1Q84

Slightly off topic, but I'm curious as to where everyone does their reading. I've always had trouble finding a comfortable place that I can sit down and read for a while (strange as that seems). I absolutely can't read in bed. I've been reduced mostly to reading at my kitchen table but that chair is a bit uncomfortable. I guess reading in my office is usually the best bet. But I need somewhere at home! Any suggestions?

One of my colleagues drives me up the wall with how much paper she wastes. She'll just print out 10 articles of 20 pages each, use up all the paper and not refill it. Then she'll just dump half of it in the trash (which is right beside the recycling bin, by the way). Or she'll print out 50 pages and then walk off to class and come back, "Oh... wait I printed that? Oh well. Guess I don't need it." I can't stand it. It makes me want to scream! I've been grabbing all her paper and printing my articles and drafts on the back just to make myself feel better. Why the waste?! WHY?!

Agreed to Dr. Who, Supernatural and (may I add) Sherlock. But for the life of me, I can't imagine why anyone would get annoyed by people reciting Holy Grail quotes verbatim ad nauseum.

Oh gosh. We had termites and cockroaches in our apartment over the summer and just about had it and wanted to move but couldn't because of not being sure where I'll end up so we've been sticking it out until February... I somewhat feel your pain. Best of luck with the search! I know some people in Long Beach too, though, so if it gets really bad, lemme know. Welcome! Sounds like a really great background and set of interests! And feel free to post in the PLACE OF LOLLING if you're a gif fan

I'm getting a lot of this crap even from fellow applicants in my program. It's especially discouraging (and pressure-inducing) when your colleagues think this about your chances of getting into a good program. Thankfully my profs have been providing me with the grounded, worst case scenario, type comments that I've been looking for.

So happy for everyone, especially for getting some early relief

YES. One person in my program just posts BuzzFeed articles and surveys nonstop on Facebook... I DON'T CARE WHICH JANE AUSTEN CHARACTER YOU HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BY SOME RANDOM INTERNET SURVEY. Thank god for the "Unsubscribe" function in the Newsfeed.

kitchen nightmares

You're awesome, queennight! Here's gif mania -- DRAG RACE EDITION (thank you onlycoffeeiscertain for opening the library!) What everyone in my life who isn't going through this process has been telling me: My response: What I look like thinking about getting into any of my dream schools: How I think I'll probably look when I get my results:

For my own sanity, I gotta believe USC won't send notifications on the Sunday of a long weekend!

Welcome back! I find it interesting that you contrast these two outlooks on sexuality in academia. Besides the fact that I can't imagine working in a "space where my ersonal feelings and identities can get a chance to be irrelevant," I think there's definitely room to exist between the two extremities of "always seeking pity/going on about one's oppression" and eradicating identity from one's work. Either way, I'm so happy to hear about so many different viewpoints and ways of dealing with one's sexuality in academia! So enlightening.

yours truly

Hot Fuzz

Interesting. I didn't get any "oppression Olympics" in this thread so I'm going to answer in the same way that I would have before reading other people's responses. I have serious money issues in my family: one parent is disabled and can't work, the other was laid off after 20 years at the same company. Not asking for pity, but it's been tough to always be on one's own funding wise. I also can't work in the US because I'm an international student, thus no second job. I'm extremely lucky to have a partner who acts as a personal loan bank when my measly stipend runs out and until my next disbursement comes out. I'm not eligible for any fee waivers as an international student, so those fees + GRE fees + transcript fees puts me well above $1000 for 9 schools. I honestly wanted to apply to more but just didn't have the money for it. Do I hope schools take this into consideration? Definitely. I honestly don't think that this has anything to do with "pity me!" or "I'm the most oppressed!" (or at least it shouldn't be) but really just giving fair consideration to applicants who had a rough go of even making it to the application stage. I hope I haven't offended anyone with this post.

I would stress very strongly that your advice applies only to R1 schools and other research-focused schools. I know many other universities that offer (unofficial) "teaching emphasis" options in their Ph.D. programs, so a candidate with that interest applying to those schools would be well-served by mentioning their teaching experience in their SOP.

ball / chain Edit: happy jujubea?

No! Will look into. Thanks. Actually have been wanting to include Baldwin in the list so thanks for the reminder! I am. I thought I was the only fruit in the bunch. Now I'm thinking this cohort in one room would look like this:

Reading Gaol

Seriously. How about a place we did apply!? (I am joking of course).

Temple acceptance posted...

I would say I'm similar in this respect except that I'm Asian, so that complicates matters. Not that my mom makes blowjob jokes or anything... she actually was very upset about it and still doesn't talk about it. But I was not "out" in high school or even undergrad, so I never faced any persecution for my sexuality. Even when I came out, all my friends were fine with it. That's not to say I haven't faced discrimination or hatred from the general public, however.... I think Sex in Public is crucial and necessary reading. If anyone is looking to get into queer theory, this is a great place to start. I do think that Warner has more than a few blindspots when it comes to race and class, though, but I think other POC have offered correctives on that. I'm currently putting together a reading list for my MA capstone and am soliciting suggestions for queer readings related to family and marriage. Thank you to bgt for the Weston suggestion--just picked it up at the library today!

I want something to check but I don't even have anything left to check. Give me a application play-by-play status page or something, people!

I would wait until decisions come out to avoid any instances of "over thanking." I would want whatever gesture I make to be appropriate to the outcome. Not that I appreciate the LOR any less if I don't get in anywhere but a card may suffice in one instance while a bottle of wine may be appropriate for another. (Wine being appropriate for the professors I see that keep a few bottles in their office at all times.)

Same.