Two Utes

If you don't understand this entry's title, go watch My Cousin Vinny. Do it. Yes, it's a B-movie but...just...just do it. You'll laugh, I promise.

I've been keeping this on the down-low because I have no idea what is considered culturally or professionally appropriate with regard to this kind of matter, but I'm going to put the big news out there for any and all interested: I received an offer of admission at Utah.

Okay, most of our readers probably are already aware of that. I may have either told you directly or insinuated it elsewhere. Still, I just wanted to go ahead and put the information up in case anyone didn't know and was wondering what a lot of my weird Facebook statuses as of late have been about.

This actually semi-completes my hearing back from PhD programs and it's a huge weight off of my back. A definitive "Yes" is a great thing to hear (and the funding isn't bad, either), especially after first receiving a definite "No" and an unclear "Maybe". I can finally rest a little easier at night knowing I have at least one option for my future work and study.

For those of you wondering why I'm considering doing my work at Utah, here's the scoop: There are virtually no programs that provide an environment for students to pursue a project utilizing Chinese philosophy (in philosophy) along with other branches of philosophy and other disciplines. Almost none. The limit approaches zero. Most universities, if they do have a specialist in Chinese philosophy in philosophy, end up being very limited in other options; you're forced toward specialization. Utah is fortunate to have one of the top young minds in Chinese philosophy along with a rather eclectic faculty in philosophy. On top of that, several of their other departments that I may need to draw from, mainly anthropology, are well-respected. The icing on the cake is that UU is very close to some lovely national parks and is infinitely cleaner than Hong Kong Island. Okay, that last part is just a living preference, but you get the picture.

So is it all settled? Utah, ho? Well, no, at least not yet. As exciting and wonderful as all of this is, in fairness I'm still waiting to hear back from UCR about their offer (if they are going to make one), at which time I will compare potentials, consult my friends, family, advisors, and magic highball (no, not eight ball highball. I know what I said). I also want to make sure that, wherever I go, Carina will have opportunities. If there's anything we've learned from our time in Hong Kong, it's that neither of us is going to be the "stay-at-home" type...ever.

That's actually something very important to take into account and, frankly, it's kinda' bugging me that no university to which I have applied seems to be considerate of that factor. Don't get me wrong, I respect that admissions committees look first and foremost at the applicants themselves and their respective abilities. I also know, however, that they take things like educational pedigree, financial status, and certain elements of life history into consideration. I have not, however, encountered any rubric that takes marital status into serious consideration, and I find that troubling. The fact of the matter is that we all too often think of marriage as a "privilege" that should only be doled out under appropriate circumstances. I'm not just talking about homophobic reactions to gay marriage; even heterosexual couplings undergo scrutiny if they do not meet certain exacting standards. As with so many things, what was once a significant tribal custom has become a commodity in the minds of many, even if it's just subconscious.

I'm not saying that I deserve special treatment because I'm married, but I am saying that it would be nice for universities to at least provide support in the form of information and recommendations for espoused students. I'm not married because "I can afford it"; I'm married because I met someone I love and chose to spend the rest of my life with her. I don't think that makes me foolish, just human.

Let's not get too bogged down in this kind of ranting, though. As I said, Utah's offer is very generous and, with any luck, I'll also be hearing about California's opportunities in the next week or so. Regardless of where I end up, I'm sure that both Carina and I will be able to flourish. I wish it could have been closer to home but, then again, anything is closer than Hong Kong.

So, here's to Utah, to potential, to us!

Cheers,

Colin