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Soc io l ogy as a V oca ti on

Repu t a t i o n s an d G r oup Cu l t u r es

i n G r a du a te Sch oo l

GABRIELLE FERRALES AND GARY ALAN FINE

Gr ad u a te t r a in in g in so c io lo g y in v o lv es m o r e th an m ee t in g o r g an iza t io n a l ly im p o sed d em an d s

su ch a s sa t i s f y in g d ep a r tm en ta l r eq u i r em en t s , t ak in g ex am s , an d co m p le t in g a d i s se r t a ti o n .

Mo r e cen t r a l i s t h e d ev e lo p m en t o f i d en t i t y th r o u g h in s t i t u t io n a l an d in t e r ac t io n a l f o r ce s. W e

ex am in e th e ex p e r i en ce o f g r ad u a te s tu d en t s a s t i ed to t h e so c i a l p sy ch o lo g ic a l p r o cesse s

a sso c i a t ed wi th p r o f e ss io n a l tr a in in g . W e co n s id e r t h e f acu l ty - s tu d en t r e l a t i o n sh ip , i d en t i f y -

in g h o w s tu d en t i d en t i t i e s a s f u tu r e so c io lo g i s t s a r e n eg o t i a t ed an d co n s t r u c t ed wi th in a r ep u -

t a t i o n m ar k e t l i n k ed to s t a tu s p o l i t i c s . T h r o u g h th i s p r o cess , g r ad u a te s tu d en t s co n s t r u c t f r am es

o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n th a t m ak e sen se o f a s t a tu s sy s t em in wh ich c r i t e r i a f o r ev a lu a t io n a r e o f t en

v a r i ab l e , u n ce r t a in , o r u n d i sc lo sed . T o r eco g n ize h o w g r ad u a te s tu d en t s f i t i n to t h e i r o ccu p a -

t io n a l r o u t in e s , we b u i ld u p o n th r ee co r e d i sc ip l in a r y co n s t r u c t s : i d en t i t y , r ep u ta t io n , an d

g r o u p cu l tu r e . T h i s p e r sp ec t iv e p e r m i t s g r ad u a te ed u ca t io n to b e g r o u n d ed in so c io lo g ica l

u n d e r s t an d in g s , u n d e r l i n in g th e r o l e o f a so c io lo g ica l im ag in a t io n . W e p r o p o se s t r a t eg i e s t h a t

so c io lo g y d ep a r tm en t s m ig h t f o l lo w to f ac i l i t a t e t h e p r o f e ss io n a l so c i a l i z a t io n o f g r ad u a te

s tu d en t s , em p h as i z in g th e e s t ab l i sh m en t o f g r o u p cu l tu r e an d p r e sen ta t io n a l n o r m s . I n t h e

ab sen ce o f th e se ch an g es , we o f f e r ad v ice to g r ad u a te s tu d en t s o n n av ig a t in g th e i r cu r r en t

p r o g r am s .

Y o u w i s h m e t o s p e a k a b o u t S c i e n c e a s a V o c a ti o n . N o w , w e p o l i t i c a l e c o n o m i s t s h a v e a

p e d a n t i c c u s to m , w h i c h I s h o u l d l i ke t o f o l lo w , o f a l w a y s b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e e x t e r n a l

c o n d i t i o n s . I n t h i s c a se , w e b e g i n w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n : W h a t a r e th e c o n d i t i o n s o f s c i e n c e a s

Gabrielle Ferrales i s a d o c t o r a l c a n d i d a te i n t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f S o c i o l o g y a t N o r t h w e s t e rn U n i v e r s i ty a n d

a r e sea r ch a ss i s t an t a t th e Am er i can Ba r F o u n d a t io n , He r r e sea r ch in t e r e s t s i n c lu d e : l aw an d so c i e ty , h u -

m an r ig h t s , g en d e r, c r im in o lo g y , c r im in a l co u r t s , an d f ac to r i a l su r v ey m e th o d s f o r em p i r i ca l an a ly s i s . He r

d i s se r t a t i o n r e sea r ch ex am in es t h e p r o secu t io n o f r ap e a s a wa r c r im e . Sh e was r ecen t ly awar d ed th e Bes t

G r a d u a t e S t u d e n t P a p e r P r i ze , 2 0 0 5 b y t h e A m e r i c a n S o c i o l o g i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n ' s S o c i o l o g y o f L a w S e c t i o n

f o r h e r m as t e r s t h e s i s Do m e s t i c V io len ce Cr im e Co n t r o l Po l i cy an d Pr ac t i ce : I m p l i ca t io n s fo r Ar g u m en t s

C o n c e r n i n g P e n a l T h e o r y. H e r a r ti c l e, c o - a u t h o r e d w i t h Jo h n H a g a n a n d R o n L e v i , S w a y i n g t h e H a n d o f

Ju s t i c e : T h e I n t e r n a l an d E x te r n a l Dy n am ics o f Reg im e C h an g e a t t h e I n t e r n a t io n a l Cr im in a l T r ib u n a l f o r

th e Fo r m er Yu g o s l av ia i s f o r th co m in g in

L a w a n d S o c i a l I n q u i r y .

Sh e can b e r each ed a t g - f e r r a l e s@

n o r t hw e s t e r n .e d u . G a r y Alan Fine i s Jo h n E v an s P r o f e sso r o f So c io lo g y at No r th wes te r n Un iv e r s i t y . He i s

cu r r en t ly a f e l l o w a t t h e R u sse l l Sag e F o u n d a t io n in New Yo r k. H i s cu r r en t r e sea r ch ex p lo r e s t h e way s th a t

sm a l l g r o u p s a r e ch a r ac t e r i zed b y lo ca l cu l tu re s , h o p in g to r e tu r n th e ex am in a t io n o f g r o u p d y n am ics t o

th e cen te r o f so c io lo g y . He i s a l so in ch a r g e o f t h e E th n o g r ap h y W o r k sh o p a t No r th w es te r n Un iv e r s i t y . He

c a n b e r e a c h e d a t g - f i n e @ n o r t h w e s t e r n . e d u .

F e r r a l e s a n d F i n e 7



a v o c a t i o n i n t h e m a t e r i a l s e n s e o f t h e te r m ? T o d a y t h i s q u e s t i o n m e a n s p r a c t i c a l l y a n d

e s s e n t i a l ly : W h a t a r e t h e p r o s p e c t s o f a g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t w h o i s r e s o l v e d t o d e d i c a t e

h i m s e l f p r o f e s s i o n a l l y t o s c i e n c e i n u n i v e r s i t y l i fe ?

- M a x W e b e r 1 9 5 8 : 1 2 9 ) .

In h is c la ss ic e ssay Sc ien ce as a Voca t ion , M ax Weber ana lyzes wh a t i t m eans to

eng age in in te l lec tua l ac t iv i ty a s a profess ion . Th is ques t ion , hau nt ing the souls of a sp i r-

ing acade m ics , s ti ll genera tes grea t concern . In 1987, The mer ican Socio logist c o m -

m iss ione d a spe c ia l i s sue e n t i tl e d Gr a dua te Educ a t ion : 'The P r omise ' Lo s t ? ' i n wh ic h

both s tudents and facul ty a ssessed the s ta te of gradua te t r a in ing . S tudents were asked

how the i r e xpe c ta t ions c ha nge d s inc e e n te r ing g r a dua te s c hoo l , wha t f e a tu r es o f t hei r

e duc a t ion ha d be e n mos t va lua b le , a nd wha t t he y c ons ide r e d to be the mos t ne e de d

re forms. One recur r ing theme in the c r i t iques lodged by the s tudent cont r ibu tors was

disen chan tm ent wi th the facul ty- s tuden t re la t ionship (N egrey , 1987), pe rhaps a r i s ing

f r om the sa me r oma n t i c i sm o f c om m una l i sm f ound in o the r l oc a le s i n wh ic h im a ge s o f

the go od t rum p im ages of the poss ib le . Gradua te s tudents desc r ibe d the i r p rofes-

s iona l t r a in ing as i so la t ing , f raught w i th nega t ive soc ia l psychologica l r am if ica t ions in-

c ludin g fee l ings of in fe r ior i ty and a l iena t ion . Today the same c r i t ique can be mad e . W hy

does gradua te school t r a in ing leave so many asp i r ing soc io logis t s d is i l lus ioned? More

impo r tan t ly , can or shou ld soc io logis t s address th is i ssue? W hat re form s sho uld be ins t i-

tu ted in gradua te t r a in ing in soc io logy? Or do s tudents s imply requi re a ch i l l d ra f t o f

rea l i sm? In the absen ce of re forms, w ha t m easures sh ould s tudents take to naviga te the i r

g r a dua te p r og r a ms?

As C a h i l l ( 1999) no te d in h i s s tudy o f t he p ro f e s s iona l de ve lopm e n t o f f une ra l d i r e c -

tor s, the re have been m any s tudies tha t have focused on the profess iona l soc ia l iza t ion of

m ed ical s tudents (e .g. , Be cke r e t a l . , 1961; Fox, 1957; Haa s and Shaff ir , 1977, 1982;

Broa dhea d, 1983); others have focused on cook s (Fine , 1985), lawye rs (Gran f ie ld, 1992) ,

teach ers (Lo rt ie , 1968), c lergy (K leinm an, 1984) , nurses (Davis , 19 68; Sim pso n, 1967) ,

and soc ia l workers (Loesk e and Cah i l l, 1986). H owever , the re has been l i t tle empir ica l

resea rch examining the profess iona l soc ia l iza t ion of soc io logis t s (bu t see Kle inman,

1983; K e i th and M oore , 1995). S ure ly we soc io logis t s a re a li t tle embar rasse d s tud ying

ou r se lv e s - - a n d ge t t i ng ou r ma te s to s ign I R B f o r ms c a n be a c ha l l e ng e - - bu t the r a ri ty

of e thnog raphic exam ina t ions o f soc io logica l t r a in ing i s no tab le .

S e ve r al pub l i she d wor ks ha ve a dv oc a te d f o r c ha nge s in soc io logy g r adua te s c hoo l

cu rr icu lum (Folse , 1991; Sull ivan, 1991; Eitzen e t a l . , 1999). M oreove r , othe r discus-

s ions ha ve a dd r e s se d how soc io logy de pa r tme n t s c a n in t e g r a t e ne w c ohor t me mbe r s

into their programs (Kelleher , 1991; Eitzen, 1988; Maurer , 1999; Davis e t a l . , 2001) .

M ost recent ly , Shu lma n and S i lve r (2003) a r t icu la ted the inform al cu l ture of gradua te

school . There has a lso been recent a t ten t ion to the unders ide or unpleasant a spec ts of

grad uate soc iolog y tra ining (A ult , 1996; Crothers , 1991; Plutzer , 1991) . This is to the

good, bu t fur the r d iscuss ion and resea rch explor ing the soc ia l psych ologica l d im ensio n

of grad ua te school t r a in ing for soc io logis t s i s necessa ry .

We examine the facul ty- s tudent re la t ionship , ident i fy ing how s tudent ident i t ie s a s

fu ture soc io logis t s a re negot ia ted and cons t ruc ted wi th in a reputa t ion m arke t (Sauder

and F ine , 2004) , l ink ed to s tatus pol i tic s . Bo r row ing f rom Be cker e t al . (1961), w e ex-

p lore the beha vior of gradua te s tudents a s t ied to processes a ssoc ia ted wi th profess iona l

educa t ion . Be com ing a soc io logis t i s f ac i l i ta ted by facul ty a ss is ting s tudents in con-

c e p tua l iz ing the me a n ing o f a n a c a de mic c om mun i ty . B y a dd r e s s ing soc ia l p syc ho log i -

5 8 T h e A m e r i c a n S o c i o l o g is t S u m m e r 2 0 0 5



ca l a spec ts o f s tudent com m uni t ie s , we hope to spa rk d iscu ss ion about the cu r ren t s ta te

of gradua te educa t ion , and about c hang es feas ib le and fan tas t ica l . Put ano the r way, we

urge tha t s tuden t soc ia l iza t ion expl ic i t ly recogn izes the soc io logica l p rocesses tha t a f -

fec t o the r form s o f occup a t iona l soc ia l iza t ion .

F a c u l t y S t u d e n t R e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d S t a t u s G a m e s

Soc io logis t s have taken spec ia l in te res t in how profess iona ls a t ta in and reproduce

the i r soc ia l pos i t ions (B ourdieu , 1973; F re idson , 1970; Abb ot t , 1981). Th e profess iona l

e duc a t ion o f g r a dua te s tude n t s shou ld a t te mp t to o r i e n t the s tude n t to t he

h bitus

of the

academ ic : how to ta lk , th ink , wr i te , d ress , and behave as a fu ture scholar . The a cade m y

cons t i tu tes a soc ia l f ie ld (Bou rdieu , 1988). In th is f ie ld , s tudent ident i t ie s and poss ib le

fu tures a s soc io logis t s a re c rea ted wi th in s t ruc tura l cons t ra in ts . In te l lec tua ls , such as

soc io logy f a c u lty me m be r s , a r e m o t iva t ed by loc a l po l it i cs , a nd w ie ld f o r ms o f powe r

tha t a re spec i f ic to the academ ic f ie ld . Pow er i s based o n academ ic capi tal , the cont ro l

over the ma te r ia l , o rganiza t iona l , and soc ia l ins t rum ents o f the reprod uc t ion o f the fac -

u l ty (Wacquan t , 1990: 680) . Facul ty m em bers have the pow er to a ssess gradua te s tu-

de n t s ' wo r th a s f u tu re s c ho la r s a nd d e c ide who a r e wor thy o f be ing c ons ide r e d c o l -

leagues . Gradu a te s tudents a re pa infu l ly aware of th is s ta tus a ssessm ent a s they present

the mse lve s a s p l a us ib le f u tu re f a cu l ty . S u bor d ina t ion a nd mo b i l i z a tion o f powe r be g ins

ear ly . The a cade m ic f ie ld , l ike any o the r , is ch a rac te r ized by exc lus ion and a pol i t ica l

s t rugg le invo lv ing the mo nopo ly o f a u tho r i ty a nd c om pe te nc e , a pa r t ic u l a r a ge n t 's so -

c ia l ly recog nized capac i ty to speak and ac t leg i t ima te ly ( i. e ., in an au tho r ized and au-

thor i ta t ive way ) in sc ien t i f ic m a t te r s (Bou rdieu , 1975 :19) .

As ea r ly as gradua te s tudent rec ru i tment , f acu l ty m em bers a ssess w hich s tudents have

the poten t ia l to be candida tes for pos i t ions a t p res t ig ious resea rch ins t i tu t ions , which

s tudents a re be t te r candida tes for em ploy m ent a t l ibe ra l a rt s schools , wh ich a re su i ted

f o r a pp l ie d e m ploym e n t , a nd wh ic h s tuden t s m a y f ind r e c e iv ing a c a de mic pos i ti ons d i f -

f ic u l t. Th i s p r oc e s s i s ge ne r i c to c i r c um s ta nc e s in wh ic h w innow ing a popu la t ion mus t

oc cu r - -w he th e r soror i ty rush , L i t t le Le agu e dra ft s , o r la s t ca l l a t ba r s . I t i s c r it ica l for

p r o f e s s iona l a dv a nc e m e n t tha t s tude n t s unde r s t a nd th is p r oc e s s o f l a be l ing , how a nd by

wh a t ba r ome te r f a c u l ty a s se s sme n t s a r e m a de , a nd the c r i te r i a fo r e va luat ion . Mos t im-

po r ta n tly , s tude n ts mus t l e a r n to r e c ogn iz e how e a c h e xc ha ng e w i th a f a c u l ty m e m be r

has the poten t ia l to shape a s tudent ' s budding profess iona l r eputa t ion . Facul ty a ssess-

me n t s de pe nd on a n um be r o f f ac to rs i nc lud ing s tude n t s ' p r e se n ta t ion o f s el f; t he qua l i t y

o f t he c om me n t s a nd que s t ions pose d in c ou r se d i sc uss ions; t he c a l ibe r o f pa pe r s wr i t t e n

dur ing coursew ork; a s tudent 's publ ica t ion record ; ob ta in ing outs ide recogni t ion such as

pres t ig ious gran ts , f e l lowships , and awards ; endorsements by o the r facul ty members ;

a nd in f o r m a t ion g l e a ne d f r om the g r a dua te s c hoo l a pp l ic a t ion . As g r a dua te e d uc a t ion

p r og r e sse s , e va lua t ions ba se d o n the se m e a su r e s c on t inue , bu t t he y o f t e n a r e no t c om -

m unica ted d i rec t ly . As few gradu a te s tudents f lun k out of gradua te school , the separa -

t ion o f t he s tude n t fr om h i s /he r d r e a m invo lves c oo l ing the ma r k ou t ( Gof f ma n , 1952),

sub tly pe r sua d ing s tuden t s t ha t t he y sho u ld vo lun ta r i ly a nd spon ta ne ous ly c om e to r e c -

ogn iz e tha t t he y do no t t r u ly be long , w h i l e the i r me n to r s c a n e xp r e ss d i sma y a t wha t wa s

kno wn a ll a long .

The faculty-gradu ate s tudent re la t ionship is one o f s tructured inequ ali ty (Negrey, 1987) .

Facul ty members cons t i tu te the ga tekeepers l imi t ing en t rance to the profess ion , even

when ex i t i s os tens ib ly e lec t ive . Facul ty cons t i tu tes a pa r t icu la r type of s ta tus group;

Ferrales and Fine 59



t h e y a r e t h e b e a r e r s o f s p e c i f i c c o n v e n t i o n s , s h a r e a c o m m o n i d e n t it y a n d m a k e a

c l a i m t o o c c u p a t i o n a l h o n o r ( M u r p h y , 1 9 8 3: 6 3 5 ) : t h e y a re i n t e g r a t e d p r o f e s si o n a l s . T h e

g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t o f t e n o c c u p i e s a m a r g i n a l r o l e u n t il g a t e k e e p e r s e s t a b li s h h i s / h e r ro l e

a s a sc h o l a r . S o m e s t u d e n t s g a i n t h i s r e p u t a t i o n e a r ly , e i t h e r b e c a u s e b y t h e i r b a c k g r o u n d ,

a s f i lt e r ed t h r o u g h f a c u l t y g o s si p , b e c a u s e o f p e rs o n a l e n d o r s e m e n t s o f m e m b e r s o f t h e

f a c u lt y , o r b e c a u s e o f s o m e p r o d u c t i o n t h a t is j u d g e d w o r t h y o f n o ti c e . F o r e x a m p l e ,

r e c e i v i n g a p u b l i c a t i o n i n a p r e s t i g i o u s p u b l i c a t i o n e a r l y i n o n e ' s c a r e e r c a p t u r e s t h e

a t t e n t i o n o f fa c u l t y m e m b e r s . C o n v e r s e l y , n o t p u b l i s h i n g , n o t a c q u i r i n g a c c o l a d e s , o r

n o t r e c e i v i n g o t h e r f o r m s o f d e p a r t m e n t a l r e c o g n i t i o n m a y l e a d t o t h e p e r c e p t i o n t h a t a

s t u d e n t w i l l n o t b e a c o n t r i b u t i n g s c h o la r . R e p u t a t i o n a l c l a i m s a r e s w a t h e d i n a m i s t o f

u n c e r t a in s y m b o l s a n d a m b i g u o u s r e m a r k s . F a c u l ty f e e d b a c k i n an y f o r m h a s t h e p o w e r

t o c u t to t h e h e a r t o f g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s . A d v i s i n g a s t u d e n t th a t s / h e i s a p o o r w r i te r ,

l a c k s th e o r e t i c a l i n s ig h t , d e m o n s t r a t e s p o o r t im e m a n a g e m e n t , a n d / o r la c k s e s s e n t ia l

a n a l y t i c a l s k i l l s i s n o t e a s y n e w s t o d e l i v e r e v e n f o r t h e m o s t i n s e n s i t i v e f a c u l t y . S t u -

d e n t s w h o r e c e i v e s u c h c o m m e n t s f e e l t h e p a i n a n d i s o l a t io n o f e x c l u s i o n , b u t as s o c i-

o l o g i s t s - in - t r a in i n g , t h e y m u s t r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h is i s h o w a ll s t a tu s s y s t e m s o p e r a t e . F o r

a f e w t o g a i n i n s t it u t io n a l r e w a r d s , m o s t m u s t b e d e n i e d t h e m . I f r e w a r d s a r e n o t s c a r ce ,

t h e y w i l l h a v e l i tt le v a l u e . G r a d u a t e s c h o o l i s n o t s o d i f f e r e n t f r o m l if e .

T o u n d e r s t a n d t h e d y n a m i c s o f h o w g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s f it in t o o c c u p a t i o n a l r o u t i n e s ,

w e r e ly u p o n t h r e e c o r e d i s c i p l i n a r y c o n s t r u c t s : i d e n t it y , r e p u t a t io n , a n d g r o u p c u l tu r e .

W e c o n c l u d e b y s u g g e s t i n g h o w s u c h a m o d e l m i g h t p e r m i t g r a d u a te s o c i o l o g y e d u c a -

t i o n t o b e g r o u n d e d i n s o c i o l o g y a n d o f f e r a d v i c e t o b o t h g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a n d f a c u l t y

m e m b e r s . I n t h e a b s e n c e o f su c h m e a s u r e s , w e o f f e r a d v i c e f o r b o t h p r o s p e c t i v e a n d

c u r r e n t g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s o n h o w b e s t t o n a v i g a te t h e ir c u r r e n t g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m s .

I d e n t i ty : B e c o m i n g a S o c i o l o g i s t

H o w d o e s a n i n d iv i d u a l c o m e t o d e f i n e h i m / h e r s e l f w i t h i n a s o c ia l s u r r o u n d ( G e c a s,

1 9 9 5 )? A l t h o u g h g r a d u a t e t r a in i n g r e q u i r e s s a t i s fy i n g i n s t it u t io n a l l y im p o s e d d e m a n d s ,

b e c o m i n g a g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t is m o r e t h a n t h e o r g a n i z e d c u r r ic u l u m , m e e t i n g d e p a r t-

m e n t a l r e q u i r e m e n t s , t a k i n g e x a m s , a n d c o m p l e t i n g a d is s e r ta t io n . M o r e c e n t r a l is t h e

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f i d e n t i ty t h r o u g h i n s t i t u ti o n a l a n d i n t e r a c ti o n a l p r e s s u r e s ( S n o w a n d

A n d e r s o n , 1 9 8 7 ). D u r i n g g r a d u a t e s c h o o l , s tu d e n t s w h o a r e s u c c e s s f u l l y s o c i a l iz e d r e -

d e f i n e t h e m s e l v e s f r o m b e i n g a s t u d e n t t o b e i n g a n a c a d e m i c , s c h o l a r, o r s o c i -

o l o g i s t ( K e i t h a n d M o o r e , 1 9 9 5 ; E g a n , 1 9 8 9 ; W e i s s, 1 9 8 1 ) .

S t u d e n t s d o n o t e x p e r i e n c e i d e n t i t y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o n a p r e d e f i n e d o r r o u t i n i z e d ti m e -

t a b le ( N e g r e y , 1 9 8 7 ). L i k e t u b e r c u l a r p a t i e n ts , t h e y a r e c o n t i n u a l l y a t t e m p t i n g t o r e a d

a m b i g u o u s c u e s , c r e a t in g t i m e t a b l e s a n d c o m p a r i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o o t h e rs i n s im i l a r c ir -

c u m s t a n c e s ( R o t h , 1 9 6 3 ). S t u d e n t s w i t h i n a n d a c r o s s c o h o r t s c o m p a r e t h e i r p r o g r e s s

w i t h t h e ir p e e rs , j u d g i n g w h o h a s t he m o s t p u b l ic a t io n s , w h o w a s a w a r d e d t h e m o s t

g r a n t m o n e y , w h o i s c l o s e s t to c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r d i ss e r t a ti o n , o r w h o i s a s k e d t o c o l l a b o -

r at e w i t h f a c u l t y m e m b e r s .

A l t h o u g h i n a f o r m a l s e n s e , s t u d e n t s m a y b e s e e n a s e q u i v a l e n t ( o r e v e n a s i n t e r -

c h a n g e a b l e ) a n d a r e p r o c e s s e d a s a c o h o r t , b u t th i s d o e s n o t d o ju s t i c e t o t h e i r d i ff e r-

e n c e s . T h e y d o n o t e n t e r g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m s i n th e s a m e p l a c e w i t h re g a r d t o d i s c i p l in a r y

s o p h i s t i c a t io n , i n t e l le c t u a l d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d s o c i a l p s y c h o l o g i c a l a f fi li a ti o n . A l t h o u g h

i t h a s n o t b e e n s u f f i c i e n t l y r e c o g n i z e d , g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a r e r e c r u i t e d f r o m d i v e r s e b a c k -

6 0 T h e A m e r i ca n S o c io l o g is t / S u m m e r 2 0 0 5



gr ou nds ( K a r p , 1986 ; G r i m e s a n d M or r i s , 1997) . T hus , ge ne r a l i z i ng to i n t e l l e c tua l de -

ve l o pm e n t a nd i de n t i t y t r a ns f o r m a t i on is d i f f ic u l t . G r a dua t e s t ud e n t i de n t it i e s bu i l d o n

t hos e i n p l a c e p r i o r t o a dm i s s i on . E n t e r i ng a g r a du a t e p r og r a m d oe s no t c r e a t e i de n t it y

de novo

T h e l a c k o f i n t e g ra t io n a m o n g i n te l le c tu a l d e v e l o p m e n t , i d e n ti ty t r a n s f o r m a -

t io n , a n d d e p a r t m e n t a l r e q u i r e m e n t s h e l p s e x p l a in w h y s o m e s t u d e n ts h a v e d i f f i c u l ty

s t a y i ng on s c he du l e , a nd w hy s om e s t ude n t s e x i t g r a dua t e s c hoo l (N e g r e y , 1987) .

N e w g r a dua t e s t ude n t s a re unc e r t a i n a bou t p r ope r e m o t i on a l a nd i n t e ll e c tua l re s pons e s

t o t he no ve l e xpe r i e nc e s t ha t t he y a r e f a c i ng . I n t h is t he y a r e pe r ha ps no t s o d i f f e r e n t

f r om t he nov i c e m a r i j ua na u s e r s de s c r i be d by Be c ke r ( 1953 ) . F o r e xa m pl e , s t ude n t s

s o m e t i m e s b r e a k d o w n c r y i n g i n f r o n t o f a f a c u l t y m e m b e r a f t e r r e c e i v i n g n e g a t i v e

f e e dba c k . S uc h a s t r a te gy c a n be e m ba r r a s s i ng f o r bo t h pa r t ie s , a nd pe r ha p s ve x i ng f o r

t o u g h - m i n d e d , d i s c i p l i n e d fa c u lt y . S t u d e n t s m u s t l e a rn h o w t o c h a l l e n g e a f a c u l t y

m e m b e r ' s o p i n i o n , le a r n i n g w h e n t o b a c k d o w n a n d w h e n t o p u s h a p o i n t . I n a n i n te l le c -

t ua l ro l l e r de rby , ve r ba l e l bow i ng m a y be a dm i r e d . W hi l e c r i t i c i s m ne e ds t o be a c c e p t e d ,

a w i s e s t ud e n t c a n a g r e e w i t h t he c r i ti c is m , e xh i b i t i ng r o l e d i s ta nc e , c l a i m i n g t ha t s /he

i m a g i n e d th e s a m e p r o b l e m a n d n o w k n o w s h o w t o s o lv e i t. W h i l e a n x i e t y i s n o rm a l ,

m os t s t ude n t s ha ve l e a r ne d t o c ov e r t he i r in t e r na l f e e li ngs . G r a dua t e s t ude n t s ne e d t e m -

p l a t e s to un de r s t a n d the s e ne w e xpe r i e nc e s , a nd i n t h is t he y e xa m i ne t he i r pa s t , c om p a r e

t he r e s pons e s o f t he i r c o l l e a gue s , a nd a s s e s s the i n t e r p r e t ive m o de l s p r ov i de d by m e n-

t o r s ( S c hna i be r g , th i s vo l um e ; K e i t h a nd M oor e , 1995).

Cr uc i a l t o s oc i a l i z a t ion i s c om m un i c a t i o n w i t h t he i m por t a n t o t he r s i n one ' s s oc ia l

w or l d . H ow e ve r , w h i l e t he de s i r a b i li t y o f c om m un i c a t i on s e e m s s t r a igh t f o r w a r d , i t o c -

c u r s w i t h i n a s t a tu s s y s t e m i n w h i c h f a c u l t y m e m be r s a r e c on t i nua l l y e va l ua t i ng g r a du -

a t e s tude n t s ( a nd e a c h o t he r ) a nd s t ude n t s a re c om pa r i ng t he m s e l ve s to o t he r s . T he a c a d -

e m y is a w a s h i n s o c i al c o m p a r i s o n . S o m e i n n o c e n t q u e s ti o n s o r c o m m e n t s m a y l ea v e a

r e pu t a t i ona l s m ud ge . S t ude n t s , f o r e xa m p l e , s hou l d a vo id c om m e n t s t ha t r e ve a l a l a c k

o f s o c i o l o g ic a l t r a in i n g a n d / o r d e m o n s t r a te a l a c k o f c o m m i t m e n t o r p a s s io n t o a r ig o r -

ous a c a d e m i c c a r ee r . O f c ou r s e , i t i s e a s ie r to d i s p l a y t he p r e f e r r e d p r on unc i a t i on o f

W e be r , Z na n i e c k i , o r Z a j onc i f one ha s ha d p r e v i ous s oc i a l s c i e nc e e xpos u r e p r i o r t o

g r a dua t e s c hoo l . E ve n i f one doe s no t a s s um e a bum p t i ous c yn i c i s m , a h i e r a rc hy e m e r ge s

t h r oug h t he s e i n t e r a c ti ons , s ha p i ng i de n ti ty . T h i s p r oc e s s i s, o f c ou r s e , a s oc i o l og i c a l

t r u i s m . W hi l e i t c a n be i gno r e d , it is p r e c i s e l y th i s i gno r a n c e t ha t s oc i o l ogy hop e s t o

r e m e dy .

S t il l, ta l k ha p pe ns . F a c u l t y m e n t o r s o r m o r e s e n i o r g r a du a t e s t ude n t s po i n t to a s pe c t s

o f t he e xp e r i e nc e t ha t t he y be l ie ve a r e s a l i en t , c r e a t ing a n e w c onc e p t ua l o r ga n i z a t i on

a nd t he s t ude n t ' s p l a c e w i t h i n it. I f the i de n t i t y w or k o f s tude n t s doe s no t s up po r t t hos e

be ha v i o r s a n d t he s e l f - i m a ge s ne c e s s a r y t o t h r ive , d i s r up t i on i n a s t ude n t ' s p r og r e s s o r

ex i t f rom grad ua te s cho ol is li ke ly (Aul t , 1996; Egan , 1989).

By t he e nd o f g r a dua t e t r a i n i ng , s t ude n t s m us t c on f r on t t he i r ne ga t i ve e xpe r i e nc e s

a nd ne u t r a l iz e f e e l i ngs o f i n f e r i o r i ty ( a l t houg h ne ve r e l i m i na t i ng t he m e n t ir e l y ), r e de -

f i n i ng w ha t i t m e a ns t o be a s c ho l a r . T o be a p r o f e s s i ona l a c a de m i c i s t o be a b l e t o

a c c e p t - - a n d p e r h a p s p r o f i t f r o m - - a j o l t i n g s t ri n g o f b a d n e w s , r e c o g n i z i n g t h a t m o s t

a r t i c le s , g ran t s , an d job app l i ca t ions a re re j ec ted , and o the r sou rces o f st a tus, such as

bo ok m anu sc r ip t s o r appl i ca t ions for l eaves or p ro m ot ion , fa re l it tl e be t te r . Be in g a s cho la r

i nvo l ve s c op i ng w i t h one da m n t h i ng a ft e r a no t he r , w i t h , hope f u l l y , e no ug h s w e e t

ne w s t o t a ke the e d ge o f f t he b i tt e r a nd s ou r . A l t hou gh bu i l d i ng a c a r e e r i n a c a de m i a m a y

a ppe a r t o be a n i n s u r m oun t a b l e c ha l le nge , s t ude n t s s hou l d no t be s o e a s i l y t e m p t e d t o




t h r ow up t he i r a r m s u p a n d r un t o t he ne a r e s t e x it . I t is pos s i b l e t o s uc c e e d i n t h i s bus i-

ne s s a n d r e m a i n e n t hus i a s t i c a ll y inve s t e d i n t he p r o f e s s i ona l i z a t i on p r oc e s s w i t h p r ope r

gu i da n c e . S t ude n t s m us t l e a r n to m a na g e t he i r e m e r g i ng r e pu t a t ions .

Be c om i ng a n a c a de m i c doe s no t oc c u r a t t he s a m e r a t e f o r a l l s t ude n t s . G r a dua t e

de p a r t m e n t s m us t be c ogn i z a n t t ha t s t ude n t s ' e xpe r i e nc e s o f t he s t r uc tu r e d , m o no l i t h i c ,

un i d i m e ns i on a l r o l e o f g r a dua t e s t ude n t ar e va r ia b l e ( A u l t, 1996) . S t ude n t s w h o e n t e r

g r a dua t e s c ho o l d ir e c t ly f r om und e r g r a du a t e s t udy e xpe c t g r a dua t e w or k t o be a n e x t e n -

s i on o f c o l l e ge ( Be c k e r e t al ., 1961 ). T hos e w h o e n t e r g r a dua t e s c hoo l w i t h c a r e er s i n

o t he r f i e l d s pos s e s s d i f f e re n t e xpe c t a t i ons o f g r a dua t e t r a in i ng , a s do s t ude n t s w ho ha ve

s pe n t t i m e a w a y f r o m c o l l e ge bu t ha ve n o t ye t de ve l op e d a c ar e er . F o r a g r a dua t e s t ude n t

t o a do p t a n e f f e c t ive ide n t it y , a t r a n s f o r m a t i on o f m e a n i ng m us t oc c u r in w h i c h s / he

de ve l o ps a ne w pe r s pe c t i ve on g r a d ua t e t r a i n i ng a nd t he a b i l it y t o f i t i n t o th i s i n t e r a c t ion

o r de r. F o r e xa m p l e , g r a dua t e s t ude n t s w h o ha ve r e c e n t l y g r a du a t e d f r om c o l l e ge o f t e n

a p p r o a c h g r a d u a t e e d u c a t io n w i t h a n u n d e r g r a d u a t e m e n t a l it y c h a r a ct e ri z e d b y p a s s i v e

l e a r n i ng . T he y ha ve t he s k i ll s t o be a go od s t ude n t ( Be c ke r e t a l ., 1968 ) bu t ha ve no t ye t

de ve l ope d o t he r s k il ls - -- c re a ti v it y , p r ob l e m s o l v i ng , o r t i m e m a n a g e m e n t - - t h a t he l p t he m

b e c o m e a n a c a d e m i c . T h e i r u n d e r g r ad u a t e e x p e ri e n c e h as t a u g h t t h e m t o c o n s u m e k n o w l -

e d g e b u t n o t t o p r o d u c e i t, m u c h l e s s to e m b o d y t h a t k n o w l e d g e . A c t i n g a s a f a c u l t y

m e m be r is f o r e i gn . S i gn i f i c a n t l y t he g r a dua t e s c hoo l a pp l i c a t i on doe s no t c a p t u r e t he s e

a b i l i t i e s , a s s um i ng t ha t t he y c a n be t a ugh t - - o r a t l e a s t a b s o r be d - - w h i l e i n g r a dua t e

school .

By c on t r a s t , s t ude n t s w ho ha ve be e n a w a y f r om s c hoo l f o r a f e w ye a r s , w ho ha ve

t r a ve l e d o r w or k e d va r i ous j obs w i t ho u t bu i l d i ng a c a r e e r, f a c e d i f f e r e n t c ha l l e nge s . O ne

s t ude n t de s c r i be d t he r e t u r n to g r a dua t e s c hoo l a f te r w or k i ng f o r a m a r ke t i ng f i r m f o r

t w o ye a rs as a n a t t e m p t t o r e c a p t u r e t he r om a n t i c i s m o f un i ve r s i t y l if e . U p on g r a dua -

t i on f r om c o l l e ge , t h i s s t ude n t s a w t r a ve l i ng a s a n i m por t a n t c u l t u r a l e xpe r i e nc e a nd

w o r k i ng i n t he r e a l w or l d a s e s s e n t ia l fo r pe r s ona l g r ow t h be f o r e r e t u r n i ng t o sc hoo l .

H ow e ve r , s he de s c r i be d he r e xpe r i e nc e o f a c o r po r a t e e nv i r onm e n t a s d i s i l l u s i on i ng ,

m a r r e d by h i e r a r c h i e s , a nd d e vo i d o f t he i de a l s s he c he r i s he d a s a c o l l e ge s t ude n t . A f t e r

t h i s b la s t o f r ea li ty , s he de c i de d t o r e t u r n t o s c hoo l ; no t kn ow i ng f o r w h i c h p r og r a m s he

w a s b e s t s u i t e d ( s he a pp l i e d to s oc i o l ogy , c om m un i c a t i ons , a nd a n t h r o po l ogy ) . N os t a l-

g i a w a s he r m o t i va t i on . G r a dua t e s c hoo l f o r s t ude n t s s uc h a s t h i s r e p r e s e n t s a ha ve n

f r om a he a r t l e s s w or l d o f r e s pons i b i li t ie s . U nf o r t una t e l y , t he s e s t ude n t s a r e d i s a p po i n t e d

w h e n t h e y f i n d t h a t g r a d u a te s c h o o l d o e s n o t m e e t th e i r r o m a n t i c i z e d im a g e s o f u n iv e r -

s i ty l i f e. H i e r a rc h i e s , po l i ti c s , r e je c t i on , a nd d i s a ppo i n t m e n t s l u r k i n t he s ha do w s o f the

ivory tower .

S i m i la r ly , g r a dua t e s t ude n t s w i t h c a r e e r s i n o t he r f i e ld s e x pe r i e nc e c ha l l e nge s up on

r e t u r n i ng to g r a du a t e s c hoo l . C om pa r e d w i t h a fe w de c a de s a go , c u r r e n t c oho r t s i nc l ude

a l a r ge r p r op o r t i on o f pe r s ons w ho e n t e r g r a dua t e s c hoo l f r om s t a rt - up c a r e er s . I n a

r e c e n t c oh o r t a t N o r t hw e s t e r n U n i ve r s it y , ove r ha l f o f t he s t ude n t s ha d be e n e m p l oy e d in

o t he r p r o f e s s i ons . T he c oho r t i nc l ude d a b i o l og i s t , an a dve r t i s i ng e xe c u t ive , a c r i m i na l

p r os e c u t o r , a bus i ne s s c ons u l t a n t , a s oc i a l w or ke r , a nd a c as e m a na g e r a t a c om m un i t y

c r i m i na l c ou r t . Y et, t he s e s t ude n t s w e r e n o t a d m i t t e d be c a u s e o f th i s e xpe r i e nc e , bu t

ba s e d on t he i r p r e v i ous s oc i o l og i c a l t ra i n i ng .

S t ude n t s w i t h s i gn i f i c a n t w or k e x pe r i e nc e i n o r ga n i z a t ions ou t s i de o f a c a de m i a o f t e n

e n t e r g r a dua t e p r og r a m s w i t h m o r e f oc us e d a ge nda s . T h e s e s t ude n t s e xpe r i e nc e d i f fe r -

e n t obs t a c l e s c om pa r e d t o ne w B . A . s ( S c he l l e nbe r g , 1987 ). F a c u l t y m e m be r s r e t a in t he

i l lu s i on t ha t the i r i nc o m i ng s t ude n t s a r e f r e s h f r om c o l l e ge , t he y t yp i c a l l y know l it tl e o f

6 2 T h e A m e r ic a n S o c i o lo g i st S u m m e r 2 0 0 5



t h e w o r k b a c k g r o u n d s o f n e w s t u d en t s, a n d m a y b e p r e d i s p o s e d t o b e s k e p t i c al o f o l d e r

g r a dua t e s t ude n t s , c onc e r ne d t ha t t he y w i l l be una b l e t o ha nd l e t he r i go r ous t he o r e t i c a l

t r a in i ng . T h e i r w or k e x pe r i e nc e i s o f t e n t r e a t e d a s a b r e a k be f o r e t he y de c i de t o pu r s u e

t he i r t r ue a c a d e m i c c a ll ing . S u bs t a n t ive e xpe r t is e is dow ng r a de d a s o f s e c ond a r y i m por -

t a nc e . T h e s e s t ude n t s m a y n o t on l y e xpe r i e nc e d i f f i c u l ti e s a d j u s t i ng t o t he s t ude n t - p r o -

f e s s o r r e la t i ons h i p , bu t t he y m a y e nc o un t e r t h is a dd i t iona l b i a s f r o m f a c u lt y . I n a dd i t i on ,

g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s w i t h p r o f e s s io n a l b a c k g r o u n d s a re o f t e n f r u s tr a te d i n b e c o m i n g a

g r a du a t e s t ude n t i n t r a in i ng . T he s e s t ude n t s r e s e n t w h a t the y pe r c e i ve to be e xc e s s i ve

s u p e r v i s i o n b y f a c u l t y a f te r b e i n g a c c u s t o m e d t o l e a d e r s h ip r o l e s i n f o r m e r c a r e e rs

( B o r a w s k i, 1 9 87 ). T h i s a d j u s t m e n t c a n b e t h o r n y a n d m a y l e a d t o a b a n d o n i n g t h e p r o -

g r a m . T he s e s t ud e n t s m us t s ub j uga t e o t he r pe r s ona l i de n t i t ie s ( s uc h a s l a w ye r, bus i ne s s

l e ade r , e xe c u t ive ) t o t ha t o f p r o f e s s i ona l s oc i o l og i s t - i n - t r a in i ng be f o r e t h e y c a n be c om e

a s oc i o l og i s t (E ga n , 1989) . H ow e ve r , t he s e s t ude n t s m a y e xp e r i e nc e a dva n t a ge s a s w e l l .

P r e pa r a t i on f o r t he a c a d e m i c w or l d a nd f o r o t he r c a r e er s doe s n o t ne c e s s a r i ly r e qu i r e a

d i f f e r e n t s e t o f s k i l l s . F o r e xa m pl e , t he s e s t ude n t s e n t e r t he a c a de m y w i t h a r a nge o f

r e l e va n t s k il ls i nc l ud i ng a na l y s i s, m a n a ge m e n t , a nd ne t w or k i ng t e c hn i que s .

W h e t h e r c o n s i d e r in g r e t u r n i n g s t u d e n t s o r t h o s e f r e sh fr o m c o l le g e , e a c h m u s t c o n -

s t r uc t t he m e a n i ng o f be i ng a s oc i o l og i st . L i ke a l l nov i c e s , t he y e ng a ge i n i de n t i t y w o r k

i n a w or l d t ha t t he y on l y s l ow l y c om e t o a pp r e c i a t e o r d i s pa r a ge . I t is no t on l y t ha t the y

m us t d i s c ove r i f s oc i o l ogy i s f o r t he m , bu t i f t he y a r e f o r s oc i o logy .

R e p u t a t i o n : B e c o m i n g J u d g e d a s a S o c i ol o g i st

I t i s a t ru i sm of soc io log ica l ana lys i s tha t a l l soc ia l wor lds a re s t a tus sys tems . The

de m a nd s f o r a s oc i al c a r t og r a phy a r e i n s i s te n t . H i e r a r c hy r ou t i ne l y e m e r ge s f r o m s oc i a l

in t e rac t ion , jus t a s i t shap es i t. Ye t, t h i s f l i e s in the fac e o f the r om an t i c i sm o f gradua te

e duc a t i on : the i m a g e o f a c oho r t a s a ba n d o f s ib s .

W e c a n n o t e s c a p e t h e d a r k h e a r t o f t h e m a t t er : t h o s e w i t h a u t h o r i t y j u d g e t h o s e w i t h -

ou t . O f c ou r s e , the j ud g i n g goe s t he o t he r d i r e c t i on a s w e ll , a lt hou gh w i t h f a r l e s s c ons e -

que n c e f o r thos e a s s e s s e d . G r a dua t e s t ude n t s r e c ogn i z e a nd a gon i z e a bou t t he f a c t t ha t

t he y a r e be i ng e va l ua t e d a nd t ha t t h is i s a p r oc e s s ove r w h i c h t he y ha ve l i t tl e c on t r o l a nd

o f w h i c h t he y m a y ha ve l i t tl e kno w l e dg e . H a z y c ue s s u gge s t the i r s t a nd i ng i n the c oho r t ,

bu t t h i s s t a nd i ng m a y ha ve a c ons i de r a b l e i m pa c t on t he i r c a re e r op t i ons , and , pe r ha p s o f

g r e a t e r m om e n t , t he i r a s s e s s m e n t o f the i r pos i t i on a f f ec t s c a r e e r a s p ir a t ions . B e i ng t o l d

t ha t one i s a poo r w r i t e r m a y d i s c ou r a ge a s t ude n t f r om c on t i nu i ng in s c hoo l , c ons i de r -

i ng t he e m pha s i s o n pub l i c a t i on a s a ne c e s s i t y f o r c a r e e r bu i l d i ng . T he und e r l i n i ng r ea l -

i ty i s t he be l i e f t ha t s om e o f u s a r e s m a r t e r [ m or e p r o f e s s i ona l , be t t e r re s e a r c he r s,

s upe r i o r t e a c he r s ] tha n o t he r s . S t ude n t s c om e t o de f i ne t he m s e l ve s in t he e ye s o f o t h -

e rs . A l t h o u g h C h a r l e s H o r t o n C o o l e y ( 1 9 0 2 ) u s e d t h e c o n s t ru c t o f th e L o o k i n g G l a ss

S e l f to r e f e r t o t he p r oc e s s o f p r i m a r y s oc i a li z a ti on , i t a pp l ie s t o t he c r e a t i on o f pub l i c

r e pu t a t i ons a t a ll s t a ge s o f the l i f e c ou r s e , inc l ud i ng t hos e m o m e n t s o f g r a dua t e e duc a -

t i on w i t h w h i c h C oo l e y w a s s o f a m i li a r.

Bu t t he d i l e m m a s tr e t c he s be yon d t he r e c ogn i t i on t ha t a n ob j e c t i ve th i ng c a l l e d ta l e n t

d r i ve s t he s t a t u s s y s t e m . A f und a m e n t a l t e n s i on e x i st s tha t c l a i m s o n t he on e ha nd t ha t a

g r a d u a t e d e p a r t m e n t c o n s t i tu t e s a n i n t e ll e c tu a l c o m m u n i t y , c o m p r i s e d o f a M e r t o n i a n

s c i e n t i f ic c om m un a l i s m ( M e r t on , 1979 ) in w h i c h the qua l i t ie s o f one ' s i de a s a r e the

m a r ke r s o f st a tu s , a nd s i m u l t a ne o us l y a w or l d i n w h i c h a u t ho r it y , pow e r , a nd ne t w or k

p o s i t i o n d e t e r m i n e s t a n d i n g . D u r i n g s o c i a l i z a t i o n , t r a i n e r s - - f a c u l t y m e m b e r s - - k e e p

Ferra les and Fine 6



t r a ine e s a t s oc i al d i s t a nc e un t il t he y ha ve p r o ve n t he i r bona f i de s . T h i s e m pha s i z e s t he

i m p or t a nc e o f ro l e i n a n i n t e l le c t ua l o r ga n i z a t ion . M a i n t a i n i ng d i s t a nc e f r om s t ude n t s

p r e s e r ve s t he i m a ge o f a u t ho r i ty a nd t he r i gh t t o j ud ge ( N e g r ey , 1987: 59 ).

P a r t o f t he p r ob l e m i s tha t a n a c a de m i c de p a r t m e n t is no t a n e f f i c i e n t s y s t e m f o r

m a i n t a i n i ng g r oup s t a nda r ds . I n i m por t a n t r e ga r ds , a de pa r t m e n t i s l i t t l e m or e t ha n a

c o l l e c t i on o f i nd i v i dua l re pu t a t i ona l e n t r e p r e ne u r s. E a c h f a c u l t y m e m be r c ons t r uc t s h is

o r he r s t a nda r ds f o r a pp r op r i a t e p r o f e s s i ona l be ha v i o r. T he s e s t a nda r ds c a n be a t c ons i d -

e r a b le va r i a nc e f r om t hos e s e t by o t he r f a c u l t y m e m be r s , a nd , a ga i n , i n a f o r m o f p l u r al -

i st ic i g n o r a n c e , f a cu l t y m e m b e r s m a y b e q u i te u n a w a r e o f - - o r i n d if f e re n t t o - - t h e s ta n -

da r ds o f o the r s . T he ba s i s f o r the e va l ua t i ons by f a c u l t y m a y ne i t he r be s ha r e d w i t h o t he r

f a c u l t y o r w i t h s t ude n t s. F a c u l ty m a y kno w ho w t he i r c o l l e a gue s v i e w s t ude n t s , bu t be

unc e r t a i n e xa c t l y t he g r o und s f o r thos e e va l ua t i ons . S t ude n t s m a y s e l e ct a f a c u l t y a dv i -

s o r l es s on s ub s t a n t ive c om pa t i b i l i ty a nd m or e on r e l at iona l c on t ou r s . ( T he s e c ho i c e s

m i gh t s y s t e m a t i c a l ly d i f f e r be t w e e n r e c e n t c o l l e ge g r a dua t e s a nd r e t u r n i ng s t ude n t s , no t

t o m e n t i on c ho i c e s ba s e d on ge nd e r , r a c e , o r e thn i c ba c kg r ou nd . )

F o r s o m e s t ude n t s , d i s t a nc e a l w a ys r e m a i ns , w h i l e o t he r s de ve l op i n t i m a t e i n t e l le c -

tua l re l a t ions (a nd so m et im es ex t ra - in te l l ec tua l re l a t ions ) . Wh e the r these t i e s a re des ir -

a b l e i s a f unc t i on o f s t ude n t a nd f a c u l t y p r e f e r e nc e s . N o s i ng le s t a nda r d e x i s ts f o r t he

r e l a t i ons h i p be t w e e n f a c u l t y a nd s t ude n t s , a ga in r e c o gn i z i ng t he i d i o s ync r a t i c a nd pe r -

s ona l i st i c na t u r e o f un i ve r s it y c on t r o l s y s te m s . Bu t ho w e ve r f a c u l t y a nd g r a dua t e s tu -

den t s s t ruc ture the i r ti e s , t hese re l a t ionsh ip s , g rou nd ed on ex t ra - ro le in t e l l ec tua l ac t iv i ty

a nd po w e r - ba s e d h i e ra r c hy , a r e m a r k e d by c o n t r a d i c t i on a nd t e ns i on .

G r a du a t e s t ude n t s o f t e n pa r ti c i pa te i n t he i r ow n s ub o r d i na t i on , no t r e c og n i z i ng t he

de m a nd s f o r r e pu t a t i on w or k i n c r e a t i ng t he s t a tu r e o f a s c hol a r. S o m e g r a dua t e s t ude n t s

do n o t pos i t i on t he m s e l ve s a s a m b i t i ous , p r oduc t i ve , a nd c r e a t ive . T he y f a il t o i de n t i f y

a nd a dhe r e t o i n f o r m a l r u l e s on how t o p r e s e n t t he m s e l ve s , u s i ng s t r a t e g i e s s uc h a s

s o c ia l n e t w o r k i n g o r i m p r e s s i o n m a n a g e m e n t . T h e y d o n o t t re a t g r a d u a t e s c h o o l a s a n

e n t r e p r e ne u r i a l s pa c e . T he s e g r a dua t e s t ude n t s m a y be c o m e s o a bs o r be d i n t he r ou t i ne

o f c ou r s e w or k , g r a de s , te a c h i ng , a nd e xa m s t ha t t he y f a i l t o a pp r e c i a t e t ha t t he y m us t

a p p e a r t o b e i n d e p e n d e n t sc h o l ar s w i t h s p o n s o r s h i p ti es t o t h o s e w h o c a n p r o m o t e t h e ir

c a r e e r s ( G of f m a n , 1959: 30 - 34 ) . T he y buy i n t o t he f o r m a l ro l e , a nd pe r ha p s s uc c e e d t oo

w e l l , w h i l e i gno r i ng t he c r uc i a l und e r s i de o f t he oc c up a t i on .

F a c u l t y m e m be r s o f t e n f i nd i t in t he i r in t e r e s t t o p r om ot e t he i r ow n g r a dua t e s t ude n t s.

T he s e s t ude n t s a r e a r e pu t a t i ona l e x t e ns i on o f t he i r a dv is o r . P a r t o f t he r e pu t a t i ona l

c a p it a l o f a f a c u lt y m e m be r i s t he num be r a nd qua l it y o f h i s o r he r s t ude n ts ( se e S c hn a i be rg

t h is vo l um e ) . T h i s i s t he c a s e f o r t h r e e r e a sons . F i r st , o t he r f a c u l ty kn o w - - i n s om e m e a -

s u r e - w h i c h o f th e i r c o l l ea g u e s p r o d u c e s t ar s t u d e n ts a n d p la c e s t u d e n t s i n g o o d j o b s .

T h e s t u d e n t is a m e a n s o f j u d g i n g a f a c u l ty m e m b e r ' s c o m p e t e n c e . S e c o n d , th e s t u d en t 's

w o r k e x t e nds t he i n t e ll e c t ua l r e a c h o f h i s / he r f a c u l t y m e n t o r . T h i s i s pa r t ic u l a r ly t r ue i n

t hos e s ubs t a n t i ve a r ea s i n w h i c h s c h o l a r s h i p bu i l d s on i ts e lf . T he w o r k o f a s t ude n t a ug -

m e n t s a nd d e e pe n s the w o r k o f the f a c u l t y m e n t o r . A s i de a s a r e a ke y m e a s u r e o f r e pu t a -

t ion , t h i s c on t r i bu t e s t o t he r e pu t a t i on o f t he f a c u l t y m e m be r , j u s t a s i t c re a t e s t he r e pu -

t a ti o n o f th e s tu d e n t. T h i rd , th e s t u d e n t s e r v e s - - t h r o u g h n e t w o r k i n g - - a s a r e p u t a ti o n a l

e n t r e p r e n e u r f o r t he f a c u l t y m e n t o r . T he s e s t ude n t s p r ov i de r e a c h f o r a f a c u l t y m e m be r ' s

i n f l ue nc e i n t he p r o f e s s i on , a nd i nd i r e c tl y e xpa n d t he r e pu t a t i on o f the m e n t o r , j u s t a s

t h e m e n t o r m a y d o f o r h i s /h e r s t u d en t s.

Re pu t a t i on s t r uc t u r e s g r a dua t e e duc a t i on . Bo t h f a c u l t y m e m be r s a nd s t ude n t s a r e

e nm e s he d i n a r e pu t a t i on ga m e . W hi l e g r a dua t e s t ude n t s r e qu i r e t he good e va l ua t i on

6 4 T h e A m e r i ca n S o c i o lo g i s t S u m m e r 2 0 0 5



a nd i n t r a de pa r t m e n t a l pub l i c i t y by f a c u lt y , t he g r a du a t e s t ude n t ha s s om e pow e r a s w e l l,

pa r t i c u l a r ly i f t he y h a ve t he c r e d i b i li t y to e n t e r p r o f e s s i ona l ne t w or ks .

G r o u p C u l t u r e : B e c o m i n g S o c i o l o g is t s T o g e t h e r

T o th i s po i n t w e ha ve f oc us e d o n t he s e l f- a nd pub l i c - i m a ge s o f the i nd i v i dua l , bu t

g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n d e p e n d s , l i ke e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l, o n t h e s m o o t h p a s sa g e o f g r o u p s

t h r ou gh a n i n s t i t u ti on . G r a dua t e s t ude n t s c ons t i t u te a c om m un i t y , a nd t h i s c o m m un i t y i s

s t r uc t u r e d by c oh o r t , a l thou gh c on ne c t i on s w i l l e ve n t ua ll y de ve l op a m on g c oho r t s .

E a c h c o m m u n i t y o f w h a t e v e r si ze d e v e l o p s a g r o u p c u l t u r e - - w h a t F i n e 1 9 7 9 ; W il ey ,

1991 ) ha s l a be l e d a n i d i oc u l t u r e . T h i s r e c ogn i z e s t ha t ove r t he c ou r s e o f i n t e r a c t i on

g r o u p s d e v e l o p s e ts o f m e a n i n g s , b e h a v io r s , c u s to m s , a n d a r ti fa c ts t o w h i c h g r o u p m e m -

be r s c a n r e f e r w i t h t he e x pe c t a t i on the s e r e f e r e nc e s w i l l be un de r s t o od by o t he r s. G r oups

d e v e l o p a s e t o f e x p e c t a t io n s a n d n o r m s t h a t p e r m i t s th e m t o i n t e rp r e t a n d r e s p o n d to t h e

w o r l d a r o u n d t h e m i n w a y s th a t g e n e r a te s c o o r d i n a ti o n a n d c o m m u n i t y . M e m b e r s c o m e

t o i n t e r p r e t t he w o r l d i n l i gh t o f t hos e e xpe r i e nc e s t ha t t he y ha ve s ha r ed . T he e xpe r i -

e n c e s b e c o m e t y p i f i e d a n d b e c o m e t h e c r i te r ia b y w h i c h f u t u r e e v e n ts a r e u n d e r s to o d .

W h i l e th e b a c k g r o u n d a s s u m p t i o n s o f s tu d e n t s sh a p e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s - - b a s e d i n p a r t o n

t he i r oc c upa t i ona l e xpe r i e nc e s - - t he s e i n t e r p r e t a t i ons a r e ne go t i a t e d in situ

G r a dua t e s t ude n t c u l t u r e s va r y i n e x t e n t a nd i n i n t ens i ty , a f unc t i on o f t he a m ou n t o f

s h a re d e n g a g e m e n t a n d c o m m o n f o c u s C o l li n s, 1 98 1 ). G r a d u a te c o h o r t s - - a n d t h e l ar g e r

g r a dua t e s t ude n t c o m m un i t y - - h a v e d i s ti nc ti ve t r a d it ions tha t s ha pe how i nd i v i dua l m e m -

b e r s t h i n k o f t h e m s e l v e s a n d o f h o w e s t e e m is a p p o r t i o n e d . T h e s e m i c r o c u l t u r e s a re

i m p or t a n t i n o r ga n i z i ng t he a c t i v i ti e s o f s t ude n t s , a nd , s i gn i f ic a n t l y , t he y d i f f e r f r om

un i ve r s i t y t o un i ve r si ty . W hi l e t h i s i s, a s no t e d , l i nke d t o t he p r e v i ous e x pe r i e nc e s o f the

c oho r t , i t a ls o i s a f unc t i on o f t he m o r a l va l ue s o f t he m e m be r s o f t he c oho r t , t he i r

i m a ge s o f t he goa l s o f t he i r p r o f e s s i ona l tr a i n ing , a nd t he i r s ta t u s h i e ra r c hy w ha t F i ne

1979) l a be l e d K now n , U s a b l e , F unc t i ona l , a nd A ppr op r i a t e Cu l t u r e s ) . T h i s c om bi ne s

w i t h t r i g g e r in g m e c h a n i s m s i n t h e f o r m o f t h o s e e v e n ts a n d e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t th e g r o u p

shares , c rea t ing sp ec i f i c cu l tu ra l t rad i t ions .

S u c h a m o d e l o f o c c u p a t i o n a l s o c i al iz a t io n e m p h a s i z e s th e l o c a l c o n t o u r s o f m e a n i n g

a n d t h e e f f e c ts o f s m a l l g r o u p d y n a m i c s o n p r o f e s s io n a l o u t c o m e s . T h e i n te n s i ty o f

g r a dua t e t r a i n i ng m a k e s i d i oc u lt u r e s sa li e n t, bu t t he s t ruc t u r e o f g r a dua t e p r og r a m s m e a ns

t ha t s om e p r og r a m s w i l l be m or e c u l t u r a l l y in t e ns e t ha n o the r s . F o r e xa m pl e , a n i n t e ns e

g r ou p c u l t u r e m a y be c o r r e l a t e d w i t h t he nu m be r o f r e qu i r e d c l a s s e s tha t f i r s t- ye a r s tu -

d e n t s ta k e a s a g r o u p , w h e t h e r t h e y a r e e n c o u r a g e d to d e v e l o p s t u d y g r o u p s , w h e t h e r

t he y l i ve c lo s e t o e a c h o t he r, w he t h e r the y s ha r e de pa r t m e n t a l o f f ic e s , a nd w he t he r t he i r

c ou r s e a s s i gn m e n t s a r e c o l le c t ive . T h e s e f e a t u r e s o f t he g r a du a t e p r og r a m a r e bo l s t e r e d

b y t h e s e n se o f a d e p a r t m e n t c u lt u re . D o e s t h e d e p a r t m e n t s e e i ts e l f a s a c o m m u n i t y i n

w h i c h i n d i v id u a l s c o l la b o r a te o r p a r ty t o g e t h e r ? F o r so m e d e p a r t m e n t s s u c h c o m m u n a l

a c t iv i t ie s a r e de s i r ed , w he r e a s e l s e w he r e t he y m a y be t r e a t e d a s s m o t he r i n g i nd i v i dua l -

ity . D e pa r t m e n t s l oc a t e d i n l ar ge u r ba n a r e a s w i t h nu m e r o us a c t iv i t y c ho i c e s m a y f i n d

m a i n t a i n i n g a c o h e s i v e s tu d e n t c o m m u n i t y m o r e d i f f ic u l t t h a n t h o s e l o c a t e d i n s m a l l e r

t ow ns .

T he s e i s s ue s m a y ha ve a pa r t i c u l a r s a l ie nc e f o r t hos e w ho e n r o l l in g r a dua t e s c hoo l

a f t er p r o f e s s i ona l c a r e e r s. N o t on l y a r e t he s e s t ude n t s m or e l i ke ly t o ha ve f a m i l i e s , bu t

t he y o f t e n ha ve e s t a b l i s he d ne t w or ks t ha t the y a r e l oa t h to g i ve up t o s p e nd m or e t i m e

w i t h t h o s e w h o m t h e y m a y s e e a s y o u n g e r , le s s m a t u r e, o r m o r e i n t e r e s te d i n u n d e r-

Ferrales and Fin e 6



g r a d u a t e c u l t u r e . W h i l e i n t e r e s t s in s o c i o l o g y m a y b e s i m i la r , t h i s n e e d n o t b u i l d a r i c h

g r o u p c u l t u r e .

D e p a r t m e n t s t h a t p r i d e t h e m s e l v e s o n a d m i t t i n g a d i v e r s e s t u d e n t c o h o r t m a y f i n d

t h a t th i s c h o i c e w e a k e n s t h e g r o u p c u l t u r e . A g r o u p t h a t i s h o m o g e n e o u s i n ra c e , e t h n i c it y ,

g e o g r a p h y , a g e , g e n d e r o r se x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n m a y h e w t o g e t h e r . I n c o n t ra s t , s t u d e n t s i n a

h e t e r o g e n e o u s p r o g r a m m a y f o c u s t h e i r e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r in t e re s ts e l s e w h e r e . W e a r e n o t

s u g g e s t i n g t h a t s t r o n g c u l t u r e s a r e i n h e r e n t l y

better

t h a n t h o s e t h a t a r e m o r e d i f f u s e , b u t

w i t h o u t s o m e r e c o g n i t i o n o f c o m m o n c i r c u m s t a n c e a n d c u l tu r a l t ra d i ti o n s , s h a r e d s u p -

p o r t m a y b e d i f f i c u l t t o m a i n t a in . A s e n s e o f s h a r e d s u p p o r t m a y m i t i g a t e th e e f f e c t s o f

a s t a tu s s y s t e m .

S e e i n g G r a d u a t e E d u c a t i o n S o c i ol o g ic a l ly

I n th e 1 9 87 s p e c i a l i ss u e o n g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n o f The Am erican Soc io logis t H o w a r d

B e c k e r p r e s e n t e d a n i c o n o c l a s ti c v ie w . B a s e d o n h i s e x p e r i e n c e te a c h i n g a t N o r t h w e s t -

e r n , B e c k e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t r a t h e r t h a n c r e a t i n g a fo r m a l p r o g r a m c o n s i s t in g o f a c o r e o f

m a t e r i al s , s o c i o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t s s h o u l d e n c o u r a g e a c o n t i n u i n g d i a l o g u e b e t w e e n f a c -

u l t y a n d s t u d e n t s a n d i n c o r p o r a t e t h e i r s o c i o l o g i st s in t r a in i n g f o r m a l l y a n d i n fo r -

m a l l y in th e i r wo r k . R e c o g n i z i n g i n s t i t u ti o n a l c o n s t r a i n t s a n d th e l i m i t a t i o n s f o r c h a n g e

i n h e r e n t i n a n y s t a tu s s y s t e m , w e s u g g e s t r e f o r m s t h a t m a y a l l ev i a te s o m e o f t h e n e g a -

t iv e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f g r a d u a t e t r a in i n g .

W e o f f e r a d v i c e c o n c e r n i n g g r a d u a t e s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n i n s o c i o lo g y b y i d e n t i f y i n g

d i r e c t i o n s t h a t s o c i o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t s m i g h t f o l l o w t o f a c i li t a t e t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l s o c i a l -

i z a ti o n o f g r a d u a t e s t u d e n ts . I n t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e s e m e a s u r e s , w e o f f e r a d v i c e t o g r a d u -

a t e s t u d e n t s o n h o w t o n a v i g a t e t h e i r c u r r e n t p r o g r a m s . W e w i s h t o s h a p e t h e p r o f e s -

s i o n a l s o c i a l iz a t i o n o f s o c i o lo g i s t s w i t h a n e m p h a s i s o n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f g r o u p c u l t u r e

a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n a l n o r m s a s a s o u r c e o f st r e n g th f o r g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n . G r o u p c u l t u r e

c a n t a m e t h e f e a r s o m e l a c k o f c h a r i ty o f s t at u s m a r k e t s .

R e c o g n i z e R o u t i n e P r o f e s si o n a l T r a u m a

W e r e c o m m e n d i n s ti t u ti o n a l iz i n g a p r o - s e m i n a r i n t r o d u c t o r y c o u r s e i n to t h e c u r -

r i c u l u m t o f a c il i ta t e t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n o f t h e i n f o r m a l p r e s e n t a t io n n o r m s o f a c a d e m i c s i n

l ig h t o f th e h i d d e n r e a l it i es t h a t s ta n d b e h i n d t h e s e n o r m s . F o r a m o m e n t t h e s u n n y

s u r f a c e o f s u c c e s s c a n b e p u l l e d b a c k s o t h a t s t u d e n t s c a n l e a r n t h a t th e a n x i e t ie s t h a t

t h e y f e e l a re n o t u n i q u e , a n d c a n b e t r a n s c e n d e d .

A t N o r t h w e s t e r n U n i v e rs i ty , a p r o - s e m i n a r i n s o c i o l o g y i n t r o d u c e s f a c u l t y a n d i n-

c o m i n g g r a d u a t e s t u d e n ts to e a c h o t he r. W h e n w o r k i n g p r o p er ly , t h is s h o u l d b e m o r e

t h a n a w e e k l y a d v e r t i s e m e n t fo r th e h i r i n g s u c c e s s e s o f t h e d e p a r t m e n t . F a c u l t y m e m -

b e r s a re e x p e c t e d to s h a r e e x p e r i e n c e s o r w a r s to r i e s o f w h a t i t w a s l i k e t o b e a g r a d u -

a t e s t u d e n t : b l o o d a n d g u t s a t l u n c h . I n a r e c e n t se m i n a r , s e v e r a l f a c u l t y m e m b e r s r e -

c o u n t e d t h e f e a r s th a t t h e y e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e i r f i rs t y e a r o f g r a d u a t e s c h o o l . C o m p a r i n g

t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e o t h e r c o h o r t m e m b e r s , t h e y c l a i m e d t h a t t h e y d i d n o t f e e l a s i n te l li -

g e n t , i n i t i a ll y b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t wr i t e a s we l l a s o t h e r s, a n d l a c k e d e s s e n t i a l

c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d a n a l y ti c a l s ki ll s. F a c u l t y a l s o s h a r e d t h e i r a n x i e ti e s e m b e d d e d i n a

p r o f e s s i o n w h e r e o n e ' s c a r e e r is f u e l e d b y p e e r c r it iq u e . T h r o u g h s u c h t a le s g r a d u a t e

s t u d e n t s c o n s t r u c t n e w f r a m e s o f in t e r p re t a t io n . T h e y c o m e t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t th e i r o w n

p a i n , i s o l a ti o n , a n d f e e li n g s o f i n f e r i o r i ty a re n o t o n l y a n o r m a l p a r t o f th e g r a d u a t e

6 6 T h e A m e r i c a n S o c i o lo g i st S u m m e r 2 0 0 5



s c hoo l e xpe r i e nc e bu t m a y pe r s i s t t h r ou gho u t t he i r ca r ee r . N o t a l l f a c u l t y a r e e qua l l y

c om f o r t a b l e o r w i l l i ng t o s ha r e the i r e xpe r i e nc e s . S om e f a c u l t y f e e l m or e a t e a s e d i s -

c u s s i n g th e u n p l e a s a n t a s p e c ts o f b e i n g a n a c a d e m i c . O t h e r f a c u l ty m e m b e r s m a y o n l y

s ha r e t he s e e xpe r i e nc e s w i t h s e l e c t g r a dua t e s t ude n t s ( N e g r e y , 1987 ) , w h i l e o t he r s a s -

s i duous l y a vo i d d i s c us s i ng a ny ne ga t i ve a s pe c t s o f a c a de m i c l if e . N e v e r t he l e s s , t o e n -

c o u r a g e i n s ta n c e s w h e r e f a c u l t y m e m b e r s d o s h a re t h e i r e x p e r ie n c e s i n g r a d u a t e s c h o o l ,

he l p i ng t o f a c i li t a te t he c r e a t i on o f a r obus t i d i oc u l t u r e , w e r e c om m e n d in s t i t u t ing a p r o -

s e m i na r i n t he f i r s t ye a r c u r r i c u l um a s a m e a ns f o r s o f t e n i ng pa i n f u l f e e l i ngs t i e d t o

g r a dua t e s c hoo l t r a in i ng . S t ud e n t s m u s t re a l i z e tha t t he i r a nx i e t y i s no t un i que , a nd a

g r ou p c u l t u r e w i t h i npu t f r om f a c u l t y e xpe r i e nc e s he l p s t ow a r ds t ha t e nd .

T h e p r o - s e m i n a r a ls o i n t r o d u c e s g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s to t h e i n f o r m a l p r o f e s si o n a l n o r m s

o f t he d i s c ip l i ne . A s p i r i ng s oc i o l og i s t s ar e a nx i ous t o l e a r n w ha t i s ne c e s s a r y t o na v i ga t e

t h r o u g h t h e s h o a ls o f g r a d u a te s c h o o l a n d e v e n t u a l e m p l o y m e n t . T h e p r o - s e m i n a r o f f e rs

f a c u l t y a n op po r t u n i t y to i m pa r t t he i n f o r m a l p r o f e s s i ona l c u l tu r e a s s oc i a t e d w i t h a c a -

d e m i c s o c i o lo g y , s u c h a s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f a t te n d i n g p r o f e s s io n a l m e e t i n g s , s u b m i t ti n g

pa pe r s f o r pub l i c a t i on , w r i t i ng g r a n t p r opos a l s , a nd s oc i a l ne t w or k i ng . F o r i n s t a nc e ,

f a c u l ty m e m b e r s a t N o r t h w e s t e r n i n f o r m e d th e i n c o m i n g g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s t h at , i n c o n -

t r a st t o und e r g r a du a t e e duc a t i on , s uc c e s s i n g r a dua t e s c hoo l i s no t p r i m a r i l y m e a s u r e d

by g r a de s . A s t ude n t c ou l d r e c e i ve a ll A s i n g r a dua t e s c hoo l w h i l e no t und e r t a k i n g t he

ne c e s s a r y s t e ps f o r l a nd i ng a j ob a t a r e s e a r c h un i ve rs i ty . Bu i l d i ng a p r o f e s s i ona l c u l t u r e

i s e s se n t i a l f o r a pp r e c i a t i ng t he r e a l i ty o f t he a c a de m i c s t a t u s s y s t e m .

E n c o u r a g e I n t e l l e c t u a l D i s c o u r s e

I n a dd i t i on t o s t ude n t - f a c u l t y in t e r a c t ion , s t ude n t i n t e r a c ti on i s i m po r t a n t t o t he de -

ve l o pm e n t o f p r o f e s s i ona l r o l e c om m i t m e n t ( M e r t on e t a l ., 1957 ; bu t s e e W e i s s, 1981) .

D e p a r t m e n t s s h o u l d c r e at e w o r k s h o p s o r s u p p o r t g r o u p s , f o r m a l o r i n f o r m a l b u t j o i n t l y

r un by f a c u l t y a nd s t ude n t s , to e n c ou r a g e s t ude n t s t o s ha r e the i r know l e dge a nd c a p i t a l-

i ze on the i r co l l ec t ive s t rengths .

G r a du a t e s t ude n t s w ho i n t e r na li z e the i m p l i c i t va l ue s a nd no r m s o f the i r p r o f e s s i ona l

r e f e r e nc e g r oup a t ta i n t he i r de s i r e d s ta t u s m o r e r a p i d l y t ha n t he i r c o l l e a gue s w ho f a il to

e m b r a c e w h a t M e r t o n r e f e rs t o a s nticip tory soci liz tion (M er ton , 1968; S touf fe r e t

a l ., 1949; Ke i th and M oore , 1995) . In these work shop s , s tude nt s l ea rn to eva lua te the i r

g r a d u a t e s c h o o l e x p e r i e n c e a n d d e c o d e t h e ir p r o f e s s o r s ' b e h a v i o r t h r o u g h i n t er a c ti o n

w i t h m o r e s e n i o r s tu d e n ts . G r a d u a t e s t u d e n ts s h a r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t w h i c h f a c u l t y

m e m b e r s a r e e a s y t o w o r k w i t h , h o w t o o b t a i n g r a n ts , h o w t o m a n a g e d i f f ic u l t p e r s o n a li -

t ie s a nd h ow t o t a c k l e a va r i e ty o f o t he r i ss ue s t ha t p l a gue g r a dua t e s t ude n t s . A t a r e c e n t

N o r t h w e s t e r n e th n o g r a p h y s u p p o r t g r o u p m e e t i n g , a g r o u p t h a t m e e t s o n c e a m o n t h f o r

d i nne r a t a s t ude n t ' s hom e , pa r t ic i pa n t s d i s c u s s e d how t o ne g o t i a t e pow e r i ne qua l it i e s

w i t h f a c u l t y m e m b e r s . A q u e s t io n a r o s e a b o u t h o w d i p l o m a t ic a l ly to i n f o r m y o u r f a c-

u l t y a d v i s o r t h a t y o u w i l l n o t b e f o l l o w i n g th e i r r e c o m m e n d a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e s c o p e

o f you r d i s s e r t a t ion r e s e a r c h . T he g r ou p d i s c us s e d a s e r ie s o f s o l u t i ons to m a na ge a

s ha r e d p r o b l e m t ha t t oo o f t e n i s t r e a t e d a s un i que a nd i d i o s ync r a t i c .

W e a l so r e c o m m e n d i n s t it u t in g i n f o r m a l s e m i n a r s w h e r e g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s c ri ti q u e

e a c h o t h e r 's w o r k a n d l e a rn t h e v a l u e o f c o l l a b o r a ti o n a n d p e e r r e v i e w - - f o r b o t h i ts

s ubs t a n t i ve a nd c u l t u r a l be ne f i t s - - w h i l e r e c ogn i z i ng t ha t s uc h oc c a s i ons a dd t o s t a t u s

p r e s s u r e s . F o r e xa m p l e , in t he s e c o nd ye a r o f s t udy w h e n s t ude n t s a r e w r i t i ng the i r m a s -

t e rs t he s e s , s t ude n t s m i gh t be r e qu i r e d t o t ake a c ou r s e i n w h i c h t he i r pe e r s r e a d d r a f t s o f

F e r r a l es a n d F i n e 7



t h e i r p a p e r s a n d o f f e r critic l f e e d b a c k . A l t h o u g h t h is e x e r c is e c a n b e d a u n t i n g o r d i s-

t r e s si n g , l e a r n i n g h o w t o r e c o n c e p t u a l i z e w h a t a t f ir s t a p p e a r s to b e p e r s o n a l a t t a c k s i s

m a n d a t o r y f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t . S t u d e n t s e v e n t u a l l y r e a l i z e t h a t o n l y t h r o u g h

a c c e p t i n g c r i t i c a l f e e d b a c k f r o m b o t h f a c u l t y a n d p e e r s w i l l t h e y s u r v i v e i n t h e a c a -

d e m i c m a r k e t p l a c e a s i t i s c u r r e n t l y s t r u c tu r e d . T h i s e x e r c i se e n c o u r a g e s s t u d e n t s e a r ly

i n th e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t to r e l y o n c r i t ic i s m b y t h e i r c o l l e a g u e s a s a s o u r c e o f

s u p p o r t a n d s t re n g t h .

P r o m o t e S t u d e n t P a r t i c ip a t i o n i n D e p a r t m e n t a l A f f a ir s

S o c i o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t s s h o u l d e n c o u r a g e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n b y s t u d e n t s i n t h e d e -

v e l o p m e n t o f t h e g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m a s w e l l as i n o t h e r a sp e c ts o f d e p a r t m e n t a l g o v e r -

n a n c e . G r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s s h o u l d s e r v e o n c o m m i t t e e s , in c l u d i n g b o t h f a c u l t y a n d s tu -

d e n t r e c r u i t m e n t , a s m u c h t o l e a r n t h e n o r m s a n d e x p e c t a t i o n s a s t o i n f l u e n c e p o l i c y .

T h e s e i n s t i tu t i o n a l i z e d s o u r c e s o f v o i c e a l l o w f o r i n t e r a c ti o n w i t h f a c u l t y a n d i n v o l v e

s t u d e n t s i n d e p a r t m e n t a l a f fa i rs , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e d e c i s i o n s t h a t m o s t d r a m a t i c a l ly a f f e c t

t h e q u a l i t y o f g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s l iv e s , d e c i s i o n s t h a t o t h e r w i s e w o u l d b e s u b t l y m y s t e r i -

o u s ( B o u z a r d e t a l. , 1 9 8 7 ) .

G r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s s h o u l d c o l l a b o r a te w i t h f a c u l ty to c r e at e c o u r s e c u r r i c u l u m t o m e e t

t h e i r re s e a r c h i n te r e s ts . T h e c u l t u r e o f N o r t h w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y s g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m , f o l -

l o w i n g B e c k e r s i n s ig h t , is to p r o v i d e e a c h s t u d e n t w i t h a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o t a il o r a p r o -

g r a m o f s t u d y t o m e e t h i s o r h e r r e s e a r c h n e e d s . W i t h f e w P h .D . r e q u i r e m e n t s , s t u d e n t s

a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o d e v e l o p a r e a s o f s p e c i a li z a t io n a n d a c t a s p r o a c t iv e i n t e ll e c t u a l e n tr e -

p r e n e u r s b y d e v i s i n g i n d e p e n d e n t s tu d y c o u r s e s w i t h f a c u lt y m e m b e r s ( R a g i n a n d B e c k ,

1 9 8 7 ) . T h i s s h a t t e r s a s i n g l e s t a tu s h i e r a r c h y , d i v i d i n g s t u d e n t s i n t o r e s e a r c h s p e c i a l t i e s

a n d t r a j e c to r i e s , a s s t u d e n t s c o m e t o s e e e a c h o t h e r a s s p e c i a li s ts , r a t h e r th a n c o m p e t i n g

g e n e r a l i s t s .

W h i l e s o m e s t u d e n t s f in d th i s p r o g r a m s t ru c t u r e a d v a n t a g e o u s , p a r t i c u l a rl y t h o s e

w h o e n t e r w i t h w e l l - d e f i n e d r e s e a r c h i n te r e s ts , o t h e r s p e r c e i v e i t a s i n t i m i d a t i n g . I t is

e a s y t o g e t l o s t i n s u c h a p r o g r a m i f o n e is n o t p r o a c ti v e a n d d o e s n o t h a v e a c l e a r

r e s e a r c h f o c u s o r s o m e o n e s t a n d i n g b e h i n d i n s u p p o r t .

C h a n n e l C o m p e t it io n

C o m p e t i t i o n a m o n g g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s i s i n e v i ta b l e a n d i n h e r e n t ( C r o t h e r s, 1 9 9 1 ),

a n d i n s o m e r e g a r d s i s n e c e s s a r y f o r o c c u p a t i o n a l s u c c e s s . O n e m i g h t e v e n s u g g e s t t h a t

t h e r e i s n o t e n o u g h e x p l i c it c o m p e t i t i o n , w h i l e to o m u c h i m p l i c it c o m p e t i t i o n e x is t s in

w h i c h s t u d e n t s n e v e r l e a r n w h e r e t h e y s t a n d , b u t i n e v i ta b l y f e a r t h e w o r s e . C o m p e t i t i o n

m u s t b e s t r u c tu r e d , ra t h e r th a n b e w h i s k e d a w a y t h r o u g h a i r y w i s h e s .

I n s o m e d o m a i n s c o m p e t i ti o n c a n p r o fi ta b l y b e m i n i m i z e d . F o r e x a m p l e , f u n d i n g i s a

m a j o r s o u r c e o f c o m p e t i t i o n a n d s e r v e s to d i s a d v a n t a g e f u r t h e r t h o s e w h o a r e n o t s e-

l e c t e d a t f i r s t . O n e f i n d s t h e M a t t h e w E f f e c t ( M e r t o n , 1 9 6 8 a ) , w h e r e t h o s e w h o h a v e

b e e n a d v a n t a g e d u s e t h a t a d v a n t a g e f o r f u r t h e r b e n e f i t s . F u t u r e s u c c e s s b y t h o s e w h o

a re n o t s e l e c t e d b e c o m e s m o r e d i f f ic u l t b e c a u s e o f t h e b u r d e n s t h a t h a v e b e e n a s s i g n e d .

R e c o g n i z i n g t h a t n o t al l d e p a r t m e n t s h a v e s u f f ic i e n t r e s o u rc e s , w e r e c o m m e n d , w h e n

f e a s ib l e , p r o v i d i n g t h e s a m e f u n d i n g p a c k a g e t o i n c o m i n g g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s t o m i n i -

m i z e c o m p e t i t i o n a m o n g s t u d e n ts . A t l e as t a ll w i ll b e g i n o n a l e v e l p l a y i n g f i e l d .

6 8 T h e A m e r i c a n S o c i o lo g i s t S u m m e r 2 0 0 5



W h i l e w e d o n o t s u g g e s t r o u t i n e d e g r a d a t i o n c e r e m o n i e s f o r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s ( a s

a m u s i n g a s t h i s m i g h t b e f o r i n s e c u r e f a c u l t y a n d f o r s t u d e n t s n o t c h o s e n ) , s t u d e n t s

s h o u l d d e m a n d f u l l e r a n d m o r e h o n e s t f e e d b a c k . S t u d e n t s s h o u l d r e s e n t e v a lu a t i v e i n -

f l a t io n , p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n s u c h e v a l u a t i o n i s l a rg e l y h o t a n d m o i s t a ir . A c u l t u r e o f c a n -

d o r i s n o t e a s y f o r r e c i p ie n t s o r p r o v i d e r s b u t i t d o e s l e a d t o c a r e e r c h o i c e s b e i n g s e -

l e ct e d , r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g a s s i g n e d b y a n i m p e r s o n a l j o b m a r k e t . P u t a n o t h e r w a y , t h e

t r u t h o f a r e p u t a t i o n m a r k e t s h o u l d b e a c k n o w l e d g e d w i t h i n t h e c u l t u r e o f g r a d u a t e

s t u d e n t s a n d f a c u l t y , a n d n o t s i m p l y h i d d e n i n o n e ' s c o g n i t i v e a tt ic l i k e a n o d d a n d m o r -

t i f y i n g a u n t . S t u d e n t e v a l u a t i o n s m u s t m e a n s o m e t h i n g o r t h e y w i l l h a v e n o c u r r e n c y

unt i l b i l l s a re due .

N o t s u rp r i s i n g l y t h e r e i s g r e a t i n s t i t u t i o n a l r e l u c t a n c e to i n s t i t u t e a culture of candor

I t c a n b e a n u n p l e a s a n t t a s k to d e l i v e r b a d n e w s t o a n e a g e r , i n s e c u r e s tu d e n t . O n m a n y

o c c a s i o n s f a c u l t y m e m b e r s h a v e b e e n l e f t t o c o n s o l e a n e m o t i o n a l l y f r a g i l e s t u d e n t - -

p a i n b r o u g h t o n b y t h e i r o w n h a n d s . N o t a ll f a c u l t y m e m b e r s r e l i s h th e i d e a o f c r u s h i n g

a s t u d e n t' s d r e a m , c o o l i n g t h e m a r k o u t, o r e v e n s o m e t h i n g m o r e i n n o c u o u s , l ik e i n-

f o r m i n g a s t u d e n t th a t t h e y s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e i r o p t io n s . W e r e c o m m e n d t h a t f a c u l t y

d i s p la y s y m p a t h e t i c c a n d o r w h e n o f f e r i n g n e g a t iv e f e e d b a c k . B o t h t h e p o s i ti v e a n d n e g a -

t iv e a t t r ib u t e s o f a s t u d e n t s h o u l d b e d i s c u s s e d i n a c o n s t ru c t i v e f a s h i o n . I r a s t u d e n t , f o r

e x a m p l e , d o e s n o t d e m o n s t r a t e a d e q u a t e q u a n t i t a ti v e s k il ls , a f a c u l t y m e m b e r s h o u l d

n o t o n l y i n f o r m t h e s t u d e n t o f th i s w e a k n e s s , b u t a l s o e n c o u r a g e th e s tu d e n t , i f a p p r o p r i-

a t e , t o p u r s u e q u a l i t a ti v e r e s e a r c h , p e rh a p s h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e s t u d e n t ' s i n t e rv i e w i n g s k il ls .

C o p i n g o n O n e s O w n

A l t h o u g h w e p e r c e i v e o u r s u g g e s t i o n s a s m o d e s t a n d m i ld , w e h a v e n o i ll u s io n s

a s t o t h e i r r a p i d a d o p t i o n . G i v e n t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l r e l u c t a n c e t o e m b r a c e a c u l t u r e o f

c a n d o r , c o u p l e d w i t h o r g a n i z a t i o n i n e rt i a, p a r a d i se is n o t k n o c k i n g o n t h e s c h o o l h o u s e

d o o r. I n t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e h i r i n g D r. P a n g l o s s , w e o f f e r a d v i c e t o s t u d e n t s o n h o w t o

c o p e w i t h t h e i r c u r r e n t p r o g r a m s , a s m o s t a r e n o w s t r u c t u r e d . W h i l e w e b e l i e v e , a s

d e v o u t s o c i o l o g i s t s , t h a t i n s t it u t i o n a l c h a n g e i s d e s i r a b l e , p s y c h o l o g y i s b e t t e r t h a n d i s -

t ress .

T h i n k b e f o r e Y o u S p e a k

W e h a v e a ll b e e n t a u g h t s i n c e e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l th a t n o q u e s t io n i s a s t u p id q u e s -

t io n . T h i s m a y h a v e b e e n t r u e i n a s e c o n d g r a d e c l a ss b u t n o t f o r r e p u t a t i o n b u i l d i n g i n

g r a d u a t e s c h o o l w i t h f a c u l t y m e m b e r s . C r u c i a l to s o c i a li z a ti o n a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l -

o p m e n t i s c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h f a c u l t y m e m b e r s . T h e s e e x c h a n g e s o c c u r w i t h in a s ta tu s

s y s t e m i n w h i c h f a c u l t y a r e c o n t i n u a l l y e v a lu a t i n g g r a d u a t e s t u d en t s . A s t u d e n t' s p r e -

s e n t a t i o n o f se l f , w h e t h e r s /h e i s a r t i c u l a t e , a sk s l e g i t i m a t e q u e s t i o n s , o r m a k e s i n s i g h t -

f u l c o m m e n t s c o n t r i b u t e s t o f a c u l t y a s s e s s m e n t s o f a s t u d e n t' s ta l en t . J u s t a s t h o u g h t f u l

q u e s t i o n s b u i l d a s o l id r e p u t a t i o n , s o m e q u e s t i o n s o r c o m m e n t s s ta i n a s t u d e n t ' s d e l i c a t e

r e p u t a t i o n .

T o s u c c e e d i n g r a d u a t e s c h o o l , s t u d e n t s m u s t b e a w a r e o f t h e h o w t h e i r c o m m e n t s a r e

p e r c e i v e d a n d w h a t d o m a i n s a r e t ab o o . F i r st , a s t u d e n t s h o u l d n e v e r i n a d v e r t e n t l y d i s-

c l o s e t h e i r l a c k o f s o c i o l o g i c a l t r ai n i n g . A s k i n g a f a c u l t y m e m b e r in c la s s W h o i s K a r l

M a r x ? o r W h a t i s f i e l d w o r k ? a r e t w o e g r e g i o u s e x a m p l e s w h e r e a s t u d e n t i n a d v e r t -

Fe r r a le s a nd F ine 6 9



e n t l y r e ve a ls a l a c k o f d i s c ip l i na r y know l e dge . O f c ou r s e , s t ude n t s a re i n s c h oo l t o l e a r n

a nd be g u i de d , bu t s t ude n t s s hou l d ne ve r m i s t a ke the c l a s s r oo m f o r a s pa c e w he r e i gno -

r a nc e i s w e l c om e d . F a c u l t y m e m be r s e va l ua t e s t ude n t s ba s e d on c l a s s d i s c us s ion , c ha t -

t e r i n t he ha l l w a ys , a nd e xc ha nge s be h i nd c l o s e d doo r s . T o a vo i d m a k i ng i na dve r t e n t

e r r o rs , s t ude n t s m u s t obs e r ve t he i r pe e r s , a s s e s s i ng how t he y i n t e r a c t w i t h f a c u lt y , a nd

g a u g e t h e r e c e p t i o n o f o t h e r s tu d e n t s ' c o m m e n t s .

S e c ond , s t ude n t s s hou l d be c a u t i ous d i s c l o s i ng ou t s i de i n t e r e s t s s uc h a s t i m e - c on -

s um i ng l e i s u re a c t i v it ie s a nd f a m i l y c om m i t m e n t s , a vo i d i ng t he pe r c e p t i on t ha t t he y a r e

no t s e r i ous a bou t w or k o r do no t ha ve the t i m e t o de v o t e t o a r i go r ous a c a de m i c p r o -

g r a m . O ne N or t hw e s t e r n s t ude n t de s c r i be d he r l e i s u r e pa s s i ons t o a f a c u l t y m e m be r .

A f t e r d i s c l o s i ng t ha t s he w a s t a k i ng po t t e r y c l a s s e s a nd ha d s um m e r t ra ve l p l a ns , t he

f a c u l t y m e m be r a dm on i s he d he r t ha t g r a dua t e s c hoo l m us t be he r f ir s t p r io r it y . H e i n -

s t r uc t e d he r t ha t to s u c c e e d i n a c a de m i a s he w ou l d be f o r c e d to m a ke t ou gh l i fe c ho i c e s .

S t ude n t s m u s t de m ons t r a t e t ha t t he i r w or k i s t he i r li fe ' s pa s s i on , o t he r w i s e f a c u l t y m e m -

be r s w i l l no t i nve s t p r e c i ous t im e o r r e s ou r c e s i n t hos e s t ude n t s w ho a r e pe r c e i ve d a s

i n s u f f i c i e n t l y de d i c a t e d . I nde e d , t he i r w or k

should be

t he i r l i fe ' s pas s ion .

Re ve a l i ng a m b i va l e nc e a bou t be c om i ng a r e s e a r c he r i s da nge r ous i n a n i n s t i t u t i on

w h e r e p r e s t i ge i s li nke d t o g r a dua t e s t ud e n t p l a c e m e n t . D i s c l o s ing t ha t p l a c e m e n t i n a

t op r e s e a r c h i n s t i tu t i on is no t one ' s go a l m a y l e ave no t a r e pu t a t iona l s m udg e , bu t a s ca r.

A s i n a ny w or kp l a c e e nv i r onm e n t , t a l k h i de s be h i nd c l o s e d doo r s . A l a c k o f de s ir e to

be c om e a r e s e a r c he r m a y l i m i t f a c u l t y a t t e n t ion o r c a r e e r op t ions . W hy w ou l d a p r o f e s -

s o r i nve s t f i ve ye a r s i n a s t ude n t ' s c a r e e r w i t hou t t he r e pa y m e n t o f r e pu t a t i ona l a nd

i n t e ll e c t ua l r e a c h?

P r o f i t f r o m C r i t i c i s m

F or m a ny s t ude n t s g r a dua t e t r a i n i ng i s a s s oc i a te d w i t h i s o l a ti on a nd f e e l i ngs o f in f e -

r io r it y , a r e s u l t o f c r i t ic i s m o f f e r e d by f a c u l t y m e m be r s . W he n s t ude n t s e nc ou n t e r c ri -

t i que , t he y o f t e n r e t re a t o r, w or s e , d e f i ne t he i r f e e l i ngs a s un i que . T he y i n t e r p r e t the i r

r e s pons e s a s a p s yc ho l og i s t m i gh t : 1 m us t be t he p r ob l e m . D e s p i t e t he i r s oc io l og i c a l

t r a in i ng , t he y i gno r e t ha t t he i r a nx i e t i e s m a y be s t ruc t u r a l, no t pe r s ona l . T he r e i n l i e s t he

s t r uc tu r a l vu l ne r a b i l i ty o f e m br a c i ng c r i ti c is m . T h e y la c k M i l l s ' (1959 ) s oc i o l og i c a l

i m a g i na t i on , f i nd i ng pe r s ona l tr oub l e s w h e r e s oc i a l p r ob l e m s be l ong . D ur i ng t he i r t r ai n -

ing , s tud ent s in te rp re t a l l c r i ti c i sm as h a rsh , l a sh ing i t t o the i r s en se o f s e lf . Ye t, such

c r it ic i sm , o f t e n m i l d i n c o n t r a st to a n o n y m o u s r e v ie w s , m u s t b e m a n a g e d a s a n o c c u p a -

t i ona l r ou t i ne f o r a p r o f e s s i ona l se lf . I r a s t ude n t doe s no t r e c on c e p t ua l i z e w ha t t he y a r e

c o n c e i v i n g a s

d hominem

a t ta c ks , p r o f e s s i ona l d e ve l o pm e n t is un l i ke ly .

F i rs t, a s t ude n t m us t c on t e x t ua l i z e t he f e e d ba c k r e c e ive d . A r e t he ne ga t i ve c om m e n t s

g i ve n by a f a c u l t y m e m be r w i t h a r e pu t a t i on f o r s la y i ng s tude n t s w i t hou t re m or s e ? K n ow -

i ng t he ba c k g r oun d , pe r s ona li ty , a nd r e pu t a t i on o f t he e va l ua t o r m a t t e rs . D e c i phe r i ng

w he t he r one ' s e xpe r i e nc e i s un i que m us t be t he f i r s t s t e p . T h i s know l e dge pe r m i t s a

s t ude n t to r e c o nc e p t ua l i z e t he e xpe r i e n c e a s r ou t i ne - o r no t . I f r ou t i ne , t he s t ude n t ha s

a c ho i c e t o l e a r n t o a c c e p t t ha t th i s is how t h i s f a c u l t y m e m be r m e n t o r s h i s / he r s t ude n t s

o r s e a r c h f o r a no t he r a dv i s o r w h o m a y no t ha ve s uc h a pung e n t m e n t o r i ng s t y le . I t i s i n

s t ude n t s ' b e s t i n t e r e s t t o a c qu i r e t h i s c r uc i a l i n f o r m a t i on f r om m or e s e n i o r g r a dua t e

s t ude n t s e a r l y i n t he i r c a re e r s, e s pe c i a l l y w h e n s e l e c t ing a d i s s e r t a ti on c om m i t t e e .

S e c ond , a s t ude n t m us t i n t e r p r e t c r i t ic i s m a nd r e a c t a pp r op r ia t e ly . D o e s t he c r i t ic i s m

r e l at e t o t he a r gum e n t s a dv a nc e d i n a p a r t i c u l a r pa pe r, on e ' s w r i t ing s ty l e , f a c il i ty w i t h

7 0 T h e A m e r ic a n S o c io l o g is t S u m m e r 2 0 0 5



t h e l i t e r a t u r e , o r o n e ' s t i m e m a n a g e m e n t s k i l l s ? C a n t h e p r o b l e m s b e r e m e d i e d ? N o

m a t t e r t h e s u b s t a n c e o f t h e c o m m e n t s , s t u d e n t s m a y tr e a t al l n e g a t i v e f e e d b a c k a s a

j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r q u e s t i o n i n g t h e i r f u tu r e w i t h o u t c a r e f u ll y r e f le c t i n g o n t h e r e m a r k s . F o r

e x a m p l e , o n e N o r t h w e s t e r n s t u d e n t r e c e iv e d a c o m m e n t o n a p a p e r t h a t r ea d , Y o u w r o t e

q u i t e b a d l y i n t h is p a p e r s o I q u it e o f t e n c o u l d n o t t e ll w h a t y o u w e r e a r g u i n g . A s t r e a m

o f c r i ti c i s m s f o l l o w e d t h is l i n e . A f t e r s e e i n g o n l y th e f i r s t l in e o f t h e c o m m e n t s , t h is

s t u d e n t d i d n o t r e a d t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e re v ie w . H e d e s c r i b e d t h e e x p e r i e n c e a s p a r a -

l y z in g a n d q u e s t i o n e d w h e t h e r h e s h o u l d c o n t in u e i n g ra d u a t e s c h o o l . T h e s t u d e n t b e -

c a m e a f ra i d to a p p r o a c h t h is f a c u l ty m e m b e r f o r g u i d a n c e b e l ie v i n g t h a t h e w a s p e r -

c e i v e d a s a n i d i o t w h o c a n ' t w r i te . T h i s in t e rn a l iz a t io n o f n e g a t iv e c o m m e n t s b e c o m e s

s e l f -f u l f il l in g . I n s t e a d o f d is s e c t i n g t h e c r i ti q u e t o d e c i p h e r th e p r o b l e m a n d l e a r n f r o m

t h e a d v i c e g i v e n , th i s s t u d e n t p i tc h e d t h e p a p e r o n a d u s t y s h e l f a l o n g w i t h h o p e s o f

b e i n g a n e f f e c ti v e w r i te r . T h i s e x p e r i e n c e e x a c e r b a t e d h i s f e a r o f w r i t i n g a n d c e m e n t e d

h i s r e s o l v e n o t t o s h a r e h i s w o r k . F e a r o f f a il u r e, n o t t h is f a c u l t y m e m b e r a l o n e , s a b o -

t a g e d h i s ca r ee r . A m o r e p r o d u c t i v e r e s p o n s e w o u l d h a v e i n c l u d e d a p p r o a c h i n g t h e f a c-

u l t y m e m b e r to c l a r if y m u r k y p o i n t s a n d o f f e r i n g t o r e w r i te t h e p a p e r . T e n a c i t y g o e s a

l o n g w a y i n b u i l d i n g a n y c a r e e r - - a c a d e m i a is n o d i ff e re n t .

L e a r n i n g t o e v a l u a t e f a c u l ty a s s e s s m e n t a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e p r o c e s s o f l a b e l i n g is

c r u c ia l f o r p r o f e s s io n a l d e v e l o p m e n t . I f a s t u d e n t d e m o n s t r a te s w e a k n e s s e s s u c h a s p o o r

a n a l y t ic a l s k i ll s , f a c u l t y m e m b e r s m a y n o t i c e t h e s e d e f i c i e n c i e s a n d p a s s t h is i n f o r m a -

t i o n o n t o t h e i r c o l l e a g u e s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , f a c u l ty m e m b e r s w h o h a v e n o p e r s o n a l e x p e r i-

e n c e w i t h a s t u d e n t o t h e r t h a n t h e o p i n i o n s o f f e r e d b y a c o l l e a g u e m a y e l i m i n a t e t h i s

s t u d e n t f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n a s a r e s e a r c h a s s i s t a n t f o r f e a r t h a t t h e s t u d e n t w i l l n o t s u c -

c e e d . D e p a r t m e n t a l r e c o g n i t i o n s u c h a s g r a n t s a n d a w a r d s a r e r a re l y o f f e r e d t o s tu d e n t s

w h o l a c k f a c u l ty e n d o r s e m e n t s .

T a l e n t d o e s e x i st . N o t a l l g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s w i l l b e o f f e r e d f a c u l t y p o s i t i o n s u p o n

g r a d u a t i o n . W h e n s h o u l d a s tu d e n t d e t e r m i n e t h a t f a c u l t y f e e d b a c k i s a n i n d i c a t i o n t h a t

t h e y s h o u l d c h o o s e a n o t h e r c a r e e r o r a s p ir e t o w o r k a t a n o n - r e s e a r c h i n s t it u t io n ? S t u -

d e n t s m u s t r e f le c t o n t h e i r p a s s i o n f o r t h e d i s c ip l i n e . W h a t a s p e c t s o f th e w o r k a r e m o s t

t e d i o u s a n d u n p l e a s a n t ? I s i t w r i t i n g , r e s e a r c h i n g , d a t a c o l l e c t i o n a n d / o r r e a d i n g l i te r a -

t u r e ? I f c o m p l e t i n g a r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t i s t o r tu r e , p e r h a p s a n a c a d e m i c r e s e a r c h c a r e e r i s

t h e w r o n g c h o i c e . I f w r i t i n g i s a b u r d e n , p e r h a p s t e a c h i n g a t a c o m m u n i t y c o ll e g e o r

s m a l l l i b e r a l a r t s s c h o o l i s a b e t t e r f i t .

K n o w T h y D e p a r tm e n t

O n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t m i s t a k e s o f a s p i r i n g s t u d e n t s i s n o t t r e a ti n g a c a d e m i a a s a n e n t r e -

p r e n e u r ia l s p a c e a n d n o t r e c o g n i z i n g th e d e m a n d s f o r r e p u t a t io n w o r k . S o m e g r a d u a t e

s t u d e n t s d o n o t p o s i t i o n t h e m s e l v e s a s a m b i t i o u s , p r o d u c t i v e , a n d c r e a ti v e . A s a r es u l t,

t h e y f ai l t o r e c o g n iz e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f s o ci al n e t w o r k i n g a n d i m p r e s s i o n m a n a g e m e n t .

F r o m t h e m o m e n t a s t u d e n t en t e rs g r a d u a t e s c h o o l, s / h e m u s t p e r f o r m a s a fu t u re f a c u l t y

m e m b e r b y a c t i n g p r o f e s s i o n a ll y , s p e a k i n g a r ti c u la t e ly , a n d t r e a t i n g s c h o o l a s a r e h e a r s a l

f o r a c a r e e r .

B e f o r e s e l e c ti n g a g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m , s t u d e n t s m u s t r e s ea r c h t h e d e p a r t m e n t to g a i n a

f e e l f o r f a c u l t y m e m b e r s a n d c u r r e n t g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s . G r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s s h o u l d b e

a w a r e o f e a c h f a c u l t y m e m b e r ' s r e s e a r c h i n t e re s t s, c u r r e n t p r o j e c t s , p r o d u c t i v i t y , a tt i-

t u d e s t o c o l l a b o r a t i o n , a n d r e c o r d s o f s t u d e n t p l a c e m e n t . O n c e e n r o l le d , s t u d e n t s m u s t

u n d e r s t a n d t h e d e p a r t m e n t c u l t u r e , le a r n i n g i n f o r m a l l y w h o i s d i f f i c u l t t o w o r k w i t h ,

Ferra les and F ine 7



w h o r e c e i v e s t h e m o s t f u n d i n g , w h o i s g e n e r o u s w i t h ti m e , a n d w h o i s l i k e ly to l e a v e t h e

d e p a r t m e n t . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l f a c il i ta t e t h e t r a n s it i o n i n t o g r a d u a t e s c h o o l a s w e l l a s

i d e n t i f y p o t e n t i a l f a c u l t y m e n t o r s .

S t u d e n t s a l s o n e e d t o s p e n d t i m e a t t h e d e p a r t m e n t , a t t e n d i n g m e e t i n g s , p a r t i c i p a t in g

i n s t u d e n t a c t iv i ti e s , a n d m a k i n g t h e i r p r e s e n c e f e lt . C u l t i v a ti n g r e l a t io n s h i p s w i t h f a c -

u l t y m e m b e r s i s e s s e n t ia l f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d r e p u t a t i o n b u i ld i n g . F a c u l t y

h a v e s p o n s o r s h i p t i e s w i t h o t h e r u n i v e r s i ti e s a n d o f f e r st u d e n t s o p p o r t u n i t i e s to c o - a u -

t h o r a r ti c le s . I n a p r o f e s s i o n t h a t i s d r i v e n b y t h e n u m b e r a n d q u a l i t y o f p u b l i c a t io n s ,

o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r c o l l a b o r a t i o n m u s t b e s e iz e d . T h o s e s t u d e n t s w h o l o s e t o u c h w i t h t h e

d a i l y l if e a t t h e i r d e p a r t m e n t a r e o f t e n t h o s e w h o a re n o t o n t r a ck .

R e p u t a t i o n s a n d C u l t u r e s : S o c i o l o g y a s a V a c a t i o n

W e o p e n e d w i t h a q u o t e f r o m W e b e r 's c la s s ic a d d r e s s S c i e n c e a s a V o c a t i o n i n

w h i c h h e q u e s t i o n e d t h e m e a n i n g o f e n g a g i n g i n i n te l l ec t u a l a c ti v i ty a s o n e ' s l if e w o r k .

T h i s q u e s t i o n s t i l l p l a g u e s y o u n g s o c i o l o g i s t s . W h a t d o e s i t m e a n t o b e c o m e a n a c a -

d e m i c ? M o r e i m p o r t a n t l y , h o w d o e s o n e g a i n e n tr d e t o a p r o f e s s i o n w h e r e o n l y a fe w

g a i n i n s t i t u t i o n a l r e w a r d s a n d t h e r e c i p e f o r s u c c e s s i s v a r i a b le , u n c e r t a i n o r u n d i s c l o s e d ?

D u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t r a i n i n g , m a n y g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s f e e l i s o l a te d , a l i e n a te d , d i s t r u s t -

f u l, u n w o r t h y , a n d u n t a l e n t e d . W h a t i s m o s t t r o u b l i n g s o c i o l o g i c a l ly i s t h a t m a n y s tu -

d e n t s c o n c e p t u a l i z e t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s a s p e r s o n a l a n d u n i q u e r a t h e r t h a n i n e v i ta b l e r o a d -

b l o c k s o n t h e p a s s a g e t h r o u g h g r a d u a t e s c h o o l . T h e y l a c k a s o c i o l o g i c a l im a g i n a t i o n .

A l l s o c i a l w o r l d s a re s t a tu s s y s t e m s . N o m a t t e r h o w u n n e r v i n g , a c a d e m i c l i fe is n o

d i f f e r e n t . A u t h o r i t y , p o w e r , a n d n e t w o r k p o s i t i o n d e t e r m i n e s t a n d i n g . S o c i o l o g y i s a

p r o f e s s i o n w i t h i n s t i tu t i o n a l i z e d p r a c t i c e s d r i v e n b y s t a tu s a t t a i n m e n t . H i e r a r c h y a n d

s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n h a v e a d i a l e c t i c a l r e la t i o n s h i p . T h e f a c u l t y - s t u d e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p i s o n e

o f s t r u c t u r e d i n e q u a l i t y i n w h i c h t h e g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t o c c u p i e s a p r o v i s io n a l r o l e u n t il

a u t h o r i t ie s c o n f i r m h i s / h e r re p u t a t i o n a s a s c h o la r . T h r o u g h s o c i a l i z at io n , s t u d e n t i d e n -

t it ie s a r e n e g o t i a t e d w i t h i n a r e p u t a t i o n m a r k e t l i n k e d t o s t a t u s p o l it ic s . T h e p r o b l e m i s

t h a t s t u d e n t s d o n o t a l w a y s k n o w t h e r u l e s , a n d e v e n w h e n t h e y d o , t h e y d o n o t k n o w

h o w t o p la y t h e g a m e . M o r e o v e r , th e u n c e r t a i n t y o f n o t k n o w i n g o n e ' s s t a n d i n g i n a

c o h o r t c a n b e p a r a l y z i n g t o p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t . A l l s t u d e n t s m u s t a c ti v e l y c o n -

s i d e r n o t o n l y i f t h e y r e a ll y w i s h a n a c a d e m i c c a r e e r b u t a l s o i f t h e a c a d e m i c w o r l d

w a n t s t h e m . D u r i n g t h e i r f i v e t o te n y e a r s o f st u d y , w a t c h i n g d e b t m o u n t , s t u d e n t s a g o -

n i z e o v e r th e i r f a t e. W i l l th e y b e o f f e r e d a p o s i t i o n a t a p r o m i n e n t r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t i o n , at

a li b e r a l a r ts s c h o o l , a t a c o m m u n i t y c o l l e g e , o r r e c e i v e n o o f f e r a t a l l?

G i v e n t h i s r e a l i t y , g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n r e f o r m i s s t i l l p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t r e s o r t i n g t o

u t o p i a n i s m . R e f o r m b e g i n s w i t h t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f a s ta t u s s y s t e m , g r o u p c u l t u r e , a n d

s t r u c tu r a l in e q u a l i ti e s . R e c o g n i z i n g c o m m o n c i r c u m s t a n c e s m a y m i t i g a t e t h e s e d o l e f u l

e f f e c ts . W e o f f e r o u r a d v i c e a s a n i n v i t a t i o n f o r s o c i o l o g i s t s t o t h i n k l i k e s o c i o l o g i s t s . B y

a d d r e s s i n g t h e s o c i a l p s y c h o l o g i c a l a s p e c t s o f t h e l iv e s o f s t u d e n t c o m m u n i t i e s a n d c u l -

t u r e s, w e h o p e t o f a c il it a te t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a n d s p a r k

f u r t h e r d e b a t e a b o u t t h e c u r r e n t s t a te o f g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n . I f t h e s e h o p e s a re i l lu s o r y ,

a t l e a s t t h e y p a y t r i b u t e t o o u r s o c i o l o g i c a l i m a g i n a t i o n .

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