Grad school, eh?
So I've been on alternate status with UO for the last month, basically waiting to see if one of their three first coices declined and trying to decide whether I actually wanted to go there if I did get in, or if I wanted to wait a year and try again at Berkeley and UNC. During the road trip to Seattle I stopped in at the campus and talked to the few people in the anthro deapartment who were still around, and got a much better feeling than I'd had to start with. I think there's a place for me there, research-wise, and there are friendly and helpful people too.
Today I got an acceptance letter. There's a spot open for me if I want it, and as much as I sort of snarl about being an alternate, hey, 4th on their list isn't bad.
I'm 90% sure I want to go. I want to be doing something with myself, and I feel like right now I'm stagnating and that grad school is the right step for me. I don't love the idea of leaving the area, my much-loved community of freaks, and the first place that's ever felt like home to me. But I think I need to, for the sake of personal growth, and while I could wait a year and apply again, there's no guarantee I'd get in then either, and meanwhile I'd feel like my life was on hold. If I still felt lukewarm about the school I'd probably risk it, because that's a big commitment. But visiting the campus made me a lot happier with the program.
Still, I think I want to ponder for a couple of days. I wouldn't mind input from my friends (but Noah, saying "grad school is dumb. you should stay here!" will not influence my decision. Not that I think that's going to stop you, I'm just warning you).
So what says you, O LJ? I'd be especially interested in opinions from people who are going through/have been through the grad school process. Rin has already suggested looking at the possibility of deferring for a year, so I could reapply to Berkeley without losing my shot at UO if Berkeley doesn't work out. That's something I'll check out, for sure.
Today I got an acceptance letter. There's a spot open for me if I want it, and as much as I sort of snarl about being an alternate, hey, 4th on their list isn't bad.
I'm 90% sure I want to go. I want to be doing something with myself, and I feel like right now I'm stagnating and that grad school is the right step for me. I don't love the idea of leaving the area, my much-loved community of freaks, and the first place that's ever felt like home to me. But I think I need to, for the sake of personal growth, and while I could wait a year and apply again, there's no guarantee I'd get in then either, and meanwhile I'd feel like my life was on hold. If I still felt lukewarm about the school I'd probably risk it, because that's a big commitment. But visiting the campus made me a lot happier with the program.
Still, I think I want to ponder for a couple of days. I wouldn't mind input from my friends (but Noah, saying "grad school is dumb. you should stay here!" will not influence my decision. Not that I think that's going to stop you, I'm just warning you).
So what says you, O LJ? I'd be especially interested in opinions from people who are going through/have been through the grad school process. Rin has already suggested looking at the possibility of deferring for a year, so I could reapply to Berkeley without losing my shot at UO if Berkeley doesn't work out. That's something I'll check out, for sure.