coffee, commiseration, and academia

[nynaeve]

Ooh, the ides of March.

There's something oddly comforting about sitting in Kerckhoff during tenth week, surrounded by overcaffeinated students who are probably just as screwed as you are. The free coffee is nice too, and evidently as dangerous to me as open bar. Nooo willpower whatsoever.

I keep staring at the title page of my thesis. As I

Comments

[aprendiz]

That is an interesting site and I'm still working through and digesting the material there. I bought one of the books she mentions--Getting What You Came For--a month ago or so but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. If you're interested, I'll let you know what I think once I do

[nynaeve]

Actually, I bought Getting What You Came For a few months ago too, but (like GRRM) it's had to take a back seat to reading for classes. I would definitely be interested in hearing your thoughts on it whenever you get around to reading it.

Where did you hear about it, btw? I ordered it after seeing various people recommend it at applyingtograd and a few other places.

Do any particular Language Log articles come to mind? If so, I'd like to read 'em.

Thanks for the long and thoughtful response.

[aprendiz]

I made a deal with myself that I was allowed to do non-class-related reading over break without the Spirit of the Protestant Work Ethic (why I even have it, I don't know, I was raised Catholic) nagging me too much as long as it's "productive" in some way, and I've read a hundred pages of it since I posted that comment.

I like it so far. A lot of the advice feels like common sense, but it's probably necessary for people who want to go to grad school as a way to postpone figuring out what to do with their lives rather than as a necessary means to a particular end. The first couple sections are basically "are you sure you really need this?" The look on the inside of the admissions process is interesting, with a few sections with quotes from admissions committees about the selection process and what makes people stand out, etc

[nynaeve]

Oh, and happy patron saint's day. ;) If we get to drink up this summer, remind me to introduce you to the Irish car bomb!

[satsumabug]

I'll have to read that Straight Talk site, when I have more time!

[nynaeve]

What masters program was this? I remember you mentioning projects but I was never sure what they were for.

Time passes in half years and years, and I guess I'm the kind of person who's gotten too used to shakeups and major changes in life that I'd personally be afraid of getting too settled and stagnating.

Funny you mention this. I can see what you mean, but I'm here doing this thesis precisely because I felt myself stagnating in my office job. Since it was clearly leading nowhere and I wasn't learning anything new, I finally kicked myself out of that comfort zone.