Name

Jedd Hakimi

School

University of Pittsburgh

Degree Program

Second year PhD student in film studies

Previous Degrees

Master of Arts in Humanities with a concentration in Cinema and Media Studies from University of Chicago, 2009; Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature, 2006

Dissertation Topic

Aesthetics and politics across visual media

Research Interests

Cultural Studies

Advisor

Not yet chosen

Hobbies

Video games, basketball, seeing friends

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school or program?

I selected the film studies PhD program at University of Pittsburgh because a few of my professors from my masters program at University of Chicago recommended it. I didn't develop my focus in film studies until I was in the middle of my program at Chicago, It also wasn't my original intention to pursue this field, though I am happy with my change of course. I had initially hoped to pursue a PhD in humanities at University of Chicago.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

My previous experience with graduate school applications helped prepare me to apply for PhD programs. I first applied to PhD programs after my undergraduate degree. I did not fully understand the application process so I was not a particularly strong applicant. The second time around I crafted a more careful, convincing application.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, I was required to submit GRE scores with my application to University of Pittsburgh. My math score was quite high but I did not do well on the English portion of the test. The minimum score for admission was around 700, but I don’t think test scores held much weight in the overall application.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

In my personal statement I briefly included background information, and I wrote about the research I was interested in conducting. I named the specific professors at University of Pittsburgh whose research I was interested in, and I also explained how my own work could correspond with theirs.

I think the most important thing I did when I wrote my personal statement was tailor the letter to each specific school. The first time I applied to PhD programs, I sent out a single, generic letter with every application but I did not get into any PhD programs. This time, I wrote an individual letter for each application and I think that made a big difference.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

For my letters of recommendation, I approached a professor who knew me well and would give me a positive recommendation. She was a film studies professor at University of Chicago and I had taken several courses from her.

I only specifically asked 1 professor for a letter of recommendation. Another professor at University of Chicago offered to write a letter for during an appointment I made with him to get his opinion on the top PhD programs that I should apply to.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in film studies?

For other students who are considering applying to graduate school, I suggest cultivating relationships with professors during their undergraduate or masters programs. Throughout my masters program, I sought out my professors. I visited them in their offices and talked with them during class. Because I built good relationships with them, I was able to ask for advice on PhD programs and also get letters of recommendation.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My PhD program in film studies typically takes 6 years to complete, but that can vary depending on how long it takes to complete the dissertation. During the first year, students take formal classes. In the second and third years, students attend classes and teach as well. For the fourth and fifth years, students continue to teach but do not attend any classes. During this time, they work on their dissertations.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

I am still in the early stages of researching for my dissertation, and I have not narrowed down my topic. In general, I plan to explore the idea of spectatorship, and how people’s experiences are defined through consuming media. Next year, I will take a course that is supposed to help me formulate my dissertation topic and write my proposal. In the meantime, I am compiling sources from my coursework that might be helpful when I begin working on my dissertation.

I recommend that other students who are in the process of choosing a dissertation topic take a look at a variety of journal articles to see what different scholars have already written about. It is important to make sure that a student’s dissertation research is current, and not a repetition of what was already said 20 years ago.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

I have not chosen an advisor yet, but I will select my advisor when I get closer to writing my dissertation.

How does a doctoral program differ from graduate study at the masters level?

My PhD program is different from my masters program because I am more focused on my long term professional career. During my masters program, I knew I would be there for only a year and I was concerned with learning what I needed to in order to advance to a PhD program. In my PhD program, everything I do and learn can have a direct effect on my professional career. For instance, now I am concerned about writing papers that I can submit for publication but that was not a consideration in my masters degree program.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How are you funding your education?

Essentially, I get paid to be in my PhD program. During the first year, all students are guaranteed a fellowship, which includes a generous living stipend. After that, students work as teaching assistants. The living stipend is smaller for the teaching assistant position, but still enough money to get by.

After coursework is completed, the program offers dissertation fellowships which allow students to continue getting paid without teaching so that they can concentrate on their dissertations. While not guaranteed, it is fairly typical for PhD students to earn one of these fellowships.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in film studies?

Although my PhD program is demanding, I also have a lot of freedom in my schedule. Most weeks, I spend 7 hours attending classes and another 3 hours a week teaching classes. In addition, I audit classes that I find interesting. I spend a lot of time preparing for classes and writing papers, but I also arrange my schedule to allow time for things that I enjoy. On average, I have about 20 hours of free time each week.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

For the most part, graduate school has not had a negative affect on my personal life. My girlfriend is in her own graduate program in New York, so my school obligations do not impact my relationship. In addition, my department holds regular social events, so I have the opportunity to socialize despite a busy schedule.

I have also developed a few strategies to help me balance school with my personal life. First, I limit the time I spend on unproductive Internet sites. I use a program that literally locks me out of specific websites after a certain amount of time, so I can’t waste time surfing the Internet.

Second, I try to be aware of when I should be studying and when I should be unwinding in order to efficient. I can spend 1 day working hard and 1 day completely relaxing, or I can spend 2 days working with partial effort. I have to make a point to find the balance in order to manage my time well.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In the future, I plan to work in academia. I hope to secure a tenure-track position at a big institution, ideally in a nice city. I would also like to find a job at a university with a dedicated film studies department as opposed to being the single film studies professor. I might also consider a post-doctoral program but I would prefer to enter the job market upon earning my PhD.

In addition to working as a professor, I plan to write books. I would love to start a new generation of scholarship on media, including film, video games and online media.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in film studies?

If you are interested in pursuing a PhD in film studies, I recommend that you focus on the classes and faculty at any program that you are considering. You will be surrounded by the people in your program so it is important that you find a good fit. I am fortunate that my professors and peers are supportive of one another but I have friends who are in PhD programs where there is a lot of conflict and competition. Unfortunately, that type of environment is sometimes the reality in academia, and it is important to be aware of that potential in order to choose the best atmosphere and match for you.