I'm back in a Ph.D. program

Post Reply New Topic

I usually just email them and say 'I'm applying for such and such job, so please say nice things when they call you' . . .
I'm one of those autistics that people describe as really nice and really smart but REALLY strange . . . so people usually give me good recommendations, but I suspect they steer away from personal stuff and focus on professional stuff/grades, etc . . .

Not necessarily. I've mostly had discussion/debates with all of my professors who gave me recommendation letters. I've never had a casual conversation with any of them. Its all about showing them that you can think and reason, and can give logical reasons for why you disagree with a theory, or asking the right questions to delve deeper into a topic. If you have nothing important to contribute, then you are stuck "pleasing and schmoozing" the Professor. And, these are not the types of letters that you want. Grad schools see thousands of recommendation letters every year and they surely will pick out the ones who haveshown their professors that they can actually think from the ones who have merely befriended them.

Don't merely talk to your professor, but discuss and debate theories/ideas with them. Try to relate theories together, or point out where some theories may have gone wrong, or ask how a theory could be expanded. They don't want to know that you got everything from the lecture, the test will tell them that. They want to know if you're thinking deeper about the topics presented, if you're trying to get a bigger picture about whats going on, and, if you are truly interested in the topics at hand. Don't be afraid to debate! Professors love intellectual debate, thats why they're professors in the first place!

schmoozing/impressing

Only if its not genuine.

It took me 15 years to get around to finishing my first undergrad degree (philosophy). Then, when my life changed drastically, I went back to school, and have been there ever since. It's getting tough again though - if I can make it through the Master's program, I'm pretty sure that I can complete the PhD though. The big help for me has been smoking - it seems to help me to focus.

I am looking for information on traditional masters programs. I'm in a masters program at a traditional university, but the classes are online-based with lectures (once a month or so) video/live broadcast because of distance. My problem is that I thought going back to school would suit my aspie nature. However, it turns out that all of our assignments involve discussion. With other people. And group projects.

I was hoping there might be people here who've been through a masters program who could tell me if discussions with fellow classmates is de rigueur, or if it's just the way it's being done now with web-based classes.

BTW, about A Capella - I'd check VERY carefully. At one point I was pissed with my program and looked into online options, and found Univ of Phoenix. Then I found a forum much like WP called UOPSucks.com You might want to look into that forum just to make sure A Capella isn't guilty of some of the same stuff.

And despite being registered with the disabilities office, they're not letting me out of ANY assignments, even with a good reason. They can't do anything special for me that they can't offer the other students. I'd be careful with a school that wanted your business so bad they'd bend over backwards to accomodate you.

It's pretty much required to do group projects in most technical subjects. What are you looking for a degree in? I would suspect that Literature and Philosophy might be easier to avoid working with people in.

I'm in the middle of a master's in nursing administration (yuck) but am trying to switch to community and public health nursing. Like Sophist, I want the Dr in front of my name so I can do research.

Anyway, I like the researching/writing part of the master's program, but then we have to (egads) respond to and critique our fellow classmates. I vaguely remember hearing that in traditional programs, discussions (in the classroom) were a regular part of it. But either way, discussions IRL or on the web, are disconcerting to me. I had expectations that I could avoid lectures and people all together and just focus on what I'm interested in...maybe I just have to get through the masters so I can move on to the (I assume) more independent program of the phd.

I'm pretty comfortable dealing with a group situation. I definitely don't mind critiquing others, and think that I add a lot to these kinds of situations. Group projects are another thing though. I pretty much carve out my own little area, and work on that.

Thanks - I found a big long thing on eopinions about Capella - and it is mixed - but in the same way I'm sure that reviews of UTA (where I work) would be mixed - I think it is funny that one of the main things that people complain about is that their recruiters are like telemarketers - I work with the recruiters here at UTA and they are also like telemarketers - I think that is common for recruiters . . .
The main thing is that Capella is accredited by the same board that accredits UTA and most of the other universities in Texas - so that tells me it is legit for my purposes . . . which is just to get letters before and after my name - I can't progress in my career path without them - I think I'm smarter than a lot of the people here who have the letters already - I sure as hell know more about autism than most of the 'professionals' I've run across (but you guys know this is one of my pet peeves)

Very good point. I agree with you about needing more professionals who know what AS/autism is like.