DNAgyrase

I applied to four schools, interviewed at two of these schools, and got offers from both schools

So on Staurday I went walking in the trails. Then after that I went to lab for a couple hours, then grocery shopping. Got home read ( non school related) and cleaned for a bit. On Sunfay, I slept in a bit, cleaned some more again, and then went to coffee shop to read some papers.

Well I'm just getting done with my first year!!! Took my written qualifying exam not too long ago. I get to go home soon; really need to get away from scool for a little bit. So right now, I'm just coming to lab, and getting basic stuff done. Have no real motivation to be here at this time, what I have been working on has been riddled with failure. Really fustrating. I will start a new project soon, and hopefully it will turn out a lot better. I am hopping that sometime away from lab is what I need to get me motivated again. If not, this is not goint to end well. But I really don't know. I would suggest, getting back into things gradually-start slowly and do more each day!!!

I started towards the end of High School, and since then I have consumed increasing amounts. During college, not only did I drink coffee, but also energy drinks (like AMP) and 5-hour energy, also caffine pills. Since I started grad school, I haven't had any of the other stuff. But I do drink a lot of coffee these days.

Just finished my first year and I lived alone. And will propably live alone till I get done.

Thanks for this advice. Trying to remain clam, but as the time approaches, the thought of not passing and actaully failing has been linerging in my mind, and I just can't seem to let it go. Really hopes things turn out okay!! Thanks again

Did anyone have to take a written qualifing exam? My written quals are coming up soon (bioloigal sciences), and have been studying for a while now. Intensely for the past month or so. It's over all the course work from the first year ( A LOT of information), and now with just under two weeks left, I feel there's just no way I can pass. Actually remember all this information, in addition we also get to read some scienfific papers and answer questions on that. Anyone been in this situation before??

Will try to explain myself as succinctly as possible. I am started Grad school last summer. I did three rotations and just stayed in the third lab. I have been in this lab for about 6/7 months. I have gotten nothing to work, not one experiment. Everything I do fails, I have attempted all my experiments multiple times. To me its nothing too complicated, for example western blots and immunoflouresence. My PI has not flat out told me you have failed/this is unacceptable. I am getting the feeling he is not satisfied/pleased that I have not been able to nail these simple experiments yet. Sometimes he says, this needs a repeat, you haven't got it right yet...he has sometimes this is a technical problem you are doing something wrong. This is so frustrating, I follow the protocols exactly and have talked with other people in the lab....yet still nothing works. I have my written qualifying exams coming up soon, and I am not prepared and I spend so much time working on failed experiments that I haven't been able to study for it. I have thought about quitting everyday consistently for the past couple months or so. Just leaving and not coming back. If I am out lab and I think about going back, it just gets me sad-upset...that I cannot get anything to work. I feel like I put in so much time/effort for nothing....We're talking about 60 hours a week maybe. Working round the clock for nothing, I am not American, but did my Ugrad here. Moved to new state, miss my family and friends from college. I am miserable here.....I have no real friends here. My program is very small, and I cannot just 'go out' and meet new people. Not that outgoing. I go to lab everyday, and put in the hours and try to keep up with everything.....but I honestly don't know how long I can continue for....eventually everything is just going to shatter, I'm going to break,....will just come to an end. Don't know if anyone has been in similar situation or have any insights. Thanks

I appied to four schools. Interviewed at two, and got accepted at both of these schools.

This....is how I feel.

Immunofluorescence, the actual protocol is giving me some problems....but it's the pictures that come after, the hours spent at the microscope to get a few descent pictures.

Hello, Thanks for the adivce everyone. Professors know and understand that. Is the pressure coming from an external source ie. your professors or from within, from your own expectations of yourself? I actually to my PI directly, and asked him if he though I was getting enought done. He said I shouldn't worry about that, because I have a lot going on with classes etc. He also mentioned that things start of really slow. It just feels like I should be getting more done. I still operate on the same schedule, but I am really trying to get up an hour earlier. Not a morning person so it may take some time. This seems like maybe the best option for me.

I am asking this because....I can't seem to keep up. Let me elaborate. I am a first year student in a Biological Science Program. My alarm goes of at 6:30 am....(and after struggling to get out of bed) I get ready and get to lab between 7:30 and 8:00. I usually work on experiments and have classes, seminars , meeting and journal club everyday. These activities can last anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours, depending on the day. I always try to leave by 5pm, but depending on what I'm doing I have to stay in longer. By the time I get home it's maybe between 5:30 and 6 pm. On most days, I exercise, shower, dinner, and get done with that between 7:30-8pm. At this time, I attempt to do home-work, study for class and read. But after such a long day, at 8 pm all I want to do is crawl into bed. I practically get nothing done, I am so tired by that point and it's difficult to focus. I attempt to do these things....but I'm not very efficient. After spending 2-3 hours trying to get stuff done, I just call it quits and go to bed. And I repeat the next day. I should mention, I usually have to go into labs on the Saturdays,,,,anywhere from 3-5 hours. Sundays If I have an exam I will study, if not I just lay in bed all day. In the week, I would like to dedicate an hour each day for reading (non school stuff, for pleasure) but I can't seem to fit that it anywhere. WHat I am trying to ask is..... how do you find a balance, what works for you, how do you keep up with everything. I feel like there's always something that I need to do that isn't done. I thought about getting up an hour earlier to exercise before heading out in the morning. That way when I come back from lab, I can just get right down to business. But I am really not a morning person. Don't know if I can continue like this for another 4 years. Thanks for any insights you may have