recent events
Am packing at the moment to go spend Thanksgiving with Chris in OKC. :) I know it'll be a fun visit, much more relaxed than our last one, and more secure-feeling. I'm a tiny bit stressed about having to get up at 5 a.m. tomorrow, etc., but not a big deal.
Finally, finally, finally finished the chapter draft I'd been working on seemingly forever, and got that in. My research is going super well. There's so much more I could do with this topic, and I'm highly interested in it, but everything takes so much longer than I expect it to. I know one reason for that is because I'm doing work more of a ph.d. depth than a MPhil depth, something one of my professors has mentioned, but I don't know how to cover it any less thoroughly. Already I feel like I'm taking a very bare bones approach. There's just so much to cover.
Had a bit of a moment when I realized if I do complete this degree without rolling it into the ph.d. here, as I'd initially intended, everything I've done this year will be locked up in University of Glasgow copyrights and I won't be able to use it towards a ph.d. at any other university, or towards writing about it on my own. That is horrendous to me. I've done an absolutely massive amount of work, and can't stand the thought of not being able to ever use it again or go farther with the research.
So......I'm thinking of withdrawing from the program, going home, and putting all the work I've done towards a ph.d. at a U.S. university. I actually feel better about that idea than about completing this smaller degree here. It would feel less like my last year here has been for nothing. I've gotten such a hell of a lot done this year, and have written more words than required for my thesis already. It's been so stressful. I know that, if I do continue this degree, I'll be absolutely working my ass off trying to get everything finished by January. Yes, as I said, I've written more than enough, but it has to be organized a certain way, and I don't feel I've proved my points as well as I want.
If I do withdraw, I'll use the rest of my time here to make sure I've got all the essential research done....research I ironically wouldn't even have time to do if I complete the degree. I need to be sure I've gotten all the court records on one key case notated, have to do that in Edinburgh. I have to visit a museum in Aberdeen that's extremely pertinent to my research. Plus, I need to get everything squared away with my flat, bills, etc. I may be able to come home earlier, but it won't be a lot earlier. It would be easier to rent out my flat in January than in February, though, so I'd most likely leave 2 - 4 weeks earlier than otherwise.
I've e-mailed my professors, dean, and administration, just to make sure there's a definite record of me saying I wanted to withdraw. Was on the phone with US student aid yesterday, and everything should be fine, as far as they're concerned. I wouldn't have to pay anything back sooner than if I completed the course in January, and withdrawing won't prevent me from getting financial aid in the future. In the US I'd need so, SO much less of that anyway.
So, that's that. Still waiting to hear back from anyone at all at the university, but that's my plan. I even think it would be easier for me to get into a ph.d. program at home with all this already written.
Finally, finally, finally finished the chapter draft I'd been working on seemingly forever, and got that in. My research is going super well. There's so much more I could do with this topic, and I'm highly interested in it, but everything takes so much longer than I expect it to. I know one reason for that is because I'm doing work more of a ph.d. depth than a MPhil depth, something one of my professors has mentioned, but I don't know how to cover it any less thoroughly. Already I feel like I'm taking a very bare bones approach. There's just so much to cover.
Had a bit of a moment when I realized if I do complete this degree without rolling it into the ph.d. here, as I'd initially intended, everything I've done this year will be locked up in University of Glasgow copyrights and I won't be able to use it towards a ph.d. at any other university, or towards writing about it on my own. That is horrendous to me. I've done an absolutely massive amount of work, and can't stand the thought of not being able to ever use it again or go farther with the research.
So......I'm thinking of withdrawing from the program, going home, and putting all the work I've done towards a ph.d. at a U.S. university. I actually feel better about that idea than about completing this smaller degree here. It would feel less like my last year here has been for nothing. I've gotten such a hell of a lot done this year, and have written more words than required for my thesis already. It's been so stressful. I know that, if I do continue this degree, I'll be absolutely working my ass off trying to get everything finished by January. Yes, as I said, I've written more than enough, but it has to be organized a certain way, and I don't feel I've proved my points as well as I want.
If I do withdraw, I'll use the rest of my time here to make sure I've got all the essential research done....research I ironically wouldn't even have time to do if I complete the degree. I need to be sure I've gotten all the court records on one key case notated, have to do that in Edinburgh. I have to visit a museum in Aberdeen that's extremely pertinent to my research. Plus, I need to get everything squared away with my flat, bills, etc. I may be able to come home earlier, but it won't be a lot earlier. It would be easier to rent out my flat in January than in February, though, so I'd most likely leave 2 - 4 weeks earlier than otherwise.
I've e-mailed my professors, dean, and administration, just to make sure there's a definite record of me saying I wanted to withdraw. Was on the phone with US student aid yesterday, and everything should be fine, as far as they're concerned. I wouldn't have to pay anything back sooner than if I completed the course in January, and withdrawing won't prevent me from getting financial aid in the future. In the US I'd need so, SO much less of that anyway.
So, that's that. Still waiting to hear back from anyone at all at the university, but that's my plan. I even think it would be easier for me to get into a ph.d. program at home with all this already written.