Silent Schwa » Grad School

Grad School: The Musical

Michael — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:04:29 +0000

It’s been a while since I updated everyone (?) on how grad school is going. So here it is: It’s going.

I’m finishing up my final day and final paper(s) today. I have a presentation and research proposal due today in my Second Language Acquisition course, and a literature review in another (due Friday). After those are submitted, I’m done with my coursework. Next semester will be spent working on my thesis and taking Chinese 101.

Status Update

Michael — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:06:34 +0000

This semester is finally winding down. Or, rather, “winding up.” Multiple papers due, studying, finals, etc. If you’ve been to graduate school, you know what I’m talking about. I’ll write more after all the madness has passed.

Week 02

Michael — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:44:34 +0000

Welcome to week #2 of grad school! Er… rather… week 1. Sorta. School started last week on a Thursday, making this the first full week of classes. It’s also the first time I’ll meet my remaining teachers, both of whom I’ve been wanting to meet for quite a while.

I’m not used to having multiple classes to juggle. In fact, I haven’t done that since high school (see: the 1980s). Military: one class at a time. Undergrad: one class at a time. It’s going to take a bit of trial and error to figure out a study schedule to maximize time and minimize confusion and repetition.

Mondays are my “long day” (i.e. 2 classes, spanning from 2pm to 7:30pm). Additionally, this is the first time I have a class in a building I’ve never even been to (which happens to be on the opposite side of campus), so I’ll be leaving a bit earlier than normal to make sure I find it.

I have nothing specific to report on yet, but will likely make some comments after classes today. Also, fear not… every post will not be titled “Week ##.” This is just a filler for now until I have more substantive thoughts to upon which pontificate.

Week 01

Michael — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:07:33 +0000

So, I survived the first week of graduate school. That is to say, I survived a single 1-hour class.

Strangely (?), ASU decided to start classes up on a Thursday. Considering I have only one class on Thursdays (LIN 520) and nothing schedule for Fridays, I had a rather light week. Next week will likely be decisively heavier, as I’m in class Mon-Thurs.

The only thought I have so far is that I’m rather enjoying being back in an academic environment, this time with a bunch of other passionate language nerds instead of a bunch of tech nerds. Although I do have a different background and experiences than many of my classmates, the same holds true for them. We each know languages and other things that the others don’t know. I can see learning a lot from everyone.

I truly do get to be the dumbest guy in the room. Cool.

Grad School – Status Report

Michael — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:20:12 +0000

It’s official… I’m a grad student. My classes (see below) start in August.

LIN 500 Linguistics and TESOL
LIN 510 Linguistics
LIN 520 Second Language Acquisition Theory

I’m in… now what?

Michael — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:07:22 +0000

“Congratulations! You have been admitted into the English (MA) program for the 2010 Fall term.”

With that, it begins. And also with that, a question arises: “Now what?”

All the work I put in trying to get accepted has paid off. But the real work has yet to begin. I’ve never been in a traditional university environment (unless you count checking out the young coeds as I drive past ASU on my way to Chuck Box). I don’t even know where to start. But if I’m anything, I’m resourceful.

I’ll probably have a lot to say about grad school here in the future. Keep yer squinties peeled.

Advice?

Michael — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:21:16 +0000

If anyone out there has been to graduate school and has any advice, either general or specifically related to funding, please post it here as a comment! I would appreciate it very much.

Grad School

Michael — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:12:32 +0000

I have applied to the graduate program in Linguistics at Arizona State University. They have all of my application materials, and now I’m waiting to see what happens next. I’ll keep you all apprised!