gorbachev

I am trying to complete my letter of intent for graduate application at our local M.A. mill. In the process, I decided to look up some of the professors to see who might have interests in my area of study. Exactly one interested me (marginally).

Not looking good.

I am continually disappointed by what passes for academia. So many students are students for the advancement of their "careers" in fields unrelated to the programs of study they are enrolled in, those of us who actually want to contribute to our disciplines in meaningful and significant ways seem out of place.

"Why are you in a master's program in sociology?"

>> "Oh, it didn't matter which program I chose; Mega-lo-Mart just wanted me to get a master's in something, or I couldn't get a raise. Why are you in sociology?"

"Because I want to understand what makes globalization qualitatively different from other epochs of capitalist development."

>> "What kind of salary can you get with that?"

"Sigh."

I have to remember that the local M.A. mill is a stepping stone for further academic development. The schools I love will be more accessible if I have initials behind my name.

Once again, I am questioning the path I am choosing. The really good sociology schools I like have globalization studies programs. The typical sociology schools might have an assisstant professor who's heard of it. Of course, if I choose economics proper, or even political science I get to study globalization, but from the perspective of trade flows, or international relations. Hence, the macrosociological perspective I want to develop will be absent from the perspectives that actually cover globalization, but I would get to study globalization.

I am Mikhail's non-committal conscious mind.

In addition, I have only met one professor of sociology I actually liked -- personally and professionaly. That doesn't bode well for my choice either.

I will press on, though.

Bad spelling and all.