Communication problems aside, dealing with my graduate advisor is proving to be a nightmare. He snoops and gossips, bad-mouthing anyone and everyone, all the while believing he is the most witty man to walk the planet. He makes up mocking names for everyone in our group. I have embraced mine and in so doing made it my shield. (Thank you Lord Snow for teaching me that lesson).
The latest bit of evidence to make me hate the man, is the fact that he read my fellow students e-mail when she left it open on one of our group computers. What a schmuck! And he calls me a nosy snoop. I would never stoop so low as to read his e-mail, though he's left me many opportunities. I don't need access to his motivations, bragging, gossipping, politicking or anything else he may convey through his email. I care about the practical, day-to-day, getting shit done agenda. His agenda is plain to me without snooping through his e-mail:
He wants the money from grants that help feed his largely minority grad students, but he doesn't really want to have to interact with them at all as an advisor. He'd rather bully them like some twisted upper-classman would a fresh little fish.
He wants to keep up appearences and cover his ass so that he'll be sure his promotion goes through early next year, even though he doesn't give a damn about the department, the univeristy or its students. He will give all kinds of lip service to make whomever believe that he does care about these things, but actions speak louder than.
I'm sorry that I came to grad school. I'm learning more about how to interact with people than I am about my subject (or so it feels sometimes). It is a good thing to know, but I'm left wondering if this is some sort of retribution for all those years I spent as an asshole. I feel like I'm back in high school, trapped in a living situation that I cannot abide, but must suffer trhough until I finish what I started. I can't wait to get out.
I don't mind the hard work or even the lack of recognition for all that I do. What bothers me is the lack of a support network. I came here because it was a small program, thinking it would afford me more one-on-one, but now I find myself wishing the department were bigger. I could have friends to talk to about scientific musings. We could brainstorm and bitch about projects and advisors, but although there are many grad students, most of them are commuters, so I only see them in class. I should work alittle harder I guess, to speed up the getting the fuck out out of here.
My message for all of you: choose wisely your grad program. Learn carefully who you will be dealing with before you sign so many years of your life away. It is the human interactions that shape our lives and it is what we do that gives our lives meaning. Don't entangle the two in a downward spiraling mess. Choose carefully who you surround yourself with that you may all work together toward common goals that will lift you all up.
I see this board isn't too active, and neither are many of the other ones on this subject. I'll assume it's because everyone is already signed up to the boards on QuarterLifeCrisis.com Message Boards
If not, I'd recommend going there. As with all message boards, there are more members, more subjects, more divisions, and more activity.
I highly suggest getting books about the Quarter Life Crisis. Check your library, bookstore, or Amazon.com. I'm finding some great information. Books like these are great overviews, for any more in depth questions you can always ask someone you who would likely know (which you should always do), or someone on the net.
i recently moved in with my grandmother (in nassau county right on the edge of queens) so that i'd be closer to ny job opportunities. i've been living here for two months now. and the only people i come into contact with on a regular basis are my family, the people i work with, and the people i see on the train platform every morning. i am lonely. but i don't know where i could go about meeting people of a similar mind (I'm kind of a bookish, nerdy-and-proud type).
Thing is, there are no major book stores around. One very small, always empty comic book shop. There are no noticably-frequented eateries and no coffee shops/houses or places of that type where artsy people tend to congregate. Where do i go to do this meeting people? I've tried hanging out at the movies on weekends, but there don't seem to be people my age. I am honestly considering going to church on a weekly basis so that i stand a better chance of meeting people. but this seems like an altogether bad idea (i'm sort of extremely anti-organized religion, but it's kind of the only gathering place around here).
I've never had to meet people before. I always met people in school or clubs ... but there is none of that now. And all of my established friends are many, many miles away (some much further than others, but all too far to see on a regular basis). If I were in a metro-area, I could go to book stores, open mic nights, conventions, things like that ... but I am not sure how one makes friends in the suburbs outside of school.
I will be graduating from college this December. I am incredibly excited and I'll be going into the peace corps next year.
My question is, does anyone have any good graduation party ideas? I'm inviting mostly family but also some close friends so "BEER!!1!" isn't really appropriate for this party.
So far, I'm thinking of having a "give sara life advice" box or journal. Also I thought it would be fun to buy some big cheap paper maps and lay them out as tablecloths.
The health coverage I had at school is going to be ending soon, so I need to find a new plan. For those of you who don't have insurance through your jobs or your parents' policies, what insurance providers are you using? Any info regarding general health, dental, and vision insurance would be appreciated. Seeing as how most of us are recent grads, price is obviously an issue! lol Thanks :)
I have been putting out resumes like crazy, but I feel like it's slow going, so I was wondering how you guys do ...
Basically, I can't write cover letters and refine resumes for more than 2 hours a day (I start feeling heachachy and like a big loser), and I find that I am averaging approximately 6-7 cover letters fired off in a 1.5 to 2 hour period. How does that compare to your output?
Also, a little horror story: I'm applying for mostly magazine publishing jobs, so my considerably impressive clip book has become my most important job interview companion. Last Wednesday, I accidentally left said clip book with a nobody from HR after a long day of interviewing with several different people at the same company. I was so tired that I didn't even realize he never gave it back to me!
It took me a week and a day to finally get this guy on the phone, even though I called, wrote a real letter and sent 3 emails! Luckily, with the holiday, I didn't have any interviews this week. But what a scary situation!! I had no idea if I'd ever see my precious clips again!! Just a little horror story to make your own job search seem less scary from your friendly neighborhood lj-lady.
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MSN says: Act fast: Student loan rates soar on July 1. The department of education confirms in their news section. The short version: If you have a variable rate student loan, you may want to scan the above links. Apparently, your rates will increase on July 1st.
I need some serious help because I am clueless. What should I be saying when asked my salary requirements? When an interviewer asks me point blank...I have no clue what to say. I previously said $10-15/hr. My father and friend inform me that I am underselling myself. I realize I should be saying a yearly rate also. So...as having my B.A. in English and looking for an entry level type job. Should I really say $30,000? $25,000? Does anyone know? I am completely clueless. Also, any tips to avoid answering this question at the early stages would be helpful.
Hello i just joined this group in hopes of gaining more knowledge about this great unknown thing call a job search. Seriously, I am clueless. I got a resume and cover letter and all that. I am a Senior English major from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA getting ready to graduate in May. I also have a minor in Marketing. Maybe someone can give me a direction. I mean how do you even find places to apply to. I went to careerbuilder and its all like direct marketing positions which is more for a 2 year level or high school degree. I really do want a good job and entry level but how do you do this? I feel lost.
(if you already read this from the jobsupport group im really sorry to repeat myself!)
...but true. This is the way I've felt for a long time, and I think I need to stop. I've been viewing my life like a video game, with levels to be mastered and moved beyond. So I've conquered the education level of my life (until I go to grad. school, but I have a few more years before starting that challenge) and am working on the first few years with a real job level of my life. Objectives include: gaining control of my finances, becoming a responsible drinker, developing a healthy diet/exercise plan that I can live with for the rest of my life, figuring out WHAT TO DO with myself during my free time, building an impressive resume/portfolio, finding a good partner to move on to the NEXT LEVEL (marriage) with... This is f-ed up, right? I should be enjoying this time that I am single, living by myself in a nice apartment with a nice car and a gym membership and no one to tell me what to do or any dirty diapers to clean up... this might be like when I longed to be out of college, with no more studying to do, classes to take... but now what do I do? Miss those good ol' days of drinking on Tuesday nights. I need to chill out, and as drphungus says, enjoy the small things. This is life, and I'm enjoying my last few months of being 24. I will have plenty of time to argue with a husband about how much I spent on groceries/why I didn't do the dishes, function on no sleep because of a teething baby. I need to CHILL OUT. Phew. Okay. Now to grade papers/deal with psycho girls/help shower a handicapped 16 year old boy/run 5 miles/block act 1 of DoAF/type cover letters for 3 more DM schools. What is wrong with me? I'm hyperventilating!
I'm a recent college graduate with a BA in Journalism. I'd like to do something creative, but it doesn't have to be a creative job. I'd like to move to CHICAGO and get a job there, and I've been looking, but I thought I'd also post and see what others have to say. Ideally I'd like to get a job in advertising, copywriting, editing, publishing, PR, marketing, nonprofit, event planning, or media. It's hard to find an entry level job, and even though I've had two internships I'm beginning to wory. Any words of advice or tips would be great! Thanks!
So, I have forever thought I wanted to go to Beauty School and do that for the rest of my life. Now it seems, out of nowhere, I have decided that, that is simple not for me. However, since I have for so long thought of nothing but that, that is all I know about in the way of a career. So I thought maybe you guys could help me out by maybe telling me (since I’m sure most of you are in college at present, or attended one at one point) what are some fun career ideas I use the term "fun" loosely of course. What do/did you guys go to college for? What do you wish you would have? What do you think would be fun?
I know nothing about the college world, and I the future terrify me. I don’t want to be one of those people who makes no money and hates their job for the rest of their life.
I have been lacking direction lately and so I am a bit excited by the fact that I have some kind of plan in mind. It's something with quality, it's something I can do, and it's something I hope to gain some R-E-S-P-E-C-T from (because, admittedly, I know I have lost some respect - for myself and from others).
Master plan... 1. Get certified from CSULB with a Certificate in Event Planning (a month) 2. Receive about 2-3 years of experience in the field... 3. ...at the same time take some Community College classes to help further my knowledge with computer programs, interests, and prepare for the GRE and CBEST. (5 months) 4. Take the GRE and CBEST. PASS. 5. Apply to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Earn a Master's in Hospitality and Management (something of the sort). (2-3 years) That's if they accept me because...well, long story but it's a Catch-22. 6. Become a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). 7. Officially become a Wedding Planner and/or Event Planner.
Eh...that's, the most, about 7 years in the making...but at least it's a direction I can work toward.
Hey all! I graduated from the University of Oklahoma this past December with degrees in Economics and Russian & Eastern European Studies, and am currently marooned in Austin, TX waiting to find out about my Fulbright grant (made it to the last round!) and desperately trying to find a job. This last part, naturally, is proving the most tricksey even though I'm not really looking for anything to do with either of my degrees down here. Heck, I even had one woman laugh at me when I asked if they needed Russian speakers (their company had advertisements for various languages including Polish, Portugese, Finnish, & French, so I didn't think it was completely inane to *ask*). Oh well.
Congrats to all those already accepted to your grad programs--wish I were among you.
Ok, so after all my stressing about applications, I actually somehow managed to be accepted to the only two physical therapy programs I applied to. NYU and Columbia. While I am extremely happy to have gotten into my top choice schools I am simultaneously, absolutely terrified. I'm going to Columbia, starting next September. Thats less than 7 months away!!!! The program is very demanding, what if I can't do it?! What if I make a complete idiot of myself? Even worse what if I make it through the program and wind up hating Physical Therapy. All these fears are constantly running through my head so much that I can't even enjoy the fact that my hard work paid off. Are these normal worries to be having or am I completely insane?! Anyone going through the same thing? If so, please share!
I'm in my last semester, and I'm getting a B.A. in history. Of all things. How useless. I've applied for grad school to get a teaching degree, but I'm not even sure if I want to teach. I've been looking around for jobs, but I'm not qualified for anything but really shady/go nowhere (but promise to) sales jobs. I'm not sure what I want to do with my life, and I feel like I have three months to figure it out. Any advice?
I have recently made a life-changing decison. Read on, and if you are able to help me or give advice I would appreciate it. I am in a unique situation and I haven't been able to find out much information for people like me.
I am 22 years old, and a recent college graduate. I recieved my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. I graduated with highest honor (the equilavent of summa cum laude). Unfortunately, I do not want to be a mechanical engineer or anything related to mechanical engineering. I want to pursue a career in journalism.
I want to pursue a career in journalism, but I really have no means of paying for school. Since I did so well at my previous institution and earned a very prestigious degree is it possible for me to go back to school on a scholarship? I was considering University of Georgia just because it is close to home and a pretty solid program.
rellen
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