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Centurion

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  • Location
    Western US
  • Program
    Political Science PhD (Comparative)

Centurion's Achievements

Decaf

Decaf (2/10)

5

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  1. Okay, first of all, education policy analysist you are not. Taking an area as complicated as comparative educational achievement and pinning it all on "grade inflation" is what I would call "C work." That said, it seems to me the issue is you trying to divorce yourself and your views from the institutional constraints that the system exists in. Not taking into account the way your views are in turn viewed by the people who give your views real world impact is not ethical; in fact, it's quite the opposite. However, I don't really see a problem here. She asked you a question to collect evidence, you answered and gave her the evidence needed. I see a problem for the professor but not for you. I also don't see any real "politics" happening. Corruption? Maybe. But corruption and politics are not synonyms. For the benefit of your students and professors, however, I would recommend that you grade them on the scale that those grades will be evaluated on. You might think you are acting noble by your grading scale, but it is a collective action problem. You being a tough grader is not going to change anyone's opinion of grade inflation, so you are really doing everyone a huge disservice.
  2. I think there are a few things which need to be taken into consideration when trying to weigh between personal factors and academic ones. Academically, you should try to avoid schools where there is only one person you are interested in. Their interests could change, your interests could change, they could be jerk, they could change schools, they could be awarded a 2 million euro grant to do research in Italy for the next five years, these things happen. While I think it's bad form to make plans assuming you are going to change your mind, it is important to have the flexibility if you do. Additionally, as wheatGrass pointed out, your career goals are important here, you have to live in this decision for the next 5-8 years, depending on the field; however, you have to live with this decision for the rest of your career. The way I look at is that as soon as the personal circumstances start negatively affecting the academic ones, then it is a problem. If you will be so unhappy that you will do worse work because of it, go where you will be happier.
  3. Just be honest. Tell them you have been accepted to a few other programs and have not made a decision yet, but that you will contact them with your choice when you have made it. I'm in the same position; I've turned down some schools bit haven't officially committed to anything. One of the schools that asked me where I was going added that it was for program review purposes, which, to a certain degree, makes a lot of sense. If programs keep on losing a lot of potential grads to the same program, they might want to evaluate why and address that area. The schools are just trying to collect data to improve their competitiveness, or at least that is what I've gathered.
  4. Hi everyone, I though it would be useful if there was some centralized location where people on various waitlists could come to find out if anyone has rejected offers for the schools they are waiting on. I'm not on any waitlists, but I can sympathize with those who are stuck in limbo. I don't expect anyone to think of this as a one-for-one trade-off, but I hope that even the smallest amount of information might provide a modicum of hope. So I thought that anyone who has rejected an offer might post it here with a little bit of info. I hope this might prove somewhat useful to anyone who is facing down the bleak inhumanity that is the waitlist. I was thinking we should probably post: School Name Sub field Funded/not funded Type of funding (fellowship or assistantship or combination) If anyone can think of anything else to add, feel free. Here is what I have so far: Washington University in St. Louis Comparative Funded (Fellowship/ assitantship) I plan on rejecting two more in the coming week: UC Davis Comparative Funded (assistantship) SUNY-Binghamton Comparative Funded I hope this info helps!
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