2014 grads - how is it going so far?!

[sarab]

Hi all,

 

I thought I should post a topic to check in on everyone. We worried together and supported each other during the application cycle, and we seriously kept each other sane. So how is it going?! Do you like your cohorts? What classes are you taking? What's the new city like? Etc...

[AKCarlton]

Hi SaraB!

 

I moved from Arizona to Boston for my program. So far so well. I love my cohort. We already hang out at the tavern close to us and talk about football. The professors are amazing. One had a bbq at his place. They treat us like family members and I couldn't be happier. Some of my classes are a bit odd in how they are structured, and the amount of time we actually discuss our assigned readings. I'm taking three classes: theory, methods and a public archaeology course. It is really interesting to hear the 2nd years discuss concepts as compared to the new years like myself. Also, there is a lot of opinions being tossed around from different experiences everyone has had, which has created interesting conversation. Other than that, I love Boston! I'm finally getting to experience Fall the way I always wanted to throughout my life. However, it is VERY cold to me already. I'm already bundled and layered up!

 

How is sunny Cali treating you?

[Ancient_DNA]

New University of Toronto here.  So far so good.  Haven't started research yet, (awaiting ethics), so once that gets cleared away my ample free time will likely quickly diminish.  

[NoSleepTilBreuckelen]

Going well! Classes have been interesting, my cohort is a ton of fun and I feel really at-home in the department (both personally and theoretically). Since everything is just getting started I still have that "I can do all the things" attitude and I've been signing up for a bunch of professional development and extracurricular activities, but I need to keep in mind not to over-commit, because the coursework is going to start adding up and I definitely need to make that my priority for right now...

 

How are things going for you sarab?!

Edited October 4, 2014 by NoSleepTilBreuckelen

[sarab]

Things are good! We have a quarter system here, so classes just started October 2nd, so I haven't even been to all my classes yet. But I'm very excited (and nervous, too).

The cohort is nice: 2 lings, 2 bios, 2 archs, 4 psych, and 4 sociocultural. I'm still just getting to know them, but they seem like nice people!

And San Diego is amazing! It's been very hot lately, and I'm really missing fall weather, but having the beach is always nice.

 

I have to make a better update once I've at least been to all my classes!

[lackingpatience]

Great to hear about all of your programs!

 

Just started my Masters in at Cambridge - loving my cohort so far! We're only just getting started (term starts in early October here) so I'm still nervous, excited and all that jazz. There are 9 of us in the Master of Research and first year PhD combined courses, and over the next few weeks we'll be presenting our research proposals to each other in our pre-field seminar. (Yikes!!) Our only required courses are theory and method seminars, and then we're free to construct a program suitable to our research from all of the lectures/seminars in our department and others. I'm loving the freedom of the loosely-structured program, but it is a bit sink-or-swim for international students when it comes to figuring out the course systems etc. as they don't offer much guidance. 

 

My main anxiety at the moment has been that everyone here seems to just assume that MRes students are planning to carry on to the PhD at Cambridge, whereas I'm planning to move to the US to do mine... worried that it will make asking for reference letters slightly awkward. :S