u/tretsandwich

I moved here for my master’s and this is all I ever wanted, I do realise it’s just one year and it’s gonna fly by but I didn’t realise how lonely it would get. The culture shock is as bad as it is. I consider myself an introvert, and by Indian standards I'm an extreme introvert; I don’t strike up conversations and stay by myself all the time. Still, here it’s like you’re invisible, I do realise it’s a big city thing but it’s not like I haven’t lived in big cities before. I miss my friends so much and everyone around me has something going on for them. As an indian it just feels like we grew up in a different world, didn’t have the same school life or college life as the people here or anywhere to be precise, and that I won't ever fit in. I personally thought I'd be really comfortable and thriving in such an individualistic society but it’s quite the opposite. It's getting a bit hard for me, any tips on how to cope are really appreciated. I miss Delhi so much its like i belong there and I can’t wait to go back.
my\\\\\\\_qualifications MSc Student (Law) at LSE

Hello,

My background: I’m 24, have graduated from Delhi University with an honours in History and Philosophy minor. I proceeded to work in the health sector in Bihar for one year, then proceeded to do a Masters in English. I’ve always wanted to study Gender and Development studies, for which I currently hold an offer from the London School of Economics (LSE) for a Masters. I’m aware that these degrees are not that well sort after and every place I post to look for suggestions, tech bros demotivate me to the point of no revival.

I’m doing a second Masters as it is only one year (this would save a lot of my time) as well as it fits well with the kind of research I want to do, as my goal was to pursue a PhD abroad and I’ve not found good prospects in India.

I want to pursue a PhD and my research interests sit at an intersection of Anthropology, Folk Traditions, Feminist & Queer Theory, Thing Theory, Informal Economies and Postcolonial Theories.

I’m aware Academia has become really hard to get into and there is constant reduction of funds for research in the social sciences but I’ve made up my mind. I think going to LSE would open some doors as it would be great to have some career prospects post Master’s.

My questions are for all of you who’re currently pursuing or have completed their PhD in the similar domain.
a. How does one decide if a PhD is the right choice?

b. What are the things you would do differently if you were to begin from scratch?

c. What are the absolute non-negotiables for doing a PhD– skills, courses, the city and supervisor relationship and fit (anything that one needs to get sorted before and during the process?)

d. How and when should one send their CVs and e-mails to potential supervisors?

e. Is prior published research and conference attendance an absolute non-negotiable?

f. What’s the realistic timeline from start to completion? ( I’m aware that this is very subjective, having a ballpark figure helps).

In case any of you have any insights or suggestions please feel free to DM, I could use all the help. I’ve made a presentation that broadly covers the research i want to do here’s a brief of the it:

My research revolves around the southern region of Punjab, India. It sits at the intersections of caste, class and gender. Women in traditional land-owning agrarian families were not allowed mobility or ‘third spaces’, the only place of commoning in Wendy Harcort’s terms was the Trinjan– an enclosed space where women gathered to weave basically create rugs which would eventually be used for their dowry and to be passed on to their daughters, they used to gather, weave, sing folk songs and dance, they also used to share a common kitchen and made sweets for festivals. The entire process from picking the cotton, to weaving, to then making a rug out of it was done by the women but it was miss-classified as care work, till date women have no control over resources and don’t have to means to earn they rely on small income businesses but do not receive a market for their craft. This space has disappeared completely. I want to look at the folk songs as hidden transcripts, the movements of the dance offered a release to the women from the patriarchal constructions. I want to make ethnography and enthomusicology the spine of my research.

In contrast to this the men had an outdoorsy space called the Sath it still exists and is a social space for men to interact, play card games, read the newspapers and listen to the radio.

This is broadly the idea I am looking for any relevant reading materials any programs that I could apply to.

Thank you.

Hello,

My qualifications : I’m 24, have graduated from Delhi University with an honours in History and Philosophy minor. I proceeded to work in the health sector in Bihar for one year, then proceeded to do a Masters in English. I’ve always wanted to study Gender and Development studies, for which I currently hold an offer from the London School of Economics (LSE) for a Masters. I’m aware that these degrees are not that well sort after and every place I post to look for suggestions, tech bros demotivate me to the point of no revival.

I’m doing a second Masters as it is only one year (this would save a lot of my time) as well as it fits well with the kind of research I want to do, as my goal was to pursue a PhD abroad and I’ve not found good prospects in India.

I want to pursue a PhD and my research interests sit at an intersection of Anthropology, Folk Traditions, Feminist & Queer Theory, Thing Theory, Informal Economies and Postcolonial Theories.

I’m aware Academia has become really hard to get into and there is constant reduction of funds for research in the social sciences but I’ve made up my mind. I think going to LSE would open some doors as it would be great to have some career prospects post Master’s.

My questions are for all of you who’re currently pursuing or have completed their PhD in the similar domain.
a. How does one decide if a PhD is the right choice?

b. What are the things you would do differently if you were to begin from scratch?

c. What are the absolute non-negotiables for doing a PhD– skills, courses, the city and supervisor relationship and fit (anything that one needs to get sorted before and during the process?)

d. How and when should one send their CVs and e-mails to potential supervisors?

e. Is prior published research and conference attendance an absolute non-negotiable?

f. What’s the realistic timeline from start to completion? ( I’m aware that this is very subjective, having a ballpark figure helps).

In case any of you have any insights or suggestions please feel free to DM, I could use all the help. I’ve made a presentation that broadly covers the research i want to do here’s a brief of the it:

My research revolves around the southern region of Punjab, India. It sits at the intersections of caste, class and gender. Women in traditional land-owning agrarian families were not allowed mobility or ‘third spaces’, the only place of commoning in Wendy Harcort’s terms was the Trinjan– an enclosed space where women gathered to weave basically create rugs which would eventually be used for their dowry and to be passed on to their daughters, they used to gather, weave, sing folk songs and dance, they also used to share a common kitchen and made sweets for festivals. The entire process from picking the cotton, to weaving, to then making a rug out of it was done by the women but it was miss-classified as care work, till date women have no control over resources and don’t have to means to earn they rely on small income businesses but do not receive a market for their craft. This space has disappeared completely. I want to look at the folk songs as hidden transcripts, the movements of the dance offered a release to the women from the patriarchal constructions. I want to make ethnography and enthomusicology the spine of my research.

In contrast to this the men had an outdoorsy space called the Sath it still exists and is a social space for men to interact, play card games, read the newspapers and listen to the radio.

This is broadly the idea I am looking for any relevant reading materials any programs that I could apply to.

Thank you.

Hello,

My background: I’m 24, have graduated from Delhi University with an honours in History and Philosophy minor. I proceeded to work in the health sector in Bihar for one year, then proceeded to do a Masters in English. I’ve always wanted to study Gender and Development studies, for which I currently hold an offer from the London School of Economics (LSE) for a Masters. I’m aware that these degrees are not that well sort after and every place I post to look for suggestions, tech bros demotivate me to the point of no revival.

I’m doing a second Masters as it is only one year (this would save a lot of my time) as well as it fits well with the kind of research I want to do, as my goal was to pursue a PhD abroad and I’ve not found good prospects in India.

I want to pursue a PhD and my research interests sit at an intersection of Anthropology, Folk Traditions, Feminist & Queer Theory, Thing Theory, Informal Economies and Postcolonial Theories.

I’m aware Academia has become really hard to get into and there is constant reduction of funds for research in the social sciences but I’ve made up my mind. I think going to LSE would open some doors as it would be great to have some career prospects post Master’s.

My questions are for all of you who’re currently pursuing or have completed their PhD in the similar domain.
a. How does one decide if a PhD is the right choice?

b. What are the things you would do differently if you were to begin from scratch?

c. What are the absolute non-negotiables for doing a PhD– skills, courses, the city and supervisor relationship and fit (anything that one needs to get sorted before and during the process?)

d. How and when should one send their CVs and e-mails to potential supervisors?

e. Is prior published research and conference attendance an absolute non-negotiable?

f. What’s the realistic timeline from start to completion? ( I’m aware that this is very subjective, having a ballpark figure helps).

In case any of you have any insights or suggestions please feel free to DM, I could use all the help. I’ve made a presentation that broadly covers the research i want to do here’s a brief of the it:

My research revolves around the southern region of Punjab, India. It sits at the intersections of caste, class and gender. Women in traditional land-owning agrarian families were not allowed mobility or ‘third spaces’, the only place of commoning in Wendy Harcort’s terms was the Trinjan– an enclosed space where women gathered to weave basically create rugs which would eventually be used for their dowry and to be passed on to their daughters, they used to gather, weave, sing folk songs and dance, they also used to share a common kitchen and made sweets for festivals. The entire process from picking the cotton, to weaving, to then making a rug out of it was done by the women but it was miss-classified as care work, till date women have no control over resources and don’t have to means to earn they rely on small income businesses but do not receive a market for their craft. This space has disappeared completely. I want to look at the folk songs as hidden transcripts, the movements of the dance offered a release to the women from the patriarchal constructions. I want to make ethnography and enthomusicology the spine of my research.

In contrast to this the men had an outdoorsy space called the Sath it still exists and is a social space for men to interact, play card games, read the newspapers and listen to the radio.

This is broadly the idea I am looking for any relevant reading materials any programs that I could apply to.

Thank you.

I’ve completed my Master’s in English from India and have got an offer from LSE for a course that I have been interested in for quite sometime and it’s a social science course. My goal is to do a PhD and the one year Master’s course offers a bridge between my ‘not so well reputed master’s from India’, and a good funded PhD programme, but I have been seeing posts on this sub on how second master’s visas are outright rejected, does this apply to my situation too? Thanks!

I’ve completed my Master’s in English from India and have got an offer from LSE for a course that I have been interested in for quite sometime and it’s a social science course. My goal is to do a PhD and the one year Master’s course offers a bridge between my ‘not so well reputed master’s from India’, and a good funded PhD programme, but I have been seeing posts on this sub on how second master’s visas are outright rejected, does this apply to my situation too? Thanks!

i’ve an ma in english and am now pivoting to a social science degree and my research shows that several people have faced rejection bec they’re doing a second master’s degree, it has me got worried how strict are the uk visa requirements? thanks!

I’ve completed my Master’s in English from India and have got an offer from LSE for a course that I have been interested in for quite sometime and it’s a social science course. My goal is to do a PhD and the one year Master’s course offers a bridge between my ‘not so well reputed master’s from India’, and a good funded PhD programme, but I have been seeing posts on this sub on how second master’s visas are outright rejected, does this apply to my situation too? Thanks!

I’ve completed my_qualifications—Master’s in English and have got an offer from LSE for a course that I have been interested in for quite sometime. My goal is to do a PhD and the one year Master’s course offers a bridge between my ‘not so well reputed master’s from India’, and a good funded PhD programme, but I have been seeing posts on this sub on how second master’s visas are outright rejected, does this apply to my situation too? Thanks!

Hi, so i’ve got an offer from a university abroad and they require the university to directly send my final bachelors transcript and degree certificate, it is not possible for me to be physically present at the university and i’ve emailed them but haven’t received a response yet. So does anyone know how I could go about it? thanks!

I’ve received offers from LSE, SOAS, ISS The Hague and IDS Sussex. My research interests involve informal craft economies and feminist aesthetics and expressions in folk aesthetics. I aim to pursue a PhD building on the aforementioned, any help regarding what programs to target for a PhD as well as what degree to opt for. Thank you!

so i’ve got a conditional offer from a university abroad which starts in september and it requires me to provide the final transcripts, as i can only apply for visa after my offer becomes unconditional, does anyone have any idea if it is possible to expedite the process and get my results sooner? as the third semester results were quite delayed im worried about the fourth semester result day too.

It has been four years since we started dating. I met this guy when i was 21, and he was 25, i was doing my first job after graduating and what initially started off as regular conversation led us to be in a relationship. He used to help me find a direction in life, be it career wise or for regulating my emotions, i never felt at peace or at home with anyone else except for him. I shared everything with him and during the earlier stages he used to pry and try to find out about my life a lot. I didn’t read into it much and thought he’s just trying to help me figure my career and life out and that he’s extremely caring. Six months into the relationship, I decided to pursue a Masters degree that had been my eventual plan, after gaining some work experience. He suggested that i take up a course in his city and look for a job in the same city as well, this wasn’t my first choice as i had figured out way earlier what programme i wanted to do and at what school. However, i thought that this is the first real relationship i’ve ever had, and i’d be foolish to let go of this.

Later that year, we planned a trip during new year’s and this was my worst nightmare, i called up one of my guy friends to wish him happy new year, as it’s a yearly tradition for us. My boyfriend behaved extremely irrationally and didn’t talk to me at all throughout our four hour road trip, when we reached our room, we drank a bit and he proceeded to slap me across my face thrice, he wrapped his forearm around my neck and hit me as hard as he could, he then proceeded to lock me out of the house at 3 am, i had to beg him to let me in as i had nothing on me and had nowhere to go. As bad as it sounds, i really wanted to give him another chance, but i was really mad as one should be. Things only got worse progressively, i saw a side of him i never thought i would, now that i had started my masters in his city, he expected me to be a traditional woman and started grooming me to be one, stating what his expectations were and that he’d expect me to cook and look after his parents. During these four years, there have been instances of him choking me, abusing me verbally multiple times, and he even tried to rape me once.

I had nowhere to go and decided that i would work, save up and leave the city for good, he also asked me to meet his family and friends. I proceeded to put an act and do everything as he asked me to, i had this pent up anger inside of me as the only way out for me (at least what i thought) was to keep up this facade and literally leave without telling him a thing. This was my idea of revenge, to get him emotionally, physically and mentally attached to me and i could end up leaving him on my own terms. As stupid as it sounds, this did seem like an escape from the victim mentality for me. Before someone suggests ‘why didn’t i go to the police instead?’ – I come from a India and the laws here are really not that pro live-in prior to marriage and the cops would’ve rather slut shamed me and his family is very politically connected so this was my only resort.

Cut to this year, I’ve finally got offers from universities abroad and i finally can leave but i feel this immense amount of guilt that i’m doing something really evil and that i led him on all these years. I know it’s anti whatever i intended to do but it doesn’t still well with me. Please help me out.

TLDR; have guilt about leading abusive boyfriend on for years, don’t know if i’m doing the right thing.