Harvard

    I am. What do you guys work on?
  16. If it helps, Columbia's admitted students day is March 7th- I found out a while ago, so I'm sure you would have heard by now if you were admitted. You might be on the wait list though, and they have a large cohort (compared to other places) so don't give up hope!
  17. diasporabound

    Harvard

    Email. So blessed.
  18. I'm a colonial Latin Americanist. I primarily work on slavery, African-indigenous interactions, and law in the Andes and Brazil.
  19. How are people finding roommates?
  20. Nice! I'm living with two other first year students, and I've been looking into craigslist while one of the others has looked into commercial spaces. Which have you heard good/bad things about? I'm interested in those options as well, especially since one of my roommates is an international student who'd prefer the level of security and ease those options present (not to mention the virtual tours lol). The two I looked into put us on waiting lists :/ Thanks AbaNader for setting up the google group- great idea. I too can hardly believe that I'll be moving to Baltimore in such a short amount of time! But I guess if it hadn't taken me so long to make my final decision I could've mentally prepared myself a little better.
  21. Hoping to reawaken this thread... Does anyone live in Baltimore or know anything about it? Can anyone recommend: -places to live/areas not to live -Food options (i.e. supermarkets, outdoor markets) -how to navigate the public transportation system -Other things to do in Baltimore! -Free/Cheap things to do in Baltimore? Thanks!!
  22. Hey reporterinvietnam, Which did you decide? I also had the privilege and blessing to struggle over two really great programs, but I would've been a part of your incoming cohort in the CulAnth program at Duke Best of luck with your decision!
  23. Great ideas! These fellowships are so competitive, I really wish there were more out there, especially for the Humanities students.
  24. What are your back up plans A, B, and C for next year?
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