Grad School is TOUGH...right... [Archive]

kittynh

9th July 2006, 06:23 PM

so on a happy note, since most of these threads are kinda depressing...

Kitten is having one heck of a time in Grad school this summer. At first we were sad that she was going to have to go to school on Cape Cod all summer.

Right...

I went to visit. Right behind her house is a bike trail that runs between Woods Hole and Falmouth. It's a 10 minute short walk to the beach. One of several beaches, including the private one the school owns. School seems to consist of a cool math teacher, and a lot of hot guys.

Life is rough.

Did I mention she doesn't have to student teach and she's getting paid?

the view behind her "dorm" cottage

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6343/school6dw.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=school6dw.jpg)

kittynh

9th July 2006, 06:26 PM

then there is this building where she takes "classes" well, A class.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6817/school25wa.th.jpg (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=school25wa.jpg)

kittynh

9th July 2006, 06:30 PM

then THIS is her school next Spring...

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/589/school37ay.th.jpg (http://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=school37ay.jpg)

kittynh

9th July 2006, 06:32 PM

I would like to thank the American tax payers. Seriously, this is one heck of a sweet deal.

and I'm sure in the future she will name a new rock she finds after you.

Luciana

9th July 2006, 06:32 PM

One of my frustrations in life is that my university, even though was one of the best in the country, was a horrible place. Looked like a Blade Runner scenario. :(

Im very glad for her! Makes memories much more pleasant! Go Kitten!

Soapy Sam

9th July 2006, 06:57 PM

A low-K Randiite sounds kinda cool...

slingblade

9th July 2006, 11:50 PM

Did I mention she doesn't have to student teach and she's getting paid?

I hate her, in that "not-really-I-just-hate-that-I-do-have-to-student-teach" kind of way.

:)

I wouldn't even mind not getting paid.

Zep

10th July 2006, 02:41 AM

I note that the "research" vessel has a covered radome on the back... Trainee spies work that part??

:D

There will be plenty of rocks down here for her when she arrives. Some have really old fossils too - surely there will be a chance to find a randii skepticalis fossil...

Chaos

10th July 2006, 12:56 PM

kittynh

10th July 2006, 01:04 PM

maybe she will name it Brokus Parentus, after her mom and dad that paid for the first 4 years in full.

Actually a Randi rock would be the greatest.

Jorghnassen

10th July 2006, 01:07 PM

There are only 2 times when grad school is actually tough: the qualitfying exams and the thesis writing sprint before the deadline. In between those two it's pretty sweet.

/technically in that sprint phase as I type...

SkepticScott

10th July 2006, 02:03 PM

It's a 10 minute short walk to the beach.And as a geologist, I'll bet she spends some time examining the sand on the beach. :)

(I shouldn't talk -- I have a television in my office.)

kittynh

10th July 2006, 05:34 PM

it is so tough on the poor girl that I am going to drive out on Friday and stay for a LONG weekend through MOnday just to support her. Poor baby. She needs someone to help carry the cooler and the beach towels. Then I need to get up early and stroll into Woods HOle for a early morning muffin and tea. Just checking for terrorists and such. Seriously, there are signs all over Woods HOle saying "Private property, top secret, no unauthorized admittance!" because they do top secrety stuff. And the whole area is full of old men sitting on big plastic buckets turned upside down fishing. I'm sure they all have clearance. I ignored the signs too.

Anyway, I'm just glad I can support my daughter by putting suntan lotion on her back and reminding her when to turn. Being a mom is tough.

Kitten

12th July 2006, 09:43 AM

Yes, life is really incredible here... when I was given a tour of the building and grounds last week, they showed me my office and my advisor's office then showed me the two beach volleyball courts, soccer field, baseball field, basketball court, tennis courts, fitness trails, bike path, and-- of course-- the beach. Next, I was given a tour of the incredibly plush student center, complete with a full kitchen, library and reading room (with ocean view), ping pong, pool, and several oversized couches arranged in front of the plasma screen TV with surround sound. If I ever have trouble finding an apartment, I think I'll just move into the student center. It's been done before, apparently.

My research is cool so far, too. I'm playing with the ion microprobe for awhile this summer and then I'll be working on some samples from Iceland as well as my other project on the volcanics in the Indian Ocean.

Hindmost

14th July 2006, 07:31 AM

I dunno Kitty, I am sensing "professional student" status on the horizon. Why would Kitten want to leave and go into the real world.

glenn:boxedin:

And that should be sunscreen I hope.

wollery

17th July 2006, 06:46 PM

I dunno Kitty, I am sensing "professional student" status on the horizon. Why would Kitten want to leave and go into the real world.

glenn:boxedin:

And that should be sunscreen I hope.If you mean becoming an academic I can highly recommend it. :)

I've tried the real world thing - it didn't agree with me. :boggled:

Smart_Cookie

17th July 2006, 07:29 PM

It sounds like heaven!!

Kitten - I'm so jealous.

(Wonder if I can go back and get another degree.....hmmmm. Never mind details like the mortgage, bills, etc.) :D

kittynh

18th July 2006, 05:39 PM

well I checked out the digs. The other grad students just kind of gave me a funny look, but what did I care? I checked out the bike path, it's seems alright beside the ocean and all that....checked out the town of Woods Hole (tourist prices folks!), very cute though. Checked out the beaches, seem up to the standards I expect for my daughter. Stocked her fridge and pantry, and did all the laundry. She wasn't too annoyed with me staying there as I let her party and go all day kayaking (I was too busy checking out the lighthouse and outlet shopping.)

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/4784/woodsholebridgefixedmm6.th.jpg (http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=woodsholebridgefixedmm6.jpg)

Even the graffitti on the draw bridge is rather tame.

kittynh

18th July 2006, 05:47 PM

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6792/evelynshousegl7.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=evelynshousegl7.jpg)

Evelyn has the bottom floor of this house for the summer. It's sweet....

kittynh

18th July 2006, 05:50 PM

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/8238/littlebeachyaj4.th.jpg (http://img102.imageshack.us/my.php?image=littlebeachyaj4.jpg)

the beach is a little too rocky for me, but it's not crowded so I suppose it will have to do.

Hindmost

19th July 2006, 07:15 AM

If you mean becoming an academic I can highly recommend it. :)

I've tried the real world thing - it didn't agree with me. :boggled:

Yes, that is what I was implying. I have often wondered...if I could go back in time...what a career as an academic would be. At the same time, I enjoyed my work in the real world.

glenn

kittynh

23rd July 2006, 06:22 PM

bumping so Larry can find it....

Larry Barrieau

23rd July 2006, 07:00 PM

Got it, thanks Kitty!

blutoski

30th July 2006, 12:03 PM

Yes, that is what I was implying. I have often wondered...if I could go back in time...what a career as an academic would be. At the same time, I enjoyed my work in the real world.

glenn

Having straddled both, I dont find them tremendously different. Especially these days with industry getting its tentacles into the universities. Research coordinators are looking a lot like commerce's Project Manager role. I think the transition back to academics will be pretty easy.

The big challenge is that masters researchers are paid squat, whereas entry-level jobs for undergrad degree-holders are generally comfortable. My friend is an MD, completing his PhD, and he's making $23k, which is peanuts for a licenced doctor in Ontario. I'm trying to encourage him to do some locums, but this is the most money he's ever made, so he feels rich.

wollery

30th July 2006, 06:17 PM

blutoski

30th July 2006, 08:30 PM

Depends greatly on your area of research!

True. Research medicine, I'm hoping. Experimental design. Trial protocols. Somewhat competitive because of its attachment to biotech and pharma.

Dogdoctor

30th July 2006, 09:36 PM

Well that is all nice. Really she has it easy. During my grad school on a typical day I would wake up at 5:30 or 6:00 am and eat breakfast get ready, be at school by 7:00 am study till classes start 8:00 then classes till noon, a one hour lunch break then classes till 5:00, then dinner (1 to 2 hours) then back to studying till about 11:00 pm, rinse and repeat. Weekends I would take about 4 to 8 hours off to do something other than study such as shopping, laundry, cooking (which I froze in microwavable dishes for later) playing video or pinball games, swimming, hiking, and of course punani patrol unless I had a girlfriend. Then senior year it went to study, school, eat, sleep and sometimes skip the eating or sleeping. :)

wollery

30th July 2006, 11:22 PM

True. Research medicine, I'm hoping. Experimental design. Trial protocols. Somewhat competitive because of its attachment to biotech and pharma.I'm in astronomy. We generally decide on our own research, although it's usually in collaboration with others, and the only real pressure is to produce papers.

Cuddles

2nd August 2006, 07:56 AM

One of my frustrations in life is that my university, even though was one of the best in the country, was a horrible place. Looked like a Blade Runner scenario. :(

I grew up just near the city Blade Runner was based on. It smells worse than it looks.

Yes, that is what I was implying. I have often wondered...if I could go back in time...what a career as an academic would be. At the same time, I enjoyed my work in the real world.

glenn

It seems to involve a lot of time here. If only they wouldn't give me the interweb.

pgwenthold

2nd August 2006, 09:03 AM

Well that is all nice. Really she has it easy. During my grad school on a typical day I would wake up at 5:30 or 6:00 am and eat breakfast get ready, be at school by 7:00 am study till classes start 8:00 then classes till noon, a one hour lunch break then classes till 5:00, then dinner (1 to 2 hours) then back to studying till about 11:00 pm, rinse and repeat.

What kind of grad school has classes from 8 to 5? That sounds more like a vet school schedule.

Grad school was, get to lab between 8 and 9, work until either lunch or a class you have to TA, maybe there is a class in there during your first couple of years, back to lab, leave around 8 or 9 pm.

If married, push the hours a little earlier, arriving between 7 and 8 and leaving between 7 and 8.

Sleep in on weekends, and show up more around 10 am.

kittynh

2nd August 2006, 11:17 AM

well, pretty soon she goest to Boston to take her MIT classes. Woods Hole is very laid back. MIT is pressure cooker.

Still, she is studying what she loves. And everyone is so NICE at Woods Hole.

For instance, there is a Chinese student. He's only been in the US for about 2 months. The other students made sure he found Chinatown in Boston (so he could get some food), and have been taking him around. I met him, and so far his English skills consist of, "Me MIN!!! From CHINA!!!" When I asked him where in China he was from he just looked confused and said, "From CHINA!" and looked like I was an idiot for not knowing where China was.

He also said, "Would you like a chair?" If he talks in complete sentences, it's something he's learned from his book. So some odd things come out.

He's rooming with a bunch of Naval Academy grads. They take him everywhere. One of the guys has the new H3. (Navy guys are paid well). Min likes to play with the built in DVD player. In China his family didn't have a car. He's kind of like thier puppy. But the point is that they make sure he come along. The funny thing is that the guy is a genius, a total complete Tesla, Edison....

But I think it's great that he's having one heck of a fun summer! They will make a party animal out of him yet!

Mercutio

2nd August 2006, 01:31 PM

so...did you like a chair?

Hindmost

2nd August 2006, 03:05 PM

Having straddled both, I dont find them tremendously different. Especially these days with industry getting its tentacles into the universities. Research coordinators are looking a lot like commerce's Project Manager role. I think the transition back to academics will be pretty easy.

The big challenge is that masters researchers are paid squat, whereas entry-level jobs for undergrad degree-holders are generally comfortable. My friend is an MD, completing his PhD, and he's making $23k, which is peanuts for a licenced doctor in Ontario. I'm trying to encourage him to do some locums, but this is the most money he's ever made, so he feels rich.

I think I would want to predominantly teach. When I was in college way back in the 70s, a good professor quit because he only wanted to teach and the department head wanted him to do research. I would assume the pressure to bring in research dollars would spoil a lot of academic fun.

I have had to play the project management role—a job where you try and manage people to get them to do the tasks they should know they are supposed to do anyhow. (at least in my old job) If college research has become pseudo-corporate, it would lose some of its appeal. Maybe not all, but some.
<O:p
Your friend should get paid way more money…
<O:p
glenn

Jorghnassen

3rd August 2006, 09:00 AM

Classes during grad school? I only had a handful spread out over the years (no more than 2 per semester, hence 6 hours a week at most). No labs, TAship every other semester (finances not being a problem for me)...

Anyway, I got a postdoc offer so I better go back to my thesis.

pgwenthold

3rd August 2006, 11:10 AM

Classes during grad school? I only had a handful spread out over the years (no more than 2 per semester, hence 6 hours a week at most). No labs,

I had a student who took an electronics class that had an associated lab, and I know some of the computional chem grad courses do some projects in the lab, but that's about it for "lab" classes in grad school. Of course, "lab" was all the time not in class, so it really didn't matter.

Jorghnassen

3rd August 2006, 12:47 PM

Well, not being in a physical science, the only "lab" I ever go into is the departmental computer lab, but only because the printer is there.

kittynh

3rd August 2006, 01:47 PM

TA? what is this TA you speak of?

MIT and Woods Hole don't do that TA stuff.

All I did was keep thinking, "all you rich people are paying a fortune to rent right on the water here, and Woods Hole is PAYING my daughter to live here."

See, it isn't about earning money, it's about spending other peoples money.

That and playing with the ion probe!!!

I was trying to ask her "boss" about the probe. For instance, "So what's the difference between a large probe like this and a smaller probe? In other words, does size matter?"

When I got to "Is this a hands on kind of probe?" and "Is the probe turned on NOW?"
she kind of kicked me out.

Hey, it's MY job as a mother to make her blush.

Jorghnassen

3rd August 2006, 02:22 PM

Most early classes at my alma mater need TA sections to undo (or enhance) the damage done by the prof in the regular lectures. Of course, if you're lucky (or unlucky), you can get an actual teaching job so you can irreparably warp the kids' minds all by yourself.

kittynh

3rd August 2006, 04:10 PM

MIT is too stuck up and full of itself to allow TAs.

Woods Hole, hey cowabunga dude, formal learning is like so...boring dude. Let's all get a latte and just talk about how cool underwater volcanos and lasers are. You, the student ARE the teacher, after all, aren't we all teachers and students in life?

wollery

3rd August 2006, 11:47 PM

The Chinese guy will have studied English for several years. If he's a grad student he'll probably have had to pass an exam in it. The problem is that they tend to learn written English, but do very little oral practice. This means that they can read English quite well, write it okay (except that what they write tends to be ChEnglish :D ), but are really bad at both understanding and using spoken English.

Kitten

4th August 2006, 06:42 AM

Hey! The probe questions were my idea (though I would never actually ask my professor them...)

MIT does have TAs. In fact, practically all MIT grad students in geology have to TA. It's only the oceanographers who are special and don't have to teach...

This summer is fairly sweet. I'm doing lots of reading and a little chemistry and mass spectrometry, but mostly I'm just hanging out with friends and going to the beach. Life will be a little more challenging when classes start up in a few weeks, but really it's not so bad. Getting paid to do amazing research and to learn about geology and travel is fairly sweet...

TA? what is this TA you speak of?

MIT and Woods Hole don't do that TA stuff.

All I did was keep thinking, "all you rich people are paying a fortune to rent right on the water here, and Woods Hole is PAYING my daughter to live here."

See, it isn't about earning money, it's about spending other peoples money.

That and playing with the ion probe!!!

I was trying to ask her "boss" about the probe. For instance, "So what's the difference between a large probe like this and a smaller probe? In other words, does size matter?"

When I got to "Is this a hands on kind of probe?" and "Is the probe turned on NOW?"
she kind of kicked me out.

Hey, it's MY job as a mother to make her blush.

Kitten

4th August 2006, 06:47 AM

Min is great. He's my officemate and becoming a good friend. We're all helping him with his English as he has to take a big test in a couple of weeks at MIT.

The H3 is also great. I didn't think I'd like a hummer, but I have to admit that this car is pretty sweet. Smaller, so it's not as much of a gas-guzzler. It does very well off-road and on some of the small New England dirt roads around here. Plus, the satellite radio, leather interior, and two DVD players aren't so bad...

I've also become friends with some crazy Russians. They like to dance. Disco style. Saturday night Woods Hole fever.

well, pretty soon she goest to Boston to take her MIT classes. Woods Hole is very laid back. MIT is pressure cooker.

Still, she is studying what she loves. And everyone is so NICE at Woods Hole.

For instance, there is a Chinese student. He's only been in the US for about 2 months. The other students made sure he found Chinatown in Boston (so he could get some food), and have been taking him around. I met him, and so far his English skills consist of, "Me MIN!!! From CHINA!!!" When I asked him where in China he was from he just looked confused and said, "From CHINA!" and looked like I was an idiot for not knowing where China was.

He also said, "Would you like a chair?" If he talks in complete sentences, it's something he's learned from his book. So some odd things come out.

He's rooming with a bunch of Naval Academy grads. They take him everywhere. One of the guys has the new H3. (Navy guys are paid well). Min likes to play with the built in DVD player. In China his family didn't have a car. He's kind of like thier puppy. But the point is that they make sure he come along. The funny thing is that the guy is a genius, a total complete Tesla, Edison....

But I think it's great that he's having one heck of a fun summer! They will make a party animal out of him yet!

wollery

4th August 2006, 07:14 AM

Min is great. He's my officemate and becoming a good friend. We're all helping him with his English as he has to take a big test in a couple of weeks at MIT.Pretty much everyone here is incredibly friendly and cheerful. My officemate has an amazingly infectious smile.

kittynh

5th August 2006, 07:04 PM

so how was the hot date with Red Tide study dude?

And did anyone fill in all those holes in Woods Hole?

exarch

21st August 2006, 07:04 AM

Wow, nice place.

I wish I could find a job that offered me accomodations like that ... :(

kittynh

22nd August 2006, 12:56 PM

It doesn't pay well, but even Rebecca was looking forward to next summer when Kitten returns! It's a sweet deal.

One day she may need to get a real job, but right now....

exarch

23rd August 2006, 12:25 PM

Anything that pays enough so you can live in a place with a roof, hot water and and heating, enough left to eat every day and alowing you to have a bit of fun too is a real job.

Zbu

24th August 2006, 04:23 PM

Kitten

28th August 2006, 07:25 AM

I'm depressed now. I'm trying to get in a Ph.D program but I have my doubts if I'll ever be able to use it (English with a concentration in Film Studies which apparently one of my professors suggested I go for). Anybody offer some encouragement or discouragement?

I know relatively little about grad school in the humanities, but I really enjoy being a graduate student. You may not be paid very much, but being able to pursue something you're really passionate about is worth much more than a big bucks salary, in my opinion.

Also, filling out a few applications never hurt anyone. At worst, you will lose a couple of hundred dollars in application fees and a few nights of sleep while fretting about your admissions essays. That's a small price for the opportunity of a lifetime, though... you never know...

For instance, I have a friend pursuing a master's degree in Arabic. She almost didn't apply to graduate school because her GRE scores were low, she struggled a little with the Arabic (it's a tough language), and she started the whole application process late. However, she went ahead and filled out the applications, and now she's studying Arabic at Harvard on a full scholarship! Admittedlly, Arabic is in demand these days so there's more funding for Arabic than other humanities fields. Nonetheless, you never know until you apply!

wollery

28th August 2006, 11:19 PM

At worst, you will lose a couple of hundred dollars in application fees :eek:

They charge you to apply?!?!?! :boggled:

Kitten

29th August 2006, 05:00 PM

:eek:

They charge you to apply?!?!?! :boggled:

Unfortunately... the fancier the school, the more expensive the fee. State school fees are on the order of $30 to $40. MIT was $80, I believe. Adds up quickly, but it's still cheaper than med school or law school fees, I believe...

wollery

29th August 2006, 07:30 PM

Sorry to seem repetitive, but I have to check this to make sure I'm really understanding - the colleges charge you to send them an application form? :boggled:

Kitten

30th August 2006, 05:31 AM

Sorry to seem repetitive, but I have to check this to make sure I'm really understanding - the colleges charge you to send them an application form? :boggled:

Yes, they charge you to apply. Both undergraduate and graduate programs. Application fees vary depending on the program and institution.

If you don't get in... well, there goes your money...

exarch

30th August 2006, 06:20 AM

Yes, they charge you to apply. Both undergraduate and graduate programs. Application fees vary depending on the program and institution.

If you don't get in... well, there goes your money...

And yet, with all that money coming in, they still charge an arm and a leg in tuition I suspect ...

Dylab

31st August 2006, 06:01 PM

Well if you go to grad school there is a pretty chance you'll get a teachers assistant or research assistant gig that will pay tuition plus a stipend.

wollery

31st August 2006, 09:07 PM

Hey, don't get me wrong, I have no problem with them charging tuition, and lots of it. After all, grad students take up a lot of the time of research and teaching staff. I know, I've been a grad student, and I'm currently running one! (sort of)

But charging people to send in an application form is just taking things too far! I see no justification for it. It can't be for the money, even the most prestigious schools don't get that many applications for graduate study.

exarch

1st September 2006, 08:37 AM

But charging people to send in an application form is just taking things too far! I see no justification for it. It can't be for the money, even the most prestigious schools don't get that many applications for graduate study.

Because they're charging people for applications I guess. It sort of weeds out those people who'd otherwise just send out applications like crazy without actually being serious about it.

kittynh

1st September 2006, 07:34 PM

wollery

3rd September 2006, 09:56 PM

I work at a private school that starts with preschool! We charge $35 application fee. Why? Because we have to process it and do a lot of work. That includes paying a company that checks the financial information included, and does a background check. We don't want any parent with a history of arrest for being a sex offender. Sorry. We do want to know that you CAN afford the tuition. Once you let someone in, the school is really nice about letting tuition slide a month or two if you really have troubles. Even more for a job loss or serious illness. WE do not want to be in the position of kicking a little kid out of school for non payment by the parents.

That costs about $35, which isn't including the cost of the time of the staff at school that works on it!

Financial and security checks cost a bit.This I understand, anyone applying to work with children, particularly small children, should be checked extremely carefully. And by saying up front, "We are going to check you out very carefully, and you're going to pay for those checks." you discourage those who know they'll fail.

But a postgrad application is an entirely different kettle of fish. For most subjects there is no reason to do any background checks, if you don't have the qualifications you aren't going to get in, and qualifications are actually very quick and easy to check, and if you do have the qualifications then it's unlikely that you're not serious about wanting to do postgrad study. Add to this that you have to write an essay for the application (in the US), which makes it very easy to discard those people who are unsuitable, and there really isn't any reason to charge any money to filter out unqualified, unsuitable or non-serious candidates.

I've just reread kitten's last post and noticed that they also charge for undergraduate applications, which at $30 or more a time is a real money earner, so I guess they just charge for any application. Doesn't make it right. :(

kittynh

4th September 2006, 07:18 AM

You want to know what ISN'T RIGHT?

So she has to pay for her apartment in Boston (thank goodness the stipend and such covers it)...but they are letting her KEEP for FREE the place on Cape Cod as she might want to spend the night there during the week if she is working on a project. Did I mention the free bus service that runs between Woods Hole and Boston for the students everyday? Heaven forbid she's a little worn out from zapping rock samples with ions and can't face a bus ride back to Boston. THIS IS A HOUSE, on the Cape (while winter is not the ideal time, still it's NICE) with just one roomate.

So she is off to Boston, but has her little place on the Cape for when she needs to "get away from it all"....

Soapy Sam

4th September 2006, 09:19 AM

When I were geology student, us couldn't afford us own rocks!

As for hammer, we used to just use napper! There we were, head-butting quarry face, twenty-six hour a day...und so weiter...

Hyver

4th September 2006, 04:24 PM

It seems reasonable that a fee of some sort would be involved to cover the costs of processing applications, sorting out applicants and deciding who to accept and who to deny. Those sorts of tasks are not going to be done on their own. The real question is how much money (if any) is the school making from application fees after the administrative costs are factored in. I have no idea what the answer is.

exarch

5th September 2006, 03:49 AM

On the other hand, you might argue that this administration process is done by the same employees who, later in the year do other types of administrative work. I'm sure their wages are paid somehow, and I can't imagine this bit of extra work to be so time consuming and expensive to warrant asking $100 a paper.
I'm not convinced yet that this amount is nothing more than a means of preventing people who aren't serious from wasting everyone's time. We have a similar thing going with doctor's fees here, where there's a fixed amount of money that's not reimbursed by health care ,which could be translated as "the threshold fee". It prevents hypochondriacs and pansies from going to the doctor too often.

wollery

5th September 2006, 11:36 PM

Exarch, the key to this is the undergraduate application fee. Darmouth College (http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005012601010) recieved over 12,500 undergraduate applications for the 2005/2006 academic year. At $40 per application that would be half a million dollars, for doing something they have to do anyway, and certainly doesn't cost anywhere near that much to actually do. It's money for nothing. And Dartmouth is small!

kittynh

6th September 2006, 04:19 AM

hey...we PAID Dartmouth not only an application fee, we paid a whole heck of a lot of tuition! Ouch!

And trust me, they do NOT need the money. Most of the Ivy Leagues could let their students go for free they are just swimming in money from investments and such.

And they gave Kitten dorm rooms that were unsafe, unsanitary (the bathrooms) and a homeless shelter would turn if offered.

wollery

6th September 2006, 05:40 PM

And they gave Kitten dorm rooms that were unsafe, unsanitary (the bathrooms) and a homeless shelter would turn if offered.That's all part of the University experience. Generally speaking the more expensive and prestigious the institution the worse the accomodation they provide. I've spent time in two different Cambridge colleges, and the rooms were cold, drafty & too small with uncomfortable beds and cold uncarpeted floors, and the bathrooms should have been condemned. The University of Westminster (Northwick Park Campus) has warm, spacious, well designed rooms with en suite bathrooms. :rolleyes:

If you want a really good education you have to pay through the nose for it and live in discomfort.

Tez

7th September 2006, 08:41 AM

One of my frustrations in life is that my university, even though was one of the best in the country, was a horrible place. Looked like a Blade Runner scenario. :(

Hmm - at least there were a few humans there then :) I see your blade runner architecture, and raise you with York University Canada, one of the most architecturally unappealing and poorly located universities in the world:

http://constructit.constructit.ca/Maintenance/webport/web_upload/portfolio/VBCIENSKCL/EXEKITYB.jpg

Trying2Bopen

28th September 2006, 03:36 PM

Even the graffitti on the draw bridge is rather tame.
Under the draw bridge does the stop sign still say, “Stop, Hamma time”? Totally one of my favorite parts! They changed the graffiti on the bridge though, I liked it before, something like “not the appropriate nomenclature, dude”. Great stuff. Funny, I was only there a few months ago, it must be a hot spot to put your mark. :)

Jorghnassen

29th September 2006, 02:07 PM

Grad school is over for me (almost)! I just submitted my thesis today. Now off to do a postdoc while I wait for defense time (crossing my fingers that it comes just before Xmas so I don't have to travel too much).

wollery

1st October 2006, 08:26 AM

Way to go Jorghnassen. :clap:

The defence is the easy part (so long as your thesis is any good and you actually know all the stuff you put in it, which I assume is the case).

Zbu

1st October 2006, 10:44 AM

I know relatively little about grad school in the humanities, but I really enjoy being a graduate student. You may not be paid very much, but being able to pursue something you're really passionate about is worth much more than a big bucks salary, in my opinion.

Also, filling out a few applications never hurt anyone. At worst, you will lose a couple of hundred dollars in application fees and a few nights of sleep while fretting about your admissions essays. That's a small price for the opportunity of a lifetime, though... you never know...

For instance, I have a friend pursuing a master's degree in Arabic. She almost didn't apply to graduate school because her GRE scores were low, she struggled a little with the Arabic (it's a tough language), and she started the whole application process late. However, she went ahead and filled out the applications, and now she's studying Arabic at Harvard on a full scholarship! Admittedlly, Arabic is in demand these days so there's more funding for Arabic than other humanities fields. Nonetheless, you never know until you apply!

Thanks. I'm going to apply and see what I can do. My main problem is that I'm trying to rationalize my degree in terms of jobs and forgetting that this is something I love. I'm going to see if I can get a job at the uni while going for my doctorate to pay for my schooling (and live on, barely) and go from there. Thanks, Kitten! I feel a bit better now.

curt

30th October 2006, 07:31 PM

:eek:

They charge you to apply?!?!?! :boggled:

Exarch, the key to this is the undergraduate application fee. Darmouth College (http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005012601010) recieved over 12,500 undergraduate applications for the 2005/2006 academic year. At $40 per application that would be half a million dollars, for doing something they have to do anyway, and certainly doesn't cost anywhere near that much to actually do. It's money for nothing. And Dartmouth is small!

There are fees in addition to the application fee too. GRE. Specialized GRE, if required. Copies of transcripts from all schools attended. It adds up!

supercorgi

31st October 2006, 03:24 PM

Yes, life is really incredible here... when I was given a tour of the building and grounds last week, they showed me my office

They gave you your own office!!? Wow, I guess MIT is the place to go. I didn't get my own office when I was going to grad school at Yale. :(

supercorgi

31st October 2006, 03:31 PM

supercorgi

31st October 2006, 03:42 PM

Life is rough.

Did I mention she doesn't have to student teach and she's getting paid?

Aren't stipends great? :) And when they pay for those research trips during the summer! I got to bum around Europe for 2 months on the university's money.

But, I went to graduate school 8 years after undergrad. I felt really behind in the recent research and out of synch. Originally I was going to go for an archaeology program at an "easy" university -- where do I end up going? Yale! So much for easy.

I'm afraid that I did a Ph.d program for 2 years and then left. I suffer from chronic depression and it took a toll on me (Plus I stink at languages and wasn't able to pass my French evaluation.) Sometimes I'm sorry that I left, but it was a low point in my life and I just couldn't dedicate all my attention to the field. I really enjoy academia. The problem with archaeology is that it's a very interdisciplinary field. In addition to archaeology, you need to know geology, biology, botony, chemistry, physics, statistics, and if studying historical archaeology - history. Didn't leave a lot of free time for persuing other interests.

Oh well, anyway my knees gave out so I wouldn't be able to dig anyway. :D

Jorghnassen

31st October 2006, 04:58 PM

Only 2 classes per semester? Wow, that's a light load. I had 4-5 classes per semester. :mad:

That's an undergrad's load of courses. What kind of school/program are you in?

/in some places, as soon as you pass your quals, no more classes are required...

supercorgi

1st November 2006, 06:51 AM

That's an undergrad's load of courses. What kind of school/program are you in?

/in some places, as soon as you pass your quals, no more classes are required...
I was in a combined Masters/Ph.D program in archaeology at Yale. Two years of course work and then research and dissertation.

Jorghnassen

1st November 2006, 08:48 AM

Ah, I was in Statistics (math/stats department, so the courseload was the same for those in pure or applied math), and the requirements for Masters was 6 courses (actually 24 credits, all classes pretty much being 4), which are taken usually 3 a semester, for a year (normally, the degree takes 2 years to complete). Or if you did a project instead of a master's thesis then it's 8 courses (32 credits). Then you needed another 6 courses for PhD, but those are spread over a longer period by most people (hence the 1-2 class a semester).

supercorgi

1st November 2006, 08:57 AM