mockingjay634

I was wondering if it would be very unwise to adjunct two sections of the same course (Intro to Comparative Politics or Intro to International Relations, those are also my examination fields) during my first semester of a PhD program. I have some teaching experience, I was a section TA where I graded papers, led discussions based off of lecturers. My mentor says it's a bad idea as it's a lot different being a lecturer than a TA. I do understand this as I need to develop a syllabus as well as lectures. I'm currently not enrolled in school so I am doing this now while I still have the free time. I was awarded a fellowship so I don't have any work requirements so my rationale is, it's a way to allot some time during my days, earn some extra cash (I don't want to take out loans to supplement my stipend), and knock out my teaching experience. My fellowship doesn't allow me to work as a TA until my last two years of five years and my plan is to already be out in the field and getting a dissertation fellowship at that time. Prior to this, I won't get the chance to TA with my department (because I'm already externally funded). To clarify, this job would be at the local CC. Any insight?

This is a great thread - let's keep the exchange going! I'm the Queen of Scheduling, time prioritization is key! - I'm a fan of freezer cooking, it prevents me from unnecessarily eating out, provides healthier options than boxed/packaged foods. I spend one Saturday a month selecting 10 key recipes (I switch them up every so often), go grocery shopping, and prepping the foods. The following morning, on Sunday, I assemble the meals. I make typically 10 casserole dishes and 10 crockpot meals (5 recipes for each and then double it). It's the exact amount needed for the weekdays and I either cook or dine out on the weekends so I get that fix in then. Every night before bed, I take one out of the freezer and if it's a crockpot meal, I put it the slow cooker before I leave for the day. If it's a casserole, I put in it the moment I get home and do my nightly routine in the meanwhile as it bakes. It does wonders for your stress to know that you have a home-cooked meal ready, waiting for you at home. I always make sure I have enough for leftovers the next day. - As for meal prep when it comes to breakfast, I also make once a week on a "free" weekend - overnight oatmeals and breakfast sandwiches to freeze, and pre-portioned Cream of Wheat, smoothie packs, biscuits & gravy packs (I'm a Southerner!) - just to give you guys from ideas. - A nightly routine is essential. One of the previous posters mentioned they use aromatherapy. I shower with lavender oil (I spray some on the tile so the scent rises up with the hot water). Also, for both males and females, having a weekly pamper day is nice - it relaxes you and maintains your self esteem. I I am big on self maintenance (doing weekly foot soaks instead of spending money and time on lengthy pedicures, etc). In addition, every night before I go to bed, make a list of tasks that I need to complete for the next day and also review that day's list to make sure I am making satisfactory progress. I also put aside my outfit for the day, organize my bag, and prepare my lunch/snacks. It saves me a lot of time in the morning when I'm tired. I am also wanting to start a paper journal... been reading how a lot of successful people do this and want to start incorporate this into my routine. - As for a morning routine, I wake up early (like 4:30am to 5:30am) to walk my dog and head to the gym. I download TV shows on my iPad so I can watch them while I'm on the treadmill and kill two birds with one stone. I also am trying to get into the habit of meditating by setting an intention each day - a great way to incorporate this is to replace this with the time you would just sit down doing absolutely nothing but staring in to space or daydreaming. - I have designated blocks of time during of reading/research and writing. They are both in separate blocks on separate days (R/R will be on MWF and W on T/TR/Sat AM). Do this early in your graduate school career, it will come to great use when you are ABD. - I also make sure my weekends are scheduled and not set without any clear tasks or intentions... a great way to waste time if you don't know what you are supposed to do for the day. I only do social things every other weekend (which are scheduled in advance to avoid conflicts) and also try to volunteer 4 hours a morning of every other Saturday.

i think you have a triplet here! i am obsessed with beauty gurus, sephora, amazon, and urban decay... i am like the dupe queen... i need to stop. i always feel so dumb when i watch these videos like i'm a grad student who should be reading something right now instead of watching these videos. and i love mcdonalds fish sandwiches as well as popeyes! smh.

Thank you for this!

My UGPA was a 2.7 and master's GPA was a 3.67 (from the same institution, a public, known but lower ranked university) My GRE scores sucked.... 294 combined. BUT I had strong letters, went overseas to be a research assistant, and had a few conference presentations under my belt. (If your field allows it, getting a university affiliation with an overseas institution can do wonders). I ended up getting admitted to all the schools I applied to and was awarded an external 5 year fully funded fellowship. I definitely cried when I got the call. Didn't think it was gonna happen.

i took a good amount of AP courses but besides that, i SUCKED as a student... it wasn't that i didn't have the capability but i was just extremely bored and the student didn't invest in minority students (true story). i actually was desperate to go to an early college program around my sophomore year but my parents didn't agree with me moving away. i still kept some of those habits into college until i realized that i really needed to work on my academic skills if i wanted to go somewhere in life. nonetheless, i ALWAYS knew i wanted a PhD in the field that i am going into. surprised i was consistent with that despite all my BS

i already want it to be over... the coursework, comps, field work, proposal defense... i cannot be bothered. i find myself looking at post-docs... not pre ones. i need to get my life together. clearly i'm thinking backwards.

ppl put a lot of emphasis on contacting professors... it doesn't hurt to do so but in the end, i don't think it makes much of a difference. i think for the STEM disciplines, it matters. not PoliSci.

it might be worth waiting till black friday to buy a Lo & Sons bag... i got mine for 30 percent off

I think the Herschel backpackers are perfectly made for grad students, especially the Little America line... they are very upscale, roomy, and classy. They have a 25% off sale this weekend on Flight 001 as well. http://www.flight001.com/all-products/bags/backpacks.html

I recently purchased a Lo & Sons OG bag (wish I had gotten the OMG... the OG is overwhelming huge but I guess it isn't a bad thing). I haven't used it for school yet but I plan to. So far, it can fit my 11' Macbook Air, iPad (with case), Kindle, notebook, two novels, a compact gym outfit and shoes, daily essentials... It's just too roomy not for it to work. Make sure you get it in black and it makes the perfect bag for a conference weekend.

About 95% certain that I will be going... I'm originally from Orlando and did my undergrad in Tallahassee... not looking forward to living in Gainesville at all but it's the best choice for me. I just hope I find a good group of friends who don't mind taking weekend trips to Jacksonville every so often.

I did my undergraduate and graduate studies at a southern public HBCU. My undergraduate GPA was 2.72 and I knew that my options were limited for graduate school so I remained at my alma mater to enroll in a one year professional master's program. Checked my spring grades and I was upset but anticipated it. My cumulative GPA is a 3.5 and after I complete my internship practicum in the summer (theses are not supportive), it will be a 3.6. Both my degrees are in Political Science and I plan on applying to two social science doctoral programs at Howard University and University of Maryland - College Park. My goal for this program was to have no lower than a 3.7-3.8 to counteract my pathetic undergraduate experience but now, I feel that I will be seen as the applicant who did a "BIT" better than they did as a 3.5 for a master's is equivalent to a 3.0 for a bachelor's. In all reality, am I truly competitive enough to apply to this two schools with this academic background? I am currently working on conference presentations to build my resume, by the end of the year, I should have completed 3 (if all my proposals are accepted, I have done one so far). I'm counting on strong recommendation letters, my presentations, and my statement of purpose to make it through. I am just starting to think that academia might not just be for me. I was already planning on taking a hiatus for 2012-2013 and apply for admissions for Fall 2013 but a part of me wants to push it till Fall 2014 to pursue some research at an institution abroad in order to distinguish themselves from other applicants. I am new to this entire process and would appreciate some honest feedback to my situation.

Lol the obvious