I don't need to bore you with more details of my existential crisis regarding grad school. During my interview I discussed the pros and cons of starting in the spring with the department chair. Then I made my own list. Basically, it boiled down to this:
Pros of starting in the spring:
- I can leave my job, like, now
Cons of starting in the spring:- I probably shouldn't start just because I loathe my job with every fiber of my being
- I'm scared/broke
I talked it over with the roommate (who was dealing with a crisis of her own), the parents, some coworkers, a talk radio host, Dr. Phil, and basically anyone else who would pretend to listen. And then I realized that I just really wanted to start in the spring, and if I don't have any other plans then I might as well just do it. And then I told the school I was coming before I could change my mind.So the roommate is apartment hunting in the 'burgh while she figures life out, and I'm imposing on my parents until I figure out a job/apartment/plan near the city. And now I can giddily return to the world of papers and assignments and text books. (In four months when I'm sick of school, remind me of this moment.)
Oh, hey blog. Long time no see. Last September: 25 posts. This September: 2 posts. But I finally have an update! *cliche drumroll*
I GOT INTO GRAD SCHOOL!!!!
I had my interview Tuesday (sitting in my car in a parking lot by an abandoned church on my lunch break), and they basically told me I was in. Wednesday night I checked the application status online and viewed my acceptance letter. Woohoo! So I'm in, I'm psyched, I'm ready to start counseling some kids. Just one small question...
When am I going?
A pro/con list in in development. I'll keep you posted.
"Allison Jones will never think about the GREs ever again. (until the writing score comes in the mail)" --facebook post, August 21, 2010, 12:35 p.m.
"The GRE Program recently implemented a review process of individual test performance for the computer-based GRE General Test Verbal and Quantitative sections. The purpose of the process is to analyze each test taker's performance data because, in a very small number of cases, the computer algorithm may not have selected an optimal distribution of test questions that would have allowed the test taker to fully demonstrate his or her true ability level. It appears that this may have happened to you on the Verbal section of the test." --letter from the ETS to Allison Jones, August 31, 2010
"Sorry, sucker... looks like you're taking the verbal section again." --translation of letter to Allison Jones by Allison Jones, September 4, 2010
I was disappointed with my scores. I scored 20 points higher on the math section than I did last time, but no differently on the verbal. And my math score was higher than my verbal, which is against the laws of nature. And I'm pretty sure every question in the verbal section involved the word "madcap," which probably should have been a sign. So a redo is by no means the worst thing in the world. But seriously, ETS? You couldn't have done this before I celebrated being completely finished with anything involving standardized testing? Before I submitted my first grad school application and did a happy dance of accomplishment?
Oh well. At least I can have all sorts of madcap adventures with my vocab flashcards.
As of Saturday, I am an applicant for GWU's MA in Ed and HD School Counseling program.
Oh dear god.
I am supposed to hear back within four to six weeks, but I have no idea if that time frame is for the interview or the final admissions decision. I'll just assume that six weeks from now I'll be really really sad. Now I'm prepared.
I'm so excited about the idea of grad school, and yet clicking "submit" on the application didn't feel the way I thought it would. The application was this giant deadline looming over me, but there wasn't any real relief or sense of accomplishment after. (Actually, Keri and I finished season three of Lost the next day, and I felt far more accomplished then. Also, wtf Lost? But let's not discuss that here, largely because I am only halfway through the series.) I suppose things haven't sank in yet.
So, yeah. That's the big update. Sometime within the next two months I'll hear some potentially life-changing news. In the meantime, I'm thinking of back up plans for both employment and school. That should help me with my serious case of to-do list withdrawal.
I have returned from vacation with two cases of wine, a nasty sunburn on my legs, and a renewed sense of hope for my current to-do list.
In reality, not all that much was accomplished was over the past five days. However, my roommate's invaluable advice to write a draft of my personal statement while tipsy helped me view the graduate school application as far more manageable. Even though I knew exactly what I wanted to say in the personal statement, I had a huge mental block about getting started. A huge mental block that can be permeated by wine. Turns out it's very easy to write 500 words about yourself. Who knew? So now all I have to do is edit the personal statement and resume, submit the application, and relearn algebra for the GREs. Okay, that last part may be a bit challenging... the test is in 2.5 weeks. It completely snuck up on me. But I have a couple of weekends of solid studying ahead of me, so I think I can manage.
Please don't ask about the running goal... I took a day off intentionally last week after a miserable calf-seizing episode, and this vacation threw me off for the rest of it. I'm starting to think I would be better off running a 10k for my first big event, and saving a half marathon for when I have more time to prepare and more experience. Is that a cop out? I really can't decide. On one hand, the whole point of doing the half marathon was so I would stick to an exercise routine, get in shape, have more energy, and accomplish something. Wouldn't a 10k serve the same purpose? On the other hand, I would be completely wimping out. And street cred is a very important thing on the mean streets of Squirrel Hill.
I think I have a case of goal overload. There's my reading goal, my running goal, my grad school application goal, my getting ready for the GREs goal, my cleaning the house enough so it doesn't look like my life is in shambles goal, and my getting my financial life in order goal... I miss the days when I felt unaccomplished and inadequate in just one life category instead of six. It's summer. It's hot. Why must I still be a productive member of society?
I did have a pleasant surprise this week when I remembered that my vacation is coming up. (Not really sure how I forgot, but whatever.) And by vacation I mean hanging out with my family for two days, then going to Erie for three. Not a long vacation, but a necessary one. And have I mentioned that both my parents' house and Erie are well-stocked with wine? Perhaps when I can sleep in every day and drink I'll be relaxed enough to accomplish things. Or I'll just be sleepy and drunk. Same thing?
I'm still running. I have almost completed week two of my training program. Two weeks! It's the longest I've ever committed to an exercise routine, as sad as that is.
Today I have a major case of the blahs. Saturdays are supposed to be a long, slow run. Keri mapped out a four-mile route that leads us into Oakland and then back to Squirrel Hill, so this morning we drove around to scope it out. Realization: four miles is long. A lot longer, apparently, than the three miles we did last week. Really freaking long. So Keri is bouncing around the house, stretching, pumping herself up, and I'm in bed with a cup of yogurt trying to wrap my head around this. I know that it will be fine and I'll probably feel completely amazing afterwards (just like my sluggish Tuesday when I realized that running in the rain is the equivalent of a zillion gallons of coffee), but running through Pittsburgh has a totally different vibe than running along a single trail that is basically a straight line.
Other things to accomplish this weekend: writing my personal statement for my grad school applications. Oh yeah, that's happening. I signed up to take the GREs in a month. I'm super pumped to have an excuse to study vocab again.
Okay, wish me luck. I'm about to go participate in physical exertion. 63 days until the half-math!
