There are mad times just around the corner...

[epistrophia]

So.  I'm officially a postgraduate student, registered for research training.  On the first rung of the ladder to doctorate-ness.

I'm also one of only two people doing this particular course; the other is a lovely Greek girl with a hint of Rose Tyler about her, who is a constant state of stress.  Can't say I blame her - we've sort of fallen through

Comments

[therentgirls]

You must be very excited. I'm happy for you. And it will totally be worth it.

[epistrophia]

I am very excited. And scared. But mostly excited. I think.

Generally, really, I'm just confused at the moment... *g*

[byslantedlight]

Oh it'll totally be worth it! Actually I wish I'd been able to see as far ahead as my doctorate when I was setting out on my MA - my MA took three years in the USA, and now my doctorate is going all wibbly since it was US-based as well - ack!

Think about the cherry... *g*

[epistrophia]

Oh, I never stop thinking about the cherry...!

I am very confused about the way things work in the US, except that I know Masters take at least two years, and PhDs at least five. I suppose not having such specialised bachelors degrees is why, but it's a massive commitment.

Congrats on the course offer, by the way!!

[byslantedlight]

Well, the US Masters and PhDs both have a large taught component, specific language requirements, and "comprehensive exams" (at least, speaking for Anthropology, but I gather it's similar at least in other fields) on top of your actual research, so you really do need the extra time! Alot of people moan about this, but they tend to be people who've gone into them just for the bit of paper at the end...

And thanks - although I've just found out that the course starts a week before I thought it did - ack! Means I only have a week to arrange, complete and get the report from a one day school placement, to show I'm not afraid of kids these days... double ack! And don't you hate it when you find out these things on a Saturday so that you can't do anything about them... *headdesk*

[epistrophia]

Blimey - good luck with the school thing. Don't suppose you have a handy teacher neighbour or anything like that?

Also: don't you hate it when you find out these things on a Saturday so that you can't do anything about them

Oh my God, yes! I only realised at about ten last night that there's a clash between central and departmental modules so I have to dump two interesting and mostly qualitative research training modules for a scary mostly-scary-quantitative-data analysis module, which is scary.

Is it all educational establishments, do you think? Or just the ones we've come across?

[snailbones]

Oh it is so going to be worth it - and I had no idea that what you're doing is so different - which makes it even better, but probably adds to the whole sense of 'what hit me?'

Whoohoo - I'm so pleased for you - and I'm sure the whole funky-chicken thing will settle down soon!

What hit me?

[epistrophia]

You know Beaker, the lab assistant in Sesame Street who always used to run around in a banging-off-walls kind of way?

That's me, that is.

::meep::

Re: What hit me?

[snailbones]

::hands over the strong booze::

Deep breaths hon. Repeat after me... "It's all going to be fine, it's all going to be fine, I have nerves of steel. Ping!"

See! No problem!

You can thump me now *g*

Really - best of luck with it all - I really admire you for going for it.

::hugs::