Stanford

[chimerically]

I've decided to move to the Stanford Department of Communication next year. The decision was difficult and involved, but I think it's for the best. I am planning on keeping my Berkeley contacts alive, especially that with my current advisor, and I'll probably be back to sit in on a class or two as well (especially the one Jean Lave and Peter Lyman, though both retired, are planning for next spring). I've been doing lots of research on what classes are offered, who teaches them, and what professors and peers I could work with at both places. Danah and David helped me focus in by suggested a few pointed questions to ask myself: where can I find a community I want to work with? who will help me with the inevitable bureaucracy? where can I learn the skills I want to have? whose job would I love to have, and how do I get there? Ultimately, I know that I can't make a fully-informed decision since I haven't attended Stanford and can't possibly learn everything about it and can't know what will come up at Berkeley that I don't yet know about. Both schools have their strengths and weaknesses, and I'd very likely follow different paths at each. But all things considered, Stanford's resources in various areas put it ahead of Berkeley.

Comments

[zapophenia.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on a decision! I am sad you won't be at Berkeley, but i _fully_ understand.

[chimerically.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :~) And I do hope to keep up Berkeley contacts. BTW, I heard a talk this afternoon by Mark Andrejevic, who discussed MySpace among other things, and I mentioned afterward that you were deeply involved (but also that you likely wouldn't have time to talk with him about it until after quals) -- I hope that's okay! There's just so much interesting stuff going on in that area and I'm always excited to be able to connect people with similar interests.

[zapophenia.livejournal.com]

Totally cool to mention it - i just feel guilty being so far underground these days. Silly qualifying exams.