dimanche0829

OP, you might know for a fact that all of the MA/internship bound students in your specific program don't give a damn about the courses they're taking because they just want to move on to their jobs as soon as possible, but that's not the case for all of us, I know, I know, you're not generalizing, but really what's the difference? How does the level of their commitment impact your degree? However, despite the lack of generalizing, it's a little tough to read through this thread and not get the "oh, I guess I'm in that category too because I'm a soon to be lowly MA student in a *gasp* professional program." It's still beyond me, after 4 and a half pages of this thread, why you needed advice in order to decide if you should spend time with people who engage in behavior that you don't appreciate. The better question is why wouldn't you distance yourself from them? Would you be missing out on something socially or academically if you did? If you're truly not generalizing or looking for confirmation that it's OK to purposefully be contemptuous of professional MA students then I'm not sure where the Phd vs MA thing comes into play. Regardless of academic hierarchy or who has to do the most work for their degree, your problem is the particular people that you happen to be in a program with that are not to your liking for whatever reason, or at least that's what you're insisting. I totally understand feeling disgusted with people who are immature, disrespectful, and not committed, but if you don't have to go out to bars with them and subject yourself to their drama, then why would you? Seems like a no-brainer. I sure as hell wouldn't, even if that means reducing the number of people in my social circle. Maybe you should reach out to the few other PhD students in your program in order to start building friendships with them, that might work about better because they're motivations and interests will be more in line with yours...just sayin'

I'd also suggest that, when you study for the next time around, that you not study (or minimally study) for the math section and concentrate all your efforts on the verbal. English programs aren't going to give a hoot about your quant scores, as long as you're at any cutoff scores set by the university.