Update? Huh?
So I've been meaning to update regularly. That means, I make an update once a year or so, say that I'm gonna write more often and then leave you hanging for a year when the cycle repeats. Well, I guess the cycle is here.
I chose Michigan PhD Bioinformatics (which might switch to the Human Genetics department) by January. I made this decision over the decision to get science teacher certification. It was a tough decision, but ultimately PhD was chosen because I do want to teach, and with a PhD I could teach in moore places. That, and if I don't like the PhD, I could stop with a masters and I am that much closer to teaching in high school (need a masters anyway, and it doesn't have to be in education). Not to mention, with a masters in biology, I could teach biology at liberal arts schools and community colleges. More personal interaction there anyway.
The school part of school is fun. I am taking Genetics, Intro Bioinformatics and Biostats (and some 1 credit seminars). I had my first grad school exam today, it was in Genetics. It wasn't so bad. Only time will tell...
Needless to say (maybe?) I am not at all a fan of the research. It much rank high up there with counting stripes on sunflower seeds or watching a glass of water evaporate when it comes to entertainment value. Yeah, the lab I am working in is cool, and the people are cool too (We have a post-doc from Sweden, today we talked for an hour about the King of Sweden. Did you know that the King's only power is that he can not be arrested for anything? I digress.) So the research, it is awful. I am doing statistical population genetics. In other words, I use computers to analyze DNA from lots of people and try to figure out where we all came from and how closely we are related. While it may seem interesting on the surface, the day to day activities are dull at best.
After meeting a lot of professors and listening (sleeping at) many, many, many research seminars (that I don't understand) I have deterimined one thread about people with Ph.D's. They are quirky, no, downright wierd. Do I really want to be a memember of the elite quirkiness?
At this point, the plan is to stop as soon as possible with a masters degree, see if UB will retroactively accept my acceptance to the initial teacher certification program and get started down that path. I think that I could have a much greater impact on the world down that path. I will only have about 80 years to live here, I'd rather is not be in vain.
To switch from the (fully funded) PhD program to the (not at all funded) Masters program is a tricky task. Administrative people do not like this switch one bit. I will be looked down upon. The trick is to pretend to be a PhD student for as long as possible, and then magically be finished with a masters. Downfall? Lots of research. Hopefully this magic will come quickly. The masters only requires 6 specific classes and a total of 31 credits. This semester I am taking 4 of those 6, and a total of 16 credits. I think I could be finished by May.
That is all for now. Maybe I will update in a few days, maybe I will be in teacher school when I update again, maybe I will have a PhD by then. Who knows?
On another note: Carbon Leaf. I am absolutely addicted. Going to see them Oct. 20th. Can't wait.
I chose Michigan PhD Bioinformatics (which might switch to the Human Genetics department) by January. I made this decision over the decision to get science teacher certification. It was a tough decision, but ultimately PhD was chosen because I do want to teach, and with a PhD I could teach in moore places. That, and if I don't like the PhD, I could stop with a masters and I am that much closer to teaching in high school (need a masters anyway, and it doesn't have to be in education). Not to mention, with a masters in biology, I could teach biology at liberal arts schools and community colleges. More personal interaction there anyway.
The school part of school is fun. I am taking Genetics, Intro Bioinformatics and Biostats (and some 1 credit seminars). I had my first grad school exam today, it was in Genetics. It wasn't so bad. Only time will tell...
Needless to say (maybe?) I am not at all a fan of the research. It much rank high up there with counting stripes on sunflower seeds or watching a glass of water evaporate when it comes to entertainment value. Yeah, the lab I am working in is cool, and the people are cool too (We have a post-doc from Sweden, today we talked for an hour about the King of Sweden. Did you know that the King's only power is that he can not be arrested for anything? I digress.) So the research, it is awful. I am doing statistical population genetics. In other words, I use computers to analyze DNA from lots of people and try to figure out where we all came from and how closely we are related. While it may seem interesting on the surface, the day to day activities are dull at best.
After meeting a lot of professors and listening (sleeping at) many, many, many research seminars (that I don't understand) I have deterimined one thread about people with Ph.D's. They are quirky, no, downright wierd. Do I really want to be a memember of the elite quirkiness?
At this point, the plan is to stop as soon as possible with a masters degree, see if UB will retroactively accept my acceptance to the initial teacher certification program and get started down that path. I think that I could have a much greater impact on the world down that path. I will only have about 80 years to live here, I'd rather is not be in vain.
To switch from the (fully funded) PhD program to the (not at all funded) Masters program is a tricky task. Administrative people do not like this switch one bit. I will be looked down upon. The trick is to pretend to be a PhD student for as long as possible, and then magically be finished with a masters. Downfall? Lots of research. Hopefully this magic will come quickly. The masters only requires 6 specific classes and a total of 31 credits. This semester I am taking 4 of those 6, and a total of 16 credits. I think I could be finished by May.
That is all for now. Maybe I will update in a few days, maybe I will be in teacher school when I update again, maybe I will have a PhD by then. Who knows?
On another note: Carbon Leaf. I am absolutely addicted. Going to see them Oct. 20th. Can't wait.