I was thinking about asking my teacher some questions and for some advice when I ask for a letter of recommendation, and I still think that's a good idea. But my husband suggested last night that I should talk to the head of the master's program and see what he thinks about where I would fit better, and if he knows anything about the PhD program's future. I didn't even think of that. So I'll be sending him an email today. I want my PhD, but if it comes down to it, I would rather start a relevant master's program in the fall than get rejected from a PhD program that wasn't entirely right for me to begin with, and having to wait another whole year to start. I'm too old to keep waiting, I need to finish my education so I can make use of it.
In mythology this week, I finished revising my second story. Two more to go, and I think they will be a little easier to write than this one was. The next one will be set at the beach, and I think it's going to be really fun to write. I'm getting close to the end of the course, so I'm only taking so many points per week so I can finish up the project. As for other writing stuff, a group of people I collaborated with on some fan fiction over the summer asked me to do so again, so I'm starting to think about what I want to write for that. We're all writing the same characters, and there will be a theme, and then we'll each write our own unique short story and publish them all as chapters. It was ra great experience last time, and the topic sounds fun.
(Photo from my personal collection. Happy Mario.)
Mario has been really content most of the week. I took this photo the other day and he looked so happy. This morning he's the grumpiest cat that ever lived, and I haven't found a solution. He's finally napping, but he growls in his sleep every once in awhile. Having a hyperthyroid cat is hard sometimes.
(Photo from my personal collection. Folding paper again.)
I started making origami lucky stars at the end of last week. My new obsession. I'm filling jars as gifts for some of my family for the holidays, because I always have to add some kind of ridiculous deadline of pressure to my hobbies. My daughter is on her fall break this week, so we spent yesterday at the mall looking for things she might want for her upcoming birthday, and drinking yummy coffees. Wish I could spend all of today with her, too, but I'll be off to the Veteran's Center in the afternoon as usual. Last week was better than the first, but you never know what you're going to get there, so it makes me anxious every single time. Last week I made some weird pasta art to entertain the group we had there. The art lady keeps making them decorate paper pumpkins and none of them seem into it. I have a feeling it will be two more weeks of paper pumpkins. I would bring some things in to give them something new to do, but I don't want to overstep. I'm just there to help. I had a great talk with my supervisor on my way out last week, so that relationship feels really good, and I like the art lady and other volunteers, so hopefully it gets more fun and less stressful over time.
Your posts are always such a pleasure to read, Angela, and I just wanted to second what your husband said: talk to EVERYONE you can think of to get advice! Send a brief email first to find out when they might have some time to meet you with just the basics of the decision you are trying to make, and then see what happens. Some people are really good at that kind of helpful mentoring, and some people just aren't ... but if you make lots of attempts like that, you are bound to find someone who is really helpful and well-informed. Also, here's the thing about graduate school: you learn everything on your own that really matters, so if you spend your time well BEFORE you start a program, that is not a problem at all. It's very easy to do know what to do to get ready: read EVERYTHING. Find the journal(s) that are most relevant to the field and start reading, start with the newest journal, and then work backwards in time. Take at least a few notes on every article, and take detailed notes on articles that interest you. You might even get ideas for professors you can write to for advice at other schools when you find the article(s) that really interest you! Psychology is really in a soul-searching mode right now, too. Did you see this article in the New York Times? It's kind of about Cuddy, but really about the whole psychology crisis. A must-read IMO: When the Revolution Came for Amy Cuddy. Professors should want to ask your opinion about that article and you should be ready to have an opinion, and to ask their opinion too!
ReplyDeleteLaura,
DeleteThank you. That article in some ways is a piece of my dilemma. I don't really want to be a researcher. Research is wonderful but extremely difficult to do correctly and with confidence. Unfortunately, the only PhD program in our area (at OU) is a research based degree. The other program that I think is probably a better fit for me is clinical and would prepare me to help others the way I want to. But the removal of their PhD program is a real problem for me. I guess I will figure it out eventually. (Soon, because application deadlines are getting close!)
That's why I sent the link to the article: that is a key question to ask yourself! I have no interest in research either, which is how I ended up a year-to-year instructor with no job security, but with no regrets (I started out as a professor but quit after 2 years, worst 2 years of my life). So, if you know research is not your thing, you don't want to do a research Ph.D. unless they give you a fully funded package where you don't have to pay a penny (and such deals are rare these days). Otherwise, you will hamper your further career decision with debt! Is there someone in the local community who has a job like the one you would eventually like to have? That would be a great person to talk to for advice! :-)
ReplyDeleteI actually know one person who has exactly the job I want (but it doesn't pay nearly as well), and I know the track she took to get there. It's a little complicated and would unfortunately close some doors that I want to keep open, so it's my ultimate back up plan. If I don't get into one of these other programs, I will go in that direction and have to break it to my husband that I won't be making nearly as much money but will probably be pretty happy. I'm hoping I can find a way to make one of the other programs work out in a way that I can make more money and still do the things I love.
DeleteThat sounds GREAT, Angela! I am a believer in back-up plans! I always figure the money I've lost as income I would have had to spend on therapy, so hey, it all worked out! :-)
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