far_to_go

On a slightly different note:

Before my first semester started, I gave myself some time to get my living space well in order. Especially since I had moved across the country to start my program, I had a lot of work to do in terms of acquiring furniture, organizing all my belongings, etc. It was totally time well spent. My living space isn't large, but it's well-organized, functional, and beautiful; it's an optimal environment for getting work done and for relaxing at the end of the day. If you have the time and even a little money to invest in organizing/decorating your living space before school starts in the fall, I strongly encourage you to go for it.

I asked one of the ABD's in my department what she did to survive her first year. She said "I bought a good, comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and made good use of both."

Yes, it does mean "be on your best behavior." I've been told that it comes from the expression "mind your pints and quarts", a recommendation to keep track of how much you're drinking so that you don't get wasted and do something stupid. This is also a good piece of advice to keep in mind when you're around faculty- don't get wasted.

On a slightly different note:

Before my first semester started, I gave myself some time to get my living space well in order. Especially since I had moved across the country to start my program, I had a lot of work to do in terms of acquiring furniture, organizing all my belongings, etc. It was totally time well spent. My living space isn't large, but it's well-organized, functional, and beautiful; it's an optimal environment for getting work done and for relaxing at the end of the day. If you have the time and even a little money to invest in organizing/decorating your living space before school starts in the fall, I strongly encourage you to go for it.

I asked one of the ABD's in my department what she did to survive her first year. She said "I bought a good, comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and made good use of both."

Yes, it does mean "be on your best behavior." I've been told that it comes from the expression "mind your pints and quarts", a recommendation to keep track of how much you're drinking so that you don't get wasted and do something stupid. This is also a good piece of advice to keep in mind when you're around faculty- don't get wasted.

A few weeks after my first semester in grad school started, I asked a visiting speaker (in a personal chat) what she did to make it through her first year of her PhD. She said, "I bought a comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and I made good use of both." I followed her advice ;-)

A few weeks after my first semester in grad school started, I asked a visiting speaker (in a personal chat) what she did to make it through her first year of her PhD. She said, "I bought a comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and I made good use of both." I followed her advice ;-)

On a slightly different note:

Before my first semester started, I gave myself some time to get my living space well in order. Especially since I had moved across the country to start my program, I had a lot of work to do in terms of acquiring furniture, organizing all my belongings, etc. It was totally time well spent. My living space isn't large, but it's well-organized, functional, and beautiful; it's an optimal environment for getting work done and for relaxing at the end of the day. If you have the time and even a little money to invest in organizing/decorating your living space before school starts in the fall, I strongly encourage you to go for it.

I asked one of the ABD's in my department what she did to survive her first year. She said "I bought a good, comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and made good use of both."

On a slightly different note:

Before my first semester started, I gave myself some time to get my living space well in order. Especially since I had moved across the country to start my program, I had a lot of work to do in terms of acquiring furniture, organizing all my belongings, etc. It was totally time well spent. My living space isn't large, but it's well-organized, functional, and beautiful; it's an optimal environment for getting work done and for relaxing at the end of the day. If you have the time and even a little money to invest in organizing/decorating your living space before school starts in the fall, I strongly encourage you to go for it.

I asked one of the ABD's in my department what she did to survive her first year. She said "I bought a good, comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and made good use of both."

In the time between now and when your TA assignment starts, do what you can (within reason) to prepare yourself. Start reading up on the material you'll be teaching, start corresponding/talking wth the prof you'll be working with. Take any opportunities that come your way to do a little bit of public speaking and/or leading groups of people in conversations. Baby steps.

Also, it may help to remind yourself that you are not going to ruin anyone's educational experience. The worst that can happen is that you might bore some people. If you set your standards of self-expectation low, it'll be easier for you to achieve those standards and beyond. Low expectations are better than crippingly, panic-inducingly high ones.

Best of luck!

A few weeks after my first semester in grad school started, I asked a visiting speaker (in a personal chat) what she did to make it through her first year of her PhD. She said, "I bought a comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and I made good use of both." I followed her advice ;-)

A few weeks after my first semester in grad school started, I asked a visiting speaker (in a personal chat) what she did to make it through her first year of her PhD. She said, "I bought a comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and I made good use of both." I followed her advice ;-)

A few weeks after my first semester in grad school started, I asked a visiting speaker (in a personal chat) what she did to make it through her first year of her PhD. She said, "I bought a comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and I made good use of both." I followed her advice ;-)

A few weeks after my first semester in grad school started, I asked a visiting speaker (in a personal chat) what she did to make it through her first year of her PhD. She said, "I bought a comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and I made good use of both." I followed her advice ;-)

A few weeks after my first semester in grad school started, I asked a visiting speaker (in a personal chat) what she did to make it through her first year of her PhD. She said, "I bought a comfortable reading chair and a very large bottle of vodka, and I made good use of both." I followed her advice ;-)

Mine was kind of sad, actually. I'd been volunteering as a tutor/mentor to some underprivileged middle school kids for about a year and a half, and I happened to be sitting in the computer lab next to one of them when I got the acceptance from the school I eventually ended up going to.

me: "Bryan!! I just got accepted to U of X__!!!"
Bryan, with sad-puppy-middle-school-kid look on his face: "You're leaving? (even though he knew I'd been applying to schools, I guess it just hadn't sunk in)
me, feeling incredibly guilty: "Yeah, well, I mean maybe, we'll see what happens..."
Bryan: "Well, are you happy? You should be happy. I mean, good for you."
me: *wail*

I did leave and go to school, though it was damn hard to say goodbye. I still go back and visit every few months, though, and on my last visit back one of the kids told me that he's thinking about going to grad school someday. Making me so proud :-)

Hi blue_mango! This is going to be a bit long, but I'm going to outline exactly what happened during the notification phase for me. As always, this is only my experience and may vary significantly from that of others! Correspondence from WG is in blue.
 
Morning of April 16: I receive the following e-mail, subject line "Wenner-Gren Application." 
 
Dear far_to_go:

We are writing to you regarding your pending application for a Dissertation Fieldwork Grant, which we are still in the process of reviewing.  Before we can complete the review of your research proposal, we will need to have further information from you on your budget and on the status of your funding applications to other agencies.

Please provide a full academic justification for the request transcription costs.  The statement that you are using nVivo is not enough.  Are you doing linguistic analysis?  To what end?  Please explain.  Also, why are you requesting a full  nVivo license and not a student license?  Please also let us know whether you have been notified of the results of your other applications, or the date by which you expect to have this information.  If you have received other awards, indicate whether there is any overlap between budget items to be covered by those sources and your budget request submitted to Wenner-Gren.  If you've received another grant and there is an overlap or any change in the budget request to Wenner-Gren, you will need to submit a separate revised budget itemization, with the overlapping items removed, for the full amount requested.  Please include an explanation for any changes.  Be sure to inform of us of any changes in your contact information at this time.  The address we have for you is noted above: please update it, if it has changed.

Please note: without a correct mailing address, your notification of our final decision will be delayed.

Please send your response to the above questions via e-mail as soon as possible, to this e-mail address, which is being checked frequently by our staff during the next few weeks.  Alternatively, if you wish to respond by fax, our number is listed below.  Your application is still pending but we expect to make final decisions in the next few weeks and have all applicants notified by May 1, 2014.  If you haven't heard byMay 1, we ask that you contact us at that time.  There is no need for you to reapply for the May 1 deadline.   We prefer you make your response via e-mail, but if you have further questions about this request for information, please contact us at the number listed below.   We look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible. 

Sincerely yours,

Mary Beth Moss
 
Evening of April 16: After consulting with my advisor, I e-mail them back with the requested information about why I'm asking for NVivo and transcription money. 
 
Morning of April 17: I get the following e-mail: 
 
Thank you for your quick response. We hope to be making final decisions by May 1st. If we have any further questions we’ll contact you shortly.
 
All the best,
Mark Ropelewski
 
Afternoon of April 17: Following e-mail from WG
 
Because the Foundation does not fund transcription costs the reviewers have asked that you remove this item from your budget.
 
Additionally the reviewers have also asked that you remove the nVivo software from your budget as well.
 
Once we receive your revised budget we’ll be sure to contact you to confirm receipt.
 
Best,
Mark
 
Morning of April 18: I send them my revised budget. Took out the two categories they said they wouldn't fund and re-calculated the total.
 
Afternoon of April 18: E-mail from them acknowledging that they've received my revised budget and will let me know if they need any other info. 
 
April 19-April 24: Agonized waiting, abrupt alternation between excitement and paranoia, desperate attempts to distract myself, etc. 
 
April 24: Letter arrives via postal mail at my mailing address in the US. Since I'm not in the US at the moment, my roommate e-mailed me to let me know that the letter arrived; she opened it to confirm that it is, in fact, an award letter. She'll scan and send it to me sometime today, I hope. I will rest much easier once I've actually seen the letter with my own eyes! Apparently there are some documents that I'll have to sign and send back, along with some documentation of things like my IRB approval and research visa. 

So I called them. And I asked "Is the resubmission date the same as the new submission date, even if we have not heard before the deadline?" I knew the answer to this was yes, but I figured he might pick up on the subtext and tell me what I was really after, without directly asking.
 
And he said, "You'll definitely hear before the deadline. The submission and resubmission date is the same, but you will hear before the deadline."
 
I also lied and said my line was fuzzy, and asked him to repeat that just so I could be extra sure. Hope restored.

I'm right there with you.  I'll be doing my research in September, and this will determine the length and breadth of the trip.  If I get it, I'll be able to get what I want and not have to worry about pinching pennies.  I'm hoping to get news soon just so that it stops eating at the back of my brain, but I'm not counting on today.  

NO WHITE SOCKS. EVER. This is a strange pet peeve of mine, but I always feel that an otherwise perfectly professional or casual look is completely ruined if I can see even half an inch of white sock. Just don't do it.

I tend to dress more formally during the first several weeks of the semester (black pants with button-up shirts, professional-looking skirts + dresses), and then introduce more casual outfits from there on in (jeans, the occasional sundress with cardigan, etc). I see my students three days a week, so I also try to avoid wearing the same outfit twice within a 2-3 week span of time. Variety is the spice of life.

Mine was kind of sad, actually. I'd been volunteering as a tutor/mentor to some underprivileged middle school kids for about a year and a half, and I happened to be sitting in the computer lab next to one of them when I got the acceptance from the school I eventually ended up going to.

me: "Bryan!! I just got accepted to U of X__!!!"
Bryan, with sad-puppy-middle-school-kid look on his face: "You're leaving? (even though he knew I'd been applying to schools, I guess it just hadn't sunk in)
me, feeling incredibly guilty: "Yeah, well, I mean maybe, we'll see what happens..."
Bryan: "Well, are you happy? You should be happy. I mean, good for you."
me: *wail*

I did leave and go to school, though it was damn hard to say goodbye. I still go back and visit every few months, though, and on my last visit back one of the kids told me that he's thinking about going to grad school someday. Making me so proud :-)

NO WHITE SOCKS. EVER. This is a strange pet peeve of mine, but I always feel that an otherwise perfectly professional or casual look is completely ruined if I can see even half an inch of white sock. Just don't do it.

I tend to dress more formally during the first several weeks of the semester (black pants with button-up shirts, professional-looking skirts + dresses), and then introduce more casual outfits from there on in (jeans, the occasional sundress with cardigan, etc). I see my students three days a week, so I also try to avoid wearing the same outfit twice within a 2-3 week span of time. Variety is the spice of life.

This past spring, I was leading a discussion section that was completely DEAD. The students were responsible for doing the week's readings and coming in with questions/comments, as always, but that day they all seemed really unprepared. I told all the students to close their eyes, except one whom I chose randomly. I also closed my eyes. Then I told the students to raise their hands if they'd done the readings, and asked the student with her eyes open to count the raised hands. As I had suspected, there were only one or two raised hands. So I chided them a bit, reminded them that the point of the discussion section is for them to critically engage with the course material rather than passively listening to me recite it for them, and sent them on their way 20 minutes before the scheduled end of class, saying "I expect better next week." They did shape up and do the readings, not only for the next week, but for the remainder of the semester.

The whole close-your-eyes, raise-your-hands technique was completely off the cuff, but it worked in this case!

This past spring, I was leading a discussion section that was completely DEAD. The students were responsible for doing the week's readings and coming in with questions/comments, as always, but that day they all seemed really unprepared. I told all the students to close their eyes, except one whom I chose randomly. I also closed my eyes. Then I told the students to raise their hands if they'd done the readings, and asked the student with her eyes open to count the raised hands. As I had suspected, there were only one or two raised hands. So I chided them a bit, reminded them that the point of the discussion section is for them to critically engage with the course material rather than passively listening to me recite it for them, and sent them on their way 20 minutes before the scheduled end of class, saying "I expect better next week." They did shape up and do the readings, not only for the next week, but for the remainder of the semester.

The whole close-your-eyes, raise-your-hands technique was completely off the cuff, but it worked in this case!

To be fair, I said "girlfriend". They're still good for one night stands and friends with benefits. Also, I guess graduate engineering guys have their fair share of issues too, but these are more on the side of introversion and shyness. Nothing that some lifestyle changes can't fix.

Don't bother finding a girlfriend in grad school. They all have mental problems.