Fred Garvin

I think you'll get more out of the curriculum if you have a couple years of working/professional experience. Not only does that give you some context and perspective, it allows you to visualize how the concepts you're being taught will apply (or not apply) to whatever profession you decide to pursue. Good luck!

I think ScarvesandCardigans put it better than I did. Things like tattoos, nose rings, studs, etc. can be an unintentional distraction from a real intellectual/professional contribution a person is making. Or they could be a deliberate attempt to distract people from the fact that one doesn't have much to offer. Even if the latter isn't true, why risk it? To use an extreme example, Lady GaGa knows how to attract the cameras, but what does she have to say? Bob Dylan is a mumbling hermit who shuns the media, yet people quote his lyrics like scripture. I'm not saying everyone thinks like me or that anyone else should think like me. And please keep in mind that I'm speaking strictly within a professional context. Tattoos are tricky because, unlike our favorite pair of sweats, they can't be left at home when it's time to go to work. I just thought there might be some benefit to presenting an alternative point of view given that the general tone of the thread seems to be one of "Go for it, don't sweat it. A lot of people have them these days. No big deal." In some cases it can be a big deal, thus I think it merits some careful thought. Although not everyone thinks like me, there are some who do, and you likely won't be able to readily identify them. I think the wise thing would be to assume the worst case scenario, then decide if that's a price you're willing to pay for a tattoo.

Hi Cheshire Cat, sorry for the delayed response. This is in reference to the question you asked about the two classes I'm auditing at an area community college. Given that they're stats and accounting, they have prerequisites, but in my case all I did was show the registrar my undergrad transcript. After that I was off and running. It's been a godsend. I've done all the homework and taken all the tests to measure my understanding but it's knowledge purely for knowledge's sake. No grade, no credit, no pressure. Those will come soon enough when I begin my graduate studies, but this audit thing will leave me feeling much better prepared and thus more confident. That alone justifies the expense, time and effort. It's one of the best ideas I've had in a very long time.

Even if you don't think the particular place where you will be studying or working will care one way or the another, the wise thing would be for you to assume it will have some type of negative implication for you. If you're okay with that, then proceed. Remember that supervisors aren't always completely candid about the basis of their decisions. Distaste for tattoos or negative conclusions drawn from them could be couched in a phrase like, "We think you should get the benefit of a little more time in your current position," or "It's that other person's time." That's all it takes. As a former supervisor, I have to be honest and say that a tattoo these days says only one thing to me: "Follower." It's become such a trend/fad that people with no ink are the ones who stand out. Professors and HR people who value individual identity, personal confidence and innovation might see it the same way. It's the same sense of irony I get when I see a pack of people on noisy Harleys rumble by, attired in all the requisite Harley leather, doo-rags, and goatees. They're all being rebels... together. That always makes me chuckle...

When I was in the military, the expectation was that the person requesting the recommendation will draft something for the recommender to edit/modify as they see fit. In addition to the draft, backing documents are also provided. This is a win-win in that: - It allows the requestor to bring first-person knowledge to bear on the contents of the letter. Nobody knows more about what you did (or what you're about) than you. - It maintains the integrity of the process by giving the recommender the last word on the letter before submitting it on your behalf. They can trash it and start from scratch using the information provided or they can work with what you give them. It's totally up to them. Implicit in this is the understanding that you don't expect to see the submitted version unless your recommender decides to give you a copy. - It greatly increases the likelihood that a recommendation will be submitted by the deadline. If I as a recommender am given something that's 70% complete, I'm much more likely to complete it within the required time frame. As some have astutely pointed out, it would be wise to ask first. However it can't hurt to do so, as these people get indundated with requests for letters. If you approach your recommender with the idea of making their job easier while still giving them the final word, you'll stand out for all the right reasons. Help them help you. Make it easy as possible for them. You'll be surprised by how well it works.

I'm auditing a statistics class and a managerial accounting class at the local community college. I've been accepted for a healthcare admin program and I don't want my long dormant business knowledge to be an issue. After the term ends in May, I plan to hunt for a place to live and travel a bit before relocating in August. I love summer...

Your nationality would matter to me, but in nothing but good ways. Unfortunately I don't chair any admissions committees, but if I did... I'm a great admirer of Iranian - Persian - history and culture. I also knew a couple first generation Iranian-American students as an undergrad and they were incredibly kind and educated people. Their families were great as well. Finally, I know that Cyrus the Great was a champion of religious freedom and free political expression... and that was 2500 years ago! If there's one country in that region I hope the West can eventually come to an understanding with, it is Iran. The similarities between our respective peoples far exceed the differences. Best of luck to you...

Man, what a nightmare scenario. I'm sorry to hear that you're going through that. I don't know what the standard process is in academia, but in the military, the person who requests the letter of recommendation (LOR) often drafts one for the recommender to edit as they see fit before signing it. Actually I'll go one step further: unless the reference explicitly states they want to write their own letter from scratch, submitting a draft for them to work with is the expectation. By reducing the time and pain factor for the reference, this makes prospective references much more likely to offer their support and much less likely to miss a deadline. It also improves the quality of the letter because, in general, the recommendee is much better tuned in to what they did than the recommender is. Remember, professors see hundreds of students come and go, and have probably written letters for dozens of them. Nobody knows what you've done better than you do. It's also a given that the person requesting the LOR will provide all necessary supporting documents (i.e. performance reports written on the recommendee, papers written by them, etc.), so it's good to have those ready. The idea is to tee it up for the person who's submitting the letter on your behalf. Providing them with a 70% solution to begin with versus asking them to start with a blank piece of paper can make a huge difference in their level of enthusiasm and timeliness of the delivery. The integrity of the process is preserved because the draft is theirs to change/modify as they see fit with the understanding that you won't see the final version they submit on your behalf. The easier you make it for them, the more likely they are to come through for you. While this may seem a little odd to someone who's not used to it, I think you'll find that most potential references will respond very favorably to "Would you be willing to submit a LOR on my behalf? I'd be more than happy to provide you with a draft to start with." versus just "Will you write me a LOR?" Good luck to you.