Grad School Gets in the Way

18 Responses to “Grad School Gets in the Way”

1. HistoricUpstart says:

   September 15, 2010 at 8:11 pm

   I say take all the time you need, SarahMC! Everyone’s life has crazy-busy periods, and grad school is a pretty darn good reason. You gotta take care of YOU first and foremost. You have given so incredibly much to Harpyness (including starting it!), and I think you should definitely take a “break” with a clear conscience. You will be missed!
2. PhDork says:

   September 15, 2010 at 8:34 pm

   SMC: It’s cool, bay-bee. Going back to school is a tremendous shift. Do what you can, when you can.

   Readers: This last week-plus has been a real challenge with my jury duty and Becky’s family death responsibilities, and posting has been lighter than we’d like. I’m hopeful that Life stuff will Simma Down and we’ll get back to business soon.

   That said, now would be a great time for any of you brilliant broads to write that guest post you’ve been chewing over. If you’ve got a brainstorm a-brewin’, let us know!
3. Catalania says:

   September 15, 2010 at 8:42 pm

   I’m starting my undergrad degree in a couple of weeks! (Baby Harpy over here.) I suppose US universities start the autumn term way earlier than Brit ones? (Or, um, American colleges start the fall semester? Your language, let me mangle it.) I’m gonna be reading History. The thought of the workload is exhilarating and/or terrifying depending on how competent I happen to be feeling that day. Top tips?
4. annimal says:

   September 15, 2010 at 8:46 pm

   I’m not technically in school, but recently started a new job at a university, so I’ve had to work longer hours. I’m having a great time, but my blogging and commenting have gone to almost zero.
   Best of luck in grad school, Sarah!
5. BeckySharper says:

   September 15, 2010 at 9:07 pm

   Hey, ladies getting edumacated is just about my favorite thing ever, so rock on, SarahMC!

   And yeah, ladies, if you’ve got guest post ideas, we would LOVE to have some good contributions from the extended Harpy flock!
6. BeckySharper says:

   September 15, 2010 at 9:09 pm

   @Catalania: I’m excited for you!

   ::cue soft music::

   Undergrad is a special time in a woman’s life….

   Enjoy all the brain food you’re about to receive; this may be the only time in your life that you get to focus exclusively on what interests you.

   My college tips would be less intellectual than practical:

   –Eat well. Get plenty of sleep. Don’t drink so much you get hungover (at least, not on a regular basis). Everything is harder when you don’t feel well, and dragging your ass to class when you feel shitty will make you hate even the classes you love.

   –Practice safe sex. Have happy sexual adventures whenever possible. That said, you should feel empowered to say no to whatever doesn’t float your boat.

   –Don’t be afraid to Be A Bitch when necessary. You will encounter people who need a thorough bitching out. Now is a good time to practice speaking out and standing up for yourself. It will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life.

   Also, I always loved the way the British say they’re “reading a subject.” Americans say “studying.” Of course, I studied English and Spanish lit, so “reading” is a more accurate description of my 4 undergrad years. And yes, we start our fall semester way early—usually the third week of August.
7. funnyface says:

   September 15, 2010 at 10:20 pm

   I started grad school for English Lit this fall. So far I’m loving and hating it. Loving the enthusiasm of my Medieval British Lit prof, hating the bullshit research methods class that is basically covering “how to write a 15-20 page paper” which I’ve done already, as an undergrad. But I’m amped to be pursuing what I love, super glad to have my husband’s support when my dad rags on me about English Lit being worthless, and feeling good about my choice.
8. betterfishtofry says:

   September 15, 2010 at 10:58 pm

   I started grad school three weeks ago (Master of Arts in Theological Studies with a focus on Feminist Liberation Theology) and I.LOVE.IT.

   Wish I was rich though so I didn’t have to work three jobs and do school full time. It’s my stepping stone to a doctorate though and fulfilling a lifelong dream to crawl up the Roman Catholic churchs’ butt

   Also, so far, grad school is way better than undergrad…no classes that I have no interest in to make me “well rounded”. I am well rounded enough now thank you very much!
9. Nicola says:

   September 15, 2010 at 11:22 pm

   funnyface –

   Your post could so have been written by me when I was doing my MA in English Lit! Apart from the husband/dad part. In my experience, the uni knows that those research methods classes are a massive waste of time but their funding depends on you taking those classes. I still have to take them.

   I’m starting my second year of my PhD, part time, nothing new there, but I’ve also just started a new job and this year I’m going to be teaching some first year undergrads. That’s freaking me out, I feel like these fresh faced youngsters are depending on me, and I’ve never had that before.
10. melody says:

    September 15, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    @ Catalania:
    Oh! I have another couple of undergrad tips:

    - Don’t take a class at 8 AM unless you are a morning person. No matter how interesting the class is, you will invariably fall asleep at least once.

    - When you can choose your courses: choose the teachers. The reason for this is that the best teachers can make seemingly uninteresting topics captivating, but the worst teachers can make even Leonardo da Vinci seem boring (true experience).

    - Take a couple of non required classes outside of your major. You never know where your life will take you; a class that you take on a whim, may someday be a jumping point for something else.
11. Catalania says:

    September 16, 2010 at 9:50 am

    Haha, thanks Becky and Melody! I’m taking notes, I promise. No morning classes for me! Sexual adventures, on the other hand…

    Also, I’ve been to girls’ schools since I was four, so this is the first time I’ll have been educated with guys. I suspect it’s gonna be a brave new world of mansplaining, so Being A Bitch is probably gonna be necessary every now and then! I’d better start practicing. (I think I may be a natural.)
12. Shadow Boxer says:

    September 16, 2010 at 10:01 am

    @SarahMC: May I consider you part of my cohort as well? I started my PhD 3 weeks ago, and just had the moment where I said, “Hey, I can do this!” I am studying US History (military and gender), and it’s a wild feeling realizing that not only am I making up the curriculum as much as any other history PhD student is, I’m doing it even more because almost no one studies this. Take your time, good luck, and I’ll see ya on the flip side!

    @Catalina: I second the advice already given. I’m not sure how your education system handles advising, but you’ve probably been assigned a specific faculty member as a mentor-type, right? Get to know your mentor-type faculty member (go visit every few weeks or so) and find out if you’ll find zie helpful. If yes, YAY! If no, start working on finding a new MTFM. If you haven’t been assigned a MTFM, get to know your professors and find yourself one. It was one of the best things I did as an undergrad. Now I have existing relationships with several faculty members and I really feel supported at school – invaluable.

    Excuse me, I have to go back to finding sources for my semester papers.
13. Endora says:

    September 16, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Don’t worry, Sarah! We’ll be waiting patiently for your return when you do get a breather.

    I’m starting back at grad school in a few weeks too, studying European literature. I’m really looking forward to it – all the fun of learning, without the stress of exams! There is a little matter of the thesis and coursework, but I can deal with that much better than the all-or-nothingness of exams (in the UK, the only thing that counts for your degree is one set of exams you do in your final year, which is of course rather daunting).

    @Catalina: Good luck! My advice: Do as much as you can during Freshers’ Week, but don’t wear yourself down either – I was so exhausted by the end of it that I ended up with a nasty case of Freshers’ Flu that stuck around for months and really made my first term a bit grim. Work-wise: try to stick to a regular work schedule to avoid essay crises – when I did manage to do that I found that life was much less stressful. Working regularly throughout the year and not leaving everything until exam term is also highly advisable and will likely put you ahead of the pack. And don’t stress too much over individual essays (assuming they aren’t counted for anything) – they are a chance to learn and make mistakes and don’t need to be absolutely perfect. Oh, and I second the idea of getting to know your lecturers well where possible.
14. Francesca Casamento says:

    September 16, 2010 at 11:36 am

    I just started school again myself this semester! I graduated two years ago with a psychology degree and worked full time and decided I wanted to pursue a master’s degree in English literature so I can teach. So I’m going back as a nonmatriculated studet part time now to take extra lit classes so I can apply to a grad program next year. It’s a little rough to work out financially ( especially since I know I won’t be making tons of money after finishing). Although I’m an avid reader and had a job that’s been demanding on my time, it is a little bit of an adjustment working on time management again while home. But I actually really like my classes and professors an like being a student I general, especially when I have more freedom in deciding what classes to take. And I look forward to teaching very much.
15. Mackey says:

    September 16, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    I second what Shadow Boxer said – here in Australia we don’t technically have a faculty mentor, but in one department I found 2 that have helped me in undergrad, and thanks to both of them I am now doing my honours thesis. They also provided me with experiences in undergrad that have me thinking about becoming an academic..
16. Mackey says:

    September 16, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    @Sarah MC – congrats on grad school.. I hope the paid work side settles/evaporates so you have much more time with the studies..
17. SarahMC says:

    September 16, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    Thanks everyone, and best wishes to those of you starting (or continuing) school! I’m having a pretty hard time with one of my classes and all the math (economics) but I’m trying to be zen about the whole sitch so we’ll see what happens.

    The paid work is the reason I’m going back for this particular subject and they are doing some of the financing so …

    I miss the Internet!
18. Mackey says:

    September 16, 2010 at 10:17 pm

    I’m happy to offer what ever help I can on the economics front Sarah MC – that is the the broad discipline/area I’m writing my thesis in..