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Monochrome Spring

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Everything posted by Monochrome Spring

  1. The majority of my research is experimental, and I chose that because I like to manipulate what is going on my studies and work in very controlled greenhouse settings. However, I also have included a modeling component to my dissertation, because I want to be well-rounded as a scientist. My advisor has done a mix of the two in the past, although his current research focuses mostly on experimental.
  2. I've been working from home in California all semester even though I live in Michigan. I got a sort of permission from my advisor to live with my long distance partner for the semester as long as I keep my work up. I also have an online course. Managing everything while living with my partner and our 4 other housemates (he is finishing up his teacher's credential in an expensive big city) has been more challenging than I expected. But I'm just about finished planning out the nitty gritty details for my main dissertation experiments and am in the process of ordering supplies and preparing my specimens.
  3. I have recently started making my own sort of planner. I take a large grid notebook (Moleskine specifically). I divide the left page into a weekly calendar, and I only put things down that occur on that day or must be completed on that day. Then I use the right page as a running task list for things that don't have a set day to be completed. I also use the right page to write down expenses and short meeting notes. It's been working really well for me.
  4. I can confirm that the Muji pens are great. They are super pigmented and don't smudge for me. The fine tip is also great for equations. (I write my notes on Moleskine notebook paper or regular white printer paper, for reference)
  5. I just wanted to share my recent school supply purchase. I'm doing a big overhaul on my paper notetaking system. Muji 0.38mm black gel pens Muji 0.38 multi-color gel pens Zebra mildliners in various colors Muji A5 notebooks Obligatory post-its and post-its This haul (other than refills on the black gel pens and notebooks) should easily last me the rest of my doctoral program. I don't take a lot of paper notes as a graduate student, so this is really just for brainstorming and reference books. I got tired of carrying around my filing system with lots of loose leaf paper.
  6. I'm in Costa Rica. I thought I heard a cool frog, so I leaned forward to find it and got stung by a wasp in the neck instead. Two hours later and the sharp pain is finally going down.
  7. Currently dealing with ageist classmates making passive aggressive comments about my age and any associated lifestyle traits.
  8. I use a Jansport Right Pack whenever I'm lugging a lot of stuff. I generally don't need to be very professional in my department full of lumberjacks. When I do have the need to look nicer, I carry a Longchamp Le Pliage. Both bags are classics and simple; and they get most of my carrying needs out of the way without needing a convoluted system. As Fuzzy said, everyone has their own preference. I've noticed the largest amount of variation in bag choice comes down to how professional you want to look, which I why I went with classics.
  9. I have an ear infection in a tropical rainforest. Owwie.

  10. In Costa Rica for a field course. Become one with the mosquito.

  11. As the term ends, remember: Grades and projects do not define you. Don't dwell on the past; live in the present and look toward the future.

    1. geographyrocks

      geographyrocks

      I'll just be over here repeating that to myself...lol

    2. Monochrome Spring

      Monochrome Spring

      Writing it as my status was me forcing myself to repeat it. haha.

  12. I find it absolutely asinine that I am required to take a statistics course taught and tested in a programming language that I will never ever use. I'd rather have a C in the class and use my free time to learn a useful skill.

    1. RunnerGrad

      RunnerGrad

      Most of us have to take graduate courses that are useless (or seem to be). *shrug*

    2. GeoDUDE!

      GeoDUDE!

      what language ?

  13. I don't understand how 3.8 and below isn't stellar. I think under 3.5 starts to become iffy and under 3.0 is worrisome (mostly for cutoffs), but how low are you talking? GPA isn't everything.
  14. Neighbors got a $100 noise fine! :D

    1. MidwesternAloha

      MidwesternAloha

      #karma. Love it.

    2. Munashi

      Munashi

      Ha, glad someone finally did something.

  15. You should talk to your advisor/graduate secretary about this. Make sure you don't go to any school that doesn't give you a stipend high enough to live comfortably. I'm not saying live in a two bedroom on your own and eat out a lot; but you should be able to afford an apartment, basic health expenses, and healthy groceries without going into debt. Also, I would be concerned if I was expected to pay tuition. Even when I went a few units over the maximum covered by my university fellowship, my advisor paid for the extra from his own funds. In ecology, the student-advisor relationship is very close and should be facilitated by things like this. Also, I disagree that advisors don't know about funding. Unless all funding comes from the department or university, a lot of your funding may come directly from their research grants (RAship; TAship will most likely come from department). In general, your advisor should know how funding works so that you aren't thrown under a bus and completely confused later.
  16. Showed them my fellowship stipend. If I was on a TA-ship, I would not have been able to sign my lease. The real world is stupid and inefficient beyond measure.
  17. I've determined that most things in academia are designed to be as frustrating and inefficient as possible.

    1. attackonthedoctor

      attackonthedoctor

      Life, in general, is pretty much the same.

    2. jujubea

      jujubea

      Yes, academia models itself after government.

  18. I had to prove that I made 3 times the rent in order to secure my apartment without a cosigner. I can't imagine how I would have gotten housing otherwise.
  19. This is my situation, except it's stats I've never seen and I suck at SAS> XD
  20. Academics are too competitive. Take a minute to enjoy your work because it's cool.

    1. Show previous comments  2 more
    2. iphi

      iphi

      #1 reason I am not going into academia.

    3. Vene

      Vene

      I'm with you, iphi. A graduate degree may be good training, but I'm more about learning skills than I am about polishing my pedigree.

    4. biotechie

      biotechie

      Meh, at least in my field, so far, we all do things because they're cool and interesting. At least, with the stuff I'm working on, I'll never be noticed for it. Some clinical lab will take my publications and use my research as a basis for designing drugs.

  21. I'm going to get a C in my statistics class because I can't understand SAS. I should feel more guilty about it, but I will never use SAS again in my life; everything in my field is in R. I get high B-A grades on the exams, and I obviously understand the actual statistics; but because I can't get SAS on my macbook and have to try to cram ~10 hours of SAS homework into the 2 hours I can get to the library, I have a near 0% grade on my statistics homework. It's going to negatively impact applications for fellowships, etc., but beyond that, I don't see it having any negative impact on my life. So, IDGAF.
  22. Started PhD directly from UG at 20 (turned 21 in fall). I completed my UG degree quickly due to JC courses in HS.
  23. Advisor wants me to presubmit for an invite-only, high impact review journal. Honored, but horribly nervous.

    1. aberrant

      aberrant

      Congrats. I was in your shoe last year. It was a fun experience, featuring a 1 stressful month making good looking figures and writing a good draft.

  24. When life gets difficult, buy new shoes.

    1. Show previous comments  1 more
    2. scarvesandcardigans

      scarvesandcardigans

      This is me, except more like "When life gets difficult, buy all new home decor." But I have lots of shoes too.

    3. Cheshire_Cat

      Cheshire_Cat

      I buy new craft supplies.

      But I really need new shoes.

    4. MidwesternAloha
  25. VG/E VG/E E/VG --> HM Reviews all said I have an impressive educational background and a lot of outreach, but my research doesn't have enough broader impacts for society. Screw society. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
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