Comments on: Want Our Folklore Candidacy Exam Reading Lists?

By: Sara Cleto

Sara Cleto — Mon, 13 May 2024 19:25:55 +0000

In reply to Steve Aultman. You're very welcome!

By: Sara Cleto

Sara Cleto — Mon, 13 May 2024 19:25:13 +0000

In reply to Lindsey.

We’re so sorry to hear how awful your experience was! You’re far from alone – we don’t know if that makes it better or worse to know – and we hate that it’s ever that hostile.

Our advisors didn’t actually give us the lists though. We were expected to come up with our lists on our own, and then all committee members gave input, usually in the form of additional texts they wanted us to add.

By: Steve Aultman

Steve Aultman — Sat, 04 May 2024 20:24:07 +0000

Thanks for sharing these!

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:58:14 +0000

I am hugely jealous that your advisors actually gave you reading lists. I asked mine what they wanted me to learn for my candidacy and every single one of them said, “What do YOU think you should know?” And then I said a lot of bad words inside my head and nearly had a nervous breakdown.

We didn’t have written components in science, either. It was just a bunch of old dudes in a room asking me totally random questions until I broke down and started saying “I don’t know.” To this day, I suspect that you pass or fail based on how many hours it takes to get you to that point. I lasted three, which evidently was enough!

Grad school. Good times.