<p>Right now i’m studying cultural anthropology as a masters student at Texas Tech. It isn’t the best school, but I was promised big opportunities for research and assistantships. My advisor and I had perfectly matching interests.
Now she informs me this week that she has accepted a position at U Amsterdam for January, which is great for her but crappy for me.
The whole reason I came to Lubbock was to work with her and now she is gone. And not even 2 months after school starts this happens.</p>
<p>Worse is the fact that the only other cultural anthropologist in the department has been promoted and is also leaving. SO basically I’m now in a department that is all physical,archaeological etc.</p>
<p>They have continually said that they “plan” and “want” to hire another cultural prof, maybe even two, but that isn’t guaranteed.</p>
<p>So now I am stuck trying to figure out what I should do. I’m looking at transferring, its just so much hassle to try and go through this process again especially when I have a pretty good assistantship here (through another department), though I’d rather have research and actually take classes that interest me so later when I apply for doctoral study I’ll be relevant.</p>
<p>Basically I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or suggestions.
I’ve contacted a few profs at other schools, but I’m still trying to figure things out.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>My heart goes out to you because that is, indeed, a tough situation. Yes, it happens to graduate students every year; however, that fact doesn’t make it easier to deal with.</p>
<p>As I see it, you have two options: follow through with those contacts you’re making at other programs, or find a way to get the knowledge you need at Texas Tech.</p>
<p>For the first, you need to get a feel for your chances through these profs at other programs. If they are not responsive or discouraging, then you shouldn’t bother reapplying to these other places. Even if you get in, you don’t have to leave your current program if you find a work-around in the meantime. But, of course, applying does take a lot of time and effort.</p>
<p>For the second option, talk to the chair of the program to see what can be done. You say that you have funding through another department, which suggests that they can offer relevant training. Are both professors leaving next semester, or is one staying on for the rest of the year? When you say that one is being promoted and is therefore leaving, I assume that you mean to an administrative position such as a dean, still in the university. In that case, you might be able to work out an interim solution while you are waiting for the next cultural anthropology professor to arrive next August. (BTW, you can check the job listings for higher education in mid- to late-October to make sure they are indeed actively trying to hire a professor with that specialty.) </p>
<p>You can also talk to the professor who is going to Amsterdam and see what she recommends. She knows her department, and she knows the field.</p>
<p>Thank you for that response you are very helpful and it’s nice to have a voice of reason. </p>
<p>Yeah, applying has started off similar as the previous process, so far most professors give you the ol’ “Oh that’s really interesting, we look forward to reviewing your application”, and in those cases I obviously wouldn’t want to pursue much further (which is why I ended up at TTU because they showed me lots of interest and were receptive). </p>
<p>It is actually the chair of the department who is the other prof leaving, and yes he is being promoted within the school so he will technically “be here” but in a different capacity. I’m not really sure when the chair is leaving, he has a significantly lower course load this semester because he is in the transitioning phase, but due to my professors move it might be extended slightly.</p>
<p>The funding I receive is in the form of a graduate assistantship through Housing and Residence Life, so while it’s a sweet gig and I basically am getting paid to go to school, an apartment to live in and a hefty stipend, it’s very time consuming and I’d rather be working for less money in a closely related field. The department has been very forthcoming about the extreme likelihood of getting an assistantship for the fall citing that “every student in the department has had funding at one time or another”.</p>
<p>My professor is being very helpful, she says she will continue to keep in close contact with me for the remainder of the year and help out in any way that she can. She has suggested I look at transfering, while at the same time been optimistic about what might happen at Tech.</p>
<p>Ideally I don’t want to leave, the situation here is pretty good, and there are opportunities for good things, however nothing is set in stone and that’s what worries me most. While I could be off studying at some other school with a “better” name that doesn’t guarantee either that I’ll be able to do lots of research and have great opportunities that just puts a better name on my degree, so really the lesson here is nothing is guaranteed. I’m just trying to find some stability and clear options. </p>
<p>I guess it also doesn’t help when the other grads act like I’m screwed saying things like “What are you going to do!?!?!” That gets to me a bit.</p>
<p>Ouch. I’m sorry to hear all of that. It is difficult to predict professors’ plans. </p>
<p>I think the best thing to do is to keep information open and transparent between you and these professors and the new department chair. I certainly wouldn’t want to be in a position where somebody didn’t say something to me until it’s too late, which you are trying to avoid.</p>
<p>As for transferring, do you really want to do more coursework? You’ll need to talk to departments that you’re interested in applying to about transferring your MA credits unless you’re willing to repeat the whole program. I know that you’re implying that you’re going to school <em>for free</em> but do you honestly want to be in a classroom for 3 years, should you start over again, plus any further coursework for the PhD? It may be something to think about as ideally you’ll want to try and avoid coursework burn-out.</p>
<p>As for the hires, I would wait, as MWFN suggested, and see how the hiring process go. Try and ask about applicants when they start rolling in and see if any of the candidates interest you. Personally, I would be leery if they’re looking to hire a newly minted PhD because, in my experience, advising students isn’t generally their top priority in their first year as TT.</p>
<p>If your answer is no to additional coursework at a new MA program and the hiring process isn’t going to happen the way you want it to, I would find a way to leave after this semester because you do have a compelling reason to do so that departments will understand when you explain in your SOP. </p>
<p>One of the tough lessons I learned in graduate school is to ignore any negativity. It’s VERY hard to block out other grad students’ “■■■■ your life is over” and narcissic comments but it takes practice. Focus on yourself and your own situation. Their freak out isn’t helping you and there’s no reason to go to them for consolation. Just vent to someone outside of the department who has no clue what’s happening if you need a ear.</p>