teamind

Sometimes, I feel like I am the King of Foot in Mouth moments, especially around professors or people I want to impress. I think I (sub)consciously overcompensate for my inhibitions by saying inappropriately uninhibited things that aren't event totally true.... if that makes any sense. Tonight, at a small departmental get together: Professor / Also Dept Chair: Well it takes so long to read every word of those articles! Me: Every word! Ha! I barely read the abstract and then skip all the numbers and charts and graphs and then just pretend I've read it when I'm in your class! I've hated all the readings! ha ha ha! Professor: Me: I suffer from things like this all. the. time. I'm usually able to shrug and laugh it off, but sometimes I can't believe the things I hear myself say. Anyone have similar experiences? What have been some of the best/worst/funniest? How have you recovered, if at all?

I will be starting a doctoral program this fall and I've been assigned to TA for a class which lecture time conflicts with my course schedule. I emailed the professor about this and he basically said, "It'll work it out." I also have to teach 3 discussion sections a week. --Is it possible to teach discussion sections without attending the lectures? I'm struggling to see how this would be done. --I received an email, along with 4 other students, informing us to coordinate with each other to figure out our TA discussion section times. There are not enough section times for each of us to teach 3 sections alone; is it normal for more than one TA to teach the same section? how would this work? Also, 3 out of the 4 other TAs are at least second year students. Should I wait for them to contact me about the section times since they might know what they're doing? --When they say "3 discussion sections", do they mean the same class that meets 3 times a week? Or 3 different groups of students each week? I went to a fairly small liberal arts school where we didn't have this discussion section business. Since I haven't even started school yet, all of this is a little hard to conceptualize. I've never taken a class with a TA before, so I don't even really understand the expectations or what its like at all. I'm very confused ! thanks!

Glad to know I'm the only one that is this stupid. Yay

Am I the only one who doesn't understand the basic differences between funding packages? It seems like most of the threads already on here are way over my head and I'm having trouble finding answers to some pretty simple and silly questions about what it all MEANS. Is a tuition abatement the same as a tuition waiver? Is the stipend given to you on top of what is waived (or abated??) for tuition? Or is that just the amount reduced from tuition? Is a Fellowship, say in the amount of 2K/year, just paid out to you every year? Or is that also just reduced from whatever tuition/costs remain? Anyone else confused by wording, exact definitions, or basic meaning of their offers?

There is another thread on this.

Yup- waiting on Rutgers here as well. it's kind of maddening still waiting to hear back from several schools at this point.

I am similarly dealing with the eternal question of fit v. rank, but without the funding aspect. For me, yours is an open and shut case as I know I don't want to put myself further in debt so from the start, I knew I would only consider funded offers. As to fit or rank, the way I'm looking at it is this: I am more likely to excel by publishing papers, presenting at conferences, and generally being supported in my work in a department with a great fit, than a department where there are little to no profs who share my interests. Therefore while the great brand name of the t20 might get me in the door for a job talk, it won't necessarily get me the job. And this is especially true in your case, where its ranked 50 and its unfunded-- nothing is guaranteeing you a placement, even a great placement record.. Either way its a risk, as are all pursuits of academia to an extent in terms of finding a decent placement-- but at least with the funded offer, you won't be drowning in debt by the end of it. Just my .02. Of course, as others have said, this all depends on your goals coming out. I also suggest reading the post by our OSU faculty friend BFB on fit v rank (can't link to it on my iPhone- it's at the top of the faculty perspectives thread).

:-o Genius!

What are some recommendations for staying organized while in grad school? As someone who is notoriously scatterbrained and will be starting a PhD program in the fall I could definitely use some 21st century ways to streamline my notes, tasks, thoughts, etc. Anyone have a particular app, program, notebook, or organizing system they couldn't do without?

If you haven't heard from UVa, odds are you are waitlisted. Apparently they notify people on the waitlist one by one depending how far down you are. I suggest emailing the DGS.

Not to break up the discussion but.... back to admission results for a moment: It's been slow lately. What schools are people still waiting to hear from? Personally, I'm waiting on CUNY and Rutgers.

I just called the department. Was told very curtly "you'll hear in a couple of weeks." No other info was given. Sigh.

From what I've gathered, its usually favorable for you to mention that you've been extended offers of admission elsewhere. it shows that you are a competitive applicant, if anything. I've been specifically asked from the schools I was accepted at where else I've been accepted and if I've been offered funding. It gives them a chance to negotiate funding and discern how likely you are to accept admission. As to what to respond, I would just stress that you are excited about the program, you are of course considering it, and will let them know ASAP.

I'm also waiting on Rutgers. I reaaaally hope they notify us before March 15th; they are pretty much the only school I'm still waiting to hear from and I am super ready for this to be over. I haven't seen any admits posted on the board nor has anyone really mentioned the department on here. Definitely report back if you hear anything else!

On the applyyourself site? Hmm still no decision for me. Put me out of my misery, admission gods, I beg of you!!!

Ahh! Condolences. I'm also pretty much just waiting to be rejected. Were you notified by email?

Actually no, but this is worrying me! I haven't heard anything about a visitation weekend, or funding yet, and obviously I have lots of questions about the program. I am pretty much sitting tight waiting to hear any additional info, but I'm now starting to think I should send a follow up email. I'm trying to discern the line between showing I am interested and finding out details I need to know, vs just waiting to be contacted and not bothering them during what must be a hectic time. What are you communicating with the departments about? And with whom?

Definitely let me know how it goes!

They also invited me; when I first read it I assumed they invited all wait listed students, but now that you mention it, I have no idea. Maybe we are higher up on the list? Either way, I can't attend unfortunately since it's the same weekend as another admitted students visit, not to mention I live on the other coast. Are you planning on going?

Wait.... what?! Where did you hear this from? Edit: Seems like we've applied to some of the same schools that many others seem to have not.. (great minds, that's all I'm saying)

Maybe it's too early in the game, but I'd really love to see this thread take off- and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Unfortunately I myself am nowhere close to making the decision so I can't offer any solace to wait listers just yet. I am, however, currently wait listed at Minnesota and UC Irvine, so if anyone is planning on rejecting their offer (especially Minnesota, apparently I am quite high on the list), let a brother know

Oooh, so they accepted you for the Spring? Weird. I also applied to the MA. Thanks!

Ditto. P.S. I see by your signature you were accepted at New School.. can I ask how/when? It doesn't necessarily matter for me anymore but I'm dying for this process to be over and hear word from the remaining schools I applied to..

Anyone know anything about UVA's remaining decisions?

I am literally wondering the same thing. UMass seems like the best fit of the schools I have so far been accepted, yet it's low rank has troubled me. Much thanks to all the responses.. I'll be happy to take rankings with a grain of salt. If anyone has thoughts on UMass specifically, and can confirm/speculate if its actually on the rise or if they have heard good or not so good things, that would be mighty helpful!