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rllnyc

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  1. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to seandrivescars in NYU Arthur L. Carter Institute!!!!   
    I did it. I committed! I visited this weekend and after seeing it person, I knew almost immediately that it was right for me. Coupling the beautiful facilities with the endless opportunities in the city, it's undeniably the school for me.
     
    I hope to see you guys in the fall! 
  2. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to CHagen in MASTERS--do you work?   
    I worked full time (40-50 hr/week) as a director of Public Relations and went to school full time when I got my Masters...all of the classes were in the afternoon/evening.  My boss was understanding as he was pursuing a PhD.  I used vacation days before big exams and was at school every day after work and most weekends. 
  3. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to daydreamer254 in "Journalism's a dying field"   
    I used to be worried about going into journalism, and started having doubts about pursuing it as a career because of that quote. But now I see that journalism is evolving, not dying. Journalism school should give you all of the tools to keep up in a constantly changing field and to be a versatile journalist, who can adapt to change.
     
    Writing is what I love to do, and I don't see myself doing anything else. Following your dream is more important than peoples' opinions about your dream, and dumb quotes.
  4. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to juilletmercredi in Advice on these 2 NYC grad schools   
    To be honest, I'm not sure what "liberal studies" MA programs are intended to do and what kinds of jobs you are eligible for afterwards.  If NYU is your ultimate dream school and your desire is to become a journalist, I don't see any reason to get an MA in a very general field from the New School.
  5. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to rustledjimmies in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    YES. I'm glad I'm not the only one who is already stoked to wear gear from the school I'll be attending.
     
    I'm terribly tempted to update my facebook to have my new school on it... but I'm going to try and wait until the fall so I'm not "that guy"
  6. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to sdt13 in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    I can't wait to finally know where I'm going and buy some new gear. Although right now it's looking like I'll be at UT and their color is burnt orange. Not sure how I feel about that lol
     
  7. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to pears in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    my first bit of montana apparel is arriving on wednesday! woohoo! can't wait to start wearing my maroon griz hoodie
  8. Upvote
    rllnyc got a reaction from ThousandsHardships in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    Please tell me I'm not the only one who was super excited to go to the school's bookstore and buy a sweatshirt, tshirt, pen, etc!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I was just accepted but I will be attending in the fall and I just want the world to know where I'm going. Not too weird, right? 
  9. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to peppermint.beatnik in Preparing for 1st Semester   
    Now that I'm on the other side of this, my top suggestion would be to take it easy in the months leading up to your first semester: sleep in, go on vacation, etc.
     
    There isn't much down time once you start a PhD.
  10. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to SeriousSillyPutty in Preparing for 1st Semester   
    I did my undergrad in physics, spent five years working in science ed, then started back last fall at grad school for science ed. The program involves multiple kinds of classes, which both made me nervous.
    I was nervous about all the "social science-y" classes, because, being a physics major, I never had more than one writing class a semester, so never learned to crank out a 10-page paper in a night like my friends in the humanities.  My reading pace is also the same out loud and to myself, which is to say it is slow.
    I was nervous about the physics classes because I didn't remember calculus, let alone the details of physics classes -- and let's be honest, those classes had been hard as an undergrad, too!
     
    My misgivings were not ill-founded, especially on the physics side.  I knew that I'd forgotten a lot, but I didn't anticipate being so "out of shape":  Even after I re-learned how to do problems, I had to spend so much more time working through them, and was much more prone to stupid mistakes.  (Even if you never forget how to ride a bicycle, five miles up hill will kick your but if you haven't been practicing.)  "Div, Grad, Curl, and All That" is a book designed to cover the basics of multi-variable calc for science types.  I looked over some of that, but truth be told, after last semester my adviser is working with me stretch the requirements to include less intense classes.
     
    Taking a stats class, on the other hand, hasn't been bad at all: My class had a prerequisite of intro stats, but really assumed people didn't remember anything.  The class happens to be tricky for other reasons, but but being "rusty" hasn't been an issue.
     
    I was not in a position to read up on articles before school started, but it is a good idea if you can swing it.  In many classes, you can steer assigned papers in a direction more aligned with your research interests if you know what the research is.  Even just reading the introduction/lit review section of a paper can do wonders at exposing you to the kinds of research people have done.
     
    It is worth learning a reference / citation management program early.  Our library offered introductory classes on several programs(I use zotero, but in my experience the choice seems pretty arbitrary) and it's good to do one of these BEFORE you write a paper, so that you can start storing up articles early for later use.
     
    Also: If you don't know how to do stuff in Excel, invest the time in learning... at least look up a few websites or videos of "Excel tricks", so you know the kind of stuff that the program is capable of.  It's the whole problem of, "you don't know what you don't know." Most of my office mates do not have a technical background but still have to process lots of data from censuses or school districts, and I find them doing things by hand that the program could do in a fraction of the time, because it didn't occur to them that there could be an alternative. 
  11. Upvote
    rllnyc got a reaction from Chai_latte in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    Please tell me I'm not the only one who was super excited to go to the school's bookstore and buy a sweatshirt, tshirt, pen, etc!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I was just accepted but I will be attending in the fall and I just want the world to know where I'm going. Not too weird, right? 
  12. Upvote
    rllnyc got a reaction from ion_exchanger in Preparing for 1st Semester   
    About 3 years have passed since I graduated with a Bachelor's degree.  The job I've been working at since then isn't exactly the most stimulating (pays well enough though). My issue is this--
     
    If you've had a gap between undergrad & graduate school, how did you feel before starting school again? Were you confident that you'd easily adjust to school life again? Did you feel like you lost that ability to succeed in school? 
     
    Although I did very well as an undergrad & apparently was successful in  my grad application, I feel like my brain has sort of atrophied at my desk job. I'm super eager to take classes, learn & write again, but I haven't had to critically think much since college. Or write essays. I'm scared about what it'll  be like returning to a school setting.......have I lost my brain?!!! Help!! Does anyone feel the same/has anyone felt this way before?
  13. Upvote
    rllnyc got a reaction from ValarDohaeris in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    Please tell me I'm not the only one who was super excited to go to the school's bookstore and buy a sweatshirt, tshirt, pen, etc!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I was just accepted but I will be attending in the fall and I just want the world to know where I'm going. Not too weird, right? 
  14. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to pears in MASTERS--do you work?   
    my plan is to work part-time and be a student full-time my first 2 or 3 semesters, then be a student part-time and work full-time (or close to it) in my last semester or 2. it's extremely daunting, but my loans and rent aren't going to pay themselves off... if anything, i'm hoping it will make me a great time manager, although i'll have to trade many hours of sleep and sanity for that.
  15. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to jpb2k5 in MASTERS--do you work?   
    I'll be starting my MA in English this upcoming fall and I do plan on working part time once classes start. I'm going to work like hell full-time until August and try to save up as much money as I can but inevitably, some of my student loans are going to go to living expenses. I've been really stressed about doing this too but since I'll be taking 9 hours of courses and am looking at thousands of pages worth of reading a week, I'm pretty sure I won't be able to work any more than 20 hours per week. I work at Panera though so they're pretty flexible with hours and scheduling.
     
    I would definitely recommend saving as much as you can now and trying to work at least a little bit while in your program to offset some of those living expenses. Are you getting in-state or out-of-state tuition? I'll be getting in-state so I'm looking at about 7K a year in tuition in fees, and I'm thinking I'll need at least about 5K in addition to that for extra living expenses and whatnot. It really kills me that I'm going to be taking out (almost) the equivalent amount for living expenses as tuition itself. Maybe I'm crazy and making a bad decision. I just don't know how else to make it work.
     
    I'm really curious what other people think about this situation too.
  16. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to MissC in Preparing for 1st Semester   
    I graduated with my BS in 2004 and went back for my masters in 2010. During the gap I was employed full time in a completely unrelated field. My first class back I got a B and after that, it was smooth sailing and A's all the way. It just took a couple months to make that shift back. Like riding a bike, only instead of bandaids, you get lower grades:)
     
    Lots of folks have made great recommendations above (I particularly love the one about editing your own old papers- DO THIS!!!!).
    As long as you are aware that adjustments will need to be made, you'll do fine.
  17. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to pears in Preparing for 1st Semester   
    same position! i graduated last may ('12), and i've been doing lots of field and lab work since then, but not a lot of reading or writing. i'm honestly more concerned about the reading part; i get distracted very easily, and i'm a lot better at writing because it keeps me on my toes and thinking both "big" and "little" picture. obviously, my critical reading and discussing skills improved a lot towards the end of my undergrad career, but now that i've been out of school for a couple of semesters, i'm worried about being rusty! i've actually thought about going back and re-reading some textbooks, or asking ahead of times which ones i'll need to purchase (if the editions are up to date) just to get ahead and back in the swing of things.
  18. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to mpheels in HELP! Can't attend part-time...money issues   
    Yes, you should be able to get loans to cover living expenses. The federal government will loan you up to the cost of attendance, minus any other aid. Cost of attendance is defined as tuition/fees required by the institution as well as the cost of living while in school. Your school should have some documentation for cost of attendance, including rent, travel, and misc living expenses. If you Google your school + "cost of attendance" and you'll probably find it. There are annual and lifetime limits for Stafford loans. If you exceed either limit, you can try for a PLUS loan, which has a higher interest rate and is dependent on you credit history.
     
    You can also borrow from a private lender, but I wouldn't recommend it. Private lenders are likely going to have a higher interest rate, and are not as helpful when it comes to repayment. With federal loans, there are a lot of options for income-based repayment or forbearance, and several loan repayment/forgiveness programs. The biggest disadvantage for federal loans is that you cannot discharge the loans through bankruptcy.
  19. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to RubyBright in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    I already have items (sweatshirts, t-shirts, and the all-important coffee mug!) bookmarked from the school's online store for my two top choices... glad to know I'm not alone!
  20. Upvote
    rllnyc got a reaction from RubyBright in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    Please tell me I'm not the only one who was super excited to go to the school's bookstore and buy a sweatshirt, tshirt, pen, etc!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I was just accepted but I will be attending in the fall and I just want the world to know where I'm going. Not too weird, right? 
  21. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to process chemist in Preparing for 1st Semester   
    I was off for 5 years, and that was difficult. My adviser took off 4 years before he started his PhD and he warned me at the beginning of the 1st semister that this semester will kick my ass. It did. The thing about working before going to school was that I worked so hard, that I just wanted to go home and relax. But this can be overcome by being disciplined and trying out new things until you find your groove. This semester is going much, much better than the last. Currently pulling an A-/B+ work, but it takes discipline and a change of thinking.  
  22. Upvote
    rllnyc got a reaction from seandrivescars in NYU Arthur L. Carter Institute!!!!   
    NYU is having an open house?
     
    @seandrivescars: magazine writing! me!
  23. Upvote
    rllnyc got a reaction from student12345 in Accepted! Time to purchase school clothing & etc!!!??   
    Please tell me I'm not the only one who was super excited to go to the school's bookstore and buy a sweatshirt, tshirt, pen, etc!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I was just accepted but I will be attending in the fall and I just want the world to know where I'm going. Not too weird, right? 
  24. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to bizio in Preparing for 1st Semester   
    I will begin my MA after 8 years out of school and am changing career paths, so I feel completely unprepared and out of my element. While I've always been a good student, I am out of practice and I know I'll need to establish some new norms in my daily routine - mostly dedicated time to reading and writing!
     
    Luckily, I'll start off slowly with a language course over the summer so I can get used to being back in a classroom. I'm also compiling a summer reading list for myself, and searching for articles related to my general research topics. I'm very excited to sign up for Amazon Student, too! I bought a new backpack, and I can't wait to fill it with books.
     
    Part of what makes this next month so challenging is that I'm still waiting to hear from a few programs, and am not close to making a decision yet. I think once I choose a school it will all start to feel much more "real," and I will be able to more seriously prepare.
  25. Upvote
    rllnyc reacted to Sadie_Bea in Preparing for 1st Semester   
    I got my BA in 2011 and have been working a 9-5 job in something I never wanted to do, so needless to say, I'm glad to be getting back to my field after 2 years!  Here are a few things I've been doing:
     
    1. Re-reading my notes and annotations from undergrad, to refresh my memory.
    2. Revising old papers.  (This may seem weird, but it helps me see what I've learned in my time "away" and what I've forgotten.  I was surprised how much I have retained and how quickly things I'd forgotten came back.)
    3. Researching the resources available to me as a new student (e.g. academic databases, other library resources, student reading/research groups, etc.)  It's nice to know where to find and how to use each of these resources before even starting up coursework again, and I'm sure it will mitigate the feeling of disorientation common to the incoming student experience.
    4. Re-aquainting myself with RefWorks (my favorite bibliography-making tool).  They've made some updates since I last used it, so I'm learning my way around it again and organizing the info I already have in there.    
    5. Researching the kinds of discounts and "perks" that are now available to me thanks to my new status as a card-carrying student, and deciding what to get with the discounts (Adobe, for example, has great deals for students).
    6. Recycling old school supplies (I'm a pack rat, so I had plenty of excellent binders and notebooks leftover from undergrad.) 
    7. Writing in my new school at the top of my CV.  For some reason, this just makes it feel so official and has helped me mentally prepare.
     
    Things I plan to do this summer:
    1. Brush up on my foreign language skills (this is important in my field)
    2. Sign up for an Amazon Student account so I can get free shipping on books .
    3. As others have mentioned, read up on some current research in my field.
    4. Browse through calls for papers, and then draft a paper (probably not submit it, just do it as a warming up exercise)
     
    Hope those ideas help!  
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