Life moves EXTREMELY quickly!
This is my determined face.
So even twenty four hours ago I was puttering along quite happily in my safe assumption that I'll just apply for a master's in history at the University of Alberta (where I completed my undergrad last spring), fairly certain to get in, very little stress. Then I had this status update on facebook: "Also: now applying for an MA in history from the U of A. Brb." I got so many comments by my friends (many of whom are also in grad school or university or have a keen interest in history), all weighing in at once. I had to turn my phone on silent because it kept "pinging" whenever facebook got updated. I began to dread the sound.
Most were supportive of my decision to continue my education. But several were like (simplified) - "U of A? What? You could do so much better!" A few spoke out in support of the U of A as well, but the more they argued with each other talked, the more I got to thinking... Also, the two professors (of the three I need) I asked to be academic references sounded really surprised in my e-mail that I was only applying to the U of A.
I then spoke with a friend who was in the honour's program last year with me on Skype for over an hour and a half. She went through this last year, but while writing five research papers and a thesis. She's now completing her master's at the University of Toronto. Essentially, she told me all I needed to hear, gave me the greatest advice on how to manage stress and applications and such, and we both pretty much ranted at each other and got things off of our chests. :)
Long story short, they've collectively convinced me to apply for not one or two but five different Canadian universities. They are, in no particular order: University of Alberta, University of Toronto, Carleton University, University of Western Ontario, and University of British Columbia. Two of them (Carleton and Western Ontario) aren't normal MAs in History, but in Public History - essentially, training to work in museums.
I think I'd be happy at any of these institutions, though. I texted an Irish friend of mine who's an assistant here in France, who asked me what I'd do if I got into all of these places. My reply: "Tear my hair out, exclaim at my good fortune, make a difficult decision via eeney meanie miney moe."
I've gotten a bit of a head start on the application processes in that I've blitzed through my research for some of the hardest stuff - getting academic references - because one of mine has to go on medical leave soon and needed to write the things ASAP. So I have everything nicely laid out in a file for her that I can quickly adapt for the other two. I have a not-so-nicely organized alternate folder with highlighted deadlines and document requirements and so on.
Now I just have to start planning on writing out Statements of Interest/Intent/etc. Each school wants a slightly different length/format and so on, but I'm sure the main body of the work can be adapted quite easily. I'll start soon (though the deadlines aren't until mid-January for all of them), because I do want to edit it over and over again until I can't stand the sight of it. Well, if nothing else, I do like to talk about myself... ;)
Anyway, I felt slightly panicked yesterday and today, but now after five hours of working on this after finishing teaching for the day I feel much more organized. The weight isn't completely off my chest, but I feel like I have a slight reprieve.
My plans for the immediate future? Make a fresh cup of tea, take out that baguette and that wheel of new cheese, and enjoy being in France for a bit.
Edit: Speaking of which, I have classes beginning at 8am tomorrow that I really should be planning for. Oh, well, work never ends! I'll still have that baguette, though.
So even twenty four hours ago I was puttering along quite happily in my safe assumption that I'll just apply for a master's in history at the University of Alberta (where I completed my undergrad last spring), fairly certain to get in, very little stress. Then I had this status update on facebook: "Also: now applying for an MA in history from the U of A. Brb." I got so many comments by my friends (many of whom are also in grad school or university or have a keen interest in history), all weighing in at once. I had to turn my phone on silent because it kept "pinging" whenever facebook got updated. I began to dread the sound.
Most were supportive of my decision to continue my education. But several were like (simplified) - "U of A? What? You could do so much better!" A few spoke out in support of the U of A as well, but the more they argued with each other talked, the more I got to thinking... Also, the two professors (of the three I need) I asked to be academic references sounded really surprised in my e-mail that I was only applying to the U of A.
I then spoke with a friend who was in the honour's program last year with me on Skype for over an hour and a half. She went through this last year, but while writing five research papers and a thesis. She's now completing her master's at the University of Toronto. Essentially, she told me all I needed to hear, gave me the greatest advice on how to manage stress and applications and such, and we both pretty much ranted at each other and got things off of our chests. :)
Long story short, they've collectively convinced me to apply for not one or two but five different Canadian universities. They are, in no particular order: University of Alberta, University of Toronto, Carleton University, University of Western Ontario, and University of British Columbia. Two of them (Carleton and Western Ontario) aren't normal MAs in History, but in Public History - essentially, training to work in museums.
I think I'd be happy at any of these institutions, though. I texted an Irish friend of mine who's an assistant here in France, who asked me what I'd do if I got into all of these places. My reply: "Tear my hair out, exclaim at my good fortune, make a difficult decision via eeney meanie miney moe."
I've gotten a bit of a head start on the application processes in that I've blitzed through my research for some of the hardest stuff - getting academic references - because one of mine has to go on medical leave soon and needed to write the things ASAP. So I have everything nicely laid out in a file for her that I can quickly adapt for the other two. I have a not-so-nicely organized alternate folder with highlighted deadlines and document requirements and so on.
Now I just have to start planning on writing out Statements of Interest/Intent/etc. Each school wants a slightly different length/format and so on, but I'm sure the main body of the work can be adapted quite easily. I'll start soon (though the deadlines aren't until mid-January for all of them), because I do want to edit it over and over again until I can't stand the sight of it. Well, if nothing else, I do like to talk about myself... ;)
Anyway, I felt slightly panicked yesterday and today, but now after five hours of working on this after finishing teaching for the day I feel much more organized. The weight isn't completely off my chest, but I feel like I have a slight reprieve.
My plans for the immediate future? Make a fresh cup of tea, take out that baguette and that wheel of new cheese, and enjoy being in France for a bit.
Edit: Speaking of which, I have classes beginning at 8am tomorrow that I really should be planning for. Oh, well, work never ends! I'll still have that baguette, though.