Academic rant
Me, 3 weeks ago, writing to a certain department head: "Dear Prof. X! I am going to apply for a position in you department. My primary interest is A, and my secondary interest is B. From looking at your site, I find that A might not be entirely suitable for your department, while B fits much better. Would you mind if I submit my research plan for A, or should I stick with B?"
Prof. X, 3 weeks ago, in a response: "Dear scary_hairy, you can submit whatever is more interesting to you."
Me, yesterday: "Dear Prof. X, here is my cover letter, CV, teaching statement and research plan with emphasis on A."
Prof. X, yesterday: "Dear scary_hairy, perhaps you could make a connection between your plan and B. B is of much interest to our department".
Me, to myself: "FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was a reason for the e-mail that I sent you 3 weeks ago, motherfucker!"
And the point is that it's not complicated on a practical level. I am actually doing B now, so I can write a research plan quite easily. It's annoying on a principal level - I was doing everything I could in order to prevent this situation, but it happened anyway because the other side is a schmuck.
Prof. X, 3 weeks ago, in a response: "Dear scary_hairy, you can submit whatever is more interesting to you."
Me, yesterday: "Dear Prof. X, here is my cover letter, CV, teaching statement and research plan with emphasis on A."
Prof. X, yesterday: "Dear scary_hairy, perhaps you could make a connection between your plan and B. B is of much interest to our department".
Me, to myself: "FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was a reason for the e-mail that I sent you 3 weeks ago, motherfucker!"
And the point is that it's not complicated on a practical level. I am actually doing B now, so I can write a research plan quite easily. It's annoying on a principal level - I was doing everything I could in order to prevent this situation, but it happened anyway because the other side is a schmuck.