Comments on: The Lord’s Time http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time The life and times of a succulent in space. Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:35:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Katya http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time/comment-page-1#comment-1769 Katya Sun, 11 Mar 2007 02:44:14 +0000 http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time#comment-1769 In my field, the state schools *are* the top schools, which is sort of nice because the tuition's much more reasonable there than it would be at some overhyped Ivy League school. (If I was an Illinois resident, I actually wouldn't be paying tuition at all, but I wanted to hurry and start the degree instead of waiting to establish residency.) Speaking as someone who took the irrational leap of faith a couple of years ago, I've been surprised at how much fun grad school's turned out to be. Good luck with everything! In my field, the state schools *are* the top schools, which is sort of nice because the tuition’s much more reasonable there than it would be at some overhyped Ivy League school. (If I was an Illinois resident, I actually wouldn’t be paying tuition at all, but I wanted to hurry and start the degree instead of waiting to establish residency.)

Speaking as someone who took the irrational leap of faith a couple of years ago, I’ve been surprised at how much fun grad school’s turned out to be. Good luck with everything!

]]> By: katie http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time/comment-page-1#comment-1752 katie Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:16:14 +0000 http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time#comment-1752 Just thinking of the end from the beginning. You want to be able to get a job at the end of the degree. The following article about academics wanting to work at BYU I read today and thought of this post, only because JB went to BYU: http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=3755#more-3755 Just thinking of the end from the beginning. You want to be able to get a job at the end of the degree.

The following article about academics wanting to work at BYU I read today and thought of this post, only because JB went to BYU: http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=3755#more-3755

]]> By: Melyngoch http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time/comment-page-1#comment-1748 Melyngoch Tue, 06 Mar 2007 04:51:18 +0000 http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time#comment-1748 The feeling that God has told me to do something and I have glanced upward, glared, stuck some big orange earplugs in my ears, and gone about my business is, later on, one of my least favorite feelings ever. Happily, it never lasts too long, since eventually God comes back with another idea, and the second time, I'm often much more receptive. Also, I have to disagree with katie just ever so slightly. Go to the grad school where you think you'll learn what you want to learn, which has the professors you want to learn from. It's absolutely worth it to try to get into the top 25, but loving what you study is going to do you more credit in interviews, and make you a happier person, than having the right name on your college diploma. The feeling that God has told me to do something and I have glanced upward, glared, stuck some big orange earplugs in my ears, and gone about my business is, later on, one of my least favorite feelings ever. Happily, it never lasts too long, since eventually God comes back with another idea, and the second time, I’m often much more receptive.

Also, I have to disagree with katie just ever so slightly. Go to the grad school where you think you’ll learn what you want to learn, which has the professors you want to learn from. It’s absolutely worth it to try to get into the top 25, but loving what you study is going to do you more credit in interviews, and make you a happier person, than having the right name on your college diploma.

]]> By: katie http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time/comment-page-1#comment-1726 katie Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:43:48 +0000 http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time#comment-1726 MLA = shorthand for the disciplines that follow the MLA style guide MLA = shorthand for the disciplines that follow the MLA style guide

]]> By: katie http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time/comment-page-1#comment-1725 katie Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:28:18 +0000 http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time#comment-1725 Modern Languages - English, Linguistics, creative writing - academic jobs in this market. It's the only field even tighter than history, and that's horrendous. What school you go to matters overwhelmingly. Community colleges hire from state schools, state schools hire second-tier (top 25) schools, and second-tier schools hire from the Ivies. The Ivies hire academic celebrities. I don't mean the advice as criticism, Jon Boy. I'm trying to help, I swear. *shrug* It helped me. If you don't want it, don't take it. Modern Languages – English, Linguistics, creative writing – academic jobs in this market. It’s the only field even tighter than history, and that’s horrendous. What school you go to matters overwhelmingly. Community colleges hire from state schools, state schools hire second-tier (top 25) schools, and second-tier schools hire from the Ivies. The Ivies hire academic celebrities.

I don’t mean the advice as criticism, Jon Boy. I’m trying to help, I swear. *shrug* It helped me. If you don’t want it, don’t take it.

]]> By: Jon Boy http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time/comment-page-1#comment-1724 Jon Boy Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:18:03 +0000 http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time#comment-1724 My point wasn't that I missed my chance completely, but that I missed the chance to go earlier. I didn't have to wait this long. Also, what do you mean by "MLA is the tightest academic job market"? I understand the MLA to be an association that promotes the study of literature, which is not even my field. My point wasn’t that I missed my chance completely, but that I missed the chance to go earlier. I didn’t have to wait this long.

Also, what do you mean by “MLA is the tightest academic job market”? I understand the MLA to be an association that promotes the study of literature, which is not even my field.

]]> By: katie http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time/comment-page-1#comment-1716 katie Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:50:31 +0000 http://www.galacticcactus.com/the-lords-time#comment-1716 *confused* I thought left a comment here yesterday. Maybe it didn't go through? Anyway, the jist was that life is like that and you haven't blown anything - if you still want it, start getting ready now so it isn't overwhelming later. You don't actually only have one chance - life is a series of little lives, and this just means your grad school life will start in 2008. Now: 1. Perfect writing sample - a paper in your field that is 10-15 pages long. 2. Research schools and select 4-6 (at least) that you want to go to. MLA is the TIGHTEST academic job market out there - if you want a job when you graduate, you need to go to the school with the best reputation you possibly can. The name counts here in a way it doesn't in undergrad. Do everything you can to go to a top 25 school 3. Study for, practice for, and take the GRE. 4. Order transcripts from BYU. Get more than you think you'll need - at least a dozen. Some schools require one but one I applied to required three. October: Talk to your professors and ask for recs. Tell them your plans, what schools you want to go to, and send them all the information they need. Give each a packet with addressed, stamped envelopes and the forms they'll need to sign. Check in at least every other week until the letters are out, and then keep them informed as the letters of acceptance or rejection come rolling in. November: Fill out applications and mail them off. Plan at least two nights for each application - it's an astonishing amount of work, even if you have prepared beforehand with the paper and transcripts and letters. When the schools e-mail you of their decision, write back immediately, thank them for the acceptance, and say something noncommital until all of the letters are in. The Applying for Grad School Preparation List is provided courtesy of MattB, who did it not so well for Masters but very well for PhD. Same person both times, infinitely better acceptance rate the second time. *confused* I thought left a comment here yesterday. Maybe it didn’t go through?

Anyway, the jist was that life is like that and you haven’t blown anything – if you still want it, start getting ready now so it isn’t overwhelming later. You don’t actually only have one chance – life is a series of little lives, and this just means your grad school life will start in 2008.

Now: 1. Perfect writing sample – a paper in your field that is 10-15 pages long.

2. Research schools and select 4-6 (at least) that you want to go to. MLA is the TIGHTEST academic job market out there – if you want a job when you graduate, you need to go to the school with the best reputation you possibly can. The name counts here in a way it doesn’t in undergrad. Do everything you can to go to a top 25 school

3. Study for, practice for, and take the GRE.
4. Order transcripts from BYU. Get more than you think you’ll need – at least a dozen. Some schools require one but one I applied to required three.

October: Talk to your professors and ask for recs. Tell them your plans, what schools you want to go to, and send them all the information they need. Give each a packet with addressed, stamped envelopes and the forms they’ll need to sign. Check in at least every other week until the letters are out, and then keep them informed as the letters of acceptance or rejection come rolling in.

November: Fill out applications and mail them off. Plan at least two nights for each application – it’s an astonishing amount of work, even if you have prepared beforehand with the paper and transcripts and letters.

When the schools e-mail you of their decision, write back immediately, thank them for the acceptance, and say something noncommital until all of the letters are in.

The Applying for Grad School Preparation List is provided courtesy of MattB, who did it not so well for Masters but very well for PhD. Same person both times, infinitely better acceptance rate the second time.

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