Yay, love geeky posts and sentiments of this sort! Partly, because in reality it's not that geeky at all and has real-world relevance. Thanks for pointing us to this.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/31/2006 03:29:02 PM
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/30/2006 12:51:43 PM
From an email I got this morning (only the italicized words are changed, and I teach at a top 20 university):
hey ms. anonymous,
i started writing my impression management essay and i was having some
difficulties trying to find examples from the sex and the city episode, so i was
wondering if you could give me some examples or explaine it in a new light.
thanks,
typical student
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/30/2006 12:51:43 PM
hey ms. anonymous,
i started writing my impression management essay and i was having some
difficulties trying to find examples from the sex and the city episode, so i was
wondering if you could give me some examples or explaine it in a new light.
thanks,
typical student
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/30/2006 12:51:43 PM
[academicsecret] 10/30/2006 08:36:11 AM
good luck anon, i say if you want to go back, do it. its worth trying for, and hopefully there is more support nowadays then 10 years ago? i want to hope that for you.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/30/2006 08:36:11 AM
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/30/2006 08:36:11 AM
Sunday, October 29, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/29/2006 07:22:32 PM
I am applying to grad programs again. I dropped out of phd program ten years ago. now I am looking to get into a new program. I had been abd. I must be insane. My application is due on wednesday, and I have not gotten my writing sample done. I feel like I am sabotaging myself (again).
I also feel like I cannot write anymore--my sentences are coming out like a first grader. Will I ever get back to where I was? Does it matter? my academic ambitions are what drive me and what is killing me.
Is this a secret? no, but I have many academic secrets lodged inside me. sexual/texual entanglements--bullshit happens. we talk about racism, sexism, but then some things are too humiliating (unfortunately common place as well), and we are silent about them. I dropped out and could not figure out why, but it was so obvious. It did not take me ten years to figure out why but it took me ten years to feel like I could return. should I talk about this honestly in my letter of application? that's a joke. I know better.....in any case, I am now
afraid I ruined my chances.
anyway, enough of the drama and back to my alleged writing sample submission.
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/29/2006 07:22:32 PM
I also feel like I cannot write anymore--my sentences are coming out like a first grader. Will I ever get back to where I was? Does it matter? my academic ambitions are what drive me and what is killing me.
Is this a secret? no, but I have many academic secrets lodged inside me. sexual/texual entanglements--bullshit happens. we talk about racism, sexism, but then some things are too humiliating (unfortunately common place as well), and we are silent about them. I dropped out and could not figure out why, but it was so obvious. It did not take me ten years to figure out why but it took me ten years to feel like I could return. should I talk about this honestly in my letter of application? that's a joke. I know better.....in any case, I am now
afraid I ruined my chances.
anyway, enough of the drama and back to my alleged writing sample submission.
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/29/2006 07:22:32 PM
Saturday, October 28, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/27/2006 09:00:36 PM
Yes! This drives me crazy. Like Anonymous, I address this with my students in a way that makes them feel (or at least this is my goal) that I'm leveling with them, letting them in on something: "You know, professors across the board really hate it when you start off an email with, 'hey.' It also drives us crazy when you don't capitalize or use proper punctuation or grammar in your emails." They usually laugh about it (along with me, as in "Why would someone do that?"), and I tell them that even though they laugh, I get too many emails like that. I do think that once I started bringing it up, the emails did get a little better. A friend of mine gives a whole lesson (well, I mean, I think it's probably 15 minutes, but she treats it like a regular grammar or writing lesson) on email etiquette.
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Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 10/27/2006 09:00:36 PM
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Posted by Poppy Red to academicsecret at 10/27/2006 09:00:36 PM
[academicsecret] 10/28/2006 11:13:14 PM
Thanks everyone. These are good points. I think devoting some time to this in the beginning of a course when you're discussing other specifics/norms/expectations is an excellent idea. I'll have to do this in the future.
There is a situation, however, that can't be addressed this way. I get contacted by undergrads who are not in my classes. (For example, students inquiring about future courses.) Do I just not bother with people when it's a one-time-only correspondance? I just feel like it's our job to educate students and prepare them for the rest of life and if they think they'll be able to land a job this way or address future colleagues and superiors this way, that's a problem.
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/28/2006 11:13:14 PM
There is a situation, however, that can't be addressed this way. I get contacted by undergrads who are not in my classes. (For example, students inquiring about future courses.) Do I just not bother with people when it's a one-time-only correspondance? I just feel like it's our job to educate students and prepare them for the rest of life and if they think they'll be able to land a job this way or address future colleagues and superiors this way, that's a problem.
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/28/2006 11:13:14 PM
Friday, October 27, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/27/2006 12:25:13 PM
i am cynical that these good ideas will be used, however. they really should though.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/27/2006 12:25:13 PM
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/27/2006 12:25:13 PM
Thursday, October 26, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/26/2006 08:56:40 PM
I'm a grad student but I literally just talked to my students about this last week. I made it a joke, and told them that the professors and grad students laughed about how students addressed us as "hey" in emails. I think by laughingly embarrasing them (without shaming anyone) did the trick. I let them know that I understood that it may be their hesitance to use first names with a TA but assured them that we'd rather have them use our name than open an email that starts off "Hey". With professors I don't quite understand it since it is easy enough to say Dear Profesor So and So.
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/26/2006 08:56:40 PM
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/26/2006 08:56:40 PM
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/26/2006 06:50:12 AM
I think you should fight back by starting each email to students - and, in fact, each lecture/class session- with 'Dude.'
Ok, I'm just kidding.
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/26/2006 06:50:12 AM
Ok, I'm just kidding.
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/26/2006 06:50:12 AM
[academicsecret] 10/25/2006 08:14:58 PM
I wish I'd get an apple instead of the sass I do get.
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Posted by Linda to academicsecret at 10/25/2006 08:14:58 PM
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Posted by Linda to academicsecret at 10/25/2006 08:14:58 PM
[academicsecret] 10/25/2006 05:40:27 PM
Ugh. This hits close to home because I'm trying to break my son (who's not yet in college) of this habit.
When a student addressed my sixth grade science teacher with "Hey," he'd say, "Hay is for horses." I will never, ever forget it. I don't know if you want to say that, but I promise your students won't forget it either.
If it's email and you'd like to be less direct you could just model how you'd like it addressed to you and sign it with your preferred title (this is what I did to combat the ever-present Miss/Mrs. Fraud).
In the future, or even now, you could clarfiy for your classes the best way to address a professor. In my freshman class especially I give clarifications like this often, usually under the guise of pointers on how to succeed in the next four years of college.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/25/2006 05:40:27 PM
When a student addressed my sixth grade science teacher with "Hey," he'd say, "Hay is for horses." I will never, ever forget it. I don't know if you want to say that, but I promise your students won't forget it either.
If it's email and you'd like to be less direct you could just model how you'd like it addressed to you and sign it with your preferred title (this is what I did to combat the ever-present Miss/Mrs. Fraud).
In the future, or even now, you could clarfiy for your classes the best way to address a professor. In my freshman class especially I give clarifications like this often, usually under the guise of pointers on how to succeed in the next four years of college.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/25/2006 05:40:27 PM
[academicsecret] 10/25/2006 05:20:54 PM
"See i was tired cuz id been with a girl all night."
I usually do email, and should have. I had just come from reading the above paper and was a little emotionally charged. I definitely learned my lesson - a number of them, in fact.
Thanks, everyone. Now let's move on so my secret's not up there calling out my identity.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/25/2006 05:20:54 PM
I usually do email, and should have. I had just come from reading the above paper and was a little emotionally charged. I definitely learned my lesson - a number of them, in fact.
Thanks, everyone. Now let's move on so my secret's not up there calling out my identity.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/25/2006 05:20:54 PM
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/25/2006 04:46:14 AM
What's the "causal internet speak"?
Regarding instructions before an exam, I try never to say anything substantive about anything but the upcoming exam. I just figure they can't pay attention to anything else. If I have something that I really need to tell everyone, I will email the class. Just a thought.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/25/2006 04:46:14 AM
Regarding instructions before an exam, I try never to say anything substantive about anything but the upcoming exam. I just figure they can't pay attention to anything else. If I have something that I really need to tell everyone, I will email the class. Just a thought.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/25/2006 04:46:14 AM
[academicsecret] 10/24/2006 10:26:10 AM
I think I'll say something in the next class.
When I made the brief gripe about the lack of quality of the papers I'd received and the IM language it was in the few minutes before the students started an exam. I'm sure that being hyped up on nerves exacerbated any fuzziness and only one person thought to clarify as she was leaving (and I thought that surely she must be the only one to think that so made no effort to correct it via email).
In all honesty, the people who cared enough to try to write in the third person were still some of the best papers because they listened to what I said about these being real college papers.
I'm a big believer in grading for ideas, but the recent display is disgusting. I teach at a school that's supposed to be the cream of the crop and students are turning in papers that haven't been proofread, with simple mistakes and typos (I mean like typing las instead of last and lugged instead of luggage), not to mention the causal internet speak. As I address that, I'll address the IM/"I am" misunderstanding.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/24/2006 10:26:10 AM
When I made the brief gripe about the lack of quality of the papers I'd received and the IM language it was in the few minutes before the students started an exam. I'm sure that being hyped up on nerves exacerbated any fuzziness and only one person thought to clarify as she was leaving (and I thought that surely she must be the only one to think that so made no effort to correct it via email).
In all honesty, the people who cared enough to try to write in the third person were still some of the best papers because they listened to what I said about these being real college papers.
I'm a big believer in grading for ideas, but the recent display is disgusting. I teach at a school that's supposed to be the cream of the crop and students are turning in papers that haven't been proofread, with simple mistakes and typos (I mean like typing las instead of last and lugged instead of luggage), not to mention the causal internet speak. As I address that, I'll address the IM/"I am" misunderstanding.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/24/2006 10:26:10 AM
Monday, October 23, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/24/2006 05:37:19 AM
This was a really funny read. But I do feel badly for those students who didn't get it. I wonder if they wondered, or if it was "clear" to them that you'd meant third person. And if it wasn't "clear" then what could you have done to get them to ask you.
So are you going to get back to this point in the next class and address it directly head on (maybe with some writing on the board:)?
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/24/2006 05:37:19 AM
So are you going to get back to this point in the next class and address it directly head on (maybe with some writing on the board:)?
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/24/2006 05:37:19 AM
[academicsecret] 10/23/2006 08:28:53 PM
Okay... it didn't end up being a ton of students, just a handful. It was pretty funny, though.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 08:28:53 PM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 08:28:53 PM
[academicsecret] 10/23/2006 06:08:46 PM
You can and should ask a student to leave if the behavior is disruptive and interferring with the other students' learning. However, that's an extreme stance. I would prefer other more subtle approaches first--I find humor does work well. A big part of it is letting the students know that you are aware of their behavior.
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Posted by Delaney Kirk to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 06:08:46 PM
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Posted by Delaney Kirk to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 06:08:46 PM
[academicsecret] 10/23/2006 04:24:43 PM
oh dear, poor students!
i can't stop laughing at this one...
and trying to think of what in the world they wrote for you.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 04:24:43 PM
i can't stop laughing at this one...
and trying to think of what in the world they wrote for you.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 04:24:43 PM
[academicsecret] 10/23/2006 03:11:26 PM
Wait - I'm a little confused. So in an assignment about themselves, they wrote in the third person ("She is a freshman in college.")? Was that one of your instructions? And/or is that supposedly an aspect of a "well-written" or "formal" piece of prose? Did they get taught that in high school?
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Posted by jazzberry jam to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 03:11:26 PM
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Posted by jazzberry jam to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 03:11:26 PM
[academicsecret] 10/23/2006 08:27:39 AM
they don't use email here...
enough said.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 08:27:39 AM
enough said.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 08:27:39 AM
Sunday, October 22, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/23/2006 03:11:03 AM
Sorry to hear all this, Strawberries. It sucks. Regarding the gatekeeping, any chance of sidestepping physical boundaries by sending the target person an email?
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 03:11:03 AM
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 03:11:03 AM
[academicsecret] 10/23/2006 03:06:18 AM
Apologies for being late to this discussion. It's an interesting undertaking, Twilight, and I'll be curious how it works out long term.
As Thistle's note suggests and as I suspected, it may take tons more time to work things this way. That said, IF it makes it that much more valuable and enjoyable then it may well be worth it.
I don't have experience with this, but I'd be too concerned about the time ramifications to implement it, I'm afraid. Perhaps I'll do it later in my career.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 03:06:18 AM
As Thistle's note suggests and as I suspected, it may take tons more time to work things this way. That said, IF it makes it that much more valuable and enjoyable then it may well be worth it.
I don't have experience with this, but I'd be too concerned about the time ramifications to implement it, I'm afraid. Perhaps I'll do it later in my career.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/23/2006 03:06:18 AM
Saturday, October 21, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/21/2006 10:58:09 AM
i know that people are super busy, I in no way meant to make anyone feel guilty, just selfishly give myself something to procrastinate with! especially since others' secrets are so much more intersting than my own.
anon -- sorry about the stats sit. but hey, on the bright side it seems as though you are fooling them! you could always take another stats course on the sly... but as one who also hates stats and is not the best, that really sucks.
salmon -- come on, you have got to figure a way to share your secrets without sharing too much, i am dying to know now! maybe the friends' idea from T stuff?
and T-stuff, that is a brilliant idea. however, now that i've said its really about me, i will have to wait to use it next time. wait, darn, then you will know it really is about me and not my friend. hmm, well maybe i'll use it and maybe not. take that wannabe identity revealers!
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/21/2006 10:58:09 AM
anon -- sorry about the stats sit. but hey, on the bright side it seems as though you are fooling them! you could always take another stats course on the sly... but as one who also hates stats and is not the best, that really sucks.
salmon -- come on, you have got to figure a way to share your secrets without sharing too much, i am dying to know now! maybe the friends' idea from T stuff?
and T-stuff, that is a brilliant idea. however, now that i've said its really about me, i will have to wait to use it next time. wait, darn, then you will know it really is about me and not my friend. hmm, well maybe i'll use it and maybe not. take that wannabe identity revealers!
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/21/2006 10:58:09 AM
Friday, October 20, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/21/2006 05:37:02 AM
Strawberries, I agree, way too long without secrets here! I guess we're all being yanked in a lot of directions. I know what you mean about having told people in your physical world about things that you then realize you can't really post here. Well, how about this? You post here as though you were telling a friend's story? After all, if you've talked to that many people about the issue already (by definition the source of the concern here) then why couldn't one of the friends post? That is, Strawberries is suddenly just a friend of Strawberries posting away. I hope that makes sense.:-)
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/21/2006 05:37:02 AM
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/21/2006 05:37:02 AM
[academicsecret] 10/21/2006 05:35:42 AM
I have a bunch of secrets I'm dying to blather here, but I don't know how without revealing myself completely. Considering my brother recognized me without even knowing that I blog, I'm already on very thin ice. Any suggestions as to how I can continue to blog here within the confines of trying to remain anonymous? As I said in my first post, I find it nearly impossible to write without revealing certain details about myself and my particular situation(s).
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/21/2006 05:35:42 AM
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/21/2006 05:35:42 AM
[academicsecret] 10/20/2006 10:59:54 PM
Anon 2:26: If you want to be part of the a.secret fold, e-mail me (address in sidebar) for the super-secret instructions.
All -- Sorry I haven't been participating much lately. I'm being yanked in many different directions.
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Posted by Clear to academicsecret at 10/20/2006 10:59:54 PM
All -- Sorry I haven't been participating much lately. I'm being yanked in many different directions.
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Posted by Clear to academicsecret at 10/20/2006 10:59:54 PM
[academicsecret] 10/20/2006 02:26:23 PM
I'm grading comprehensive exams this morning. I didn't ask to grade them. I was assigned to grade a question.
I am a researcher who uses primarily qualitative methods. There are two statistical tests that I have used and understand decently enough. So basically, here's my secret: Despite acing my stats classes when I was a student, I really don't understand stats at all.
Today that leads to another secret: I am grading exam questions that require me to in part look at student knowledge of stats. I was afraid to ask to be assigned another question because I don't want my fellow faculty members to know that I can't do this. They are so heavily biased toward quantitative research that I wonder why they even hired me, and they unfairly assume that my in-depth knowledge of qualitative research must just be an add-on to knowledge of quantitative.
Thankfully they do all seem to be aware that they do not have a clue about qualitative research.
I'd fess up, only I've heard them mention how critical it is that everyone understand statistics (and I'm not just talking about basic stats) again and again and again.
That felt good to get out. Maybe I need a blog.
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/20/2006 02:26:23 PM
I am a researcher who uses primarily qualitative methods. There are two statistical tests that I have used and understand decently enough. So basically, here's my secret: Despite acing my stats classes when I was a student, I really don't understand stats at all.
Today that leads to another secret: I am grading exam questions that require me to in part look at student knowledge of stats. I was afraid to ask to be assigned another question because I don't want my fellow faculty members to know that I can't do this. They are so heavily biased toward quantitative research that I wonder why they even hired me, and they unfairly assume that my in-depth knowledge of qualitative research must just be an add-on to knowledge of quantitative.
Thankfully they do all seem to be aware that they do not have a clue about qualitative research.
I'd fess up, only I've heard them mention how critical it is that everyone understand statistics (and I'm not just talking about basic stats) again and again and again.
That felt good to get out. Maybe I need a blog.
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/20/2006 02:26:23 PM
[academicsecret] 10/20/2006 01:02:43 PM
I agree that it's been entiely too long without a secret around here!
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/20/2006 01:02:43 PM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/20/2006 01:02:43 PM
Saturday, October 14, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/14/2006 11:59:18 PM
I was in academia for a while (through a postdoc), then I left. I'd been getting signals (from myself, from others) for a while that suggested that perhaps it wasn't the best choice for me; I ignored them for years. But I'm happier now than I was while in academia, and my current job is a much much better fit for my psyche.
Having said that, I don't think I was an awful match for academia; things didn't work out for me, but they would have worked out for people not too different from me, and I have no idea what your situation is like. So my point isn't to say that, if you're wondering, then you should get out.
What I will say is that academia is very good at putting people in a situation where they can't really imagine doing anything else, where their primary loyalty isn't to themselves, their families, or even their schools, but rather their discipline. I don't think that's healthy. So it's probably a good idea to spend time thinking about what's important to you, what really makes you happy (as opposed to what you wish made you happy), and what you'd do if you were to leave academia. It's hard to figure out that stuff, but it's even harder to move across the country, end up some place where you're unhappy, and try to figure out whether or not to leave academia while, say, in the middle of a high-pressure job search hundreds or thousands of miles away from your support network.
I wouldn't spend time worrying about your advisor's and committee's goodwill right now. Root causes are much more important.
I apologize for the doubtless depressing tone of this comment.
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Posted by david carlton to academicsecret at 10/14/2006 11:59:18 PM
Having said that, I don't think I was an awful match for academia; things didn't work out for me, but they would have worked out for people not too different from me, and I have no idea what your situation is like. So my point isn't to say that, if you're wondering, then you should get out.
What I will say is that academia is very good at putting people in a situation where they can't really imagine doing anything else, where their primary loyalty isn't to themselves, their families, or even their schools, but rather their discipline. I don't think that's healthy. So it's probably a good idea to spend time thinking about what's important to you, what really makes you happy (as opposed to what you wish made you happy), and what you'd do if you were to leave academia. It's hard to figure out that stuff, but it's even harder to move across the country, end up some place where you're unhappy, and try to figure out whether or not to leave academia while, say, in the middle of a high-pressure job search hundreds or thousands of miles away from your support network.
I wouldn't spend time worrying about your advisor's and committee's goodwill right now. Root causes are much more important.
I apologize for the doubtless depressing tone of this comment.
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Posted by david carlton to academicsecret at 10/14/2006 11:59:18 PM
[academicsecret] 10/14/2006 04:23:52 PM
I had a really great experience with co-teaching last year. I've been a TA a bunch of times before, but this time, my advisor treated it like co-teaching. It was a small graduate seminar. We would take turns prepping for class, then talk over the plans for class, which usually involved both of us leading at different times during the seminar. Then, after class, we would talk through the decisions we made (why did you skip that topic? why did you decide to open that up for discussion early?). I got to hear her thinking and decision-making processes while she was teaching, which was an amazing experience. We also had the students doing weekly memos, and we would each comment on the memos, and then read each others' comments before returning the memos to the students.
The whole thing was an incredible apprenticeship for me. I learned so much more than in a normal TA experience. But I think it was also fun for my advisor, because we got to engage in great conversations about the material before and after classes. I think she enjoyed being able to work over the readings with someone who was also experienced with the material, instead of limiting conversation to what was best for the students in the class.
The down side to all this bliss? It took like 3 times the amount of time it would have taken for her to teach the class alone.
I also took a class that my advisor co-taught with another professor that was a total disaster. The other professor was clearly unprepared and would hijack the class discussion and guest speakers for her own needs (she was writing a book on the topic). So I've seen co-teaching be great and I've also seen in be totally crappy.
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/14/2006 04:23:52 PM
The whole thing was an incredible apprenticeship for me. I learned so much more than in a normal TA experience. But I think it was also fun for my advisor, because we got to engage in great conversations about the material before and after classes. I think she enjoyed being able to work over the readings with someone who was also experienced with the material, instead of limiting conversation to what was best for the students in the class.
The down side to all this bliss? It took like 3 times the amount of time it would have taken for her to teach the class alone.
I also took a class that my advisor co-taught with another professor that was a total disaster. The other professor was clearly unprepared and would hijack the class discussion and guest speakers for her own needs (she was writing a book on the topic). So I've seen co-teaching be great and I've also seen in be totally crappy.
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/14/2006 04:23:52 PM
[academicsecret] 10/14/2006 03:10:13 PM
fraud -- i often think that too! life would be so much better if i was a pessimist! of course i am way too optimistic to be a pessimist...too bad b/c it sure would have helped me prepare for this.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/14/2006 03:10:13 PM
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/14/2006 03:10:13 PM
Thursday, October 12, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/13/2006 12:04:00 AM
Oops.. I meant a pessimist rather than an optimist. I'm taking that as a sign that I've graded entirely too much today!
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/13/2006 12:04:00 AM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/13/2006 12:04:00 AM
[academicsecret] 10/12/2006 10:59:51 PM
the part that sucks the most was that i had such high hopes for this place.
I once had a boyfriend who believed that it was better to be an optimist than a pessimist. His reasoning? You might be pleasantly surprised, but you're never disappointed.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/12/2006 10:59:51 PM
I once had a boyfriend who believed that it was better to be an optimist than a pessimist. His reasoning? You might be pleasantly surprised, but you're never disappointed.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/12/2006 10:59:51 PM
[academicsecret] 10/12/2006 10:57:36 PM
I have no words (at least no words suitable for this forum).
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/12/2006 10:57:36 PM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/12/2006 10:57:36 PM
[academicsecret] 10/12/2006 06:33:11 PM
WTF?!
What a complete idiot. "Or whatever they guessed it at????"
He is so @#$%^&*&^%$#.
That's all.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/12/2006 06:33:11 PM
What a complete idiot. "Or whatever they guessed it at????"
He is so @#$%^&*&^%$#.
That's all.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/12/2006 06:33:11 PM
[academicsecret] 10/12/2006 06:30:30 PM
thanks, apricot.
thankfully, after a day of sleep and good food and happy people has made me forget until monday, when i go back of course.
the part that sucks the most was that i had such high hopes for this place.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/12/2006 06:30:30 PM
thankfully, after a day of sleep and good food and happy people has made me forget until monday, when i go back of course.
the part that sucks the most was that i had such high hopes for this place.
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/12/2006 06:30:30 PM
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/11/2006 11:12:47 PM
Oh man, Strawberries, that SUCKS. The condescension, the weird incompetence of people that are suppose dto help, ugh.
Just keep reminding yourself: visiting means eventually, you get to leave!
But I feel for you. And, unfortuantely, I know exactly where you're coming from.
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Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 11:12:47 PM
Just keep reminding yourself: visiting means eventually, you get to leave!
But I feel for you. And, unfortuantely, I know exactly where you're coming from.
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Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 11:12:47 PM
[academicsecret] 10/11/2006 05:24:30 PM
I'm glad that it's behind you. :)
I have a love/hate relationship with email for this reason and many others.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 05:24:30 PM
I have a love/hate relationship with email for this reason and many others.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 05:24:30 PM
[academicsecret] 10/11/2006 03:19:53 PM
Thanks for all your great comments!
I'm having a slightly more productive week, so I'm feeling a bit better.
I do keep wondering if I really want to be here, but it's hard to tell under all the guilt about not being productive. I have no idea what I'd do outside of grad school, anyway.
It doesn't help that the people around me are mostly the "science as a vocation" type, either.
Now that I've started reading again, I am seeing a little bit of my enthusiasm reappear, I think. I guess I'll keep working on the baby steps and see if it stays around.
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Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 03:19:53 PM
I'm having a slightly more productive week, so I'm feeling a bit better.
I do keep wondering if I really want to be here, but it's hard to tell under all the guilt about not being productive. I have no idea what I'd do outside of grad school, anyway.
It doesn't help that the people around me are mostly the "science as a vocation" type, either.
Now that I've started reading again, I am seeing a little bit of my enthusiasm reappear, I think. I guess I'll keep working on the baby steps and see if it stays around.
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Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 03:19:53 PM
[academicsecret] 10/11/2006 03:06:48 PM
That must have been stressful. I'm glad it all worked out :)
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Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 03:06:48 PM
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Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 03:06:48 PM
[academicsecret] 10/11/2006 07:46:32 AM
Really sorry to hear this, thistle, it sucks. All I can recommend is seeking out alternatives to the main IT system. There are lots of free options out there now that should allow you to sidestep the system. Of course, assuming your advisor uses the same system, this may not really help overall.:-(
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 07:46:32 AM
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 07:46:32 AM
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/11/2006 03:32:25 AM
I had a tense exchange that was interrupted by my e-mail actually somehow vanishing into the ether without being received, which led to much awkward following confusion.
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Posted by Clear to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 03:32:25 AM
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Posted by Clear to academicsecret at 10/11/2006 03:32:25 AM
[academicsecret] 10/10/2006 02:06:06 PM
In my experience in both the commercial and scholarly worlds, English majors with no actual job experience make the worst editors because they are pretentious. They either want to impose stylistic affectations or arbitrary rules.
I once read a similar complaint from a laboratory director, that he never hired science students for detail work because they spent too much time musing about the theoretical implications.
--emerod
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/10/2006 02:06:06 PM
I once read a similar complaint from a laboratory director, that he never hired science students for detail work because they spent too much time musing about the theoretical implications.
--emerod
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/10/2006 02:06:06 PM
Monday, October 09, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/10/2006 12:36:49 AM
I agree whole-heartedly, Apricot and Thistle. I live with someone who believes that science is a vocation (in the sense of a calling). While I feel drawn to what I do and love it dearly, it is not my life and I can't let it be my life. I learned long ago to be okay with the fact that I am less productive academically than the person I love, and many around me. It's okay with me because I am not only an academic. I am a mother, and an individual, and I am going to enjoy my life and ensure that my child does too, and if that means that I have a shorter vita, so be it. I chose this path for the flexibility it offered and I'm not going to give that up for anyone.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/10/2006 12:36:49 AM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/10/2006 12:36:49 AM
[academicsecret] 10/09/2006 11:13:12 PM
Awww, Thistle. Happy to help. Your comment actually says what I was coming back to say, so I'll just agree.
Academia's weird. It's one of those professions that becomes an identity. Like medical doctor, teacher, model, actor, senator. For some this is fine. But I've had to make the concerted decision that it's my job, not my identity. And sometimes, I'm going to straight-up suck at my job. And sometimes, I'm totally fine with that.
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Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 10/09/2006 11:13:12 PM
Academia's weird. It's one of those professions that becomes an identity. Like medical doctor, teacher, model, actor, senator. For some this is fine. But I've had to make the concerted decision that it's my job, not my identity. And sometimes, I'm going to straight-up suck at my job. And sometimes, I'm totally fine with that.
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Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 10/09/2006 11:13:12 PM
Sunday, October 08, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/09/2006 05:40:37 AM
quoting Apricot:
Whenever I think my advisor's disappointed in me, I always think to myself, "You know, I'm a human being, and this is my life. I intend to enjoy my life. So, your opinion means a lot to me, Advisor, but if it's between feeling anguished because I'll never measure up to your standards, or hanging out with my family and being a normal person, it's really no contest. Sorry." Just my opinion...
First of all, thank you Apricot for that comment- I totally needed to hear that myself tonight.
Second of all, Dandelion, one way to think about your situation is not so much whether or not you should be in grad school but how you can do grad school 'your way'. Leaving grad school is a pretty big decision, and a lot of people seem to spend a lot of time and energy agonizing over it. Can you think of staying in grad school on your own terms? My terms include not trying to be 100% productive 24 hours a day, like my advisor wants me to think she is. Some of my friends have kids, and their terms inlcude spending quality and quantity time with the little ones. All I'm trying to say is that you have more options (and control) than just staying or leaving.
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/09/2006 05:40:37 AM
Whenever I think my advisor's disappointed in me, I always think to myself, "You know, I'm a human being, and this is my life. I intend to enjoy my life. So, your opinion means a lot to me, Advisor, but if it's between feeling anguished because I'll never measure up to your standards, or hanging out with my family and being a normal person, it's really no contest. Sorry." Just my opinion...
First of all, thank you Apricot for that comment- I totally needed to hear that myself tonight.
Second of all, Dandelion, one way to think about your situation is not so much whether or not you should be in grad school but how you can do grad school 'your way'. Leaving grad school is a pretty big decision, and a lot of people seem to spend a lot of time and energy agonizing over it. Can you think of staying in grad school on your own terms? My terms include not trying to be 100% productive 24 hours a day, like my advisor wants me to think she is. Some of my friends have kids, and their terms inlcude spending quality and quantity time with the little ones. All I'm trying to say is that you have more options (and control) than just staying or leaving.
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/09/2006 05:40:37 AM
[academicsecret] 10/09/2006 01:04:43 AM
Following up on Fraud's note, it is absolutely true that staying or leaving academia has little to nothing to do with one's smarts. There are very very able and super smart people who've left academia.. and sometimes I wonder if it's precisely b/c they were smart enough to realize this was not for them.
It is important to approach the question as not one of failure or quitting, but one about what is it that you would enjoy doing? That's the key!
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/09/2006 01:04:43 AM
It is important to approach the question as not one of failure or quitting, but one about what is it that you would enjoy doing? That's the key!
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/09/2006 01:04:43 AM
[academicsecret] 10/09/2006 12:49:11 AM
I really, really get annoyed with people who don't learn from their mistakes - or who are inept at taking note of criticism in the first place.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/09/2006 12:49:11 AM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/09/2006 12:49:11 AM
[academicsecret] 10/08/2006 11:26:16 PM
I'm sorry that you're struggling through this, Dandelion. It's not easy to be in a position like your own, wondering where you belong.
That said, I think that grad school is all about either making it because you love it (because you're likely going to have to want to do this for the rest of your life) or deciding to drop out because it might not be for you.
Grad school not being for you is not an act of cowardess or a sign of failure. I could never work in sales because it's just not my style. Some of the smartest - and even most driven - people I knew didn't make it through grad school because they figured out that whatever they were pursuing wasn't their style and they let that be okay.
It all depends on how much longer you have - I mean you can be an overqualified salesperson - but if you're early in your program, and seriously thinking this might not be for you - there's no shame in moving on to something different.
Also, if you don't want to leave, I recommend use the (perceived/real) questioning of others to fuel your desire to prove them wrong! It's worked well for amny before you.
Just know that whatever you decide is okay.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 11:26:16 PM
That said, I think that grad school is all about either making it because you love it (because you're likely going to have to want to do this for the rest of your life) or deciding to drop out because it might not be for you.
Grad school not being for you is not an act of cowardess or a sign of failure. I could never work in sales because it's just not my style. Some of the smartest - and even most driven - people I knew didn't make it through grad school because they figured out that whatever they were pursuing wasn't their style and they let that be okay.
It all depends on how much longer you have - I mean you can be an overqualified salesperson - but if you're early in your program, and seriously thinking this might not be for you - there's no shame in moving on to something different.
Also, if you don't want to leave, I recommend use the (perceived/real) questioning of others to fuel your desire to prove them wrong! It's worked well for amny before you.
Just know that whatever you decide is okay.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 11:26:16 PM
[academicsecret] 10/08/2006 07:34:10 PM
And Salmon, before you freak out and suggest that this must be how your adviser sees you, etc, from everything you have told us I can confidently say this has nothing to do with your situation.
Ha ha ha, I see that I'm developing a reputation.
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 07:34:10 PM
Ha ha ha, I see that I'm developing a reputation.
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 07:34:10 PM
[academicsecret] 10/08/2006 12:37:27 PM
Dear Dandelion
me here. I have been reading this blog for months now but this story grabbed my attention.
I think this is when SHADES OF GREY thinking needs to happen. One can achieve great things BREAK DOWN its ok achievements 'kept'Or as in my case enjoy GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS (my Research into a new area unwittingly would give qaulitative data to the Sociology of Religion PLANNED) without breaking down. As it is I have broken down (nice thing NO 1 now a good suggestion that needs SUPPORTED following up) and recent challenging assignment/s which have exposed brokenness and weakness to point of not coping (2 Academics in my life I dare to pray for them I dare to care and dare to get involved and find myself in Research land [I am in Supported Housing. am unemployed, chances of being where you are 1 in 20 or worse plus persistanct disadvantage, agesim, sexism, the life-affecting disadvantages just pile on] in Uk outside looking into Academia and Academic Secret is one of two sites i read regularly as to the woes and potential insane blessing of Academia) I also have family who are Academics on both sides so you could say the A*******profession is just slightly close to my heart.
Why not go to Chaplaincy for Prayer?? At my local Uni we have Confidential prayer support for Academics and Students ( the woes go both ways you know) and the Christians aim to work together for the cause of the Kingdom.
With every blessing and much love and hope that despite of this horrible depression things begin to work out for you
me aka The Boss.
nb try every other religion or not but God answers prayer and I have seen it too often to doubt it. And I am as academic as hell and am reading 31 book out of first 80 this year and now have a couple or Theories !!!!!
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Posted by The Boss to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 12:37:27 PM
me here. I have been reading this blog for months now but this story grabbed my attention.
I think this is when SHADES OF GREY thinking needs to happen. One can achieve great things BREAK DOWN its ok achievements 'kept'Or as in my case enjoy GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS (my Research into a new area unwittingly would give qaulitative data to the Sociology of Religion PLANNED) without breaking down. As it is I have broken down (nice thing NO 1 now a good suggestion that needs SUPPORTED following up) and recent challenging assignment/s which have exposed brokenness and weakness to point of not coping (2 Academics in my life I dare to pray for them I dare to care and dare to get involved and find myself in Research land [I am in Supported Housing. am unemployed, chances of being where you are 1 in 20 or worse plus persistanct disadvantage, agesim, sexism, the life-affecting disadvantages just pile on] in Uk outside looking into Academia and Academic Secret is one of two sites i read regularly as to the woes and potential insane blessing of Academia) I also have family who are Academics on both sides so you could say the A*******profession is just slightly close to my heart.
Why not go to Chaplaincy for Prayer?? At my local Uni we have Confidential prayer support for Academics and Students ( the woes go both ways you know) and the Christians aim to work together for the cause of the Kingdom.
With every blessing and much love and hope that despite of this horrible depression things begin to work out for you
me aka The Boss.
nb try every other religion or not but God answers prayer and I have seen it too often to doubt it. And I am as academic as hell and am reading 31 book out of first 80 this year and now have a couple or Theories !!!!!
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Posted by The Boss to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 12:37:27 PM
[academicsecret] 10/08/2006 11:58:53 AM
dandelion,
i am sorry again that this is so hard. I forgot to repsond to the depression part. it takes awhile to get the motivation back, and sometimes, you fear/feel like its on you again. it is very hard to be in academia when you are depressed. and i echo orangina, are you seeing someone? and i agree with her advice. even if you're not as depressed as before, it doesn't mean it still isn't effecting you.
also, you may want to meet with a disability coordinator or academic counselor at your inst. to work out a managable plan of what you can and can't do, and try sticking to accomplishing small things at first instead of the big picture, which is always much scarier.
good luck and take care!
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 11:58:53 AM
i am sorry again that this is so hard. I forgot to repsond to the depression part. it takes awhile to get the motivation back, and sometimes, you fear/feel like its on you again. it is very hard to be in academia when you are depressed. and i echo orangina, are you seeing someone? and i agree with her advice. even if you're not as depressed as before, it doesn't mean it still isn't effecting you.
also, you may want to meet with a disability coordinator or academic counselor at your inst. to work out a managable plan of what you can and can't do, and try sticking to accomplishing small things at first instead of the big picture, which is always much scarier.
good luck and take care!
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 11:58:53 AM
[academicsecret] 10/08/2006 10:34:21 AM
Wow, this sounds a lot like my story, although I'm much further down the track to dropping out than you are. I've just started the third year of what should be a four-year phd, but I feel like I haven't actually made any progress for a long time anyway.
I've been diagnosed with clinical depression, but I think that's caused in part by my refusal to admit that research (or at least, this phd) isn't for me. So the plan at this point is to leave the phd program, with my fiance, but leave the door open to taking it up again if the depression lifts and I decide that I want to make it work. So we'll see how I feel after a few months off and hopefully some therapy.
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Posted by cerulean to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 10:34:21 AM
I've been diagnosed with clinical depression, but I think that's caused in part by my refusal to admit that research (or at least, this phd) isn't for me. So the plan at this point is to leave the phd program, with my fiance, but leave the door open to taking it up again if the depression lifts and I decide that I want to make it work. So we'll see how I feel after a few months off and hopefully some therapy.
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Posted by cerulean to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 10:34:21 AM
Saturday, October 07, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/08/2006 05:58:27 AM
First, sorry to hear about all this.
Second, are you seeing a therapist? I think it's really important in grad school and hopefully your health care provides it. It is totally possible that some (all?) of this may be depression related and it's going to be hard for you to tackle that on your own. Even if it's not depression related, you may still well benefit from a professional outlet.
Third, when students disappoint, that doesn't always mean that they are not being productive at all. As I tried to point out in my last post, it's often about really trivial things like a prompt email reply (that doesn't require any reporting on anything deep, I'm seriously talking trivialities like when are you free next week?). So don't take the comments in that post too seriously upon yourself.
Fourth, when people start encouraging you to think about alternatives, they may be doing so because they truly believe from everything YOU have told them that grad school may not be the thing for you and they want to be supportive of that. So don't see it as a hint, necessarily.
So what to do? Think about whether you enjoy this life. If it's only what may be ahead that is keeping you going, that may not be enough. Do you look forward to coming up with research questions? Do you enjoy designing projects? Do you like the data collection/analysis/write-up (or insert appropriate types of work in your field)? Do you enjoy teaching and interacting with students? Do you enjoy aspects of academia? If the answers are mostly no then perhaps this isn't for you. But if the answers are yes then it may be too early to change track.
You haven't given us enough information about your situation to know the extent to which you may have already disappointed people. For example, if you're in your fifth year and still barely starting your dissertation, that may be a concern. But even then it's hard to know in the abstract without the types of specifics that a.secret doesn't really allow.
If you're really ready to make some changes, you may consider talking to your advisor about all that. However, I'd first start by making some actual changes. IF you have a history of promising things in the past and not following up on them ( and by "history" I mean at least 3-4 times) then simply having a meeting about your desire to make things better may not be convincing. However, if you really do start to make some changes and then ask to talk to your advisor to see what suggestions s/he has for you to continue improving the situation, that could be helpful.
Again, we don't know enough details about your situation here to consider all the factors involved so be sure not to take some of these comments too seriously. They may not really apply.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 05:58:27 AM
Second, are you seeing a therapist? I think it's really important in grad school and hopefully your health care provides it. It is totally possible that some (all?) of this may be depression related and it's going to be hard for you to tackle that on your own. Even if it's not depression related, you may still well benefit from a professional outlet.
Third, when students disappoint, that doesn't always mean that they are not being productive at all. As I tried to point out in my last post, it's often about really trivial things like a prompt email reply (that doesn't require any reporting on anything deep, I'm seriously talking trivialities like when are you free next week?). So don't take the comments in that post too seriously upon yourself.
Fourth, when people start encouraging you to think about alternatives, they may be doing so because they truly believe from everything YOU have told them that grad school may not be the thing for you and they want to be supportive of that. So don't see it as a hint, necessarily.
So what to do? Think about whether you enjoy this life. If it's only what may be ahead that is keeping you going, that may not be enough. Do you look forward to coming up with research questions? Do you enjoy designing projects? Do you like the data collection/analysis/write-up (or insert appropriate types of work in your field)? Do you enjoy teaching and interacting with students? Do you enjoy aspects of academia? If the answers are mostly no then perhaps this isn't for you. But if the answers are yes then it may be too early to change track.
You haven't given us enough information about your situation to know the extent to which you may have already disappointed people. For example, if you're in your fifth year and still barely starting your dissertation, that may be a concern. But even then it's hard to know in the abstract without the types of specifics that a.secret doesn't really allow.
If you're really ready to make some changes, you may consider talking to your advisor about all that. However, I'd first start by making some actual changes. IF you have a history of promising things in the past and not following up on them ( and by "history" I mean at least 3-4 times) then simply having a meeting about your desire to make things better may not be convincing. However, if you really do start to make some changes and then ask to talk to your advisor to see what suggestions s/he has for you to continue improving the situation, that could be helpful.
Again, we don't know enough details about your situation here to consider all the factors involved so be sure not to take some of these comments too seriously. They may not really apply.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 05:58:27 AM
[academicsecret] 10/08/2006 04:34:26 AM
Thanks for the encouragement.
Apricot, I think you're being too kind, though. Your attitude sounds great, but I'm not feeling bad for merely being good. At the moment, mediocre is something to aspire to.
I guess I'm wondering how reversible my situation is. Have I already lost any goodwill my advisor and committee might have towards me, thanks to my current disorganised, incompetent state?
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Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 04:34:26 AM
Apricot, I think you're being too kind, though. Your attitude sounds great, but I'm not feeling bad for merely being good. At the moment, mediocre is something to aspire to.
I guess I'm wondering how reversible my situation is. Have I already lost any goodwill my advisor and committee might have towards me, thanks to my current disorganised, incompetent state?
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Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 04:34:26 AM
[academicsecret] 10/08/2006 03:38:14 AM
Strawberries speaks the truth. In my experience, the most successful people in academia aren't the smartest, the craftiest, the hardest working, the nicest, the coolest, the funnest... the anything-est. Grad school unfortunately sets up a situation where the opinions of other people matter a lot more than they should. Our advisors, our colleagues, family. Sometimes it seems like the only opinion that doesn't matter is our own.
But here's what I think: You should be doing what you really want to do, period. There is no shame in being "good." We don't always have to be great in every moment.
Whenever I think my advisor's disappointed in me, I always think to myself, "You know, I'm a human being, and this is my life. I intend to enjoy my life. So, your opinion means a lot to me, Advisor, but if it's between feeling anguished because I'll never measure up to your standards, or hanging out with my family and being a normal person, it's really no contest. Sorry." Just my opinion...
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Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 03:38:14 AM
But here's what I think: You should be doing what you really want to do, period. There is no shame in being "good." We don't always have to be great in every moment.
Whenever I think my advisor's disappointed in me, I always think to myself, "You know, I'm a human being, and this is my life. I intend to enjoy my life. So, your opinion means a lot to me, Advisor, but if it's between feeling anguished because I'll never measure up to your standards, or hanging out with my family and being a normal person, it's really no contest. Sorry." Just my opinion...
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Posted by Apricot to academicsecret at 10/08/2006 03:38:14 AM
[academicsecret] 10/07/2006 08:13:02 PM
no worries, dandelion! it all depends on you. grad school is hard and it sucks sometimes. sometimes a lot of the times. but if its where you want to be, and what you want to do, you can do it. and you can try to change the things that you feel you are not doing as you'd like. in the same vein, if you are in grad school but you don't want to be there, there is no reason to torture yourself if you don't have to. so don't listen to what others are saying, listen to what you are saying, to what you want to do. good luck!
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/07/2006 08:13:02 PM
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/07/2006 08:13:02 PM
[academicsecret] 10/07/2006 06:12:48 PM
No disclaimer for me, though. That is probably how my advisor sees me.
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Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 10/07/2006 06:12:48 PM
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Posted by Dandelion to academicsecret at 10/07/2006 06:12:48 PM
[academicsecret] 10/07/2006 05:31:59 PM
Having read way too many grad school application files in my life, I can say that grades and scores are just one measure among many. For example, someone could have super grades from a super school and super scores, but write an essay that does a poor job of linking the applicant's interests with the focus of the program and the applicant may well not be admitted. It's a matching process on numerous dimensions.
Conscienscious admin committee members try to read through all files beyond glancing at the grades and scores. That said, someone from a school we have never heard of with mediocre grades and bad scores is definitely going to have a hard time getting too much of our attention. With hundreds of files to go through, choices need to be made.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/07/2006 05:31:59 PM
Conscienscious admin committee members try to read through all files beyond glancing at the grades and scores. That said, someone from a school we have never heard of with mediocre grades and bad scores is definitely going to have a hard time getting too much of our attention. With hundreds of files to go through, choices need to be made.
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Posted by Orange Ina to academicsecret at 10/07/2006 05:31:59 PM
Friday, October 06, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/06/2006 06:06:55 PM
Thanks for the clarification, strawberries and turquoise stuff. I was actually careful to make sure that I had one letter of recommendation by an American, more because I suspected that there might be a standard form for such things than because I considered (at the time) that norms of praise would be different. Now I know better, I'm even happier I thought of it.
The lack of commensurability between US and UK grading goes beyond different numbering schemes: when I did my undergrad degree, you took a degree in one subject and were given a single result based on your performance in that subject - there was no equivalent to the course-load, GPA or what have you. It's such a fundamental difference that it can be hard to wrap one's mind around it. No majors, no minors, just the subject chosen at the time of application to university. Further, the possible grades were pass, fail or distinction; not a very clear metric in numerical terms. Perhaps strangest of all, I later found out that the professors who approved my application here in the US never tried to draw a clear parallel - they didn't know abot any of these differences...
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/06/2006 06:06:55 PM
The lack of commensurability between US and UK grading goes beyond different numbering schemes: when I did my undergrad degree, you took a degree in one subject and were given a single result based on your performance in that subject - there was no equivalent to the course-load, GPA or what have you. It's such a fundamental difference that it can be hard to wrap one's mind around it. No majors, no minors, just the subject chosen at the time of application to university. Further, the possible grades were pass, fail or distinction; not a very clear metric in numerical terms. Perhaps strangest of all, I later found out that the professors who approved my application here in the US never tried to draw a clear parallel - they didn't know abot any of these differences...
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/06/2006 06:06:55 PM
[academicsecret] 10/06/2006 11:46:05 AM
I didn't see it yesterday afternoon either, Plaid. I'm glad it's working again!
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/06/2006 11:46:05 AM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/06/2006 11:46:05 AM
[academicsecret] 10/06/2006 11:30:22 AM
Hmmm.. maybe it was something at my end. Sorry about that. I'm glad to know you still saw it. I got very confused.
(Strawberries, what a great icon!)
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Posted by Plaid to academicsecret at 10/06/2006 11:30:22 AM
(Strawberries, what a great icon!)
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Posted by Plaid to academicsecret at 10/06/2006 11:30:22 AM
[academicsecret] 10/06/2006 08:17:36 AM
i still see it....
is it a mirage?
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/06/2006 08:17:36 AM
is it a mirage?
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Posted by strawberries to academicsecret at 10/06/2006 08:17:36 AM
Thursday, October 05, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/05/2006 06:11:02 PM
Just yesterday afternoon in lab I was talking to a student who is struggling a little bit. Among other things, she struggles with correct spelling, since English is not her first language. Then she told me that it doesn't really matter how well she does in the course because "My major is English." Ha ha! I immediately thought of the conversation here about English majors being the only people qualified to be editors.
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/05/2006 06:11:02 PM
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/05/2006 06:11:02 PM
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/05/2006 05:00:14 AM
My experience with "what is your degree" talk usually ends with a comment that since I was a science major, I must not be a "people person" as opposed to the other person who was a "communications" major or some such. How judgemental and prejudiced this sounds! I am glad you got your comment in.
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Posted by Fitz to academicsecret at 10/05/2006 05:00:14 AM
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Posted by Fitz to academicsecret at 10/05/2006 05:00:14 AM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 09:26:28 PM
I have encountered all these same types of problems as a young female, but with a twist. I am a graduate assistant instructor (with an M.A. but not yet a Ph.D.) and I frequently have students call me Kristen, Professor E., Dr. E., and Mrs. E. These last three, I must add, are not correct. I am not a professor, I do not have my doctorate, and I am not married. The only one that really annoys me is when they assume that anyone old enough to teach their own college course must be married. I have nothing against marriage, and hope to be married one day, but I see this assumption as a sexist understanding of how the world works (or as an implicit critique of unmarried, professional women). I should add that I get this from male and female students alike. Only rarely do people call me Miss E., which is how I introduced myself on the first day of class. So, interestingly, in some ways I have the opposite problem...people want to call me Professor or Doctor even when I don't deserve the title. I must be teaching in upside-down land.
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Posted by Kristen to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 09:26:28 PM
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Posted by Kristen to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 09:26:28 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 07:13:03 PM
Most of my friends with degrees in English have horrible grammar.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 07:13:03 PM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 07:13:03 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 06:59:44 PM
Any particular look on her face at that point?:)
Actually, the snarkiness bounced right off her. Her face lit up and she said, "OH, so you DO understand all of this!" (Meanwhile, I'm thinking to myself, "Yeah, because I managed to pass fifth grade math!")
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 06:59:44 PM
Actually, the snarkiness bounced right off her. Her face lit up and she said, "OH, so you DO understand all of this!" (Meanwhile, I'm thinking to myself, "Yeah, because I managed to pass fifth grade math!")
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 06:59:44 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 06:52:50 PM
My favorite one is the claim that having an English degree qualifies someone to be an editor.
ME TOO! I think that's actually my #1 pet peeve as far as equating degrees with knowledge goes. I see so many job announcements for editors that REQUIRE a degree in English, which annoys me because I think I could do the jobs just as well as any English major, but since I've never even taken a college-level English course, I am not at all qualified. It's not as if English majors are the only students required to write using proper grammar.
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 06:52:50 PM
ME TOO! I think that's actually my #1 pet peeve as far as equating degrees with knowledge goes. I see so many job announcements for editors that REQUIRE a degree in English, which annoys me because I think I could do the jobs just as well as any English major, but since I've never even taken a college-level English course, I am not at all qualified. It's not as if English majors are the only students required to write using proper grammar.
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 06:52:50 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 06:02:04 PM
From Wikipedia:
Popularly, the fruit has been identified as an apple (perhaps as a Latin pun of 'malus' sounding like 'evil' and 'apple'), although the Bible does not identify the fruit as an apple. Judaism teaches that the fruit may have been either grape, fig, wheat, or citron. In recent years, some researchers are supporting the fact that the forbidden fruit is actually a pomegranate, from the supposed location of the Garden of Eden.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 06:02:04 PM
Popularly, the fruit has been identified as an apple (perhaps as a Latin pun of 'malus' sounding like 'evil' and 'apple'), although the Bible does not identify the fruit as an apple. Judaism teaches that the fruit may have been either grape, fig, wheat, or citron. In recent years, some researchers are supporting the fact that the forbidden fruit is actually a pomegranate, from the supposed location of the Garden of Eden.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 06:02:04 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 05:42:30 PM
Fraud, that's it?! You're not going to tell us what the fruit was? C'mon!
Salmon, way to derail the conversation!
Well, since I was a history major, I can help you here:
one source, another source.
PS. I wasn't a history major. I used the internets to help me figure it out. Good question.
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 05:42:30 PM
Salmon, way to derail the conversation!
Well, since I was a history major, I can help you here:
one source, another source.
PS. I wasn't a history major. I used the internets to help me figure it out. Good question.
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 05:42:30 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 05:37:46 PM
That was a very funny video, thank you for posting the link! And I agree with Thistle, I think I like it better than the original.
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 05:37:46 PM
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 05:37:46 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 05:26:28 PM
My favorite one is the claim that having an English degree qualifies someone to be an editor. It doesn't. It only qualifies you to talk about literature.
--emerod
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 05:26:28 PM
--emerod
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 05:26:28 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 04:57:04 PM
While we're talking about apples, could someone explain to me why NYC is considered 'The Big Apple'?
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 04:57:04 PM
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 04:57:04 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 04:10:41 PM
I have no idea, NBB.
Tangentially, I did learn the other day that the forbidden fruit that Eve ate wasn't an apple.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 04:10:41 PM
Tangentially, I did learn the other day that the forbidden fruit that Eve ate wasn't an apple.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 04:10:41 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 04:09:03 PM
Oh Fraud, so sorry to hear about this! I wish I had a solution for you. I think even senior people with considerable experience in this realm wouldn't know what to tell you. This aspect of academia, while incredibly important, is also incredibly messed up. And to think that entire careers (and that's not an exaggeration) make or break on the stupid uninformed reviews of just one or two people is downright depressing. (After all, if you get that one paper in just before you go on the job market, it can determine where you get your first job, which I'm sure can have serious implications for the rest of one's career.)
I don't think this will help in this case, but one possibility people don't often employ (I never have), but could be helpful depending on the right circumstances (particular editor) may be to write a note to the editor in the submission letter mentioning that you request the paper not be sent to reviewer type A, because such reviewer seems to exhibit an outright bias (phrased very professionally of course). Unless the editor is an AH, they may take that into consideration.
Of course, the problem in your case now is that the issue is not about one subdiscipline fighting against another or some such thing. I really have no idea what I would do. Is it possible to do neither.. neither present the large or the small as the focus, but just present as a more general example? (I'm sort of laughing/crying as I write that recognizing how ridiculous it is given that I know nothing about your paper, or probably your entire field.)
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 04:09:03 PM
I don't think this will help in this case, but one possibility people don't often employ (I never have), but could be helpful depending on the right circumstances (particular editor) may be to write a note to the editor in the submission letter mentioning that you request the paper not be sent to reviewer type A, because such reviewer seems to exhibit an outright bias (phrased very professionally of course). Unless the editor is an AH, they may take that into consideration.
Of course, the problem in your case now is that the issue is not about one subdiscipline fighting against another or some such thing. I really have no idea what I would do. Is it possible to do neither.. neither present the large or the small as the focus, but just present as a more general example? (I'm sort of laughing/crying as I write that recognizing how ridiculous it is given that I know nothing about your paper, or probably your entire field.)
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 04:09:03 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 03:59:43 PM
Oh, Salmon, this sounds unbelievably frustrating. It's great to see that you can put a humorous spin on it though! And I am SO glad you told her that you had an econ degree. Any particular look on her face at that point?:)
I never realized baby-sitting ads had that info (I guess I don't have much experience with browsing baby-sitting ads), but that is very amusing.
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 03:59:43 PM
I never realized baby-sitting ads had that info (I guess I don't have much experience with browsing baby-sitting ads), but that is very amusing.
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 03:59:43 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 03:59:06 PM
Once, after repeated warnings, I asked a particularly chatty student to leave. She emailed me about a day later offering to talk to me about "our communication problem" I replied that "we" didn't have a problem and I was eager to have her back in class if (and only if) she could confine her talking to the acceptable norms. Never had another bit of trouble from her --or the rest of the students.
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Posted by trollopeboy to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 03:59:06 PM
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Posted by trollopeboy to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 03:59:06 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 03:54:26 PM
Ouch!
So is the story behind all this too obvious to note? Because I don't know the answer either and no one has stepped up to the plate here to explain it.
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 03:54:26 PM
So is the story behind all this too obvious to note? Because I don't know the answer either and no one has stepped up to the plate here to explain it.
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Posted by Navy Blue Blob to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 03:54:26 PM
[academicsecret] 10/04/2006 12:07:07 PM
hahaha!
The thing that cracks me up about "degree talk" in situations like these is that when people find out that my doctorate is in Astronomy* they ask if I can tell them what their astrological profile is and whether they're most romantically compatible with Libras or Virgos.
* Of course this may or may not be my field, but it doesn't detract from the illustration. The point is, it seems that the majority of people have no idea what Astronomers do.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 12:07:07 PM
The thing that cracks me up about "degree talk" in situations like these is that when people find out that my doctorate is in Astronomy* they ask if I can tell them what their astrological profile is and whether they're most romantically compatible with Libras or Virgos.
* Of course this may or may not be my field, but it doesn't detract from the illustration. The point is, it seems that the majority of people have no idea what Astronomers do.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/04/2006 12:07:07 PM
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/03/2006 10:01:56 PM
I saw a prof tell a student to leave, and then when the student didn't leave the prof called campus security. The student left before security got there, but not before some big burly frat-type students threatened to bodily remove him.
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 10:01:56 PM
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 10:01:56 PM
[academicsecret] 10/03/2006 09:59:49 PM
Didn't your Mom tell you not to eat apples that a student gave you because they could have razor blades in them?
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 09:59:49 PM
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 09:59:49 PM
[academicsecret] 10/03/2006 09:58:23 PM
Furry Happy Monsters was waaayyy better than the original, which was never my fav REM song anyway. Thanks for the link, Fraud!!
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 09:58:23 PM
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Posted by thistle to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 09:58:23 PM
[academicsecret] 10/03/2006 02:54:30 PM
Hell yes! I don't know if I could do it, although I've wanted to a time or two, but I think it's perfectly acceptable.
Call those students on their behavior. It's much harder for you to teach, and others to learn, with that going on in the background.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 02:54:30 PM
Call those students on their behavior. It's much harder for you to teach, and others to learn, with that going on in the background.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 02:54:30 PM
[academicsecret] 10/03/2006 02:28:04 PM
Of course you can tell disruptive students to leave. And you should. If "paying tuition" matters in this case, it matters for everyone, not just the troublemakers. "Paying tuition" is not the same as a license to do whatever the hell you want in a classroom. And the rest of the class has a stronger ethical claim that their money's being frittered away by instructors who don't keep disruptive students in check.
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 02:28:04 PM
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Posted by Anonymous to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 02:28:04 PM
Monday, October 02, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/03/2006 05:34:30 AM
I think this IS a gender thing that is common in all professions, not just academia. In fact, this is a huge issue in coaching. When you look at many successful (male) coaches of big-time teams, it is incredible how many of them are able to do what they do because they have stay-at-home or more or less stay-at-home wives who not only take care of the homestead (e.g., take full charge of the kids) but also do huge amounts of support tasks (e.g., clean the house and cook for parties when recruits are visiting). This is seen as a real barrier to the success of women coaches, since most women coaches do not have stay-at-home partners and have a hard time keeping up with those who do. I suspect its similar in other professions, too.
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 05:34:30 AM
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Posted by Salmon Ella to academicsecret at 10/03/2006 05:34:30 AM
[academicsecret] 10/02/2006 08:56:39 PM
Here's a link to the video for those who haven't seen it.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/02/2006 08:56:39 PM
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/02/2006 08:56:39 PM
[academicsecret] 10/02/2006 08:55:22 PM
REM was on Sesame Street a few years back. It seems they're doing what they can to support public media outlets.
I don't own an ipod, but I'll bet that even people who do, who'd like to support public radio and who like REM, would consider buying the CD. I'm sure they've investigated it as a marketing strategy.
Interesting...
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/02/2006 08:55:22 PM
I don't own an ipod, but I'll bet that even people who do, who'd like to support public radio and who like REM, would consider buying the CD. I'm sure they've investigated it as a marketing strategy.
Interesting...
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/02/2006 08:55:22 PM
Sunday, October 01, 2006
[academicsecret] 10/01/2006 08:20:53 PM
As noted above, I'm definitely against these standardized tests. However, Strawberries made a point I want to follow-up on. Recommendation letters are also somewhat cultural, if you can believe it. Or they reflect cultural norms. So in certain other countries (probably most), it is much less likely that teachers will praise the way they do in the US. They would never say someone's in the top 5-10% even if they were. So that leaves the candidate in a difficult position.
I'm not sure how one can deal with all this, it gets pretty complicated.
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/01/2006 08:20:53 PM
I'm not sure how one can deal with all this, it gets pretty complicated.
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/01/2006 08:20:53 PM
[academicsecret] 10/01/2006 08:10:42 PM
you promised the IRB you'd keep them in a locked drawer for 3 years under the protection of a rabid rottweiler and then erase them and bury the erased tapes under a land-fill
This made me laugh out loud, thanks! (You know, in that this-is-too-real sad sort of way.)
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/01/2006 08:10:42 PM
This made me laugh out loud, thanks! (You know, in that this-is-too-real sad sort of way.)
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/01/2006 08:10:42 PM
[academicsecret] 10/01/2006 08:02:58 PM
AAAAAAAAAAAH!!! So who's the pig there?!
And see, if he gets tenure, he'll be one of those colleagues who will be considering you for tenure.. clueless about all the details. SUCH BS!!
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/01/2006 08:02:58 PM
And see, if he gets tenure, he'll be one of those colleagues who will be considering you for tenure.. clueless about all the details. SUCH BS!!
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Posted by Turquoise Stuff to academicsecret at 10/01/2006 08:02:58 PM
[academicsecret] 10/01/2006 12:55:40 PM
That also would have captured my sentiment, Thistle.
I should add, too, that this isn't necessarily a gender thing (although I'd guess that it's usually male academics with stay-at-home partners). It was only after sharing the absurdity of this interaction with two female colleagues that I realized that they both have partners who, although they don't stay-at-home, they might refer me to if I had questions about pot-bellied pigs or othe happenings around their house.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/01/2006 12:55:40 PM
I should add, too, that this isn't necessarily a gender thing (although I'd guess that it's usually male academics with stay-at-home partners). It was only after sharing the absurdity of this interaction with two female colleagues that I realized that they both have partners who, although they don't stay-at-home, they might refer me to if I had questions about pot-bellied pigs or othe happenings around their house.
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Posted by fraud, in denim to academicsecret at 10/01/2006 12:55:40 PM
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