Ask a doctoral student anything!

I'm starting to think it might be because overseas doesn't have the same standards as in the U.S. I know people who say getting a PhD is rare in their home countries. But then again I don't really know. I would love to learn more about different countries.

1.Trick question.
2. She is having a free and fulfilling life outside while you waste yours inside.
3. On the stove. Run now! The Jiffy pop is ready to catch on fire.

You ask for the mile because there's no way there's enough funding to get what you want done.

The issue is whether or not you guys consent. Theoretically I can just watch what people post and report on that no problems. But since I'm interacting with you guys on this thread, I would need permission. I think. I can't remember IRB rules on the top of my head but at the very least it is very sketchy if I don't have their permission.

I want to look at political violence, specifically when does political violence become a legitimate tactic for nonstate actors. Or in other words, what makes an ordinary person into someone who would hurt themselves and others for political goals? Not necessarily terrorism, but it's one element of it. My theory is states basically ignore their people, and it causes people to feel like they have to use ever increasing means to get their attention.

I am not at a prestigious school. It's a middle of the road school. Not the best, but not the worst either. There are grants like that for politics, but I don't know how to fill one out yet. I'm happy with where I am right now in terms of funding. Once I am more settled in I plan on getting ready to visit other countries and getting that experience under my belt. Once I'm at that stage, I will need to apply for funding.

As for why there are these degrees? Because it needs to be studied. We need people who can talk about politics and inform our leaders on what to do. It's not glamerous, but the life of an academic is a good life. Studying makes a person better, and it means they can make better decisions for everyone around them too.

It's never about the money. It's about the pride that comes with being someone who did the work to show other people they know what they're talking about. I would rather have that, then money. Sure it helps to have a roof over ones head, but it is better to be able to live a good life of learning.

As for when I'm graduating, about 5 years from now give or take.

 

You're not wrong. It's one of the serious limitations of studying one field in depth.

I can't speak for under grad but for us in grad school the threat seems to be taken very seriously. Apparently the dropout rate for doctorate students is about 50%. The school has a vested interested in making sure you keep coming to class. They really do care about you trying your best. As to disinterest? Not really too sure there.

 

Name one person who can think outside the realm of all knowledge they possess.

 

I think the quote from the movie was "need the dues"... Yes. I think that about covers it.

 

Oh gosh that's so cool! You must be so proud of her. My mom is a medical doctor too. Though I think the real issue is with my grandma. She would be furious to know I am pursuing the social sciences. She was a biology teacher for over 30 years. She didn't think very highly of the social sciences.

Grad students don't usually live on campus. There are nice stone buildings. I don't really spend time with the under grads so I don't really know. No good rioting lately but if I get an ear at the next one I will ship it to you. And alternative has taken on a weird form called 'lofi'. Kids these days.

Ugh I know, but I'm happy with where I am. I have considered it. If I didn't get into grad school I was going to try to find some nice job somewhere and get financially stable. Fate would have it and I ended up getting into a program.

I don't know about automation, but I would love to see the effects it has on people becoming luddites. It would be interesting to investigate. Though I'm more interested in seeing how climate change impacts these communities too. I can't imagine it will be easy. I don't really like studying economics that much. I would like to see how deaths by despair interact with the need for political violence. Maybe there's something in Appalachia where those two will intersect together. It wouldn't surprise me, seeing as we see elements of that in Northern New York.

Actually I already started down the dark path of becoming an elite. At orientation they take a sample of blood (forcefully is preferred) and put it in a phylactery. If I ever stray from the path they use it to hunt me down and continue my brainwashing.

In all seriousness I'm not really one of the "elites". Those come out of the ivy league schools. Me, I'm just someone who is really interested in a topic, and this is my way of investigating it.

Yes, yes it does. That is what happens when there isn't enough funding. We have to over promise because if we don't we don't get funding. The game is rigged against us.

I don't specialize in Africa, so I can't really comment.

My guess is it has nothing to do with socialism. Rather socialism isn't the cause, it's the outcome of a different variable. Probably lack of proper nation building before independence. There's no real reason for the borders to be what they are, given they are based on European understanding of geography, not local politics on the ground. That's what doomed Africa for the 20th century, not socialism.

She.

 

Is that an old person movie?

 

I can. A lot of people can. I guess since you can't then you aren't as 'elite' as you think you are.

 

Well, sitting in the front row for all my classes is a given habit from High School. Neither to express interest in the social atmosphere or enthusiasm for the Idea of education, I suppose. I probably should have targeted my questions better. I don't think I had more than a question or two every class. Responsive. You jumped the gun, as far as opinions are concerned.

 

So you can think outside of all the knowledge you possess. That is impressive. Tell me, can you speak a language you don’t know or ever learned? Can you imagine a color you’ve never seen before? Can you explain concepts that have no connection to what you know now?

Or perhaps you misinterpreted my question. You can’t imagine a world outside of your knowledge, because you are limited by your empirical understanding of the world. Same as everyone else.

 

Thank you. To be honest my biggest fear is that I get so wrapped up in my PhD program I lose touch with how regular people talk and think. I need reality checks every now and then. It’s important to see the world through these lens.

 

"There are nice stone buildings."

I like the quiet campuses with stone buildings and tree-lined avenues.

Having been an impoverished high-school dropout, I appreciated that I could attend free public lectures on philosophy at Kenyon College.

"I don't really spend time with the under grads so I don't really know."

Bummer.

"No good rioting lately but if I get an ear at the next one I will ship it to you."

Thanks!

"And alternative has taken on a weird form called 'lofi'. Kids these days."

Oh my! That's God-awful. It's smooth jazz with a drum machine backing it up.

In my circle, we would be humiliated if word got out that we listened to that.

 

That is pretty much how I feel about my college experiences. I even still have most of my textbooks. In college, I would wake up in the morning, excited to be there.

 

Did you learn anything about sample size?

 

That's true, but that's a little tiny sliver of employment. The OP expressed an interest in an academic career and I think that's a hard sell, even if you're competent in the field, unless you have some sort of extra "umph" to attract attention.

Not sure what this has to do with "conservatives" though.

 

Errr...could you source that? I find it hard to believe that a humanities degree would mean more on a med school application than anatomy, chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, statistics and microbiology

 

I am sure you will be a TA soon, you will then be in contact with first years who are just taking an elective. Since your stipend is so little, the TA will help a lot.

 

The only people who liked college are the ones who didn't go on to bigger and better things.

I actually enjoyed college, and I look back on it fondly. It was care free to an extent. You go to class, and the rest of your time is free. You need to study, but you can go to Gregory and play basketball, head to the apartment and play video games, or whatever else. I did party some.

Thing is, after college I started making money and I was independent. As much fun as it was, I wouldn't want to go back if it meant giving up my current life.

 

What made you pursue this area of study?

 

Yeah and there's probably plenty of jobs there. It's not like people are willing to get a college education by and large and it's not like it's really attainable hurt everyone through student loans... Oh wait...

 

Here is one.

https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/pre-med-majors

 

Again that means nothing. there are more humanities grads than any other discipline. You still need, the physics, Biology, biochem and calculus work that is not part of a typical humanities program. Now as a good portion of med school students are also legacies, that also opens up the possibility of taking a lighter load as a BA than as a BS for that portion of med school applicants.