ProfLorax

What a great game. I didn't care who won: I just wanted a good, close game. And that's what we got. My jaw dropped several times in the last sixty seconds. That catch! That interception! That fight! Still, let's be honest here. The real winner last night was Missy and all her damn fierceness. #getyourfreakon

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I love reading all the good news! And yes, some of my closest friends in my cohort at UMD were also my friends here at TGC. Heck, Chadillac and I are presenting together at CCCC in March, all because we met here! I'm glad y'all ignored the hype and joined this awesome and supportive community. Time for a good news happy dance! Take it away, Abed.

I don't even think my newly tenured professors have fourteen publications. A publication in a peer-reviewed journal takes time: writing, revising, revising some more, waiting for decision, revising, resubmiting, waiting for decision, revising, and then WA-LA! You're published. And that's if the paper is eventually accepted. I've been working on the same manuscript for over a year now, and I'm still waiting to hear a decision.

Thanks for the suggestion! I can handle family drama as long as there are no super dark twists (child abuse, brutal rape scenes, etc). This Is Where I Leave You is now on my list! SOUNDS AMAZING. From your description of the Flapper Series, you'd also love Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The first two series are on Netflix. The fashion and feminism are both TO DIE FOR.

Two years ago, I was not among the first admits to Ohio State. And yet, I would end up being accepted into five other PhD programs and wait listed at Ohio State. So hope is not lost! Especially not this early. I don't think I got my first admit until mid-February.

Ooooh trashy novels! What are your faves, jhefflol? I'm looking for more late night breastfeeding reading material, and the Discovery of Witches is not cutting it (I'm so over possessive, jealous, controlling male love interests). I'll Give You the Sun was my last pleasure read that I just loved; I love really well-written YA fiction, the kind I can just fall into instantly.

Congrats to all the admits! How exciting. As for UMD, don't stress if you haven't heard back yet. Last year, we rolled out our notifications, and those who were on the wait list weren't notified until a spot opened up. The incoming cohort wasn't truly settled until April 17, actually. So I wouldn't be surprised if acceptances trickled out again this year. Also, hypervodka, let me know if you want to chat about UMD! You'll be contacted by students within your field soon enough, but if you're eager to ask some questions sooner than later, I'm happy to talk. I'd prefer video chatting, though, as I rarely have access to both of my hands these days!

Hi All! I'm emerging from the fog of new motherhood to add to the wisdom in this thread. I know that some of you plan on having kids while in grad school. If you do, make that a priority when deciding among programs. Find out what each university offers its grad students for parental leave and talk to students with kids to learn more about the departmental culture surrounding families. Some universities offer no guaranteed parental leave for grad students; others offer too little. For example, I believe UIUC only offers two weeks. At two weeks, I could barely walk around the block, breastfeeding wasn't established, and I was zombie. Even if you aren't giving birth or if you are adopting, two weeks just isn't enough time to figure out a routine (I use the term routine lightly since there is no real routine with infants, but there can be a solid routine between partners). Now, if a university doesn't offer much or any leave, the department could be very welcoming and accommodating. The opposite is true too. That's why it's also important to talk to grad student parents. In my experience, they (I guess we!) are incredibly honest about their experiences. When I was choosing my program, I asked all of these questions in large orientation meeting, to the DGS in small meetings, to my potential advisors, etc. No one revoked my offer or stopped trying to recruit me once they learned of my plans. The more grad students who ask these questions, the more programs have to face that their recruits are people who want and need accommodations. I'm so happy I did this because I ended up at a program that (partially because of policy, culture, and timing) gave me three months of parental leave. Plus, I rearranged my teaching load, so I don't have to teach until September. My independent study professor has three kids herself and is incredibly supportive, so I get to bring my daughter to our meetings. This means that we don't have to figure out childcare until the fall, and I don't lose my stipend, access to the library, or benefits. So, if you want to have ze babies while a grad student, definitely do your research while you're selecting a program!

We are celebrating the birth of 2015 and of my beautiful daughter, born on December 18! Hope you are all staying relaxed and confident during this dreaded waiting period!

I don't know much about the MA program at Arizona, but I can tell you that overall, the RCTE program is fantastic there. Supportive faculty and colleagues, a real interest in the real-world applicability of research. I was accepted into their PhD program, and I was extremely impressed by the program. The DGS (then) Ken McAllister is a lovely man, and my friends in the program seem to really enjoy the teaching and research opportunities.

I think it's problematic, though, that people on this forum think it's their job to teach other graduate students how to be proper graduate students. C&C had a moment of panic, came to what C&C thought was a safe space to vent, and has been attacked on a weirdly personal level since. C&C didn't name the professor or the program, didn't email the professor or the chair with accusations. There was no bad behavior exhibited by the OP. I think the only thing posters here have taught C&C is that this isn't a safe space to vent. Also, C&C asked a fair question. What does one do if a grad student suspects an unfair grade? This is a legit problem in the humanities, especially when most or even all of our grade is based on one seminar paper turned in at the end of the semester. The conflict between C&C and the professor has been resolved, but this could have been an opportunity to discuss strategies and methods to discuss end-of-semester grades with difficult professors. But rather, people decided to detail how C&C is "unprofessional," paranoid, and overly confident.

Hey people. We all have freak out moments in grad school. I don't see the reason to pile on C&C. The professor ended up agreeing that C&C did A-level work, C&C ended up with an A. The conflict has been resolved. What's the point of harping on someone who responded to a stressful situation differently than you would have?

I'm glad everything is resolved! I'm glad there is a space for us to vent and troubleshoot stressful moments in grad student life without judgment.

What is your final grade based on? Can you start by asking for a breakdown of how she calculated your total grade?

This I agree with. If the OP feels like they are over-stretched, they are definitely over-stretched. OP: I think your plan to cut your work hours during the school year is a wise one. You can always adjust once you've had a chance to assess how you're balancing everything with this new schedule!

Wow. That's beautiful that you have been able to open up and share with your professors and colleagues in such a raw, emotional way. I'm glad you have such a supportive and proactive graduate community at UT-Austin! I have some friends who are thinking of ways to mobilize the grad students here at UMD. We have lots of activist-minded folks, and especially living so close to DC, there are plenty of opportunities for action. But it's been a challenge to organize and mobilize as a group.

I agree with IQ48 here. Sometimes, people just don't like us. And sometimes, those people are mean about it. I think it's best to just ignore and move on rather than get to the root of this colleague's rudeness. ETA: I speak from experience. I had one coworker who acted very similarly to me. I went home always cranky and defeated. I obsessively tried figuring out why she was so mean, including asking around. It ended up all being pretty futile. I never discovered why she behaved the way she did. I was only happy once I decided to just Shake It Off and go about my own day. Yes! I never thought a song by TSwift would become my power anthem, but against all odds, it really has!

Yes, I agree with WT. Every year, there are some mean-spirited troll responses on the results board that freak everyone out. However, there are also some awesome ones too! Keep watch for the acceptance to Hogwarts.

I also think the new reality of the academy requires scholars to also be activists. Who is fighting adjunctification, raising student fees, lay offs, the dismantling of Ethnic Studies and language departments, the privatization of the university, right to work laws, and decreasing student aid? A growing coalition of students, staff, faculty, and community members. Wisconsin was a chilling reminder of how the state can drastically threaten job stability, and most importantly, how the issues of the university are tied to issues of privatization, labor, and access in other spheres. Especially in the Humanities, we have to constantly fight for jobs and financial stability, and our movement will be more successful if we see the connections between the struggles of the university and the struggles within our communities.

We all get to decide what kind of scholar we want to be. Are you going to be the kind of scholar that centers activism and justice in their research and teaching? Are you going to be the kind of scholar separates the two worlds? Are you going to be the kind of scholar who doesn't pay attention? Of course, our answers to these questions are informed by our standpoint. As a white grad student, I can slip in and out of my racial justice hat as needed. I get to choose when I want to be a racial justice activist and when I don't. That's privilege. Still, I try to center activism in my work. In my SoP, I discussed how feminist activism informed my research and teaching interests, so the programs that accepted me knew what they were getting. I have one Twitter account for both professional, personal, and political reasons, and though this wasn't my motivation for doing so, I feel like I've grown closer to the people in my field who have similar interests and motivations. I'm not trying to present myself as a model for how to be an activist and a scholar. I actually failed pretty hard this semester. I feel irresponsible for not addressing in class the two big social issues affecting my students these days: police brutality and campus sexual assault. Everyday, I wanted to say something, wanted to let my students know that I stand in solidarity with them, but I didn't know how. I know that at least one of my students is a survivor of sexual assault. How do I responsibly raise the issue knowing full well that one or two students will say something dismissive of survivors? Same with Ferguson. How do I facilitate an open dialogue that centers the voices of students of color without silencing white students? Activist spaces have taught me that people of color should be at the center of conversations about racism, just as women should be at the center of conversations about sexism. But employing that model in a classroom? I don't even know. I decided to say nothing instead, and I feel like that was the wrong choice. Thanks for bringing this up, MM. Here are what some others are saying: Why We Can't Breathe Easy (GradHacker) After Ferguson, Some Black Academics Wonder: Does Pursuing a PhD Matter?

MM: you are not alone. Those of us who are justice-minded in academia have been talking about police brutality, racism, and protests outside of classrooms, in the halls, before and after departmental events, on Facebook, etc. And oftentimes, this trauma, sadness, frustration, and fear make us question why we are even doing what we are. Like, why the hell we are in seminar right now discussing book history when people are putting their bodies and lives on the line for justice? There have been some blog posts floating around by grad students of color who feel increasingly cynical and disconnected about academia right now. I have been questioning how I can participate in this emerging movement despite my time and physical limitations (my partner talked me out of attending the latest protests in DC because I am a week out from my due date). How can I support the movement on social media? How can I incorporate these conversations in my classroom in a way that doesn't re-traumatize my students of color? How can I support my colleagues of color? How can I write about my research (on activist rhetoric, actually) in an accessible way that adds to the larger conversation? How can I, in the future, make more time in my schedule for getting on the streets and supporting the events my ugrad students are organizing on police brutality, campus sexual assault, etc? These are questions I've been wrestling with, alongside my classmates, as we attempt to process, understand, and respond the events that are unfolding across the nation.

I don't necessarily see how she is acting "maliciously" toward you, but I do see how her actions are hurtful. She's actively excluding you socially and intellectually from your cohort and your project. That shit hurts! I know it does; I've been in similar work situations. Your hurt is valid. Unfortunately, until she actively disrupts your work, I don't know how helpful your advisor will be. I would focus on building a supportive, productive environment without her. Sure, she makes plans with your peers, but you can also make plans with them. Don't allow this colleague to dictate the tone of your grad school experience. In the immortal words of Taylor Swift, until the situation escalates, Shake It Off! I know this can be hard. I'm sensitive, so rude and mean-spirited behavior really affects me. But at the end of the day, the haters gonna hate hate hate, and I just don't have time for that shit! Also, sometimes confidence and a general "shake it off" approach to workplace bullies can disorient and even silence them. One caveat: If the conflict escalates, and her rudeness turns into harassment, sabotage, or bullying, then yes, absolutely talk to your advisor.

I don't think this is necessarily a helpful response, as everyone's experiences, priorities, and needs during graduate school are different. Not to mention, different programs and disciplines have different cultures. For people who want to go into the private industry, part-time work outside of their program can be a huge benefit. One of my best friends was offered a sweet, six-figure position at Zillow upon receiving her PhD largely because of the part-time work she had been doing there throughout her time as a grad student. She jumped at that job so damn quickly and left academia without looking back once. For folks who want to enter the private sector, part-time work can be a huge boost to their job prospects. Back to the OP: From your explanation, the TAship seems pretty important (fee waiver, health care, stipend, etc), and I definitely wouldn't give that up. It sounds like your other job is flexible, so could you talk to your supervisors about changing around your hours? Also, I'm curious what you mean when you say that you "feel like [you've] done nothing" in your first semester. Are your grades in danger? If so, then yes, I would drop the other job for the time being. You don't want to risk your placement in the program. Or is it just that you feel like you should be publishing or presenting more than you should? In that case, could you change your hours and add 5-10 extra hours a week to dedicate to coursework and research? I would also talk to my cohort. I've noticed that, as I said to lewin, different disciplines have different expectations and cultures. See what your colleagues are doing. Are they also working in the field alongside their research and TA responsibilities? What do your advisors think? They will probably be the most knowledgable about whether this private industry job is worth your time and effort.