Getting ready for Fall 2014

[NavyMom]

So,

 

I have been accepted and admitted.  I am in the process of pre-buying the books required for class.  A little nervous at the amount of reading and considering buying a supply of coffee to span 3 years.

 

Anyone else prepping?

Tami

[MastersHoping]

I'm going to have to my current quarter first XD 

 

Where you headed to? 

[NavyMom]

I just finished my last quarter.   My degree is being reviewed now and I was told it will post sometime this week...

 

I live in Sacramento, CA, so I am headed to Sac State for their MPPA program.

How about you?

[emguth]

Oh no! Don't buy so much coffee, better to just get the beans fresh weekly

[MastersHoping]

Cool! 

 

I'm going to Georgetown University for an MA. Pretty stoked! 

[whitegummy]

Just bought 2 books for a fall course to get a head start on reading. Shipping weight was 10lbs....

[Elanti]

Just bought 2 books for a fall course to get a head start on reading. Shipping weight was 10lbs....

I wish I knew what books I needed for my classes. I'd love to get a headstart on reading. And that shipping weight- damn.

[Munashi]

I wish I knew what books I needed for my classes. I'd love to get a headstart on reading.

 

Same.  I don't think I'll get to register for a while now...

[whitegummy]

I wish I knew what books I needed for my classes. I'd love to get a headstart on reading. And that shipping weight- damn.

I guess if I can't absorb it via reading I can at least sleep on it. Should be plenty thick 

As for classes, I actually emailed the faculty at the program and asked them what the first quarter schedule is like, and whether I can get a copy of the old syllabus for some classes. 

[Elanti]

I guess if I can't absorb it via reading I can at least sleep on it. Should be plenty thick 

As for classes, I actually emailed the faculty at the program and asked them what the first quarter schedule is like, and whether I can get a copy of the old syllabus for some classes. 

But what if they change books?! That would be awful. I might contact the faculty members in my program, especially if the book on the syllabus doesn't have a newer edition or was published in 2013/2014. 

[NavyMom]

Haha..... you all make me giggle. 

 

I have been getting my books in too, and well..... not looking forward to having to read them.  A little scared. 

I am trying to find a way to post a pic of my books.... I have 13 right now.  Only for two classes.  I am awaiting 3 more, that are on the way. 

[I am not sure yet]

This is part os my to do list before starting my Phd:

- getting my visa (and all the red tape!);

- packing up all the stuff I won't bring to the US and finding a place to store them (it's, like, a whole apartment);

- finding a place to stay prior my arrival;

- farewell parties, lots of them! =)

 

I don't think I'll bother about the books so soon...

[m-ttl]

You guys already have classes and schedules and book lists?? I'm jealous!

 

I'm going to be able to enroll in classes around the week of the 20th, and have a phone call about which ones I'll be taking soon, but I'm also moving across the country, and can't imagine buying more books I'd have to move with me first. 

 

I have, however, found dictionaries I can use for my secondary language for my language exams. Regular dictionaries are easy enough to obtain, but finding a dictionary specifically defining art/culture terms is a tad bit harder, unfortunately. 

[maelia8]

I won't be able to register for classes until August, so I'm not buying books yet, but I have plenty to do before then!

 

1) move from Germany back to my hometown in the states at the end of June, condensing everything I own here into two full suitcases

2) going through all of the stuff I left at my parents' house for the last two years and getting rid of anything I'm not bringing with me to university

3) finding a place to live in my university town, which is six hours away from my hometown (no spontaneous visiting)

4) pack everything I own in a pickup and drive it down to my new place by August 20th

 

Did I mention I have over 2,000 books stored with my mom that I need to sort through/dispose of? Not looking forward to it ...

[RomulusAugustulus]

You guys already have classes and schedules and book lists?? I'm jealous!

 

I'm going to be able to enroll in classes around the week of the 20th, and have a phone call about which ones I'll be taking soon, but I'm also moving across the country, and can't imagine buying more books I'd have to move with me first. 

 

I have, however, found dictionaries I can use for my secondary language for my language exams. Regular dictionaries are easy enough to obtain, but finding a dictionary specifically defining art/culture terms is a tad bit harder, unfortunately. 

 

Would you mind sharing what dictionaries you found?! I have the same problem about needing art terms specifically defined. Especially in German!

[m-ttl]

Would you mind sharing what dictionaries you found?! I have the same problem about needing art terms specifically defined. Especially in German!

I can start a thread in Art History but I really doubt my dictionaries will help you. They're in Chinese...haha.

[RomulusAugustulus]

I can start a thread in Art History but I really doubt my dictionaries will help you. They're in Chinese...haha.

 

lol, nevermind! Thanks anyway though 

[RunnerGrad]

I can't register for courses until July, so I have no idea what books or articles I'll have to read.  Past syllabi for the core courses aren't even available, publically, on the web, so I can't see what's been done in the past.

 

I do have a fairly good idea as to what one text will be, simply because it's the only comprehensive text covering one subject of great importance in my field.  Beyond that, however, I have no idea what to expect!  I also will have to choose an elective, and I have no idea which courses might fit into my schedule at this point!

[starofdawn]

I just accepted my admission offer last night. I'm going to cool my jets for a week... and then start thinking about it all over again.

 

Lucky for me, since I've traveled to a few 3rd world countries, I get to take a TB test... yay.

[ecm07e]

I've already ordered 3 of my 7 books for fall. The school bookstore thankfully has the updated book list for fall 2014 already on its website so I was able to see what I needed to order. I hate that I have to special order two books, thus having to go through the bookstore. Price gougers. 

[iphi]

I have to do that too, not because of travels but because it's mandatory for all incoming students. 

 

Just a head's up that if you've taken a TB test in the last 5 years it should still be valid... I work in schools and it has been really nice not to have to re-do it for every job!

[Ceci]

I wish I knew what books I needed for my classes. I'd love to get a headstart on reading. And that shipping weight- damn.

Me too!! I wish I could start looking over things right now while I have the time.

[seeingeyeduck]

I started putting together my schedule but it doesn't look like any of the books are submitted yet. Wish the spring semester was up too so I can plan my whole year!!

I'm also going to have to start figuring out the independent study I need to arrange too...

I created a student ID and set up my school email - feels unreal still!

[kittyk]

I want to start reading, but I'm an international student and the books are not available in my country. Would it be wise to buy the books online and ship it to my country, thereby paying 2 to 3 times the cost of the book, or should I just wait till I get there to buy it? The issue is I'm moving 2 weeks before the start of the semester, so I'll have very little time to read, in addition to finding an apartment and getting settled.

[ctg7w6]

Hello, everyone! First post!

 

I am in the US Air Force as of last year. Graduated in 2010 with a B.A. in history and economics.

 

I can't wait to pursue a pHD in military history after my stint in the Air Force is done.

 

Thankfully the USAF is paying for a good deal of my M.A. while I am in. I applied to Norwich University for their M.A. in military history program. Accepted as of yesterday!

 

I was wary of online schools, but from everything I've found out it is a pretty rigorous school. All textbooks are covered in the tuition. So is the access to all of the online journals and resources like JStor. So excited, haven't had JStor since I was in undergrad and it's been horrible going without it.

 

Anyway... as for preparing for a June 2 start date this year....

 

Currently setting up my technology needs... My Macbook Pro, iPad, and iPhone to seamlessly sync with each other in all of the aspects that I need for the program.

 

Getting ready to purchase DEVONthink, which so far during the trial period is an AMAZING program (and also helps with personal document management, not just school). It is pricey at $120 (student discount), but I am thinking of the future... It has OCR technology so that anything I scan into my computer as a PDF will be searchable by DEVONthink... Very crucial especially at the pHD level.

 

Also, getting ready to purchase Bookends for bibliographic needs. Still going to use MS Word for writing papers... I hear there are better options, but I am very comfortable with it and it does what I need so far. Any opinions on that?

 

Debating upgrading to Papers 3 from Papers 2... especially since I will have DEVONthink... Not sure it's worth the $40, but I like the system itself... We will see!

 

Also, gearing up with Anki for flashcard use. Studying German right now. Not quite fluent in it (took it for years in high school and college). Almost to a reading level for a pHD program. Then will move on to French sometime in the future. 

 

I also really want to upgrade the RAM in my computer... but that's just so I can play Elder Scrolls Online a little bit better, lol.