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[wannabephd]

Trust me.  I am not a member of a SC. I accepted a tenure-track position last year. I made a bad decision. Therefore, I am trying to find out as much information on the schools I will visit in the next few weeks.

I wasn't trying to accuse you of being a SC member, just observing that it would be a good way to stir up interest about a school.  There was a "why won't they apply" thread a few weeks back -- that SC member should have anonymously posted a "Mysterious College?" thread and everyone would do a search of the job postings to see what openings might be there.

Or maybe I'm the only one who does that.

[foundations37]

I do agree with you. It is possible for SC members to use this forum to attract more applicants for their departments' positions. I am just hoping to find some useful information here, which may help me make a more informed decision this year.

[wannabephd]

Good luck to you!  Here's hoping that all the forumites find their Dream Job (or at least Good Enough For Now Job) this year (including me).

[losemygrip]

My goodness!  If I had heard all these good things about Ball State a few years ago, I might have applied there.  Who knew?

[biologyprof]

If you go, as mentioned above, you've got to see the plaque that David Letterman posted.  It's not often you see a brass plaque for all those "C" students.  I believe it's hanging up in the Communications building, but I could be mistaken.  I've got a picture somewhere....

Maybe don't ask the SC for a special trip to see it though.

[dale1]

By the way, there is no "University of Indiana".  Indiana University is a multi-campus system that serves the entire state (and has an international reputation and mission, by the way).  Sometimes this gets into the media that University of Indiana is playing University of Iowa and all hell breaks loose around here.

[helpful]

Well, the University of California system exists! And then there is the University of Alabama, University of Alabama-Birmingham, etc.
I never get straight what is University of X and what is X University. There doesn't seem to be any rule as to why one is called one and not the other.

Is there a rule? Or just capriciousness to confuse us?

[adhoc]

Well, the University of California system exists! And then there is the University of Alabama, University of Alabama-Birmingham, etc.

Yeah, and there is an Ohio University, West Virginia University, New York University ...  So what?  If you're not sure, it is a very simple matter to check it out on a search engine before posting it incorrectly.  For example putting "california university" into Yahoo without the quotation marks, will show you University of California.  (It will also list California University and clear up any confusion between the two.)  Putting in "indiana university," again, without quotation marks, will clear up the IU vs U of Ind confusion.

[helpful]

Well, the University of California system exists! And then there is the University of Alabama, University of Alabama-Birmingham, etc.

Yeah, and there is an Ohio University, West Virginia University, New York University ...  So what?  If you're not sure, it is a very simple matter to check it out on a search engine before posting it incorrectly.  For example putting "california university" into Yahoo without the quotation marks, will show you University of California.  (It will also list California University and clear up any confusion between the two.)  Putting in "indiana university," again, without quotation marks, will clear up the IU vs U of Ind confusion.

Yes, I know. But why are some University of X and others are X University?
Why is it University of Florida and not Florida University? Why is it Ohio University and not University of Ohio? Why is it University of Arizona but West Virginia University?

[kellerdd]

Just wanted to share my view. I am a Ball State graduate and am proud of the school. I graduated with a degree in journalism. I chose BSU because of their strong program.

The campus has been improved over the years, but still has the same charm and feel from the 80s. I would love to have the opportunity to teach there.

The town is okay, not as charming as the campus, but like others said, it has the basics. And it's not too much of a drive to Indianapolis. I know people who have commuted, just to stay in the area.

I went to high school about a 45-min. drive from Muncie; there are many small towns around there that one can live.

[manicpanic]

nnn

[airball]

It's been a while since anyone had anything to say about Ball Staate, but they're hiring in my field of the humanities, so I thought I'd see if opinions have changed...

Thoughts?

Thanks,

airball

[mountainguy]

I don't know anything about the university's current financial situation or the status of their departments. However, I attended a non-academic conference there when I was an undergraduate and liked it. The campus is not terribly attractive physically, but it is functional. I didn't get to explore much of Muncie, but as I recall, it's a generic midwestern city.

[the_honey_badger]

Interviewed there in the last decade, was offered a job and STUPIDLY turned them down for the second-ring-of-hell. Why? Because my advisor and all my "informal advisors" screamed: "take the bigger State U with the doctoral program!!!!! Whatever 'issues' you think you saw are minor! You can ignore them and just do your work! don't be a fool!"

Great people, nice students and I was sorry within days of signing a contract with The Other School.

[mountainguy]

BTR's story reminds that I've learned to trust my own intuition over conventional wisdom in the vast majority of circumstances, academic or not. I've been burned too many times by other people's opinions.